Meeting up with nb "Zodiak".

Monday 15th June, 2015 at Penkridge.
We both slept well and awoke to birdsong. There are almost invariably trees and hedges lining the canals so that, at this time of year, our little feathered friends are very lively (and noisy) at 4am.
Thankfully, the weather was better today and by mid-morning, we had bright sun and blue skies. R made us a "smiley breakfast" of bacon, eggs and tomatoes and then we set off towards Penkridge, where we had arranged to meet Mick and Jackie, out for their summer cruise on their narrowboat "Zodiak".
On the way, we were passed by nb "Emma", a Napton hireboat and the first boat that we ever hired; what a lovely boat she is. She brought back happy memories.
We also saw a C&RT working party installing shuttering where the towpath had eroded.

At Shutt Hill Lock, volunteers were busy painting the lock gates and beams, so we had to open and shut the gates with care to avoid getting plastered with black and white smudges! Later we passed a land-locked boater, who still seemed quite cheerful and waved to us.

The countryside is truly lovely along this stretch of canal and the canal banks are full of wild flowers. M has seen meadowsweet, campion, bugle, clover, yellow iris and the delightfully named "ragged robin (!)". The hedgerows are at their very best in the freshness of spring foliage and there is a fine show of honeysuckle and wild roses. We even saw a reed warbler beside the canal.
Our mooring that evening was next to a magnificent rose bush, which turned out to have been planted on the towpath by the owner of the adjacent house many years ago.

Mick and Jackie were already moored up with "Zodiak" when we arrived in Penkridge. It was so nice to see them and we admired Zodiak's newly fitted window blinds and porthole "bungs".

After a tea break, we all walked into Penkridge town to do a little shopping. It turned out to be a very pleasant little town.
It was such a lovely early summer evening that the four of us got out our picnic chairs and sat with a glass (or two) of wine and - to Mick's delight - M produced a whole box of cheese straws (one of Mick's favourites!). We chatted on as the sun slowly set.

This turned out to be supper as, by the time we put the chairs away, we decided that it was far too late to start cooking!
Today: 5 miles, 4 locks and 3.3 hours.
Trip: 18 miles, 8 locks and 10.6 hours.