We cruised through the last lock into Penkridge in glorious sunshine.
Although that grey cloud ahead of us should have given us a clue, we had barely finished mooring when the heavens opened. Torrential rain and hailstones.
It didn’t last, and we woke the next morning to a perfect autumnal scene
We’d moored in Penkridge because the train station is easy to get to, and I was treating myself to day at the the Staffordshire Wool Gathering so needed to get to Stafford. As I’d anticipated it was an awesome experience, over a 100 artisan crafters selling everything a yarn addict could dream of, (with the exception of more time and storage space)
I was very restrained and reminded myself that I live on a narrowboat with limited storage that is already overflowing with more wool than a flock of sheep. But it was a good day out. And Eric had cooked tea for me on my return.
Whilst we had some time on our hands and a good mooring, I took advantage of the trains and took a trip up to the Lakes to see family, and the village sheep.
I was hoping to play in the beech woods, but the weather didn’t provide me with the opportunity. Although I did get to visit one of my favourite childhood picnic spots
Back on board Firecrest, Eric had moved the boat further along, away from a rather large leaning tree just in case storms Austen and Boelo brought it down. I travelled back on the Friday and much to my surprise, the train was only delayed by 30 minutes.
Austen and Boelo did pay us a visit, but wind is difficult to photograph. Luckily for us, not with as much force as elsewhere, I think the hedges either side of us offered a degree of shelter. The big tree behind us is now leaning at an even more perilous angle, but is only more inconvenient to the tow path trawlers now.
