Saturday 23rd June 2007
Stafford Boat Club - Tixall Wide (4¾ miles, 1 lock)
We had travelled up to the Boat Club on Friday night, leaving home at around 5:45pm and had a good trip with virtually no traffic heading North.
On Saturday morning we meandered up to Tixall Wide and moored with the starboard side against the towpath so we could wash that side of the boat before spinning her around and tackling the other side. We then set off around our newly discovered circular walk through the grounds of Shugborough, calling in at the Lock Café in Great Haywood.
Returning to the boat for lunch, I then prepared myself to carry out the oil and filter change as the engine had cooled down to what I considered to be the optimum temperature for easy oil flow without jeopardising my personal safety. After a shaky start, I now know what to expect and will be much quicker next time. I decided not to attempt to change the gearbox oil since I couldn't figure out how to reach the sump plug unless I could persuade my arms to grow a foot longer. I have since discovered that small hand pumps are available to extract the oil via the dipstick hole, and have ordered a "Little Pal" from www.JabscoShop.co.uk. I won't be changing the gearbox oil until the end of the summer - watch this space to see how successful that is.
In the evening, we walked to Great Haywood and had a delicious Chinese meal at the Fox & Hounds and then wandered back down the towpath, negotiating the fishermen who were setting up there tents for all night sessions. There are many things in the world that I don't understand and I'm afraid that fishing is one of them - whether it comes higher or lower than religion on my list is something I won't dwell on.
Sunday 24th June 2007
Tixall Wide - Stafford Boat Club (4¾ miles, 1 lock)
We travelled back mid-morning but moored up when the torrential rain started, giving us the opportunity to listen to Ricky Gervais on Desert Island Discs, and then to have lunch, by which time the rain had stopped.
The pressure with work goes on as I attempt to juggle projects for two of my clients, both of whom believe I should treat them as my top priority. In my youth I thrived on this type of pressure, but now I just want to be on the boat....