John & Jo N.B. Acen

2012-03-08T17:46:00.002Z

Wednesday 7th March.
The day started with cats and dogs raining down, the forecast was for it to stop at 1.00 p.m., plans were made to sail to Foxton after lunch.
Looking across the canal I could see one of my gloves hanging off some weeds, it must have blown off the boat roof over night in the strong winds that were blowing from the south. During a slight respite in the weather I took the dogs out to recover it. We had coffee around 11 as the weather seemed to change for the better we decided to start the trip to Foxton. After about 500 yards the rain came back with a vengeance! We continued on battling into the rain and wind, pausing at Debdale for Jo to deliver some DVDs to NB Mutely. On we went to Foxton Locks filled up with water and then on to just before the village to moor for the night.

Thursday 8th March.
A nice bright calm start to the day. No great rush as we only wanted to moor for the night after the "glue factory" about 2 miles. Off we went through the village of Foxton to the swing bridge, this proved to be far to stiff to move and had to wait for a van driver to give me a hand. Another 15 mins. and we were moored up. Jo started baking cakes and biscuits, the first time in the new oven. After a late lunch the cakes and biscuits were tested, top marks all round.

6th March

2012-03-06T18:48:00.001Z

Tuesday. A beautiful clear blue sky and no wind, the temperature dropped to -5c last night. A lazy start then set off at 10am for a walk to the reservoir.

Back to the boat and after a coffee I got the new polish out and polished the port side of the boat. Had lunch late and rested.

5th March

2012-03-06T18:36:00.000Z

Monday. No rain today but a cold strong wind. We filled with water at the tap outside Tony Matts and set sail towards Smeeton bends, we arrived at about noon and put the boat down the feeder channel from the reservoir. In the post that Tim brought, was some new tubs of polish for the boat, so before we closed up for the night I tested it on a bit of the boat. It seemed to be better than anything yet and gave a good glass shiny finish. The dogs had a good chase on the rolling empty fields until they dropped with exhaustion.

4th March

2012-03-06T18:23:00.000Z

Sunday. Rained nearly all day. We battened down the hatches and sat it out, we remained on the mooring opposite the Locks Inn. Just a few excursions out with the Girls. I sat and watched the rugby France playing Ireland. Tim and Amelia visited us to deliver the post.

2nd March

2012-03-04T21:12:00.000Z

We left our winter moorings on Friday morning, sailing towards Foxton, on to the locks and then to Debdale to fill up with diesel (.84p p.l.). Then we returned to Foxton Locks, mooring opposite the Locks Inn.

29th October

2011-10-29T20:26:00.000+01:00

Packed and ready to get the taxi tomorrow morning to go on the big cruise.
Will try to do posts on the blog but it might be difficult to get connected on the Atlantic.
Otherwise will catch up in three weeks when we get back.

23rd October

2011-10-23T08:37:00.001+01:00

On Monday we were put back in the water. We then sailed through Foxton and moored just after the wooden footbridge. The weather is still fine but quite cool. Over night we had some rain, but it was a dry cold Tuesday morning. After giving the dogs a good run we set sail to Market Harborough, it was a good cruise we appeared to have had a bit more water in the canal. We arrived at 11a.m. and moored in our berth for winter mooring. Caught up with the gossip of the few days we had been away.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday it's the count down now for our cruise over the Atlantic to the Caribbean on the 29th October. Lots of shopping and preparing the boat for being left for three weeks.
Saturday was a very nice sunny day, Jo was gradual getting buried under a pile of ironing when we had a phone call from Sharon & Stephen. The ironing was stopped and out we went to Foxton in the car to meet them coming down in Mutley from Debdale. Coffee and cakes all round on Mutley more gossip and then a walk up the locks with the dogs. More gossip as we met other boating friends on the walk.
Sunday the first case will be packed and taken to Tim's house to store and another empty one brought back to the boat for packing.

The rain we had on Monday night is the only rain we have had this week!

Sunday 16th October

2011-10-16T19:00:00.000+01:00

Had a wonderful weekend, succeeded in blacking the boat, and the painting of the colours on the stern. We had time to sit out and enjoy the warm sun and visit Sharon and Stephen on N.B. Mutley in the afternoon.

Friday 14th October

2011-10-14T21:03:00.000+01:00

At Debdale, the boats been lifted out and jet washed for blacking.

As you can see the weather is perfect, warm and dry.

The first thing to get on with was to have the bow thruster tunnel grills altered, to a better removable type. This the local shell builder Andycraft did promptly and well. They also flattened the plate that was bent on the top of the rudder, when we were caught on the cill on the Rufford branch.

I then started on the bow thruster repair to the propellers that had either fallen off or were spinning loose. I removed the loose propeller and blacked the tunnel and left it to dry. I then started on blacking the rest of the hull, most of it was done with a roller the rest with a 4" brush, Jo followed round with a smaller brush getting in the bits that I had missed. By 3.00 p.m. the first coat was on the shell. with the light dropping it was time to return to the bow thruster to fit the propellers on the shafts, complete with new shear pins and fixing screws, all complete and tested by 4.15 p.m.

3rd October

2011-10-03T19:53:00.002+01:00

We mostly sat out on the bank at The Union Wharf, enjoying the hot weather, tea or coffee.
On Wednesday we both had our flu jabs.
I caught up with some painting on the boat, finishing the colours on the stern, then I painted the chimney and it's base.Then I moved on to sanding and preparing the green on the back deck.
On Friday we were still waiting for Sam to bring the alternator, lunch was ready and I was about to sit down to eat it when Sam rang, to say he was on his way. As I finished it Sam turned up and asked if I wanted to fit it myself or did I want him to, I said that I would do it. Sam went down to MH to do some shopping and I started, I have done it so many times that I can get all the tools out I need and get on with it. It took just a bit over half an hour and the engine was turned on and all was working as it should. Sam turned up and joined us in a mug of tea and a chat, then left with alternator number two, to get fixed.
Saturday and Sunday more sitting out and chatting with fellow boaters and enjoying the heat of the sun.
Monday we moved off out of the Wharf and on to the bank.
Gill on Idunno called and delivered the second dog coat for Darcey that she had knitted for them.
We are now ready to sail off to Foxton.

25th September

2011-09-26T21:19:00.001+01:00

We had an enjoyable weekend at the Foxton Festival, meeting up with friends and catching up with their boating stories and experiences this year. We decided to moor out side the Foxton Locks Inn for the weekend. Friday night was a little noisy, as they had a "James Bond" party, with a disco and dance, as it was a dry night people were drinking out side in the garden, just outside the boat. However it did stop at 11.00 p.m. on the dot, great, except the party then went over to Bridge 61 to continue. No bother it's what you can expect when you moor outside a pub. Saturday and Sunday were very quiet.
Saturday we walked up to the showground, that was set up near the long stay car park. Two big marques, one with stalls selling everything the other the entertainment and beer tent, lots of fairground rides and games, exhibits of alpacas, MG cars, vintage fire engine etc. lots of people coming and going. Sunday we walked up the locks and met up with Jill & Don on N.b. Idunno, had tea and a chat on the bank. They were preparing to go into Harborough for winter mooring.
Monday a dash back to Harborough for my doctors appointment. Wednesday and Thursday looking after Amelia after school. On Thursday Sharon and Stephen on N.B Mutley came over to Harborough to visit, tea and cake on the bank. We were invited to Peter and Anne's, (residents of the apartments overlooking the Wharf) for a drink.
On Friday we moved off with Mutley to Foxton, mooring up between Foxton Village and the Locks.
Saturday I watched England playing in the World Cup on the TV first thing then lots of dog walking and sitting with Sharon & Stephen.
Monday we moved off to Debdale and met David our boat fitter, who was finishing off after the painter had finished his last boat. We told him about our plans for our proposed alterations to the galley. We've now got to go to Midland Chandlers to see what cooker and hob we need and there sizes.
On the way back from Debdale I could smell burning, when I opened the engine room door the smoke alarm sounded, on checking the alternator it seemed very hot, it was then I realised that it had stopped charging. When we got back to the locks we pulled in opposite the Locks Inn. I removed the alternator and replaced it with the spare, all went well and when I started the engine the alternator was charging. I then took the faulty alternator over to the shop for them to pass it on to Sam Matts. We moved off passing through the two swing bridges with the intention of mooring just after bridge 6 for the night, the burning smell returned shortly after we passed the road swing bridge, the replaced alternator had stopped working!!! Phoned Sam, he will see us in Harborough. So off we went to Union Wharf to moor with a land line for the foreseeable future.

14th September

2011-09-14T20:54:00.000+01:00

Two weeks on and we are still marooned, stuck, restricted to cruising between Debdale and the Harborough Arm, up to Market Harborough. We regularly cruise to Foxton for the weekend, but mostly we are moored in Union Wharf paying for the mooring together with a power hook-up. We are busy catching up with doctors, hair cuts, (I went to the barber in Harborough, this is the first time for over fifty years that Jo hasn't cut it) and the dentist. Darcey has been back to the vets to get her staples removed and the wound has healed well, she just has to wait for the hair to grow, where they shaved around it. While we were there, both dogs had their booster injections and the vet supplied us with their worming tablets, to give them later. I now have a replacement for the phone that was stolen back in the summer.
Today Jo had a doctors appointment at 8.30 am. (annual check up), . we all got up early and I drove Jo to the doctors I went in with her as I wanted to see if I could follow up an invitation, I had received from the doctors in March to have a full check up. Yes was the answer and within 30 mins. I had had the first part completed, blood sample, blood pressure, height, weight and history. The second part is booked for Monday morning, they don't mess about do they. With the Foxton Festival coming up, this weekend we did the shopping packed it in the boat, had lunch, then moved out of the Wharf and set off to Foxton. After we had moored up we went out to walk the dogs to the locks. As we were climbing the locks, we were passing one of the lock keepers and had a chat and commented that were not allowed to go up the locks, yes you are" he said, you have a mooring north of the locks, we pointed out that it is only our winter mooring, he then queried it with the other lockie, who agreed with him, that yes we would be allowed up!!! Plans are being made now, to go and visit Crick.

