We say "Goodbye" to Zodiak.

Tuesday 16th June, 2015 at Gailey.
Not "gaily as we go along" but to... Gailey!
Mick and Jackie set off early towards Autherley Junction, as they plan to go up the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks tomorrow. We did, however, catch them up for lunch at Gailey.

We had the most agreeable morning's cruising; one of those delightful days that you don't want to end. The weather was lovely and the seven locks all in the prettiest settings - although the M6 did sneak up awfully close on one occasion.
M declared that Rodbaston Lock would have been a good place to spot Eddie Stobart trucks as the M6 ran right alongside it.

M heard the first yellowhammer of the year as she walked the towpath.
At Brick Kiln Lock, we could see Zodiak in front of us, just leaving the lock as we arrived below it. At Gailey Lock, we paused to buy ice-creams from the Round House; it's now a small shop, but used to be a canal toll house.  The first ice-creams of the summer!

Above Gailey lock, we moored up next to Zodiak in the same spot as we had moored up in nb "Emma" on the first night of our very first narrowboating week in April 2010.  More happy memories!
Again, out came the picnic chairs and the four of us had lunch together. As you can see, M had been busy with the washing machine.

Then Mick and Jackie set off again so that they will be closer to the bottom of the Wolverhampton flight tomorrow morning.

We stayed where we were, enjoying the luxury of a quiet afternoon. M busied herself writing notes while R washed and polished the towpath side of MM (after a restorative nap). M is pleased to see R visibly relaxing after months of hard work.
We had our supper sitting out on the towpath with a glass (or so) of white wine and a beautiful sunset over a field of growing wheat.

Life doesn't get much better than this!
Today: 4 miles, 7 locks and 2.6 hours.
Trip: 22 miles, 15 locks and 13.2 hours.