Mendip & Explorer go to Bourneville

Good Sunday morning to you all form the well deck on the bow of Explorer. It is 11:00 BST. We have been up and about for about 4 hours, cooked breakfast, washed up. Boat checks completed, we are running the engine to recharge the utility (leisure) batteries.
Later this afternoon the crew will reposition Mendip from her central moorings in the heart of the museum to a mooring that will allow us a smart start in the morning. We will be underway before 07:00 with 2 hours boating before the first big effort of the day - the 21 locks at Wolverhampton. We are very happy that we have some extra help meeting us at this long flight. Some of our freinds from the museum in Ellesmere Port are driving to Wolverhampton to augment the crew and will form the main part of the lock wheeling crew along with the crews from the three boats. Yes, three. We are joined for the return trip north by Steve and Anita on their own boat "Mignonette". It's great to have them with us.
I have attached a couple of picture taken at the boat gathering yesterday to give you a sample taste of what the scene looks like. Also I have included a picture taken in Birmingham on Tuesday eveening while we were waiting to welcome members of the BW board, IWA Board and Trustees of the new waterways charity.