31st August

2011-09-01T08:48:00.000+01:00

Last night Darcey spent the night on our bed, so that we could stop her if she tried to pull the staples out, otherwise she's fine.
I re moored the boat, as we moored in a hurry yesterday and it looks like we could be here for some time, both Foxton locks and the locks towards Leicester are all on a restricted "essential use only" (only hire boats and those that have a permanent mooring at Debdale or Market Harborough) are allowed to pass through, due to the lack of water. We who only moor for winter in Market Harborough don't count, so we have to watch hire boats go up the locks one day and come down the next! the boats from Debdale I can understand, if they are returning to their moorings, but they also are allowed to pass up the locks to go out, even if it's a short trip to Welford and returning two or three days time. What boats are there that have an essential reason to travel? Every morning locks full of water are passed down the locks just to maintain the level of the water at the bottom. As you can probably tell I'm not very happy about it, if there isn't any water, close it.
The rest of the day was spent on maintenance of the boat, new shelves in the study & replacing the perspex under the pigeon boxes.

30th August

2011-08-30T20:50:00.001+01:00

Last night as we were ready to go to bed, we noticed that Darcey had pulled the second staple out of her wound and it had started bleeding again. We put a dressing on it and put her coat on her, to stop her getting at the wound over night.
This morning I phoned the vet in Harborough, explaining that we were in Foxton and it would take us two hours to get to them, they told me to just turn up and they would see her then.
We left our mooring near the foot swing bridge at 9 am., moving at an urgent pace, slowing down as we passed moored boats, road swing bridge moved easily, it took us about one hour twenty minuets. Fortunately all the moorings in Harborough were free, so we pulled in and moored up at the basin end.
I then took Darcey to the car and then to the vets.
They saw to her as soon as we arrived, I sat in the reception, after fifteen minutes the vet called me in. She now had four staples holding the wound together, had another dose of anti biotic and a pain killer, I was given some pain killer to give to her each morning. With instructions that she must not be let off her lead to run, until the staples are taken out in ten days time, nor allowed to nibble or lick the wound and she can't have a dressing, or her coat on, to prevent her doing that. I explained that I didn't think that would work, she gave me a lamp shade device to put on her head to make sure she couldn't. Off we went back to the car and the boat.
Lunch with at least one of us watching Darcey all the time.
After lunch I went into Market Harborough, to shop for various items I needed.

29th August

2011-08-29T17:19:00.001+01:00

We moved the boat down to Foxton, winded at the bottom of the Locks and moored up through the foot swing bridge just after the bridge moorings. We are now prepared to return to Harborough, if we are needed tomorrow, for Amelia. Another walk around the locks, meeting lots of boaters we know, lots of catching up with the gossip. Phoned Tim on our return to the boat to see if he needs us tomorrow, no he doesn't so we will remain where we are until tomorrow.

28th August

2011-08-29T17:12:00.001+01:00

A peaceful day on the mooring next to the wooden bridge, before Foxton.
I found a field for the girls to have a good run in, that tired them out for most of the day. I set about putting a new drive belt on the domestic alternator, the previous belts have always been a bit too long and together with a bit of stretch have always taken the alternator to the maximum amount of swing possible. The new ones are perfect, the tension adjuster still has a lot of spare adjustment and I am able to get the belt tighter than before. I then topped the water up in the batteries
We all went out for a long walk to Foxton Locks and had hot drinks at the top.

27th August

2011-08-27T22:06:00.001+01:00

I was woken by a text coming in on the phone at 5.45. I lay there for a bit thinking what it could be, at first I thought it could be our Daughter texting from Canada, no problem that can wait, then it occurred it could be Tim, at 6.00am. I decided that it was worth getting up to see. Yes it was from Tim, now in Centre Parks, the message read that his house alarm was going off, could I go round and check, it could be the cat, who's got left in the house. I put on yesterday clothes and set off to investigate. Yes sure enough the cat came dashing out when I opened the door, a good look all round, everything else was alright.
In the car and back to the boat for 7 am.
We set off from Harborough just after 11 am. Nice, dry and warm, as we passed under the A6 road bridge it started to rain for a short time and then it was back to being dry and warm, the rest of the day was the same pattern repeated over and over again with some thunder mixed in.
We moored, just before the wooden footbridge before Foxton.

26th August

2011-08-27T21:00:00.000+01:00

Friday. Today we are looking after Amelia just for the morning as they are leaving in the afternoon to go to Centre Parks for the weekend and Tim will be home by 1. pm.
Back to the boat, to get ready to sail off tomorrow to Foxton. I walked down to Harborough to do last minute shopping, when I got back I filled the boat's water tank.

25th August

2011-08-27T20:50:00.001+01:00

Another day of looking after our granddaughter.
Today started wet and remained wet all day. We had a DVD of "Calamity Jane" that we put on for Amelia to watch and she did some reading and how she could count in English, Spanish & French, not bad for five and a half.
Just before lunch I was called in to the kitchen, to find that little Darcey had come out of the garden with a cut to her side, it had cut right th.rough the skin in a little V shape. A quick drive to the vets, we arrived in the middle of their lunch hour, but fortunately they were open and without any customers, the vet was still there and saw her immediately. Two staples to hold it together and a shot of antibiotic, she was seen to in record time. Back to son Tim's house for some lunch
Then we played some games with Amelia, before her mother came home at about 4pm.

24th August

2011-08-27T20:28:00.000+01:00

Child minding at son's house, all day.
Good weather, I managed to do a few jobs, like clean the car inside and out, then wash it, and tidy the boot. As the weather was warm and dry, I managed to cut the lawns front and back.

Jo was entertaining Amelia, most of the time, outside in the garden.

During the day we had a visitor in the kitchen

23rd August

2011-08-23T20:11:00.000+01:00

This is the day we start our granddaughter's minding duties. With an expected time of arrival of 9.15 am. We have to be up, breakfasted, dogs walked and the boat cleared ready for the arrival of Amelia. I walked to the road at the side of the restaurant to see the silver Volvo arrive on time, with Cris and Amelia in, last minute instructions, from Mum and we walked back to the boat.
After a short settling in, we sorted out umbrellas for us all and walked to our car, then we all went shopping in Market Harborough. When all the shopping was completed we returned back to the boat, unpacked and put away every thing and had lunch, afterwards video's were watched, games were played and then we walked down the towpath with the dogs.
The time was swiftly approaching when Cris would be returning to collect Amelia, we had to rush back to the boat as I had been talking to a fellow boater and had lost track of time. We then gathered things together and set of to meet Cris, we all got to the meeting point at the same time and Amelia was popped into the car and driven off.
Back to the boat for a rest and a cup of tea.

22nd August

2011-08-22T20:36:00.001+01:00

Off out to Market Harborough to tax the car, the Town looked deserted, there was hardly anybody about at 9.30 am. There wasn't much of a wait at the post office counter and I soon got back to the boat, where I walked into a group of people waiting outside the restaurant, amongst them was Miles, the gentleman that with his wife Polly look after our girls Purdey & Darcey, when we are away on holidays, and Peter a resident in the basin. They are a group who volunteer to look after the part of the towpath that starts in the basin. They were waiting for the British Waterways man to join them, to instruct them what they were doing today. He didn't turn up! So they disbanded and those that came past the boat stopped and had a tea or coffee with us.
Then Tim called by and drove me to his home, to my car, I then drove back to the boat and we went shopping.

21st August

2011-08-22T20:14:00.002+01:00

Sunday, moved the boat through the small swing bridge and moored up just after the bridge mooring, to wait for Tim and Amelia.
The weather was cloudy to start with, but we could see that a large portion of the sky was blue.
Tim and Amelia arrived, taxied by Cristina, who was going home, to prepare for work on Monday!!
We set off, on our cruise to Foxton, Amelia and Grandma were in the front of the boat (Amelia with a two way radio and we had the other on the back deck so that we could communicate). It wasn't long before the sun came out and remained out for the rest of the day. It was a very good trip and when we arrived at Market Harborough we were able to moor up on the last mooring before the basin, enabling us to get a satellite signal on the dish. We then had lunch outside the Waterfront Restaurant, meeting a lot of people who we knew from the area, either passing by or residents.
Back to the boat, to wait for Cristina to collect them.

20th August

2011-08-22T19:48:00.001+01:00

Saturday, cruised to Debdale to visit Sharon & Stephen, had a good chat, filling in the missing weeks. As we left Sharon & Stephen's, Tim phoned to invite us to join them for a Bar-B-Q in the evening. Cruised back to Foxton just before the wooden foot bridge, lunched and read the paper. We walked down to the car park where Tim with Amelia, picked us up and drove home for a very entertain evening, with excellent food followed by a campfire as we gathered round his fire bowl, keeping warm singing songs and getting smoked. Arrangements were made for Amelia and Tim to join us on the cruise tomorrow, to Market Harborough.

19th August

2011-08-20T08:25:00.001+01:00

Up early to go to see C&G up the locks, the sun was shinning and it was warm/hot, with all the beautiful views, as we climbed the locks. At the final lock, the final goodbye's and off they sailed. This finally brings a very memorable trip, that started mid February, to an end.

Back to the boat and enjoyed the sun.

