A HUGE change of plans!!

Tuesday 10th March 2015

I received an email this morning and had to send off a few emails as a result of some of the answers have come back in.

The subject of the email and the ramifications that result, have had a huge and potentially life changing outcome.

Diane and I spent a great deal of time discussing what we would need to do and where we would be going.

The very first result of all of this is that we have completely scrapped our summer cruising plans to head up via the Rochedale to the North-East and cruise the rivers and canals in that area; we won't be able to cross The Wash with Howard and Janet.

We will now be heading south towards London and doing this area as a priority.

This could be our only chance to get there on Ferndale.

We are not in a position to expand on this at the moment.

Having got through all of that, we cruised just a short distance today to moor up on the aqueduct at Congleton.
Today was curtain washing day and although we couldn't refill with water at Bridge 64, there being 3 other boats wanting to do the same, we still have 3/4 of a tank remaining.

A quick visit down into the town centre - it would have been quicker getting there if we hadn't followed Diane's directions and headed away from the towpath, but we eventually made it; made our purchases and enjoyed a coffee before heading back up the Park Lane hill - Diane would say mountain, equating the terrain as similar to K2.
 

we saw this and immediately thought of Sue and Dot.

an interesting plaque on one of Congleton's well known

The sun had been shining for most of day and the solar panels were collecting like nobody's business.

Not long after our return, Alton (Renaissance CCC) wandered past and my first reply was that we were fine for diesel, but Diane needed some for the Reflecs, so out I raced and said that we would need some - it was OK, they were just at the next boat.
79 litres later we were completely topped up.

It was Brian's birthday today, so he received a spirited rendition to accompany his special day - Ann-Marie gave away the secret.

After that it was just a rather ordinary day, but it was a lovely warm one - hopefully a precursor for a glorious summer.

More news on the first item when we can.

4 miles
YTD: 100 Miles, 37 Locks, 1 Tunnel, 2 Lift Bridges, 6 Swing Bridges

Totals: 2994 Miles, 2158 Locks, 99 Tunnels, 36 Lift Bridges, 157 Swing Bridges