Meg v Cows and Market Day in Penkridge

Wheaton Aston to Cowley, Shroppie, 5 miles 1 lock

Yesterday I invited Jeff and Mags from Narrowboat Seyella for coffee, and they moored close during the morning on their way to Brewood. Coffee lingered on and on.. both on No Problem and on Seyella ‘till Jeff decided to put the pins in for the evening.

Their dog Meg and our Meg never stopped all day rolling around and playing on the wide towpath beside the boats, and during the late afternoon I suggested to Jeff we took them all for a walk.

As this is one of my favourite moorings I was able to show Jeff an hour long circular walk across some delightful farmland and woodland.  My Meg behaved herself well in a field with a handful of cows in.. calm cows for once, obviously well used to humans walking across their space.  They didn’t come towards us, and I was able to give Meg some off lead heal work.  She was tempted for sure to ‘go chase’, but by persuading her to “Leave” she was well rewarded for staying to heal with plenty of “good girls” and pats as we reached the gate on the far side.  Lucy was happy too, it meant that the air didn’t get full of lots of “Naughty Girl” which she really knows is not aimed at her, but she likes to play the poor old thing sometimes!

A fond farewell this morning then to Jeff and Mags, we hope to see them again in the Spring on the Southern Oxford maybe.. Anyway, enjoyed your company very much you two, thanks

We pulled the pins and cruised through the lock at Wheaton Aston to moor at one of the many water points.  I left the canopy up at the back today.. the first time I have actually steered No Problem with it up.  I want to get used to it, there is a big difference steering this boat than their was to NP1.. 12ft of difference!  It’s just a matter of getting my confidence in aiming correctly for bridges and locks.. I don’t want to be forever hanging my head out the sides, I want to get a feel of the narrowboat so I know instinctively how to put her through the gaps.. Hit nothing today!!

Popped into Penkridge to get some fresh veg and milk.. It was market day today… WOW what a huge market, and if anyone is able to, do go, it is out of this world.  Not only a market but there is an auction house as well, and some guy was auctioning eggs and chickens I think.. but I had told Vic I would be back for lunch, so didn’t really have any time to have a really good look around.. next time we are both going!

Cruised on to Cowley where we have put the pins in for a couple of days.. I like it here too!

You have probably noticed that we are moving north again.. I know, I know… I did say we would be going south, but we want to get Simon and his team at Norbury Boatyard to change the design of the dinette slightly.. we don’t have the tools to do what we want done!