Alrewas and Pole Recycling

After the purchase of a new boat pole yesterday the old pole was carefully placed in the hedgerow on the tow path so it could be recycled by some other boater possibly in need of one. This morning Spot and I came across a thin chap walking towards us sporting a large grin and said old boat pole. “Found this last night but thought someone might come back for it so left it where it was, but they didn't reclaim it” he said. “It was mine” I said, “got a new one so left the old one for someone else to probably use.” “It'll do fine” he said, and walked off down the tow path whistling. Not sure he will be quite so happy when the first time he uses it to push his boat off the shallows and the pole snaps in half hopefully not skewering him through the lungs like a harpoon.


Cannot believe the weather change today: from blazing sunshine yesterday to overcast and 3-layered clothing today.Amazing sight today: just outside Willington we came across a huge free range chicken farm (Jan says must be at least 30 acres) covered in thousands of little brown chickens.

Little Brown Chickens

Today we were mostly travelling alongside the route of the old roman road, Ryknild Street (A38). In places it is so close to the canal that when it rains spray from the lorries lands on the boat. The traffic noise is loud, VERY LOUD! Had a minute's silence at Alrewas Lock where Jan lost her 20 year old Toggi cap this time last year when she fell in the cut! After 5 hours of road noise we finally arrived at the haven that is Alrewas. We ate tea, the sun came out, we drank Pedigree in the garden of the Crown Inn, All is right with the world.

Alrewas in the sun

Spot ate two bags of Pork Scratchings at the pub, by the time we returned to Tilly May she looked like a furry prune. All that salt had sucked the moisture from her. Anyone for salt cured Dog?