09-28 Aston Marina

Wednesday 23rd September: Weather still iffy today but better.  Managed to complete the black band (had to go over some of what I did yesterday) then we turned the boat  and I washed down the starboard side and then completed prepping and painting it, which was not so bad, having been touched up while we were on the Aylesbury arm.  Bridie mixed and applied the twin pack with some help for the out of reach bits!   All completed by about 3:30pm so after tidying up and a cup of coffee we turned PO again and headed back to the Marina slowly and carefully trying to avoid hitting any bridge holes and a drifting boat on the way.  Weather very calm although it tried to rain as we set off and again as we moored up but no problems manouvering onto our pier.

Ford Ka battery dead (no surprises there). Altercation in the dark with an Alsatian off the lead and with no owner in sight. Mabel yelping and rather upset.  Owner stroppy (was obviously on the phone and not in control of her dog) and made no apology!

Thursday 24th September:  Packing and stowing bags in Ka ready for when I get battery sorted. Phoned Ford none in stock! Trying to get jump start sorted. Took a walk with the dogs to look at Aston Lock (since we have not been through one for a few days and in case we forget what they look like!). Also took a look at the new building going up in the marina being finished ready for the Christmas party season

and enjoyed the view across the marina generally.

Friday 25th September: Lovely sunny day today - nearly decided to go back out! Called Green Flag who responded very promptly got Ka started but ran a test on battery and it failed and needs a replacement as it is not holding a charge. The guy from Mansfields checked availability for me since Ford do not have in stock locally (I already checked). I then followed him to Newcastle-u-Lyme where I bought a battery and he fitted it, job done. Back to Marina and then went home to take a load of washing etc etc back and then came back to the boat with our winter set of curtains (15 of), whilst Bridie did more cleaning up, packing and dog walking.

Saturday 26th September: Another lovely sunny day today. We went over to the Bistro on our dog walk this morning to book a table for tonight.   I then spent the day prepping and painting tunnel flashes and rear deck to cover up rust and damaged paintwork!  Bridie did more packing and cleaning out food cupboards etc as well as swapping over the curtains so that we can take our best set to be cleaned.

Sunday 27th September:  Yet another summers day (although overnight temperatures are now dropping close to zero!)  Today we got off to an early start and drove down the M6 to the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster.  The Dining train was already in the platform

My sister and cousins were booked on it for birthday celebrations (we had tried to join them too late and it was fully booked). We had a round trip to Bridgnorth on the 11:45 hauled by Southern West Country Pacific  'Taw Valley'.

At Bridgnorth I took some photo's to show latest progress on the new build 82045

and the replica  of the fourth and last steam locomotive created by Richard Trevithick -see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_Me_Who_Can

and also http://www.catchmewhocan.org.uk/about_us.html
Once back at Kidderminster station we waited for the return of the Dining train to wish my sister a happy 65th birthday.

A trip to my sister's in Harborne ensued and then back up the motorway to PO at the marina.

Monday 28th  September: With the weather still fine today we made use of the continuing dry spell to load up the car, winterise the boat and finally head north to Cumbria.  Rough calculations suggest we have covered more than 650 miles and been through about 350 locks, visited the most southerly part of the network and traveled stretches we have not seen before.  All in all, despite a rather poor August and early September, the season was pretty kind to us and we enjoyed some excellent cruising.