On the move again.

Monday 15th December to Tuesday 16th December 2014

It is always nice to have a car for a few days but it is also nice when you return it - simply you can be off again in the boat.

By the time I had returned, and for the first time Diane had readied the boat for the day - canopy down at the back and fastened securely; unmoored and moved the boat on her own; down to the Calveley services block; moored up; de-rubbished; de-toileted; and by the time I arrived, she was busy chatting up Bernie from nb Happy Soul - no, I mean, she was having a chat with him.
Everything done, I just simply came along and enjoy her handiwork.

The tap is notoriously slow here and so it took a little while, but once filled we were finally off.

The washing had practically finished by that time, so it meant that Diane could be inside where it was cosy warm and sort through all of that; I had just a little bit of cold air to deal with - it was essentially a mild cruising day.

Around the turn at Barbridge and slowly past all of those moored boats - not another one on the move.

Or so we thought.

I walked ahead from bridge 4 to Cholmondeston Lock and in that time a boat appeared behind us - so a virtual queue had sprung up.To compound it, as we were descending in the lock, there was a boat coming from below the lock - bloody heck, all these boats around, we thought it would be quiet.

Diane recognised the lady coming up to do the lock, but couldn't find a name, until we saw the boat nb Free - Carol and Dave - how could we not know - brief hello to Dave and we carried on - through the next lock -Church Minshull.
 

Church Minshull Lock

As we passed Aqueduct Marina, we were feeling a bit tired and virtually at the same time agreed on it, so we moored up just past the marina entrance. There was some rain not long after and some during the night, but it was a very quiet mooring - no sounds of cars, trains or planes.

During Monday I had phoned for Brian at Renaissance and spoke with Ann-Marie about getting some diesel - just 80 litres to keep things topped up, with the aim of being at Middlewich. We heard nothing back, but didn't worry ourselves about it.

Tuesday morning greeted us with some more rain - on and off - by the time that we were ready to leave it had abated and the sun had appeared and was quite warm on the back.

A huge flock of seagulls suddenly took flight

Fine sunny day

Only 1 lock to negotiate and a few miles, so easy cruising and we made good time without rushing - just over 2 hours and we were mooring up, a bit short of Wardle Lock.

A spot of shopping in the town and a visit to the chippy on the way back - the rest of the afternoon was keeping cosy warm and doing some work (for me) and odd jobs (for Diane).

About 6:30pm there was a tapping on the side of the boat and upon investigation, it was Brian with our diesel - we hadn't received the message that he was on his way but diesel was accepted with great pleasure.
The ease of commerce these days - delivery to the boat; poured into the tank and cans as required; payment by debit card through the portable machine -just way too easy.
So here we are now, sitting down, very cosy and comfortable, ready for tomorrow and a day with a few more locks but tonight will be a few more rain showers.

11 Miles, 3 Locks

Totals: 2865 Miles, 2074 Locks, 97 Tunnels, 34 Lift Bridges, 151 Swing Bridges

Way Ho - change of plans

Wednesday 10th December 2014

Some very precise planning has been going on, about which I was on the periphery - it involved a tunnel, a car hire, a xmas luncheon and a dwarf.

Ok, I may have just added the dwarf in for effect, but there were a few other people involved in all of this, but essentially one master (or should that be mistress) planner.

The "Mistress of the Blue Horizon" had calculated when we need to get through Harecastle Tunnel; the trip into Chester and fortunately the result came through just before we reached the winding hole above Bunbury staircase locks.
Hard about turn and the lengthy cruising day that we had ahead turned out to be a mile long cruise to turn the boat around.
 

A short but chilly cruise

We moored up just a bit further back than where we were earlier on.

So no cruising and too cold and windy to go out just yet - we settled in for a while.
 

The waves were getting bigger

Whilst not doing much at all, we needed to sort out a hire car, and during that process we needed a pick-up point - it has been our experience that in the absence of anywhere else of any prominence, it is usually a pub that makes a great point of reference.
Once you start talking about pubs on this boat, it usually comes around to food, and what do you know - we were heading towards The Tollemarche Arms for lunch since The Daevnport was now closed.

