Made good use of the Grindly Brook facilities, after a couple of weeks out in the sticks enjoying ourselves we accumulate a surprising amount of rubbish, not necessarily domestic rubbish but painting rubbish as well so it was good to be able to unload all the 'surplus to requirements' stuff that was on board.
The tow path changes sides from time to time so I took advantage of a change of mooring to start on the port side.
A good haul of ash, used the chop saw to process most of it and the band saw finished off the rest.
Topped up with water at Bettisfield, just because we could. This is an unusual water point. The canal side moorings go for quite a long way and once upon a time there was rubbish facilities at this location to serve the boaters moored here, but when CRT took over from BW the rubbish facility was removed (I haven't been able to find out why). It's a good place to get a supermarket delivery though and there is a bus stop just across the road from the water point, however when I checked on the timetable (I had seen a bus stopping there earlier on) I found out that it is only the school bus and that normal services had been discontinued several years ago.
Got a delivery from ASDA while we were here. The delivery vehicle arrived and the driver was disinclined to bring my goods to the boat. He instead suggested that he leave all the delivery trays on the tow path so that I could get all my produce to the boat at my leisure and he would collect the trays later. I wasn't very keen on this as I suspected that by the time he returned (if ever) the plastic trays would be in the canal causing an obstruction but I wasn't prepared to argue with him so acceeded to his solution. Needless to say he did not return to collect the trays today.
Trays still not collected so I rang ASDA to suggest that someone should come and collect the trays before they caused a problem in the canal.
Kingfisher watching, it seems that there is a Kingfisher hole in the bank a few yards from where we are moored so we keep seeing it flashing backwards and forwards from it's fishing ground to it's nest. Occasionally if you are quick enough you can spot the little fishes that it has in it's beak.'
Pulled in to Ellesmere Arm so as to do some proper shopping instead of all the deliveries. As Tesco is such a short distance from the mooring and the trolleys are not restricted from coming along the arm it makes for a really good place to do both bulk and fresh shopping.
And, of course, access to the town facilities like the Post Office and a couple of charity shops. One of them is really cheap, but with careful selection I have managed to get some really nice shirts and trousers for as little as £2 a shot. The other charity shop is much more upmarket but the prices reflect the difference in quality. I use the local pharmacy to get repeat medication.