John and Ann are back aboard

Kings Bromley to Acton Trussell.

We're back on Rhapsody and she's doing just fine. It is always a little worrying to see how she weathers 4 months of winter without us, and this was a particularly cold one in the UK. Everything fired right up though, and we are nearing our 4th night on the old girl. It took a couple days to get everything put away and organized again. We're traveling with our normal cruising buddies, Rod and Rosie, and it was a great help to have their car to do our initial grocery shopping.

We started at Kings Bromley Marina on the Trent and Mersey, just west of Fradley Junction. From there we headed northwest to Great Haywood where we turned left onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal ("the Staffs and Worst"). Both of these are pretty sections of canal and tonight we are moored just north of Acton Trussell.

The plan is to head for Gloucester and then on to Sharpness. We'll continue all the way south to Stourport (pronounced starport) on the S&W and then south on the River Severn all the way to Gloucester. There is quite a harbor and interesting waterfront there. It's exciting getting into the lock that goes into the harbor because the Severn is quite fast flowing there and if the lock isn't opened for you there is a possibility of being swept over the weir just downstream. Close coordination with the lock keeper with either a mobile phone or VHF radio is needed.

The Gloucester and Sharpness canal south from there was built to provide a safer route for sailing ships coming into the harbor. From there we should be able to see the Severn Bore which is, I think, the second most severe tide in the world. On good days you can hear it coming and surf on it. Yikes!

The weather has been quite good. In fact we haven't been rained on since we returned to the UK. It was windy today though, and that provides another level of excitement for me. The wind can push us around some, but a little skill and cunning (and luck) will get you through almost anything. Crosswinds demand a change to the normal plan of slow and easy to stay out of trouble though. If the wind is pushing the boat sideways, only more power will help you "crab" and maintain course. Then again, if it gets too windy, we just hang it up for the day. All part of the fun.
Cheers, John and Ann