It could have been that it was mid-week; could have been that we were late for the normal lunch time; or it could have been that we were quite observant, but we did notice that the management had changed.

playing with her wooden soldiers again!

and Santa made a visit as well

There was, however, no change in the quality of the food or drink available and we were pretty well pleased with our 2-course lunch; so much so that dinner has been cancelled on the boat.

Lunch was very nice indeed

The only dicey part of the outing was walk to and from along the narrow but safe path - which did happen to be alongside the busy A51 - trucks and everything.

It is still getting dark around 4pm but the boat is cosy and comfortable - the Reflecs heater performing very well indeed. So here we will be until the morning.

1 Mile


Totals: 2854 Miles, 2071 Locks, 97 Tunnels, 34 Lift Bridges, 151 Swing Bridges

And then we were stopped - just for an extra day

Monday 8th December to Tuesday 9th December 2014

After all of the excitement of finally getting back to cruising we needed to stay where we were - we didn't know why but we couldn't use our debit cards - it could have been quite embarassing when we were shopping, but the credit card still had some life left in it.
So we needed to see the back - they couldn't help as Lloyd's has split from TSB and the bank in Nantwich is TSB.

But not to be beaten, Diane had a sudden brainwave - check the expiry date - sure enough they had passed their "best before" date - at least that answered that.
So we will need to see if new ones have been sent toWatford.

Diane had spotted just a couple of small spaces that needed a bit of filling, so Sainbury's saw us again; at least the trolley was left behind.

The sun had been replaced by intermittent showers, which we managed to dodge; made it back to the boat just in time as usual - another heavier shower as we made into the back conservatory.

The rest of the day was completed with some work (for me) and soup-making and reading (for Diane) - but eventually it was just relaxing.

So after a slightly longer stop than we would have originally planned we were going to head off again.

There was a brilliant sunrise this morning - not really a good sign for the weather ahead for the day, but a sight to enjoy whilst it lasted.
 

Really a superb sunrise.

The morning was not that bad at all - just like any other cold day that we could experience any other time of the year - the air was cold in itself, but without any breeze it didn't matter; unlike other days the sun was hidden behind the clouds and did not show itself at all.

I think we have been quite fortunate with the weather - we have read reports of ice on the canal at Braunston, Stone and Milton Keynes - but none where we are - yet!!
 

It really was not this cold - there were thermals
underneath and two pairs of gloves on the hands.

There were a few others around with their fleeces on
- keeping warm.

Our end plan is Chester but we are not exactly sure when that will be, but immediately it was to fill the water tank; rid ourselves of the rubbish and empty the cassette - the services block was barely 100m away so no sooner had we started than we moored up again.

The water tap at Nantwich services is notoriously slow - we weren't hugely surprised by this morning's effort, but with no time issues it didn't matter too much.

Finally with everything done we were off for a second time - today's little journey was not too far and certainly would be free from locks - surprised that Diane had failed to offer to do them all for today.

I was trying to remember the last time that we had headed directly north past Barbridge junction towards Chester and have to conclude that it was April 2008 when we had a hire boat - so it cannot be said that this is a water-road frequently travelled - we have been to Chester just twice by boat - the train seems to be our preferred form of transport to get there.

For now however we are only heading as far as Calveley where we have moored up in a stretch of moorings that I would like to say are extremely popular at the moment, but since we are on our own, that would be slightly incorrect.

Diane got on with putting a few Xmas decorations up, although her intention a few days ago was not to bother - I think she was influenced by Andy's efforts on Festina Lente.

The tree is up as the stocking...

...and the lights as well

For me, it was an afternoon of work - I am convinced that I had the better deal.

5 Miles

Totals: 2853 Miles, 2071 Locks, 97 Tunnels, 34 Lift Bridges, 151 Swing Bridges