Bartimaeus

We've been moving the boat around in the last few days principally to keep the batteries charged.  Ironically this is because of the schedule for organising for our propulsion and generation systems to be replaced.  With the new system in place, we might have just stayed in one place and still been able to keep the batteries charged even though there wasn't enough sunshine.  We hope to get more solar panels too.

We are returning Bartimaeus to the marina where we first embarked, over four years ago.  We've passed the entrance twice this month, once with Heather on board, and again after she left.  We continued north as far as Stoke Prior, but made sure not to pass the winding hole near there.  The next winding hole is at the top of the Tardebigge Lock Flight - 35 locks each way.  The winding hole was almost obscured by the raft of moored hire boats, but there was just enough space to pass, and plenty of room to turn.

The weather forecast has been unreliable and the weather variable, but we have managed to pick dry parts of the days to move the boat.  Today was forecast to be bright and sunny most of the day with occasional showers.  We decide to visit Hanbury Hall, hoping that we could see the gardens in the sunshine, and shelter in the house if it rained.  The plan worked well enough, although there was less sunshine than promised and no rain until well after dark.

The stand out feature inside the house was the mural in the grand staircase.  It depicts the story of Achilles. In the main scene he is disguised as a woman, but gives himself away by picking up a weapon from a box of goodies.

The gardens outside were extensive, with formal box hedges, fruit trees and vegetable plots.  I was impressed by the view from inside the estate over the haha.  From quite close it isn't obvious that there is a barrier before the field of sheep.

Just as we got back to the canal, I got a glimpse of a kingfisher flying by, but Clare missed it.  We got back to the boat in time for me to cycle in to town to buy a few essentials (there might not be time, or dry weather to do that tomorrow).  When I got back there was a bat patrolling the air a few boat lengths either end of us.  After I'd called her, Clare got a good view of that.

During the day, we were told of a slight change to the plans, requiring us to get to the marina in the morning tomorrow.  That should be easy enough, and if the forecast is anywhere near right, we might do so in the dry.