04-28 Stop over at Hopwas on the Coventry canal

Monday 27th April: sunny with a chilly wind.  We had intended to spend the day at Shugborough but given it was dry and not unreasonable cruising weather we decided to press on,  leaving our
Great Haywood mooring about 10am.  Not many boats moored here today about three in all and we have  known it to to be nose to tail for over half a mile.   Steady progress towards Rugeley
with a stop for water at Armitage where I managed to trip and fall on the concrete edge, narrowly avoiding an early morning dip.  Luckily no permanent damage done other than a sore hand and
wrist.  We continued on along the T&M as far as Fradley.  With help from volunteers at the locks (they were pleased to see us as we were the first boat down for over three hours) we
approached the Junction where we turned right onto the Coventry Canal as far as Huddlesford (the old junction with the Lichfield canal).  By this time the wind was starting to pick up and we
felt decidedly worn and had an early night.

Tuesday 28th April: A very cold blustery wind this morning when I took the dogs for a walk back to the new Kings Orchard marina from Huddlesford junction where we moored overnight. We
decided not to rush off and watched a procession of boats going past with crews kitted up for arctic conditions.   After a lazy morning we adjourned to the Plough for lunch (which was excellent)
and some liquid refreshment! Walking back to the boat we decided on a short afternoon cruise as far as Hopwas to replenish the batteries since the wind was now definitely warmer than this
morning and the cloud had to some extent cleared.   Despite warnings from a boat just mooring up about the blustery wind we had no problems and in fact enjoyed our one and a half hour cruise,
mooring up just short of the first bridge in Hopwas.  Once moored went for a short exploratory walk through the village and as far as the last bridge by the boat yard then returned via the
towpath, pausing for refreshment at the Thame Otter sitting outside in very pleasant sunshine but still enough of a breeze as to be thankful for the coats we had with us.