Sunday, 12 May 2013

Overwater

Our plan was to visit Audlem parish Church for their morning service at 11 o'clock. This meant that we had a leisurely start to the day and it was only a few minutes walk down the towpath to the main road bridge and from there through the village.


Outside the church is the former Butter Market.


The service was a Family Service with Baptism, led by the deacon who is coming to the end of her first year of post ordination training. Also taking part were their music group - about 9 musicians all of whom seemed to be pretty competent - ranging from flute, violin, clarinet, euphonium and cello plus keyboard. There were about 40 in the regular congregation as well as the family and supporters of the little baby boy being baptised.

On the way back to the boat we called at the Co-op - we were missing red kidney beans for a chili, a revision to our planned menu.


After lunch we moved the boat down the remaining four locks so that we were just a short distance from Overwater Marina where we are due to leave the boat tomorrow morning. At the bottom lock, George's seems to be surviving well, despite his arguments with CRT earlier this year.


Rain arrived just in time to dampen our short journey but it stayed with us, quite heavy at times, as we did some boat cleaning. Whilst Christine tackled the usual routine items inside, Mike set about doing something to the outside roof. There seemed to be a fine spray of paint - at least something was creating a fine spattering of tiny blue specks which came off with vigorous scrubbing. The trail from the chimney, inevitable when rain falls on the residue from wood and coal fire - marked not only the edge of the roof where the rain runs along to the rear of the boat before draining down the side. Experimental use of a cream cleanser - we did not want to damage the paint surface - seemed to be successful in removing most of the problem. All we now need is some sunshine so that we can see what else needs doing!


So that's about it for the next three weeks whilst we return home. The next trip should see us ending up in Liverpool Docks.

0.5 miles - 4 locks

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