Not really a cruising day, rather just a short trip returning the boat to Fradley. Off at 8.00am to get back to Fradley by 9.30am stopping on the way to refuel at Streethay Wharf where I had refueled a week earlier as I wanted to compare the fuel consumption with last week. We put in £27.50 worth of diesel filling her to the brim which turned out to be almost exactly what I had calculated from last week. Seems to me that Slipstream is rather heavy on fuel as I had been led to believe before buying our share that around £20 a week was the usual fuel cost. I do know it was full to the brim as the girl filling up forgot to keep an eye on the pump and at least a gallon ended up in the canal (which they knocked off the bill). A few squirts of washing up liquid quickly sorted out the canal and the back of the boat.

A short pretty run took us past Fradley village, although you can't see it from the canal, and on to the familiar junction where we had the usual fun turning amidst all the boats trying to moor up, refuel and pump-out. I stopped the boat perfectly on the turn to the junction and watched as others made a real mess of sorting out moorings. Once all was settled I did a perfect turn and an inch perfect mooring up alongside another boat. Boy did I feel smug. I guess we had all got used to Slipstream by now.

A great week with many variations (and hassles!) which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Hard to believe now that it may be next year before we are back on board again.

Trip totals - 125.7 miles - 113 locks - 58:36 hours cruising