Saltaire (the boat) and winter mooring news

We got up earlier than usual this morning and were out of the boat by 0800. This was because breakfast had been promised in the beer tent for volunteers helping to derig after the Black Country Boating Festival. It was a good job I'd taken the precaution of having my usual cereal beforehand as the promised fry-up didn't materialise for another hour or so. By this time we'd both been busy - I'd been coiling cables and Jan had been doing more litter clearance.

I continued to help in the beer tent after rolls filled with bacon, sausage and baked beans - moving on to assisting in the dismantling of the stage. Jan did washing up and helped with bunting packing.

As we had to get to Birmingham today we said our goodbyes and returned to the boat at about 1130 (it felt more like 1330). We invited Barry and Sandra of Areandare over for coffee; it was good to welcome them aboard for the first time and chat before we moved on.

I reversed a few yards to the four-way junction at Windmill End and winded to head along the Netherton Tunnel Branch and through the tunnel. As we cruised the New Main Line a light drizzle turned to proper rain. We were slightly surprised to meet Saltaire going the other way as it had also been at the festival.

The moorings in Brum were busy, but we got a good spot in Cambrian Wharf, tying up at about 1630. We walked to the large Spring Hill Tesco for supplies then returned to the boat where Jan prepared tea and baked a cake.

After a pretty tiring long weekend a reasonably early night is called for (and we may even lie in in the morning!)

Oh, we have sorted a mooring for the winter. We're going back to Thrupp Wharf Marina on the GU, this time to an online mooring with no electricity. It will be a longer walk from the car park, but we'll be able to see (and hear) passing boats on the canal. I'm envisaging not having to use the fridge much, so the batteries should survive with solar charging - especially when we're not there to use any power.