Narrowboat Chance

Our last day in Cornwall

2012-02-23T20:34:00.001Z

Today we thought we’d head west and visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. We went the scenic way and took the Bodinnick ferry across to Fowey for a quick look round. As usual, the place was full of high priced clothing shops and tourist “items”! The main square was full of contractors vehicles and cranes and so gave us no chance of a decent photo.

The view towards Fowey from the ferry.

We moved on towards St Austell and took a detour down to Charlestown where we have always enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of the old place. This time was no exception and we were treated to three tall ships in port. We enjoyed a cup of coffee and a piece of Doug’s birthday cake – and imagined we were on the set of the Onedin Line………

… what a scene!

We motored on to the Lost Gardens of Heligan as James was eager to see the changes since his first visit in about 1995. At that time they were only a few years into the restoration since its discovery in 1990 when the whole garden had been overgrown and almost lost. The gardens are now fully restored, of course, and we enjoyed a really nice, out of season, quiet walk round.

Lemons growing in one of the many specialised greenhouses.

Another Victorian green house which is virtually original. It has been imported from another large country house garden and reassembled and restored.

A walk through the woods and we came across the ‘Mud Maid’

Back in its Victorian heyday Heligan had a fantastic “jungle” which filled a valley on the estate and, because of the mild climate, they were able to grow tropical trees and shrubs. All this has been lovingly restored over the last twenty years and the atmosphere is really interesting.

A jungle view.

Another jungle view!

Our last ‘port of call’ was Mevagissey. It has a very nice harbour but the shops were generally full of the most appalling tat. However, we had a nice relaxing drink in one of the pubs before making our way home. Our last full day and another thoroughly enjoyed – the weather was very warm, if a little overcast. A change from yesterday when it rained most of the day. We’re not complaining though as this week has been really great.

Mevagissey harbour.

Happy Birthday Doug!

2012-02-21T20:21:00.001Z

After opening numerous presents this morning Doug was ready for today’s adventures. Within an hour of leaving our little cottage we were in Padstow – we quite like Padstow (and the Cornish north coast in general). Having said that the shops are now full of high priced clothes and tourist tat but there are some lovely walks along the River Camel estuary especially on the sands when the tide is out.

Looking across the very wide Camel estuary to the very over priced village of Rock. In the dunes to the left of Rock is the little church of St Enodoc, Trebetherick where the poet laureate Sir John Betjeman is buried.

The outer harbour at Padstow with tide out – very muddy!

The inner harbour – not so muddy!

We wandered around some of the back streets (giving Oscar a reasonable walk) and found this delightful mews of Alms houses built in 1875.

After a little more walking we decided on where would eat (Oscar having to be allowed in as well!) – so we had a very nice lunch at the Harbour Inn.

Here’s the birthday boy after lunch. The big coat seems to suggest it was cold today but we’ve had temperatures of 10 degrees – very lucky.

After lunch a thick drizzle came down the estuary so we decided to motor on to another old haunt of ours – Port Isaac (where Doc Martin is filmed). Like so many of the lovely old fishing villages of Cornwall, this one has succumbed to the dreaded “holiday home” blight and is now virtually a museum piece.

The is the view across the natural harbour of Port Isaac. The white house on the right is one we rented for a holiday about 10 years ago. It is perched on the rock edge and felt very much as though we were in mid air as we looked out across the water. The small cottage to the left of “our” white house is Doc Martins’ surgery in the TV series.

A view showing the harbour and old village. Much of the old village has only very narrow streets and alleyways and anything big has to lugged by hand to the houses………..

Here is James (looking very worried for no reason!) about to walk down the narrowest “street” in the village.

A last picture of birthday boy. We had another great day today!

A visit to the Rame Peninsula

2012-02-20T19:53:00.001Z

We’ve had a great day on the Rame Peninsular which is just to the west of Plymouth. We first visited the very picturesque twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand which are delightful but sadly they are deserted during the winter months as most properties are holiday homes or lets and the heart of the community now seems all but lost.

The villages look out over the dramatic backdrop of Plymouth Sound where there are regular passages of naval vessels.

Doug and Oscar on the beach at Kingsand.

The main street Kingsand in the rush hour!

The British Navy arrived in Plymouth Sound while we were there! This is HMS Diamond a new “stealth” destroyer. We left Kingsand and Cawsand and headed west on to Rame Head, stopping to have a look inside Rame Church. Very much a typical Cornish church – tucked down below ground level!

