We are finally off!

Trent & Mersey at Aston on Trent

Once the horses were sorted, the last of the clothes packed and the last minute shopping done we finally pulled pins at 2pm. The grand summer cruise got off to a shaky start after the gunnel got caught on a ledge in Shardlow lock. Fortunately good shove did the trick before things got real bad. One can only imagine the mickey taking we would get if we managed to sink TM in the first lock of our summer cruise in sight of the chaps at our home mooring! We managed Aston lock without incident but things again went pear shaped at Weston lock. The flow of water from the emptying lock forced the bow of Tilly May out from the bank to the point where I could no longer hold her. She was in danger of wedging across the canal, so I ran back to the stern and hit the throttle with tiller hard right. Tilly May ended up on the far side of the canal but control had been regained and we finished the lock with no more drama. Arrived at Ragley Boat Stop at about 6pm, by which time we were knackered and starving. A pint of London Pride followed by a mixed grill that would choke a horse and back to TM to write the blog with the sound of Jan snoring in the bedroom.
While at Crick show we met Monica and Terry Darlington plus Jim & Jess of Narrow Dog to Carcassonne fame. The Narrow Dog trilogy were a major influence on us getting our first narrowboat, and we are sure Spot sees herself as a female version of Jim. So to get me in the cruising mood I have started to re-read the books. This in itself has highlighted a few problems. Having purchased an iPad I thought I can read using said iPad and promptly gave my Kindle to Kate, Jan's sister. The iPad is great at most things but as a book reader it is too heavy and does not work well in bright sun, so back to Argos to buy another kindle. Short trip to Willington today me thinks.