Ducks

Most of the ducks you see on the canal are the typical brown variety. All through the season the mothers shepherd their broods of tiny offspring, which look hilarious as they skate at high speed across the surface to find their mum, if separated by the boat. But it is really hard to photograph them – brown against brown doesn't make for a compelling composition.

Now these white ones are different.

A quick internet search didn't resolve what type they might be. They don't look small enough to be the "Call" duck, and look much more like the "German Pekin" (Pekin Duck - Haha!). But the latter is said to be seriously endangered. These just look like albino mallards. Anyway, they waved us good-bye as we left our Hopwas mooring today.

On the way south I rang Fazeley Mill Marina to check (a) that they were open to do a pump-out, and (b) that we would probably have to reverse under their arch to put Erin Mae's pump-out ports next to the pump. The reversing went remarkably well, but the timing didn't.

Gypsy Lady had just done to the wharf for a pump-out as well, and I had to fiddle around for ages, trying to stop the breeze from putting me in compromising positions. In all this I discovered that the marina does in fact have enough space for me to have come in bows first and turned – but that with Gypsy Lady on the wharf, reversing in actually made it easier to avoid her.

It was worth the wait. Jackie gave Erin Mae a very effective pump-out, for as cheap as I'd got one in years. And when I heard the price of fuel, I got the diesel tank filled up as well.

We tied up near Fazeley Junction for lunch, and to do a quick visit to the Tesco Express. But that was when the rain started. We'd expected a light shower – instead it pelted down, and continued that way well into the afternoon. So we stayed where we were for the night. Weather for ducks may be par for the boating course, but we're getting a bit soft.