Just one picture of the inside of the church. There’s no electrical power to the building so each pew has a candle holder and the organ has to be pumped by hand. Later we spoke to a lady who was manning the Coastguard station who said that at services held during the winter months the only person who was warm was the one who pumped the organ!

When we got to Rame Head we decided to do a bit of geocaching and we eventually found our”cache” in a wall near to the coastguard station. In the background is a field of daffodils almost ready for cropping.

Doug with his “treasure”.

Here’s Doug pointing out the the location of the Eddystone lighthouse, eight miles out, which we could see quite clearly but hasn’t appeared on the photo – sorry! In the background is a 14th century chapel on the highest point of Rame Head. It was originally painted white to serve as simple lighthouse and it was from here, in 1588, that the arrival of the Spanish Armada was signalled to the English Fleet in Plymouth Sound. Further to the right, by courtesy of the people in the coastguard station who allowed us to use their super powerful binoculars, we watched a new £10 million pound yacht going through it’s sea trials.

The Rame Peninsular is really the start of Cornwall’s dramatic coastline and is stunningly wild and beautiful. We had a great day!

A week in Cornwall

2012-02-19T19:10:00.001Z

On Friday we travelled down to Cornwall for a week. We are here to join our friends Ian and Yvonne and their family to celebrate Yvonne’s birthday on Sunday and Doug’s birthday on Tuesday. We are staying just outside Looe at a cottage in Morval.

This is our little cottage for the week – sleeps two – very cosy.

We had a quick excursion out to Looe and Polperro on Saturday – this brings back some distant memories for James who had a holiday cottage near here a long time ago. The weather was a bit damp as we did our bit of sight seeing around Polperro and, as the weather turned even damper, we hunkered down in one of the pubs for a spot of lunch. The open fire was a great treat!

James on the slip at Polperro harbour. A typical little Cornish harbour village with very picturesque cottages and tiny, narrow streets – and it’s even nicer out of season!

A view out to sea from the natural harbour entrance at Polperro.

The coast road out of West Looe takes you to a dead end at Hannafore Point. It’s a very quiet area with a few very nice houses and a view across to St George’s Island. With the tide out you can explore a large area of rocks and rock pools and, although the island might look very close, you still need a boat to get there!

The sun was very bright, hence the dark picture – this is Doug and Oscar enjoying the rock pools. The island used to be owned by two ladies (sisters) who used to pack off some of the earliest daffodils of the season to the London markets. The island, with just one house on it, is now held in trust to keep it in it’s natural state.

Looking from the island towards the mainland the small community of Hannafore enjoys a fantastic position facing south towards the island, with the hills behind shielding them from north winds. Very nice!

An Icy Check on ‘Chance’

2012-02-08T19:40:00.001Z

Yesterday we went up to Brinklow Marina to check on ‘Chance’. As it’s been a few weeks of cold weather since we were last there and thought we’d go back to check that things were ok – especially to make sure the heating has been working properly on the frost – stat setting. This was the scene when we first arrived…………….

….’Chance’ beautifully preserved in ice!

The heating had been working well and everything seemed to be fine. James checked the glow plug on the Mikuni boiler and it was as clean as a whistle. We also got the part numbers from the various engine drive belts so that we can order spares for this year’s cruising. James popped down to Brinklow village for fish and chips at lunchtime……..

… and we ate them in the relative comfort of 5 degrees C! inside ‘Chance’.

We left after lunch to travel the 30 miles to our builders (MGM Boats) at Thurmaston, Leicester. As we were “up north” it was nice to catch up with them and to see their latest boat taking shape and destined for this years’ Crick show.

We left MGM and headed south to Faringdon where we stayed with youngest daughter Frances (and Kel) for the night.

Today dawned bright and cold and we headed towards Newbury where needed to do some shopping. It was too cold to leave Oscar in the car for long so we quickly shopped and then took him for a walk along the canal.

Here he is, wrapped up against the cold, with the lovely old cottages of Newbury Wharf in the back ground. This is actually the River Kennet here and, due to the low rainfall this last summer, it is running extremely slowly ( but still fast enough not to freeze).

A walk along the towpath in the Aldermaston area, by chance, we came upon nb ‘No Problem’. Sadly, fellow bloggers, Sue and Vic were not on board – sorry we missed you, it would have nice to have met you both at last!

We headed further towards Aldermaston Wharf and briefly met up with Tom and Jan on nb ‘ Waiouru’ and check on their progress. The boat looks much, much better now that Tom has put on the undercoat and blacking. We found Tom on board working in sub zero temperatures. 10 out of 10 Tom!

