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Showing results for tags 'Shirley Drawbridge'.
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I was doing my fortnightly move yesterday, the intention was to leave Lapworth and head to Hockley Heath or Shirley Drawbridge. In the end I only got as far as Hockley Heath because of a lack of time and daylight. I'd intended stopping at Swallow Cruisers for water, coal and diesel but, unfortunately they'd already closed by the time I got there. Anyhow, I did the other necessary chores yesterday and this morning, so set off for water at about 1:00pm. Filled up at Illshaw Heath and headed on, the intention being to get to Shirley Drawbridge. I also managed to break my headlight on the first lift bridge (did the same last year when I first went through it) and dropped the second bridge onto my tiller. Oh, the joys of the inexperienced single handing lift bridges! As I was going through Lady Lane Wharf, Earlswood a guy on one of the boats asked if I was heading to Shirley. He said "don't!" He was moored there last week and had his boat broken into. Batteries, tools, mooring stakes and just about everything else not screwed down, including his isolator key, was stolen. So, I winded and am now moored behind him on the towpath side at the wharf. I've given him my spare isolator key and had a bit of a chat. Apparently his ropes were cut as well. He suspects, given what was taken, it was another boater that robbed him and two other boats that were there. I'm now in a bit of a quandry. I'm moored somewhere I'd never normally choose to moor (surrounded by people), feel like I've moored a bit inconsiderately because of the width restriction and equally slightly relieved that there are other boats/people around so hopefully there's less chance of being robbed. I'm back at work tomorrow, so won't get chance to move until next weekend. Ultimately I'm heading to Brum after the stoppages end, so, could head back through Lapworth and up the GU instead. Should I just man up and hope that the thieves have moved on? or just stop thinking... Rob