Lichfield; and we can now reveal that ...

We can now reveal that we are to become grandparents for the first time! Ally and Ben's baby is due in January - exciting times!

The rest of our cruising started a couple of days ago when we returned from home by train to Fazeley. We left the now familiar territory of Tolson's Mill and Fazeley Junction to head north. We are planning to cruise the Leeds and Liverpool west to east; first we need to get to the land of Scousers.

passing Tolson's Mill

Turning west at the junction meant that the sun was in our eyes.

After a lengthy stop at Ventura retail park (accessed from Sutton Road Bridge) we continued to Tamhorn Park to tie up for the night. The boat behind us, Vida Nova, had its noisy engine running until 1045 pm.

Today, after a slight mix-up (mine) over which bridge to stop at for Lichfield, we walked back to Bridge 84 and found a good edge-of-field path which led us under the A38 and across a railway line on the level before hitting Streethay village and a mile walk along the straight road to Lichfield.

I took the photo below for my father's benefit; can he work out the significance?

And so, inevitably, to Lichfield Cathedral.

There we were in for a treat. The CBSO was rehearsing for their concert tonight as part of the Lichfield Festival (the world premiere of a piece by David Matthews, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony). We were able to sit at the back and listen - it was wonderful.

Rather than stay for the performance, though, we decided to go to Choral Evensong and then return to the boat for a much-looked-forward-to meal.