18th August

2011-08-20T08:17:00.000+01:00

Moved off from Saddington pulled into Debdale Marina for diesel @.84p per litre. Graham filled up at the same time and then a short cruise to the bottom of Foxton Locks.
Carolann & Graham are leaving us tomorrow morning and going off up the locks towards Crick. This is our last full day together, dinner at the Locks Inn and a lot of reminiscing over our extended journey together, then the start of our goodbye's over a drink on Autumn Years.

17th August

2011-08-19T08:23:00.001+01:00

Moved off from Kilby 8.45 am. cruised half a mile to the first lock, that was controlled by a BW lock keeper.

Two boats were already there waiting to enter the lock after it was unlocked at 9 o'clock, another single boat was ready to go through, then us. After the first two had gone through the single boat moved up and was told by the lockie that he could only go through if he waits for up to an hour for some one to join him. He told the lock keeper that he had an appointment and he was comming in now, he was let in the lock and his photo taken by the lockie. Then we started the first of twelve locks and six miles that will take us up to the Foxton/ Market Harborough level. The final lock also BW men controling the entry to the locks, We then sailed on through a tunnel and moored up on the aquaduct at Saddington.

16th August

2011-08-17T08:02:00.003+01:00

Today's the day we go through Leicester!!
Awake and out of bed at 5.15 am ( me that is, the rest of the crew remained in bed until after breakfast). A quick wash, prepare and serve breakfasts and a good walk with the dogs.
We then started the cruise at 6.30. in bright sunshine but a bit cool.

We soon arrived at Birstall lock and continued on at a good speed, most of the locks were for us, at the Mile Strait in Leicester we paused for no more the 15 minutes to go to the small Tesco's for milk and bread,
we kept our first place, as no boats had past us (we were told at the end of the day, that if the ladies had seen a boat approaching, they would have started our boats and moved off to maintained the first place, we would have to have run along the towpath, to catch them up).
We continued on without incident, or meeting boats coming towards us. We got to Kings Lock at 9.10, where the restrictions say we can't pass through until after 9.00 am, due to the restrictions to save water.
There was a single boat coming out of the lock towards us, there were two boats moored way back from the lock, as we passed the boats, we were waiting to be challenged, the boat nearest the lock spoke to Jo on the bows, because he was a deep draughted boat he wasn't going to go through the locks, but reverse up and wind (turn round) returning through Leicester!!). The other boat didn't show themselves. We cruised on to enter the open lock, on the radio Graham is telling me that there was a bit of a dispute with the boaters on the boat that we hadn't seen the crew. We both entered the lock, the girls worked the lock and had half filled it, when the crew off the first boat appeared.
They remonstrated with us, that we shouldn't have entered the lock without waiting 1 hour, even though we were a pair traveling together and that we would have a job to move as the water was well down. We continued to fill the lock and they wished that we would get stuck, then disappeared back to their boat.
On exiting Kings lock it was obvious that all the warnings and threats were correct, the water was low, so low as you could nearly see the bottom either side, moving was very sluggish, at the first bridge, the one that goes to Fosse Park, I got stuck, to the left of me were two shopping trolleys and to the right were three. Graham came up close to my stern, I decided to try increasing the rev's that made a bit of difference and we started to move over the raised bottom, where I assume all the rubbish that's tipped over the bridge settles, and eventually we were clear and continued pushing along the bottom slowly. When I had increased the rev's to get over the bump, the wash from the prop. had pushed Graham into the bank and it had taken Graham and Carolann some time and effort to get into the middle and clear the bump under the bridge.
After that yes it was low, but it did get better and we managed to eventually get to Kilby by 2 pm.
A hot shower and a bath before tea on the bank, and later over the canal to the Navigation Inn for an excellent meal.

15th August

2011-08-15T20:48:00.000+01:00

A lovely day to stand still and catch up with a few jobs on the boat, while we wait for Sam Matts to turn up to attend to the problem with Autumn Years alternator.
We went of to the marina a few hundred yards away to put some diesel on, only fifty litres as I didn't want to be too down on the stern, as we will be cruising through some shallow water south of Leicester tomorrow.
Sam turned up at about 12.30 and identified that it was the alternator that was faulty and replaced it.
More tea was served as we all sat and enjoyed the day.

14th August

2011-08-14T20:54:00.001+01:00

Moved off a 9 am. aiming at getting to Thurmaston this afternoon, to make an early start tomorrow morning to get through Leicester in one day.

It's a good warm and bright day.
The first lock we came to was Mountsorrel, followed by Sileby, Cossington and Junction locks. We stopped at the Hope and Anchor for lunch, then moved on to Thurmaston were we passed through the lock and moored just after the lock mooring.
On the trip today, Autumn Years was suffering from the warning light, for the domestic alternator lighting up. So Graham had a good look at it and could not see why it was happening, but it wasn't charging the domestic batteries. A phone call to Sam Matts, who assured Graham that he will call tomorrow first thing.
Hopefully, we can get up a bit later tomorrow!

13th August

2011-08-14T20:29:00.000+01:00

Moved up from just above the Barrow Deep lock, to beyond the next bridge (28), by the weir, for a better mooring to spend the day resting.

12th August

2011-08-14T07:51:00.001+01:00

Moved on to Loughborough basin to do some shopping,

the basin was empty when we arrived, which helped us to wind the boats, the ladies did the shopping while the men filled the boats with water. I received phone calls from both sons, Tim phoned to tell me they were going off camping and Jeremy (who's birthday it is today) to say how well they were doing in Koss, with the scorching hot weather and the friends they had met.
We then moved on to above Barrow Deep lock to moor.

11th August

2011-08-11T18:56:00.001+01:00

A bit late moving off, as I had to do a last minute shop in Sainsbuy's, then Autumn Years was driven into Castle Marina for fuel and a pump-out.

A day of windy warm and occasional showers. We cruised on, overtaking a very slow narrow boat that was crawling along the cut.

Completed the two locks on our way to the River Soar, through the first flood lock then Ratcliffe lock and moored up after a mile.

10 miles.

10th August

2011-08-10T18:32:00.001+01:00

A cold wintry August morning.
We were ready to go just before nine, extra clothes were at the ready as it was particularly cold and the wind was strong. After a short time it started raining, the waterproofs were donned.

After five miles, we arrived at Stoke Lock together with a very nice, big, cruiser, we all got in with plenty of room to spare, a very gentle assent of the lock.

We all three set off to Holme lock, in convoy. Just under three miles to get there, at one point we counted 79 white swans massed around an outfall. At Holme lock the gates were just opening as we arrived, not only is this lock big it is very deep so it took a long time to fill.
Then off we went to Meadow Lane Lock, to get back on to the canal in Nottingham, one more lock and we moored up, near Sainsbury's and finished for the day.

9th August

2011-08-09T22:06:00.000+01:00

We set off from our moorings on the pontoons at Newark just before 9.am.
Arrived at Town lock before the lock keeper was on duty, Carolann volunteered to be lock keeper and worked the lock.

On we went, shortly after we had left the lock, we could hear the drive belt on the domestic alternator falling to bits, we cruised on a little while, when it was obvious that it wasn't charging, no panic we carried on, until I could replace the belt at a safe mooring. With blue skies and a following wind, we were moving fast with only passing rowers to consider.

We arrived at Hazelford lock were the lock keeper was surprised to see us, as obviously he had not been informed of our presence by the Town Lock keeper. No problem and he would inform Gunthorpe lock keeper of our plans to go there. We pulled in after the lock on the moorings and I replaced the drive belt and we all had coffee and set off to Gunthorpe.

After Gunthorpe lock we moved up river a bit and moored on the pontoons outside the Unicorn pub.

Drinks on the pontoon and a rest from the journey, in the evening we sampled the food and drink in the Unicorn.

8th August

2011-08-09T21:18:00.001+01:00

We are stopping in Newark today and moving off tomorrow morning, that's the plan.
Jo & Carolann are going shopping in Newark, this morning!!!!!!! Graham finished the polishing of Autumn Years, I decided that it probably would be best if I did the same to Acen. We slaved away all morning, the weather was ok but there was a cool breeze when the sun went behind a cloud, which it often did. The girls returned, carrying bags of bargains, we all sat and had coffee on the pontoon followed by lunch. After lunch the girls went off to the hairdressers to have their hair done, Graham finished the polishing and I was just about to finish my polishing and it started to rain, that made it a bit difficult to polish off what I had already applied. However it soon stopped and I managed to finish off. Both boats looked a lot better for it.

7th August

2011-08-07T20:38:00.001+01:00

Still in Newark and no plans to move off yet.
Shopped in Newark for essentials like milk, wine, beer, a large 15kg bag of dog food. It's too much to carry home to the boat, so I asked if I could take the shops trolley back to the boat? with lots of assurances that I would return the trolley to the store I was allowed to bring it away. Fully loaded it was alright in the store but once outside it was quite difficult to move the small wheels over the stone sets and gravel surfaces on the way back to the boat. Finally made it and had a coffee to celebrate. Then I returned it back to the store. In the afternoon we went to the Castle Park to listen to a brass band play in front of a crowd, we returned to the boat at the interval as they weren't very good. Had a tea meeting with C&G and retired to the boat.

6th August

2011-08-07T20:23:00.000+01:00

Stopping in Newark today.
Lunched at Zizi's with Carolann, Graham & their Daughter Angela & family.
A good sitting out day for catching up with the world, only a little bit of rain late in the afternoon.

5th August

2011-08-05T18:34:00.001+01:00

Lovely mooring on the river Trent at Cromwell Lock.

Nice sunny and warm start, gave the dogs a good run on the lawn at the side of the lock.
Started sailing at just after 9, under blue skies and on blue water.

