Atherstone Flight CRT Hero

We awoke to blue skies and bright sun. We posted a blog yesterday which on inspection this morning has been condemned as crap. This is as a result of trying to write a blog when knackered so we will compose future blogs in the morning when refreshed.

We had a pleasant night moored at the bottom of the Atherstone flight ready for the accent tomorrow. I managed to finish cleaning the roof so Tilly May is starting to look loved again. Tea was homemade meatloaf and Jersey Royal potato’s, one of my favourite meals.

As we were about to set off we spotted a CRT volunteer doing a litter pick of the towpath. He said he would walk back to the services then join us an the bottom lock to help us through. Manor from heaven! I am ashamed to say we did not know his name, considering he spent two and a half hours walking the full length of the Atherstone fight helping us through all 11 locks. We are so grateful to our anonymous hero. Jan managed to help him on the first 6 locks but towards the top there were more CRT volunteers so we both stopped on the boat. Thank you to all the CRT volunteers at Atherstone, you made a hard day very enjoyable. We expected the journey up the fight to take us all day. We planned to take a couple of hours break in the middle then moor for the night at the top of the flight. 

Jan, Maggie and our anonymous hero.

As a result of the volunteer help we decided to push on the Hawksbury Junction. Bad move! By the time we arrived we were both knackered. Too knackered to even walk to the pub so Gammon and fried left over Jersey Royals for tea. We do not seem to learn from our previous mistakes. 

Maggie on lookout

The Maggie roof restraint needed some minor adjustment but is working very well. As official boat lookout she takes her job very seriously. Brea can now spend her time sitting majestically on the stern with us without getting pestered by the “little brown bugger”.