Wind, Rain and Sun, Take Your Pick!

 Monday 1st November 2021 at Lichfield

November already? This is the first time ever that we have continued travelling this late in the year and, as the hour has now changed, the evenings get dark (and cold) so very early!

The moon was still high when M got up. At least the hour change means that the early mornings are lighter.

The view from our mooring as the sun rose.

M is very happy with her (very pink) new hat, scarf, jumper and socks. They will all help to keep her warm as the temperature drops over the next few days. "Worth every penny" she has declared since!

The wind continued to blow fiercely, pushing MM back on to the bank. In order to get off, and miss the boat moored in front, R had to push the bow off with the long pole and then run back and start off before the wind blew her back again.

Through Fazeley Junction and heading on towards Fradley.

A rainbow in the distance warned us of rain to come.

Indeed, the skies darkened and the rain began in earnest. Fortunately, we were approaching Hopwas and so moored up outside the "Tame Otter" pub and had our lunch on board while waiting for the rain to blow over.

Along this part of the canal, the bridges are named instead of numbered. They all tell a tale of local history, many of them agricultural in nature.

We loved this weather vane of an old grey Massey Ferguson tractor.

This is the junction with the former Lichfield Canal, which is the subject of a very active restoration programme. Due to massive pressure from the restoration group, an aqueduct was built over the M6 Toll when that motorway was built. At present it stands in magnificent isolation but one day it will allow the Lichfield to go from here into Birmingham over the motorway.

We moored for the night up just past here, outside Kings Orchard Marina.

Today: 14 miles, 2 locks and 5.7 hours.

Trip: 566 miles, 282 locks and 277.9 hours.