A good and uneventful cruise that took a little over one hour to get to Nether lock at Newark and a short cruise to a mooring on the pontoon under the local BW office, at first we had to breast up but later the boat astern of us left and Autumn Years fitted in the slot.

As Jo walked the dogs off the pontoons she bumped into two old boat friends, John and Sally, over tea we had a good chat and catchup.

Weather was still hot and sunny so we able to catch up with caring for the boat.

4th August

2011-08-04T22:20:00.003+01:00

Due to go out of Torksey Lock at 10.30am. so no rush, we could take our time.
Dog walking the dogs along the embankment, giving them a good free run, to try and ware them out.
Final checks and we moved down to the lock at 10.00, and moored up just before the locks. Spoke to the lock keeper who said that we would go down the lock at about 11.15 and be ready to enter the lock at 11.00.

All went to plan and we left the lock at 11.25 in front of the other boats.

The river Trent was in full flow and we set off avoiding the flopsome that was rushing by as we exited the lock channel.

The day had started as forecaster, wet and cooler, now it was raining hard with a strong head wind, the sat nav told me we were doing 7 mph.

It wasn't long before a fully loaded sand/gravel barge came towards us down the Trent, occupying the centre of the river we chose to pass him on the wrong side to give him more space.
We then came across a widebeam boat, floundering on the inside of a bend as if it was stuck on the bottom, apparently they had run out of diesel and could we tell the lock keeper to get some diesel to him. When we got to Cromwell we found out that a following boat had stopped and offered them a can of diesel, but didn't want any other help!!
It took a full 2.5 hours to get to Cromwell Lock. After we had passed through the lock we moored up against the high wall just above the lock. We then had to haul the dogs up the wall to give them a run.

After we had struggled to get them back on board, I had a scout at the other moorings and found one on the pontoons, we both moved rapidly to the new mooring.

3rd August

2011-08-03T20:40:00.004+01:00

Got up late today, as there is no rush to do anything.
We are stopping moored here at Torksey today, as we are waiting for Autumn Years and it's crew to return from their Boston cruise.

10.30 Mike, Sally and Sock's joined us for coffee, the weather was hot again and as no one seemed to have anything to do we sat and chatted. The wine came out and we continued to enjoy the company, at 2.30 Autumn Years came into sight and moored up, next to us.

We then all sat out until it rained, later in the afternoon.

2nd August

2011-08-02T21:38:00.003+01:00

A very hot day.
We set off from the Pyewipe Inn at 9.30 and sailed to Torksey, arrived at 11.30 am.
Got on with a few jobs on the boat, later we walked the dogs.
After lunch Jo walked towards the lock and came across Mike & Sally on October House. I joined them for tea and a catch-up chat.

1st August

2011-08-02T21:32:00.003+01:00

Moved to the water point and filled with water, set off to the Pyewipe Inn, doing three loads of washing as we moved.
Another very hot day.
Jeremy called after work.

31st July

2011-08-02T21:11:00.005+01:00

A nice hot day, popped to the local Spa shop for the Sunday Mail and milk.
Sat around having coffee and later drinks with our neighbour Anne, on "Double U" a Sea Otter narrow boat.
At 2.30 we joined Jeremy and his girl friend for lunch, in Lincoln. They then came back to the boat for a short while.

30th July

2011-07-30T20:00:00.003+01:00

Getting ready for a visit from our son Tim and his daughter Amelia. They arrived at 11.40, after a chat we set off into Lincoln for Lunch, we decided to try The Barge that's moored up in Brayford Pool. We had a very good meal and set off through The Glory Hole to the centre of Lincoln, today was a festival of some kind so there were street entertainers, fairground rides and other things to amuse Amelia. Fortunately the sun was out and it was warm, on the way back to the boat Amelia showed an interest in the Brayford Belle, a trip boat that cruises up and down giving a comentry on Lincoln, Jo, Tim & Amelia had a trip on it!!

29th July

2011-07-30T19:57:00.002+01:00

Did some work on the boat cleaning and polishing etc.
Walked around Lincoln.

28th July

2011-07-30T19:49:00.003+01:00

A messing about day today.
A bit of shopping for the necessary items, walked the dogs & had the coffee and tea meetings.
In the evening, we met our son Jeremy, for drinks and a bite to eat.

27th July

2011-07-27T20:27:00.003+01:00

Another later start at 9.30 am. cruised 5.5 miles to Saxilby, filled up with water, then another 5.5 miles to Lincoln.
There is only enough space for three fifty seven foot boats on the 24 hour moorings, in Lincoln and we were lucky enough to have two of them available. So we were able to moore next to each other and against the bank side. Off to Zizi's for lunch, back to the boats for coffee. We contacted our families to let them know we had arrived.

26th July

2011-07-26T21:17:00.005+01:00

No rush to get off this morning, we have until 1 p.m. to get to Keadby 3.5 miles away.

A cool morning as we set off at 9.15, lots of small weed on the surface of the water made it look like we were sailing through a lawn.

We had to pass through one swing bridge that we operated ourselves, a side sliding rail bridge operated by a signal man from his signal box, before we moored up before the Keadby lock.

We entered the lock at 12.30, after the lock keeper had swung a large road bridge, before the lock, we were then lowered down and exited the lock at 1.10 am. The tide was comming in and moving at a swift flow.

The 27.5 miles to Torksey took 4.5 hours, we then had to wait to go into Torksey lock as the tide was not sufficient for the boats to float over the cill of the lock and there were 14 boats waiting to descend. We eventually got up the lock after the second batch of boats exited the lock, then moored up at the top of the locks at about 6.30.

25th July

2011-07-25T19:30:00.003+01:00

Monday morning, we weren't early getting up.

Maureen and Geoff came over to say final farewells, presenting us with some rhubarb and apples to send us on our way. Final farewells and off we went towards Keadby Lock, I phoned the lock keeper and booked us in to the lock tomorrow at 1.30 pm. More long strait cruising on the canal, views for miles, easy lift and swing bridges and one lock all electrically controlled. Moored up, with three miles to go, to Keadby.

14 miles, 1 lock.

24th July

2011-07-25T19:04:00.004+01:00

A late start to the day, as we all stopped in bed a little bit longer than usual.

Geoff and Maureen came over to the bankside for morning coffee and a chat, at 11 we opened a few beer and wine bottles, at 3.30 we were invited over for a BBQ in Geoff & Maureen's garden.

A wonderfull BBQ was provided in the garden, on a hot sunny day, the hospitality continued later in the house. An excellent day was had by all, even the dogs loved the freedom of the house and garden.

23rd July

2011-07-25T17:46:00.007+01:00

My turn to collect the papers today, I walked to the lock and over the bridge and continued towards where I thought the shops would be, after 200 yds. I was in the shopping precinct, found the paper shop and returned to the boats.

We set off at 8.45, retraced our steps for the first two miles then turned on to the Aire & Calder Canal also called the New Fleet Drain South and North and later on Knottingly & Goole Canal. Totally different from yesterdays cruising, instead of the very twisty wide river, we were on a canal, although it was wide it was made up of long strait sections.

After 10 miles we turned south onto the New Junction Canal, 3 lift bridges, 1 swing bridge, 1 lock and 5.5 miles later we turned east on to the Stainforth & Keadby Canal and arrived at the Bramwith lock. At this point I phoned an old friend who lives at South Bramwith, who with his wife came up to the lock to help us with its peculiarity's, We haven't seen Geoff and Maureen for a long time so we had a lot of catching up to do. The boats were moved off down through a swing bridge and moored up on the bank opposite the bottom of their garden.

We were treated to a superb Yorkshire welcome & hospitality. The drinks flowed and then a Chinese take away dinner, lots of stories and catching up to do, in the comfort of their lovely house and garden.

14 miles, 4 locks, bottles ??

23rd & 25th July

2011-07-25T08:11:00.004+01:00

We traveled to South Bramwith, to meet some old friends, who's hospitality precluded me from posting a blog for both days!! however I hope to catch up tonight when we could be at Keadby lock, waiting to travel up the Trent.

22nd July

2011-07-22T18:06:00.008+01:00

Cruised off from Selby, through water covered in weed.

Graham stopped at a marina as we were leaving Selby for diesel, we continued on, moving slowly as Graham could catch us up before the first lock, about five miles away.

The day was a bit cool and cloudy, the sun would come out occasionally and it would warm up a bit.

Graham eventually caught us up and reported that when the marina man had tried to put fuel in the boat nothing came out, he eventually found out that the tank was empty!! Day two and no diesel, no panic may be third time lucky.

The first lock that we came to was a flood lock, but the gates were closed, Jo & Carolann got off to work the lock, all about 10" of difference. The next Beal lock was another three miles on, 8 feet deep. The final lock of the day was Bank Dole, 7 feet deep, near the junction of the Aire & Colder canal, that we shall be cruising down tomorrow. For tonight we cruised in to Ferrybridge and moored up for the night.

14Miles, 3 locks

21st July

2011-07-21T20:39:00.006+01:00

Getting ready for the off didn't take long, we were off shortly after 9 a.m.

A lot of hooting, tooting and waving as we passed N.B. October House, who were staying on in York untill after the weekend.

A trip of 5.5 miles to Naburn lock, leaving York on a noticably warm morning, under the various bridges and out into the rural river.

Graham wanted to fill with diesel, pulling into a marina that we had noted on our way up last week, we continued on to the locks. We arrived there just after 10.30 and pulled onto the water point and filled with water, Autumn Years pulled in behind us within a few minutes, apparently the marina with the diesel had had a power cut.

Other boats were pulling up to get ready for going down the lock. At 12 noon the lock gates were opened and six narrowboats filled the lock, on the dot of 12.30 one of the gates were opened, the other was faulty and remained closed. Fortunately the opened gate was just in front of both of our boats. We got out first and pushed on fast, at this point there wasn't any noticeable flow in the river.