The bitter cold had taken it’s toll by now and we got back into the car for a nice warm trip back to West Sussex.

Island Odyssey continued…….

2012-01-28T19:08:00.001Z

As promised from the last blog, here are a few photos of our Thursday trip along the south coast of the island………

This is the view from above Blackgang Chine looking west. On top of the the white cliffs in the far distance is Tennyson Down and beyond that the Needles.

This is what is left of the Blackgang Chine theme park! Doug can remember it from his childhood days -most of the buildings are now in the sea or abandoned to their inevitable fate. We think that what’s left of the park (and is safe) is still open.

The end of the road! The island has been battling with land loss for a long while and land is currently lost at the rate of between 1 and 3 meters a year in some parts.

We travelled on further west to find that part of the coast road has been undermined and is now only safe as a single track.

Further west still is this surfing beach just before Freshwater. Most of the car park has now disappeared but there are a few spaces still left on the “safe” side of the railings! There are two surfers in the water (black dot at centre of picture and black dot far left). Great view of Tennyson Down.

Friday (yesterday) was our last day on the island and we awoke to brilliant sunshine and 10 degrees. We had to remind ourselves it’s still January.

Luccombe Manor Hotel on Friday morning. It was obviously a grand cliff top villa back in Victorian times and is still well cared for today.

This is the landing – very richly decorated with details picked out in gold. All the main rooms were the same but in blues and greens.

After checking out of the hotel we took the “thousand” steps down the cliff to a completely deserted beach where Oscar could enjoy his favourite pastime!

Doug had to take his coat off as it was so warm. We didn’t fancy all the steps back up the hotel where we’d left the car so we walked along the beach to Shanklin seafront and from there………

up to Shanklin Old Village and back to the hotel. A long walk for Oscar but he made it. The old part of Shanklin is very picturesque – especially in January and in the sunshine.

We’re back home now after a very relaxing few days on the Isle of Wight.

“Abroad” for a few days!

2012-01-26T21:44:00.001Z

Yesterday we travelled “abroad” for a couple of days (The Isle of Wight actually!) It only takes a couple of hours for us to get there and we enjoy the peace and quiet of the island out of season.

Here’s Doug and Oscar on the 12 o’clock ferry from Southampton – a cruise into the bargain! We normally leave from Portsmouth but decided on a change this time. However, it’s quite a boring trip down Southampton Water so we think it’ll be Portsmouth again next time (it must be a terrible anti climax for transatlantic travellers after leaving from New York!)

This was our view of the cruise liner terminal but all we could see were two freight car carriers (yellow hulls). Enquiries found there will be no cruise liners until 2nd Feb so we wont see any on the way back either.

We’re staying at the Luccombe Manor in Shanklin old village – a very nice hotel overlooking the cliffs (pictures tomorrow).

Today we had a trip out along the islands’ south coast – stopping for a while in Ventnor where Oscar likes a walk along the beach.

Ventnor sea front looking west.

Ventnor sea front looking east. The rain clouds did deliver! – but it was all over very quickly.

The very quaint “Spyglass Inn” underneath a threatening sky at the end of the seafront.

Heading west, and just outside the town centre, we stopped for a walk around the Botanical Gardens. It was amazing to see just how much was in bloom at this time of year. The gardens are quite famous for their sub tropical micro climate and have now recovered very well from the devastation caused by the hurricane in the late 1980’s.

This olive tree has recently been brought over from Cyprus and is said to be 700 hundred years old. It seems to be doing very well.

This could be somewhere in New Mexico but it’s just round the corner from the olive tree!

Still heading west we enjoy the coast road along the south of the island because of the fantastic views and because there is usually a new landslip somewhere – the island is losing a lot of it’s land on the south side. We weren’t disappointed by either the views or the landslips on this occasion – photos on the next blog!!

Back to Brinklow Marina

2012-01-13T20:18:00.001Z

Our morning start was a very frosty and misty, but absolutely fantastic, affair. There really is something very special about the canal on one of these mornings. We understand it was about -4 degrees last night (more than we expected!)

The view from our side hatch at 7 o’clock this morning.

After defrosting the rear deck area we started on our way back to Brinklow at 10:30 – this was the steerers’ view.

It was a good job we didn’t need our centre rope – it was far too pretty to disturb!

At bridge 79 we passed nb ‘Barbara-Anne’ coming the other way and they told us they enjoy reading our blog – that’s very nice of you guys – so sorry that we were the only two boats on the cut and we have to meet in a bridge hole!

