Audlem

Last night just as we were dropping of to sleep what sounded like a Chinook helicopter passed over FL very low, must be a RAF base close by.

We haven't moved for the last two days, the battery bank hasn't dropped below 80% so the solar panels are doing their job. The painting of the port side coach lines have been finished. In addition, the rear deck gutter has been electric wire brushed, sanded, rustproofed and a coat of primer applied ready for a coat of bilge paint.

I rang a mate of mine yesterday, he has been following the blog and reckons I'm always working! I assure you I'm not, maintenance on a boat is something that needs to be kept on top of though, I don't find working on the boat a chore but an enjoyable way to pass a few hours. So far the painting jobs done have been no more than touch up jobs. The roof requires rubbing down and painting at some stage, I might hire a paint shed to do that.

It's about a two mile walk into Audlem whose centre is right beside the canal, three pubs, an upholsterer, a charity shop, Co-Op, butchers, a cycle shop and an undertakers make up the vendors. I dropped into the famous boaters pub the Shroppie Fly for a Timothy Taylor's Landlord and sat beside the lock gongoozling before making the walk back to FL.

These cattle graze in the best setting ever.

The Old Priest House coffee shop.