However it was a lot higher than when we came up last week, after about 6 miles of the 14.5 miles we would travel to Selby, we were being overtaken by two white cruisers who were going past Selby to Goole, the river then started to flow down stream building up speed until we were traveling at 8mph. according to the satnav. We still had to watch out for all the floating rubish that we had to dodge.

We arrived at Selby Lock just before 3.00, a bit of excitement getting in the lock but we made it.

Moored up in Selby and did some (wait for it) shopping!!

20th July

2011-07-21T20:14:00.002+01:00

A promising day, after the first early shower was over.
A decision was made that we will leave York tomorrow (Thursday). A phone call to the lock keeper at Naburn Locks to find the appropriate time for us to arrive, to go down the lock, we need to be there for going out at 12.30 p.m.
A final nip round York to do the last minute shopping!!
In the evening we joined Carolann and Graham for drinks on Autumn Years, also there were Mike and Sally, our new friends off N.B. October House, . A very good evening was had by all, exchanging boating stories and experiences, with some food and drinks.

19th July

2011-07-19T20:45:00.004+01:00

The day started with sun and a calm river.

The river had risen about 12" so the ropes and fenders had to be adjusted. Today is the first time for a few days that we had morning coffee on the bank, but very soon after we had finished we had a huge downpour of rain that lasted about two hours.

We had decided to go for afternoon tea, at Betty's, a cafe in York that is famed for it's English teas', together with Mike & Sally, off NB. October House we set off at 3 pm. just as another downpour of rain started, but we were prepared with coats and umbrellas. We had to wait outside as there was a queue to get a table but we were soon seated inside and we all had a very nice Yorkshire Tea each. When we came to leave the heavens opened again, we waited for a short time then out we went in the rain, to get back to the boats.

The boats ropes were slackened again, as more rain is expected over night.

18th July

2011-07-18T18:11:00.002+01:00

Three days of, on and off rain, shopping and visiting museums.

It's not too bad, we are still enjoying York and exploring the streets and it's features.

We're keeping an eye on the water levels as with all this rain the river is rising.

15th July

2011-07-15T21:01:00.004+01:00

Another hot, warm and sunny day.
The dogs ran in the nearby park and did a bit of training, the dogs that is.
Today's the day we are going to walk the wall around York, unfortunately the dogs are not allowed on the wall so they had to be left on the boat. We last did this walk about 30 years ago when we accompanied our sons cub pack, on a visit to York. It took us about two hours to complete the whole circle of the walk.
Back to the boats for coffee and the lunch. Afterwards the ladies went back to the shops, Graham and I went to the Railway Museum just on the other side of the river. This I had been to thirty years ago, and it appeared to have changed considerably.
Back to the boat for a beer, the ladies returned, just as the beer was poured but they had tea.
At six o'clock we set off to a well recommended fish & chip restaurant, for an excellent meal.

14th July

2011-07-15T19:59:00.007+01:00

Woke early, gave the dogs a good run on the island above the lock.

We set sail on the river Ouse, a different river to yesterday's. This was a delight, the weather helped, today as it is hot and sunny, the river is reminiscent of the Thames, with white cruisers moored along the banks , the occasional willow tree at the bottom of the properties that border most of this stretch. As we approached York we were on the look out for available moorings, when we arrived at the preferred moorings, they seemed to be full, we circled going back and slowly scanned the spaces, Jo managed to convince two boats to shuffle up and make a space for us. We got in, Autumn Years breasted up with us. Later on one of the boats that we came up from Selby with came by and breasted up on the outside of us.

We went on the open topped tourist bus, on a trip around the sights of York. We then did the shops. The chairs came out on the bank for tea and drinks, we were entertained by the passing river craft, on a hot and sunny afternoon / evening, we eventually retired to the boats at 11.15 p.m. A long day and too late for blogging.

5 miles.

13th July

2011-07-15T07:37:00.011+01:00

Couldn't post the blog on Wednesday poor / no phone signal.

Wednesday, our trip to York, due at 5.30 p.m. through the Selby Lock.

We spent our time doing final preparation on the boats, after we had moved through the swing bridge before the lock, deweeding the prop, filling with water and getting safety gear out for tidal sailing. The girls did their final shopping, for vital gear of shoes and clothes.After frequent visits to watch the torrent of water rising and all the flotsam and jetsam speeding up the river, the due time arrived. There were five boats due to go out, we were the first to go out and moved in on time, we descended this very deep lock, the gates opened then we waited for the lock keeper to signal that it was safe to proceed, into the river into a clear bit of water. He gave us the OK at 5.50 p.m. and off we shot, immediately being pushed around with the urgent flow of the tide. I had the satnav set on the roof, that told us that we were traveling at just over 8 miles p.h. Keeping the engine revs. at just under 2000 rpm. we were overtaking the rubbish in the water and having to go through the correct bridge arches and go around some acute bends. It's not a very pretty river at this point, it's a dirty wide ditch, after about five miles the tide was making very little difference to our speed, our speed was now down to normal cruising speed of about 4 mph. We arrived at Naburn locks just after 8 p.m. and 13 miles. We were joined by the two boats that came after us and we all ascended together and moored up just after the locks.

13 miles, 2 locks.

12th July

2011-07-12T20:54:00.003+01:00

Just after 8.30 a.m. we left our moorings for the night.

Yet another wide, deep navigation passing Castleford and on to Ferrybridge, passing through the flood lock and back on to the canal, the weather was getting a bit chilly as we bombed on to Bank Dole lock.

We then joined the River Aire again, a big wide river at this point, that meander all over the place, through Beal lock, that was all ready for us as a boater that we had met on the Lanaster trip had already prepared it and let us pass through.

We continued with the meandering and put another layer of clothes on to keep warm, the river was getting more and more covered with weed.

Getting to Selby just after 12.00.

We had lunch and went off to inspect Selby and do a bit of shopping, returned to the boats and had tea on the bank.

After that we all went to the lock to see today's release of boats going out on the to the river Ouse towards York. The flow of water was a bit rapid, when the boat came out of the lock into the main stream of the river, it was not necessary to turn the tiller, the force of the flow of water pushed the boat round to follow the stream.

14 miles, 2 locks.

11th July

2011-07-11T20:23:00.004+01:00

We're on the move today, untied and left Clarence Dock in Leeds at 8.30 a.m.

Out on to the Aire and Calder Navigation and into Leeds dock. It's a fine sunny, warm day, the locks are easy to use, as they are each electrically operated, either by a lock keeper or ourselves.

The river is wide and deep, to start with the banks are overgrown and industrial, after a while it changed to a more natural and managed appearance. A lot of the area around the water is a nature reserve. The locks are huge, but as the commercial boats that use the locks can be up to 600 tons, it's no wonder.

We stopped at Castleford for lunch and moved on to Ferrybridge for the night.

15 miles, 11 locks

10th July

2011-07-10T16:47:00.004+01:00

Sunday, today we concentrate on getting the boat ready, to start cruising again.
Tomorrow we go east, on the Aire & Calder Navigation, heading for our next target York.
The week we have spent in Leeds, has been a rest from cruising, but we have occupied our time well, either shopping for clothes and things, for our up comming holiday, in October/November, or getting the stores in for our trip to York. We also pulled in a sight seeing bus around Leeds and a trip to the Armories museum.

6th July

2011-07-06T19:59:00.006+01:00

We're still in Clarence Dock, LEEDS.
We have been busy looking around the shops in the the nearby city centre.
I have been sorting out the replacement phone and sim card, with my original number. We had used the spare pay as you go phone in the mean time, so much that yesterday we ran out of credit on it, a quick trip to the local Tesco for at top up.
On Tuesday I had to take Purdey to the vet's, she had been a bit poorly and sad for herself, we thought it might have been the hot weather, but we couldn't miss the chance while we are stopping still in Leeds, we thought the vet should have a look. Apparently her temperature was OK, but she had got a sensitive tummy. A couple of injections and some tablets later we left the vet's and a taxi back to the dock and the boat. No food for Purdey for the day.

Today Wednesday, Purdey is a lot better and eating again.
We visited the Armories Museum near us in the Clarence dock, it is an amazing display of weapons, war and fighting.
I tried to do a bit of painting on the boat, although the weather is good, it does keep raining about an hour after I have put a coat of paint on, it's very frustrating.
I also managed to post a parcel to our Daughter in Canada as their strike is over.

3rd July

2011-07-03T19:55:00.004+01:00

Left our mooring and sailed into the Newlay three staircase locks, with the aid of a BW lockie we descended the locks and sailed off to the Forge three staircase locks half a mile away, these we had to do ourselves as the lockie went back to the Newlay locks to help the wide beam that had just come up the Forge locks.

No problem our expert lock wheelers managed in their usual manner.

It was at this point I was looking for my mobile phone and couldn't find it. I got my other phone and rang the phone I was looking for, after a few rings a voice answered it, it sounded I had woken them from a sleep. i asked who he was and were had he got the phone? he said he had bought it on Bradford station last night. I remembered that in the afternoon while we were having tea on the bank, I had hooked the phone in the cratch so we would here it, but I didn't remember taking it down. So someone had got on the boat in the night and taken it.

Well there was no way I was going to get it back. I have reported it to 3mobile, the phone and the sim will be blocked.

We then went on and did six locks and moored in Clarence Dock near the Armouries in Leeds.

2nd July

2011-07-02T21:45:00.008+01:00

A bright and sunny start to the day.

Graham's turn to fetch the papers, he had a fair walk into Saltaire to the Co op and back.

We left our moorings at 8.45 am. three swing bridges all of varying degrees of difficulty, but succeeded to get them all open eventually.

