Friday - Day 18

In Romajech, we had a very rainy night, overcast but fine the next morning. Blue Adeline was headed for lunch at Crick and a stopover to investigate the place, probably disguised as pedestrians this time. Romajech continued through some very narrow parts of the canal which only had room for one boat, rather like exploring the Amazonian rain forest... Natives seemed friendly.

Long stretch with no locks which was lovely. Driven off the canal by torrential downpours and the sight of very peaceful moorings amongst fields and hedges. Only birdsong to be heard, once the thunder had died away.

In Blue Adeline, we'd moored for the night above Watford Locks and in the morning came through Crick Tunnel (getting a little more confident, although not sure we'll ever exactly like the experience; fortunately we didn't meet any boats coming the other way) and arranged an overnight mooring with Dick at Crick Marina.  We were immediately impressed by the friendly and helpful welcome and the orderly neatness.  It's very good value, too, at £10 per night including electricity.  

We walked into Crick for lunch at the Red Lion - a fiver each, great homemade pies - then to shop.  

Asked about bus services to Braunston, since we wanted to visit Midland Chandlers.  A lovely couple outside the Co-op offered to drive us there - they were both just retired and as they said, "demob happy" with the freedom of it.  Once in Braunston, we bought a sturdy trolley and a new inverter, half price in the sale.  Laden, we returned by taxi as no buses run direct.  

The first rain in the whole trip that evening, with monsoon-like downpours, thunder and lightening.

An update on the inverter: Thinking was the 300W inverter would power phones, MiFi, camera charger and laptop - and it's true it will power the smaller items but for some reason NOT the 60W laptop. Also, it turned out to be a faff connecting all the leads and keeping them out of the crew's way during charging. The original setup with a replacement for the defunct Sterling is now the plan, with a 1500W Waeco model.