Easter holiday - day ten

Woke up this morning at about 6.00 and looked out the side hatch to see a magical scene of heavy mist over Tixell - grabbed the camera and took a few shots. The one here shows the 2 working boats 'breasted up' behind me. A fantastic days cruising - one of the best for a long time. The sun was shining almost all day and there was very little traffic around. In fact we whistled through the locks at Fradley junction with no waiting whatsoever. Past NB Strait and Narrow again today who informed us that Andrew Denny and NB Granny Buttons were in Streethay Wharf - unfortunately, by the time we past Streethay, all that was visible was the back end of Granny Buttons! Past NB F.U.B.B - a beautiful tug built by Hudson as their Crick showboat last year, (the printable version of the name F.U.B.B is 'Fed Up Beyond Belief.) I met this boat a year ago at Tixell Wide and had a great time with them so it was nice to meet them again in passing. Another boat passed and called out, " do you have a blog?" When I answered in the affirmative they complimented me on the site and sailed on past. It's these chance encounters out ont he cut that make it all worthwhile!

It's lovely to see the ducklings out now and many a duck sitting on eggs. Swans are attacking passing people and boats and boy do they have some swans in Staffordshire! The nest below was passed on the Birmingham and Fazeley just after Colwhich lock travelling south - some wag but great fun!