Arrived at the Field Staircase locks, where we had a BW lock keeper to assist our passage down the three chambers, yet again we were flooded on the back deck.

Cruised on to two swing bridges and the Dobson Stair case locks, no lock keeper so the ladies managed on their own.

One swing bridge at the bottom.

As we moved off Jo said "is that Otis" and yes there on the right hand side moored up was our previous boat Otis and Martin & Pauline the owners, walking towards us. We stopped and had a chat about how they were enjoying their life living on board etc. We were so pleased to have met them on this trip, we knew they were on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and thought we might see Otis but to have met Martin and Pauline was a bonus.

We then moved on too another swing bridge, this proved to be pig to move but we managed in the end, then in a short distance another swing bridge, this was the daddy of them all, fortunately it was in a very popular place so we had lots of help to try and push it, but it still wouldn't move, in the end Jo brought Acen up to put a rope round the bridge and give it a tug, that moved it. There seemed to be a bit of a queue of boats waiting for the bridge to be opened, they all nipped through after us.

We were now looking for a mooring but finding it difficult to get in, we passed through another swing bridge and arrived at the top of the Newlay Locks, we asked the lock keeper if we could moor before the lock mooring, he said that would be fine.

There were crowds of people, walking & cycling on the towpath. At the nearby pub was a music & beer festival that was attracting them.

1st July

2011-07-01T21:12:00.008+01:00

We set off from a very dusty mooring at Stockbridge, sailing into the first swingbridge of the day,

in the next two miles we went through seven more, most were electric and easy to use.

Then we arrived at the top of the Bingley Five Staircase Locks, these locks drop sixty feet, it's like being at the top of a cliff. Fortunately they are controlled and operated by BW lock keepers, with some help from the ladies. We knew when we started this canal that it is limited to boats under 60 feet, so far we haven't had a problem, here the locks are 60 feet long, so we had a bit of a problem getting out, with the stern being rammed up against the sill we could just get the gates open. This is fine except that the gates leak, combined with the lock depth of 12 feet the water pressure was like a Victoria Falls comming over the back deck.

We then moved on to the Bingley Three Staircase Locks, there was just one Lock Keeper helping here, same problem with the water comming over the back deck, but we managed.

In the next three miles we passed through a double staircase lock and a single lock, then moored up in Saltaire.

Saltaire is a very interesting town, having been set up as an estate village by Sir Titus Salt, a wealthy Victorian mill owner. We visited the museum set up in one of his mills and later the pub for a meal in the evening.

Today is Purdey and Darcey's birthday, they are two years old.

29th & 30th June

2011-06-30T19:33:00.008+01:00

Sorry for the absence, but I was busy working on the boat last night and the phone signal was very poor.

Wednesday 28th June, we left our mooring at Foulridge Wharf and headed north towards Barnoldswick, at the marina there, we pulled in and bought diesel and oil filters, for our engines.

We continued on to the three locks at Greenberfield, that started the descent from the summit, lowering us 29'. The canal twisted and turned around the hills and valleys another eight locks into Gargrave were we stopped for the night.

11 locks, 10 miles.

Thursday 30th June. Off we went to finish off the three locks. Now tackling the new problem, swing bridges!! by the end of the day we will have past through fourteen of them.

Skipton came and went, we moored up were we could get in, just before Stockbridge.

Leeds 17.5 miles.

3 locks, 14 miles.

28th June

2011-06-28T21:21:00.003+01:00

We left our mooring at 8.30 a.m.

The views over the valley were clearer than yesterday. It was cooler today, but the sun was still shinning.

We both took on water at Rose Grove before bridge 126A, we then traveled into Burnley passing by old mills, tall chimneys and old collieries, some of the mills, are or have been restored, as modern accommodation.

The Burnley Embankment is 3/4 of a mile long and carries the navigation across part of the town.

We arrived at the Barrowford Locks at 1 p.m. a total of seven locks, rising 69' 3". We were fortunate to have the bottom lock empty and open for us to sail into, managed the others rapidly and without incident. At the side of the locks is a reservoir that collects the surplus water from the summit level for feeding into the canal when required, it looked very low.

As it was early afternoon we continued on to the Foulridge Tunnel, entrance to this tunnel is controlled by traffic lights, half an hour each way. When we arrived it was on green, so we sailed through, and moored up at the wharf just out side. We are now 483 feet above sea level.

13 miles 7 locks.

27th June

2011-06-27T19:52:00.019+01:00

Today's forecast to be a very hot day.

We left the mooring early at 8.05 a.m. cruised for four miles through Blackburn to get to the bottom of the Blackburn Locks, a total of six locks, all a tight fit for a sixty foot boat.

With the sun shinning it was extremely hot.

After a short distance we stopped to shop at Asda, at the side of the canal.

Leaving Blackburn we cruised on, passing amazing views.

We passed this impressive building, Daiseyfield Mill.

The canal clung to the side of the hills and we were looking over a large deep valley, for many miles we followed the side of the valley to come around to the other side.

At Church we passed through thee swing bridges, that although they looked new it took three of us to swing them.

We passed this herd of horses with their young.

This man was asleep on the towpath, if you look on his shoulder you will see a parot, yes it was a live one.

Moored up at Hapton, just as it started to drizzle with rain.

Miles 19, locks 6.

26th June

2011-06-26T19:02:00.003+01:00

Sorry about the short post yesterday, but I was late getting to it and I wanted to get to bed.
Some pics. from yesterday.

A very early start 8.15 a.m., a hot start. Cruised for 9.5 miles at a good rate, no bother with shallow water and nice and wide. We did have to overtake a couple of hire boats, that were meandering along slowly, but otherwise no other boat traffic. We did pass a lot of fishermen who were setting up for a match, just before we got to the Johnson Hill locks at Botany Bay we passed a narrowboat that was made to replicate a submarine called U-8047.
We arrived at the locks 11.10 a.m. No waiting moved in to the bottom locks and off we went, up all seven. The locks climbed a total of sixty five feet, bringing us a total of over 350 feet above sea level.
Cruised on for three miles and moored up, in a very nice spot. We had lunch at the Boatyard inn, and very nice it was too.
back to the boats and had tea.
12 miles, 7 locks.

25th June

2011-06-25T21:20:00.002+01:00

Early start, we set off to Wigan.
First the shops and then the locks, twenty five locks today and five miles.
We finished the locks at 4 p.m. and moored up at 5 p.m. a long and busy day.

24th June

2011-06-24T19:26:00.002+01:00

A good start to the day, weather good and warm when the sun was out.
As we set off we went strait through the first swing bridge, that Carolann had walked from the mooring to opperate. At the next swing bridge, some one was already operating it so we went through without stopping and the next was similar, but Carolann had walked from the previous bridge to do the the bridge swinging.
Arrived at Burscough but couldn't find a mooring as there was a large collection of boats for a rally or something, so we sailed on.
The next swing bridge was also being operated by the crew of a boat that was comming towards us through the bridge, after he had come through, Graham set off to pass through whilst the bridge was open, I followed on behind, doing a smart speed, so as not to hold up the closing of the bridge, I was just passing the point of no return, when the bridge started to close, with Jo shouting "STOP STOP STOP" the horn on the boat sounding and the boat engine in full astern, BANG we hit the bridge, with the bow of the boat. OK not much but it did shake every body up and a few things jumped about in the boat.
The woman on the control panel, for the bridge just hadn't looked to see if it was clear to close it.
We moved on one more swing bridge, that I operated, one lock and moored up before Crook, three locks and 2 miles from Wigan, Leeds 94 miles.
17 miles, 1 lock.

23rd June

2011-06-23T20:25:00.020+01:00

A bit of a wet start to the day.

This is the day we leave Liverpool, it's been a fantastic experience, living in the middle of this great city.

9.00 we set off to the tidal lock, in Albert Dock. The BW men, Phil & Andy, were there to lock us through the locks.

We then cruised through the link to the bottom of the locks, above Stanley Dock, the same BW men, had arrived to take us up.

Two hours of cruising took us to the first large swing bridge, at Netherton.

Another 3/4 of an hour and we were at bridge 9 the larger swing bridge, at the eastern end of Aintree Race Course, both bridges operated by BW. The whole trip had taken two hours.

Were on our own now and off we set, first we had to clear our weed hatch, for the second time for each of us today.

We moored up just before bridge 20.

The sun was out in a nearly clear blue sky.

miles 15, locks 6.

22nd June

2011-06-23T19:59:00.003+01:00

A sunny start to the day.
Jo went off to do some last minute shopping, I then went to Tesco's for the last minute stocks of drinks, no not what you think, it was for milk and fizzy fruit drinks, and some fruit.
Had drinks and a chat with Carolann & Graham, final sort out of the boats, then went out for dinner to the Bridewell Pub.this pub is the old cells for the old Liverpool Police station, we sat at a table inside one of the cells, we were in cell 24.

21st June

2011-06-21T20:08:00.003+01:00

A dry and warm start, the sun came out mid morning.
Only two days to go, before we leave Liverpool, final preparations of the boat, I serviced the Hurricane Heater, an easy job, that will not need doing again until we get back in the autumn.

