Our target today is Swanley Bridge Marina where, alas, we will be leaving the boat until the end of July. It was a bright sunny day as we set off in good time.
By mid morning we had arrived at Wrenbury where we thought we might look for a place to eat tonight. There are two pubs listed. Whilst Christine looked at the nearest (Dusty Miller) and then returned to carry on boat cleaning, Mike and Alice walked to the shop in the village. On the way there they found that the other pub did not open to lunch time and there was no indication of the food options visible outside.
After visiting the shop, on the way back they took a diversion to look inside the village church. This proved rather interesting as it is one of the few churches in its diocese still to have box pews. Originally they were much higher as one remaining sample shows. They re-modeled and made a little more comfortable for seating.
A much more unusual feature is the Dog Whippers Pew. This role, later called the Beadle, was to control unruly dogs!
The church also has a proper West Gallery, albeit partly now occupied by the organ that replaced the former singers and musicians. We climbed a narrow set of stair and had a grand view of the church below. Alas, the front of the gallery is not considered high enough for modern safety considerations so the front row cannot be used.
Back at the boat we found that Christine had had a much more successful look at the Dusty Miller and so we will return here later (by car!)
Off again just after noon with a passer-by warning u that there have been problems at the Baddiley Locks ahead of us. We arrived, having had lunch on the run, almost an hour later to discover that whatever problem there had been was now cleared. We understood later on that there had been a log or similar obstruction preventing one of the bottom gates from fully operating but that it had been cleared quickly by CaRT staff - a far cry from the 'it has been closed all week' that towpath gossip claimed!
On then down through thw final two locks at Swanley and we were ready to turn into the marina. Mike held the boat at the mooring just outside whilst Christine went to find our particular berth. Armed with a plan she then walked to the actual location so that she could signal to Mike as he came in.
Amusingly, as Mike manouvered in, one of the marina staff (it turned out later to have been one of the brokers) was filming him - or more probably the boat. Fortunately he did not go astray, although it took a couple of goes to reverse into the appropriate slot. Although Chrsitine could arm wave to show the right place, for once the pontoons had clear numbers on the outside ends.
After mooring we loaded what we could into the car and then went to the marina office to investigate their brokerage services. This was quite helpful and we were given the names of a couple of builders - one a larger firm and the other a one-man operation just starting up who sells his boats through the brokers. Alas, we forgot to take any photos of the marina or our bertyh - perhaps we may remember to do that when we return. Nevertheless, we found it a pleasant and friendly place.
Once all the sorting and cleaning was done it was time to drive back to Wrembury, just a fedw minutes by car although the road crossed the canal three times en route. The Dusty Miller proved a good choice - we found them very welcoming and not too busy. Alice especially enjoyed her choice from the menu - including the chocolate pud.
7.7 Miles - 6 Locks
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