We needed to move on from Kingswood Junction yesterday due to our cats being harassed by a dog from another boat – each evening.. it was let out and the owner didn’t care what it did.. and immediately it was off the boat.. barking and charging down the towpath after our cats.. with 2 diving in the canal to escape it – needing us to rescue them as they could not get out themselves.
So after having 2 cats nearly drowned.. that was enough for anyone.. and we performed the old tradition when you live on a boat.. “If you don’t like your neighbours.. just move onto somewhere else.. “.. so we did 🙂
One last trip to the local shop for basic supplies.. and off we went. It was an hour or so before we got to the Knowle flight of 5 locks.. and promptly lost one of the front fenders to the lock ladder.. bugger.. 1 more gone.. So when that’s replaced.. one spare left in stock..
Eventually we got through to Catherine De Burge, a quiet little spot, and considering this is a wide canal.. not a lot of room for a wide beam to get through once a few boats are moored up.. but.. were going to be here for a few more days.. its a few hours closer to Birmingham, and allows is to do a full day at the weekend to go through and out of Birmingham without having to overnight in the built up areas. Its not that I don’t trust large cities with lots of bored kids.. I just cant afford to wake up in the morning and find the solar panels have disappeared overnight!
We also took the time to re-arrange the living room again.. as were getting closer to needing to light the fire.. but first.. it needed un-burying! So the boat is now in winter mode and Anna has some working space as her business is now getting daily orders through.. which is awesome!
We should be moving through to Fazeley junction at the weekend, and staying there for a while as we need access to a hire car for several weeks.. and – funnily enough – there’s a hire car company in walking distance.. right on the canal there.. so we will be staying put for quite a while.