I spy in Stone, and No Problem moves away from the mud

Today Moored Car House Bridge (49), Trent and Mersey Canal

It continues to rain today, but I took the collies across the wetlands that are owned by Severn Trent Water.  They also own the close by Aston Hall Farm.  They have made major changes to part of the farmland making new habitats for wildlife.  As well as the wetlands there are is a lot of grazing marsh, and it is home to lapwings and snipe. 

When I walked the trail today there was a flock of plover on the water.  Mind you it was very, very wet underfoot, and if it wasn’t for my good walking boots and protective over trousers I would have been soaked.

There is a warning at one end of the walk about the danger of flooding and mud, but that was at the other end of where I walked… bit late by then!.. But they will be installing walkway boards across this flooded area.  Access to this is at Br 86 for anybody interested.

But the weekend saw us in Stone.. Our satellite dish had gone past it’s sell by date and had weakened enough for the arm to snap in two when Vic turned it to find the dot in the sky on Friday evening.

We pondered on what to do, and in the end decided to go for the expensive option of getting another kerstan dish.  A phone call to Midland Chandlers, “Yes we have a blue one in stock and if you pay for it today we can give you 20% off”.. Jumped at that offer, and on Saturday morning I had caught the bus from Stone to Penkridge via Stafford, bringing the dish home by lunch time.

I left Vic to put it up while I took Meg and Lucy along the towpath to Roger Fuller's Boatyard where I knew Hadar was moored.. I heard Hadar before I saw her, Keith had the engine running. 

Unfortunately my worst pic of the year with the sun in the wrong place.. but it was lovely to meet Jo and Keith.  I still am amazed at their patience waiting for the final completion of this magnificent narrowboat.. I was invited inside and met the collie cross Paddy the most friendly of dogs I have met for a long time, and the delightful cat, Marmite.

I have been watching the build of Hadar from the very beginning, and I wondered whether I could cope with living in a boat such as was designed by Jo and Keith, I had doubted it, but once inside it really was quite airy and bright, and certainly very cosy.  I think I could live with that!

Thankyou very much you two for showing me around your lovely boat, and of course the coffee and company for an hour or so, I really enjoyed.

By the time I had got back to No Problem, Vic suggested we staying one more night in the mud.. so Monday morning I nipped to Morrisons to pick up some fresh veg, and we reversed back to wind (turn) at the winding hole to find a dryer towpath mooring a couple of miles to the south….

‘Tis remote here, I like it..