20th June

2011-06-21T08:58:00.007+01:00

A clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight and getting hot.
Just too hot to work.
Ordered some diesel to be delivered, the boat turned up a bit late, as he had broken down on the short trip to get here. I wanted both tanks filling, but when he got to the second tank, he ran out of diesel, just before it was full, 114 litres @ .78p p.l. not bad. He did intend to fill up, on his way to me, but because he broke down and had to be dragged by an inflatable that's all he had got. He also gave the boat a pump out.
I wrapped a parcel to send to our daughter Liz, in Canada and went over to W H Smiths to post it. There was a long winding queue waiting waiting at the post office desks, twenty minutes later I got to the desk, to be told that their not accepting any post for Canada, as they are on strike!
Off to Tesco's to pick up milk etc. then I went looking for the restaurant that's in the old police station, it was where I thought it was, I made a note of the route.
Back to the boat for lunch.
I then lifted the weed hatch and removed about four plastic bags that were around the prop and shaft, topped the batteries up with water.
Yet another walk with the dogs along the side of the Mersey, having a sit down on the seats to watch the shipping manoeuvring.
It started to rain at 5 p.m.

19th June

2011-06-20T10:22:00.003+01:00

A good start to the day, sun and getting warm.

Started trimming the bow fender, as it is a bit of a mess, with bits of broken rope hanging down, I do intend to get a new one, at the first opportunity.

Cleaned all the brasses for the engine room, before I screwed them back up, then I cleaned the tiller and kingfisher pin.

Jo went shopping, I finished of the movies that I am writing too DVD, to send to Alfie and Amelia.

Then it's a day of rest, sitting in the hot sun reading, then walked the dogs along the docks again.

Liverpool is like a lively sea side resort, but with lots of interesting places to visit and when you walk along by the sea, there are lots of boats, sailing boats, and ships to see, together with a modern shopping centre. It has two big arenas, that keep masses of people comming to the area. Today there seems to be a Cheer Leaders competition in one of them, so every where is full of the girls and boys, outside of the arena they are rehearsing doing some amazing things.

18th June

2011-06-18T20:03:00.006+01:00

A bright warm blue sky start to the day.

I went into town for the paper, I found the big Tesco store, that's nearby, that we hadn't found until today. I could then buy the things that I couldn't find in the smaller stores.

I turned the boat around on the mooring, to put the stern out into the dock, so that I could sand and varnish the engine room, without having to pass through it, to leave the boat.

This all took me until lunch time to prepare it.

Had lunch.

Then I varnished it all.

We took the dogs for a walk, to the far end of the docks, walking by the side of the Mersey, it was very interesting. Being Saturday there was a lot of sailing boats out on the river, there was the usual stiff breeze to make it exciting. When we got right to the far end, we were at the entrance lock from the river, were the boats were returning to the marina, we stopped for a while to see the boats and crews comming through.

Returned back to the boat, being a very warm day with sun shinning into the back of the boat I was able to put another coat of varnish on at 6.30 p.m.

The crowds of visitors/tourists arriving all the time, on coaches from all over, were keeping the Duck boats and the big wheel busy, plus this is the place to be for the performances of the visiting stars and the cinema.

17th June

2011-06-17T20:14:00.005+01:00

A cloudy and very windy day.
I started on my movie, of us cumming back down the River Ribble, this is a long process of getting all the small movies in order and putting them together together with music, effects and the titles.
In the middle we went out to do some shopping, first we went to a charity shop to give some donations, then to a pound shop to get cleaning products and of course M&S for meal deals, I bought a pair of trousers, on the way back to the boat I bought some shoes.
Had lunch.
Jo went shopping on her own and I finished the video and then took the dogs for a long walk. Queen Victoria Statue

On this day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrives in New York

16th June

2011-06-16T19:00:00.011+01:00

A cold overcast start to the day.

I started to sand and prepare the galley work surface that was damaged, by the glasses falling out of the cupboard, when the boat tipped over in the lock (see blog 13/5/11). I then treated it with the special oil for kitchen work surfaces, it will need more coats later.

The sun has come out and it's hot.

Jo is baking cakes, so I decided to polish the boat. Part way through it started raining, We had lunch.

The rain stopped, I finished all the polishing.

We all went for a walk, to see the big cruise ship, that had moored up this mourning on the dock side. As we went past the Albert dock we past the three masted old ship, that's moored up there and it was open for viewing, we had been watching all week for this opportunity to go on board.

We asked the man at the top of the gangway if we could have a look? Yes he said bring the dogs as well, on we went, he showed us around the deck and down in the cabins. It had been rescued from a total wreck and restored. There is a lot still to do, but it is the only three masted ship of this size and age, in existence. The chap that was showing us around was living with his wife on board, taking care of the ship, and showing interested people around.

We then moved on to see the big cruise ship, it was the Vision of the Seas (79,000 tonne), it was here for the day and was leaving at 8 p.m. A lot of the passengers were returning to the ship, as we approached. It had started from Oslo and had called at Le Harve, Cherbourge & Dublin before cumming here.

On this day in 1991 Boris Yeltsin was elected as President of Russia

15th June

2011-06-15T19:38:00.007+01:00

A warm but overcast start to the day.

After a walk around the dock with the dogs I went shopping on my own, I needed a few bits from Maplins, I then called at the Tesco Metro store, near by to get some more bits.

Back to the boat, had a coffee and then off we went, to take the dogs to the Cathedral, no not to prey, but to let the dogs run in the grounds. It was quite warm and a threat of rain, but nothing much happened, until we got back to the boat when it started to rain.

Had lunch, then set off again to do some more exploring of Liverpool, we found the Cavern Club, the town hall, the rail station and St. John garden. Looked at some more shops and bought a few things.

14th June

2011-06-14T21:48:00.003+01:00

Awoke to a very warm and bright start.
The dogs went for a walk this morning around the Docks, gave the boat a good clean and vacuum.
We had a coffee and went off to the Maritime Museum, where we assembled with a small group who had booked to go on the tour of the "Old/wet Dock". This dock is the first commercial wet dock in the world, it was designed, built and finished in 1715. It is reputed to be the beginning of Liverpool being a major commercial port.
This dock had gates to trap the water, so the ships could be loaded/unloaded while they floated in the dock (unlike before, as the Mersey is tidal the ships could only moor-up at the docks at high tide and would have to move off at low tide). It was the size of six football pitches and capable of holding up to one hundred ships at a time.
When the new development of the area was recently developed, part of the dock was uncovered when John Lewis's was built, it is under ground in the basement of some of the shops and extends towards the present Albert Dock which was built later on off the sea shore.
Apparently the whole of the dock is still there underground, but they only have enough cash at the moment to uncover a corner of it.
In the late afternoon we went shopping, to explore other parts of the city.

We came back to watch the Dragon Boat Races.

On this Day in 1942 Walt Disney's "Bambi" released.

13th June

2011-06-13T21:21:00.006+01:00

Warmer and dry today.

Walked the dogs first thing, then went to the Maritime Museum, an amazing collection of exhibits of Liverpool's connection to the sea. We spent over an hour there, but as it is only about 200 yds. from the boat, we can easily pop back.

We set off for a walk with the dogs, after lunch, we wanted to see the Anglican Cathedral, this was about 3/4 a mile away, so it was a good walk for the dogs. we passed through the Chinese quarter on the way. Because of the dogs we didn't go into the Cathedral but we did let them off in the gardens, where they had a good run.

On the way back to the boat we passed the starting point for the DUCK's, I went to buy the tickets, while Jo took the dogs back to the boat. The trip was very interesting, the first part was on the road through Liverpool, together with a cometary explaining the buildings of interest. The second part was in the water, after we had been shot down a ramp into the Docks. we then toured the docks, having them and the boats explained on the commentary.

Back to the boats, to sit outside on the landing stage, to have a cup of tea and read, and enjoy the sun and the warmth.

12th June

2011-06-13T08:32:00.006+01:00

Rain, rain and more rain, with a strong wind.

We caught the 10 a.m. Mersey Ferry, that called at Seacombe and Woodside on the south bank of the Mersey. We started sitting outside on the front of deck two, it was fine while we were traveling with the wind behind us, but we had to move when the ferry turned into the wind, the wind was too strong, Jo couldn't keep her eyes open, so we tried the rear of deck of two, it was still a bit wild so we chickened out and sat inside, we had a hot chocolate drink each and enjoyed the rest of the trip.

On the way back to the boat, we called in to "The Pier masters House", that has been set up as it was in war time, it was very interesting, with all the old furnishings and appliances etc.

We returned to the boat and battened down the hatches, with the rain still pouring down outside.

11th June

2011-06-12T08:11:00.007+01:00

Started exploring Liverpool.

The docks appear to be situated at the centre of a lot of the sites that we want to see.

The shops, are just the other side of a six lane road, that runs at the side of the docks, the Marine Museum, Duck rides, the ferries that go over the Mersey, three masted sailing ships that you can go on and an old dry dock that they found when they excavated John Lewis are all within a short walking distance. The sun is determined to shine on us at the moment, so I think we shall enjoy our stay .

10th June

2011-06-11T07:36:00.006+01:00

Here we are at bridge nine, waiting for the BW men to arrive, to let us through, this large swing bridge. There was just our two boats that spent the night here, but the other four boats have joined us now.

At 9.30 am. the bridge was opened, holding back masses of traffic, we were expected to move through fast and close together, Graham took the lead with me following as No.2. We were expected to keep together and get to the next swing bridge, in 45 min's, where the BW men would open it. That we managed without incident, on we went towards the top of the locks, for the decent into Liverpool. We arrived at the locks at 12 noon, as expected, the BW men arrived later at 12.20, we had already entered the top lock, but had to wait for the men to arrive to use there special windlasses. We soon got through these locks and off we went, towards the new link & locks in the city centre. We managed the first lock without the BW men, the second lock we did all but, the sea gates which were chained and locked, so we had to wait about half an hour before he came to unlock the gates.

Then we sailed around the docks, twisting and turning until we arrived at our moorings, in beautiful sunshine. We filled up with water as we were both running near empty, then had a tea party on the pontoons. I then went over to the tourist office and bought electricity cards, came back and plugged the boats into the power posts.

