Contrasting Weather and "Quackers"

Saturday 2nd August, 2014 at Littleton, Worcestershire.
We keep an eye on the weather forecast on the BBC website and today it showed black cloud, two rain drops and sunshine - in other words, take your pick. Obviously the Weather Gods had seen the forecast because it couldn't make up its mind all day.
It started wet, but after breakfast we walked into the village taking advantage of an interval between the showers and had a coffee and cake in the bakery. On the way back to MM, it started to rain again, so we were glad that we had taken the umbrella with us. The rain continued until just after midday, when the sun came out - so we set off, now under clear blue skies!
As we passed the marina, we photographed a Dutch Barge moored there, it must rank as the biggest boat we've seen on the inland waterways; it certainly dwarfed the narrowboat moored beside it.

The river is truly beautiful on this stretch, very typical of this part of the country. However, there is no towpath and the trees and vegetation come right down to the water's edge, so it is only possible to moor in designated spots.

At Marcliffe IWA Lock, we paired up with Russ, Vicki and "Quackers" on their cabin cruiser "Misty"; it is so much quicker and easier through the locks when there are four of you.

We met up again at the splendid "Robert Aickman Lock", with an elegant brick memorial to this man who co-founded the Inland Waterways Association (IWA).

M and Vicki were halfway through filling the lock when suddenly the heavens opened and it poured with rain. Hastily umbrellas and waterproofs appeared and R came ashore to help.

By the time the lock was emptied and we opened the bottom gates, the sunshine had returned and the multiple layers were removed in the heat of the sun. This IS England, after all!
Next to the lock is a fabulous old mill that has been abandoned for about 100 years. What a brilliant project it would be to restore it to its former glory; something to keep R occupied in his spare time????

There are supposed to be kingfishers in this area, but we didn't see a single one. So, naturally, we were a bit miffed when Russ and Vicki, who were sailing in front of us, said that they had seen three!
They moored up just before the Offenham lock and we moored up right behind them. The moorings belong to the nearby Fish and Anchor pub and are reserved for patrons - so, being law-abiding citizens, we walked over to the pub for a drink. The sky behind the pub looked a bit threatening!

While we were there, the skies darkened and we heard thunder in the distance. It gradually got closer and closer and was followed by lightning. We hurried back to MM and just made it before the rain started in earnest.  It came down in torrents, followed by hailstones that rattled on the roof and rang the brass roof vents like a bell. For a while it was almost impossible to see across the river and it looked like the water was boiling.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the storm passed and the sun came out again in a blue sky.

The only evidence left of the storm was the hailstones piled in the corner of the stern - and some petals from M's geraniums which had taken a battering!

So finally, the sun stayed out to give us a pleasant evening. The forecast for tomorrow is more sunshine, so let's hope that it's accurate!
Oh yes, "Quackers" is Russ and Vicki's mascot on their cruiser "Misty".

Today: 4 miles, 2 locks and 2.9 hours.
Trip: 102 miles, 93 locks and 98.3 hours.