Last bit of "new" waterway done

It's ten past nine in the evening, and it feels like two hours later. We are now at Weston-on-Trent, tied up a little before the road bridge and the "generator" chickens. Jan cooked a splendid chicken meal (no connection) which we washed down with some more of the wine we're testing in advance of our daughter's wedding. Weak mobile internet signal here, so the dongle's on the roof, wrapped in a carrier bag against the occasional spit of rain. Yes, rain! The first to have fallen on us since Braunston nine days ago! Today's rain hardly amounted to anything: it came while we were taking tea at the canalside home of BCF members Peter and Julie Thorn, a little before Great Haywood.

While I think of it, I want to say something about our stove. When the coal on board ran out we bought a couple of bags of Super Therm from Joe's at Market Harborough (that seems a long time ago, now). It's worked very well, burning up completely and leaving little ash. I've found the best method of lighting to be this: clear all ash away, scrunch up some pieces of newspaper, cover liberally with twigs garnered from the towpath, and gently rest some coal on top. When needed, the fire is lit, the door shut, and, usually, after a few minutes, the coal has ignited. Then some more can be carefully added if necessary. I've just laid the fire in this manner, ready for lighting (should we need it) in the morning.

I'm intending another early start tomorrow. This morning we got away at 07:45, but it could have been earlier. Jan doesn't like me setting the alarm, so I have to get up when I wake up. Early starts are really the thing on a cruise: everything's so peaceful; there are no queues at locks; most of the day's cruising can be done by lunchtime. This morning we went up the last lock before Fradley Junction, thus completing the last bit of uncruised waterway for this holiday. Lots more to do, of course, but, for now, we're back on familiar waters.

Here's our schedule for the rest of the week: tomorrow to Etruria; Wed. Hassall Green; Thu. Church Minshull; Fri. Tattenhall Marina. This is slightly different from that previously published, this is to allow for my brother joining us at Middlewich Thursday lunchtime.

That'll do for now... bed calls! Must just get the dongle in...