We had done enough for the day so we went out for dinner.

9th June

2011-06-10T20:55:00.002+01:00

Sorry I'm late, but I had a busy night, I fell asleep before I could do the Blog.

We started the day knowing we were only going to move a short distance, as we could only go so far, as we were getting near to were we were told to wait, for BW to let us through a big swing bridge, on Friday morning.

We started off just after bridge 20, with only five miles to get to our rendezvous point at bridge 9.

Although the journey was short it wasn't without incidence. We had the job of opening four swing bridges. These swing bridges were all near to a very built up area, so there was a lot of traffic using the bridges. We took it in turn doing the bridges, we had a bit of a competion to see who could catch the most cars in the day. Carolann won with a total of over forty cars.

8th June

2011-06-08T19:32:00.002+01:00

Only 22 miles to get to Liverpool.

Cruised off towards Liverpool, the canal is deep and wide, so with the engine at 1200 rpm. we are moving fast enough.
We had began to notice, the strange amount of coots, with their chicks swimming around, as we progressed they were more and more, passing by a long stretch of reeds there was a family every 20 yards swimming around and more in the reeds tweeting.

The first swing bridge we got to, was disused so we sailed strait through. At the second swing bridge, we could see, as we approached, that there were two men standing by the control panel, the bridge started to open, as we got nearer, the bridge started to close, then the guy facing us pointed out to the guy on the controls, that there was a boat approaching and the bridge opened again. We both then sailed through and moored up for the night.
Coffee was going to be served on the bank, but as we got the chairs out, it started to rain.

6.5 Miles, 1 Swing bridge.

On this day in 1968 The Rolling Stones released "Jomping Jack Flash"

7th June

2011-06-07T19:30:00.003+01:00

A cold windy and wet start to the day.
Moved off from our mooring at 9.00am. Stopped briefly at BW service station to put our rubbish in the skips at Sparks Bridge, seven locks and five miles later we arrived at the junction with the main line of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Turned west and moored up in Burscough to go shopping at Tesco's, had lunch, then cruised off through two swing bridges, then moored for the night at Martin Lanes Bridge 29.
The weather had been, on and off rain and sunshine all day.
It was sunshine when we stopped, so we had tea on the tow path.

On this day in 1905 Norway declared independance from Sweden

6th June

2011-06-06T19:58:00.015+01:00

Savick Brook
The last and lowest bridge

The end of the Savick Brook

Out onto the River Ribble

The trailing flotila

Autumn Years gunning it

The flotila just before they turn off the Ribble

Back on the Leeds & Liverpool

The day we recross the Ribble Link.

The day started well clear skies and little wind, it then clouded over and threatened to rain, but by the time we were ready to go, the sun was getting more predominant.

We assembled by the top of the locks at 11.00 a.m. we were going to be the fifth and sixth boats to travel down the locks, we reversed down the locks, this is because when we get to the bottom, we immediately have to travel the way we are facing and there is no room to turn the boat. We then wriggle along the Savick Brook and down six locks, continue along the Brook, under a low bridge, through a rotating sea lock, that lets us out onto the tidal bit of the Brook and then onto the River Ribble. It didn't take long before both our boats were in front, and stretching the gap all the time.

The weather was perfect for the crossing, a very low wind and blue skies.

Then we turned south, to travel down the River Douglass, a big river with the tide starting to ebb we had to drive hard to keep in front of the rest of the flotilla.

We arrived at Tatleton lock at 4. p.m. with seven BW staff waiting to take us through, we exited the lock before the rest of the boats were near the lock.

We then travelled down the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, after three miles we moored up.

On this day in 1844 "The Factories Act" was passed, restricted working hours for women and children.

5th June

2011-06-05T17:30:00.011+01:00

The boats moored, showing the entrance from the Lancaster Canal.
The top of the staircase locks.

The top chamber of the locks.

The pond that we will reverse into.

The exit Chanel, at the side of the locks, leading towards the Savick Brook & River Ribble.

Oh no, winters back. Yes a cold wet start to the day.

We went over to the water point, filled both boat tanks up with water, and cruised for ten miles to the Basin above the Ribble Link, ready for tomorrow.

Final once over and preparation of the boats.

The pictures above show the staircase locks, that we enter first. We have to reverse into these locks, because when we get to the bottom we have to leave the pond at the bottom pointing the same way as we have just descended the locks and there isn't enough room to wind the boats.

On this day in 1977 the "Apple Two Personal Computer" goes on sale.

4th June

2011-06-04T19:04:00.006+01:00

The view of the green, from the boat.

Yet another promising day.

We are standing still today, in Bilsborrow, we will move off tomorrow and go to the top of the Savick brook, ready for our booked passage on Monday, down the brook, along the River Ribble, then along the River Douglas and out, at the Tarleton Lock, onto the Leeds & liverpool Canal. Both rivers could behave like the open sea, so we are hoping for good weather.

However with the weather being good today, we plan to rest as much as possible, in the sun, interrupted by eating, drinking, reading and watching the bowls matches, that are of a better quality today.

On this day in 1994 "love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet was No 1.

3rd June

2011-06-03T20:54:00.003+01:00

At last we have got the summer back.

The photograph above was taken at 4.30 a.m. when I took Darcey out for an urgent call.

We cruised for two miles and arrived in Bilsborrow, Graham went strait in to a vacant spot, but none was available for us, so we moored on the service point and took on water. Part way through filling up, a boat left its mooring, we stopped filling up and moved into that mooring.

The chairs came out and we all had coffee, By this time the sun was very hot, we stopped in the chairs until we left to get ready for lunch, at the nearby pub.

After lunch we resumed the same positions and had tea, followed by either watching the bowls games, on the adjacent green, reading books or talking, to the many passers by, on the towpath.

We had a long lazy day.

On this day in 1937 the Duke of Windsor married Wallis Warfield.

2nd June

2011-06-02T20:36:00.003+01:00

A warm start to a day that is forecast to get hot.
Out with the gang, to go shopping on Market Day, in Garstang. An absolute abundance of clothing stalls, Graham and I, arrived at the end of the market, twenty minutes before the ladies phoned, to see where we were.
After the market, we went and did some proper food shopping, at Booths. We then went to the boat for lunch, first we were invited on Autumn Years, for coffee, we then had lunch.
The sun is out now and it is hot.
We then set off cruising towards Bilsborrow, after four miles we moored up just after bridge 47 to visit a huge garden centre.
We stopped here over night and will cruise to Bilsborrow, tomorrow.
On this day in 1896, Marconi was Granted the patent for the wireless telegraph.

1st June

2011-06-01T19:37:00.005+01:00

We're all going on the bus today, too Blackpool.

It's an early start to get ready, feed the dogs and take them out for a walk and a run around the fields, to get them tired to leave on the boat.

9.25 on the upstairs front seats of the bus, after flashing our bus passes. Fifty minutes later we arrived in Blackpool. The weather was dry, but rather cold and windy.

We set off to walk towards the amusement park, along the front, by the sea, that was in, after a while we decided to get on a tram (using our bus passes again) to go the other way, along the front and then got on the same tram, after it had changed track and was rigged to go the other way, back to were we started from. Walked into town and had coffee's and hot chocolates, to warm us up a bit.

We then returned on the bus to get back to the boat by 1.15 p.m.

Had lunch and caught up with reading and other jobs ready for tomorrow, when Garstang has it's Market Day.

31st May

2011-05-31T19:03:00.003+01:00

Glasson top lock

Another nice start to the day, sunshine but a little windy.
Filled both boats diesel tanks, 90p. p.l.
Then set off to do the six locks of the Glasson Arm and on to the Lancaster canal, to Garston.
After the first lock, we could see that the pound above was very low, when we sailed in to it we were marooned on the bottom. We had to wait for the ladies, to get to the next lock and lift the paddles, to let some water down to float us off. It didn't take too long to do that, as it was a short pound. The other locks had problems of some sort, bar the sixth and final one.
The Lancaster Canal was a lot busier now, being the week after the bank holiday.
Arrived at Garstang 3.15p.m. We found one long mooring with a small cruiser moored in the middle, fortunately it was just about to move off, so we waited and moved in to moor up.
We had the usual tea meeting and decided that we would catch a bus tomorrow to Blackpool, Graham and I went into Garstang to see what time the buses are.
Weather still good and promises to improve.

On this day in 1911 The Titanic was launched.

30th May

2011-05-30T18:45:00.003+01:00

Stopping still today, on our Glasson Basin mooring.

A slow start, I caught up with the making of a video and posting it on facebook, of our lives on the boat on, for our Grandson Alfie, who lives in Canada. We went out for a walk around Glasson, the sea was at high tide for a change. We walked to the sea lock, to see a very nice sailing boat do circles and moor up against the wall. Then we walked along the sea wall for a mile and back to the boats and coffee on Autumn Years. Lunch, then I checked the engine, oil and water etc. Jo read and talked to passers by while sitting in the cratch.

Today's weather has been very good , mostly sunny and getting warmer, but still windy.

29th May

2011-05-29T20:47:00.006+01:00

Entering the Glasson Arm

In Glasson Basin

Both boats filled up with water, in Lancaster before we left, and cruised south. The weather was wet and windy again.

We were fighting the wind most of this trip, when we got to Galgate we pulled in to get out of the wind for a bit and to watch the Monaco Grand Prix.

When that had finished we turned west down the Glasson Branch, immediately I caught something on the prop. I limped into the first lock and cleared it all out(3 plastic bags, a bit of carpet and various other pieces of clothing).

Half an hour later we continued down the locks, arriving at Glasson Basin around 5.00 p.m.

8 miles, 6 locks.

On this day in 1953 Hillary and Tenzing conquered Mount Everest.