We trundled along past the new Barby Marina which has a few more boats than the last time we passed by but still woefully short of pontoons. Each time we’ve passed the linear moorings at Barby we can’t help but notice this little renovation project in the “garden” of one of the boats…….

……a 1963 (Bedford / Comma ?) ambulance – still in pretty good condition for it’s age!

Further on and we see the familiar wireless masts of the radio station at Hillmorton…..

……these are just a few of them! Some are 820 feet tall. The station dates back to 1926 but today it transmits all over the world and also broadcasts the time signal to an accuracy of one second in three thousand years. Amazing when you think we just dum dee dum dee dum our way along the canal at 4 mph!

Just after the radio station we come upon the lock flight at Hillmorton.

Here’s Doug setting the middle lock. Just as we were leaving the bottom lock another boat was coming the other way and was able to go straight in, so that was good timing for them.

We’ve had another fantastic sunny day to end our little mid winter excursion. It’s been the most brilliant week weather wise and for meeting up with friends old and new (quite by ‘chance’) – we’ve been very lucky. 68 miles and 32 locks of a fun filled week. We’re now back in the marina – toilet pumped out and some damage to the blacking already touched up. It will be another cold night tonight and tomorrow we will finish a few more jobs, pack up the car and head home.

And on to Braunston

2012-01-12T19:55:00.001Z

The sunshine this morning was fantastic – we’ve been having to remind ourselves during this last week that it’s still January! Long may it continue for everyone living on board this winter.

This was our mooring this morning at 10 o’clock

We got to the bottom of the Buckby lock flight after experiencing a very heavy shower of rain but it was back to bright sunshine as we ascended the flight. All the locks were against us – having to empty every one – and there were no other boats to share with, in fact, we have seen only one moving boat today (at the Braunston Marina).

Half way up the flight and we thought we should have another little “Oscar moment”.

By the time we got to the top lock we thought we would treat ‘Chance’ to a bubble bath! No we didn’t drop our Fairy Liquid bottle overboard but perhaps someone else did.

After we came out of the top lock we came across fellow blogger Les moored up on nb ‘Valerie’ – we passed him on our outward journey but was nice to see him again – even if it was just a wave from inside.

There’s always something exciting about going into a tunnel – this is going back through the Braunston tunnel. We’ve had four tunnel journeys in just over a week - this one is particularly dry, There are no streams of calcium enriched water pouring down on us and causing James having to wash the boat down after!

The lock flight at Braunston comes immediately after the locks. As per usual today they were all against us.

Lock 3 with the little “Crooked Cottage”

The weather changed during the afternoon and became quite cold - a slight frost threatens tonight. We passed swiftly through a very quiet Braunston and have now moored up just outside, with nothing around us except some Canada geese. This was our view tonight from the side hatch.

U-Turn at Stoke Bruerne

2012-01-11T18:18:00.001Z

We left Bugbrooke yesterday morning and had a good run through to Stoke Bruerne, meeting Les (fellow blogger) on nb Valerie, passing through Gayton junction (where you can divert to Northampton if you wish) on the way. Junctions, like tunnels, usually add a bit of spice to the journey but Gayton seems a bit of a let down – perhaps it’s because it doesn’t have the usual awkward little footbridge to get through if you want to turn off. Anyway, Blisworth Tunnel came upon us quite quickly so the “spice” was quickly restored!

Here we are at the northern portal of the Blisworth tunnel – not quite so pretty as the south end but hay ho here we go! The tunnel is 3076 yards long, and two way, but as there was so little traffic around we thought we’d have it to ourselves. Not on your nelly – we met a boat coming the other way so James had to tap into previous experience from our last boat when we did quite a lot of passing in tunnels! Thankfully, the other boat slowed down very well and we passed without incident.

Stoke Bruerne is virtually upon us as we emerge from the tunnel into the daylight………

……..the very pretty Stoke Bruerne with equally pretty, pure white swans. In the background is the working boat ‘Towcester’ , which, in the morning will be loaded to it’s gunwales with coal, gas and diesel ready for a weeks’ work on the cut.

One of the attractions at Stoke Bruerne (although only temporary) is nb ‘Matilda Rose’ with follow blogger Graham, who we haven’t seen for three years, (wife Jill is away visiting her mum at present and it was a pity to have missed her). Anyhow, that didn’t stop the three of us enjoying a splendid meal in The Boat Inn - washed down with a few glasses of ale.

Graham, James and Doug finding it hard work to enjoy the evening!

Today, we moved up from our mooring to meet up with working boat ‘Towcester’ to take on a full tank of diesel. Winding ‘Chance’ in the pound was just possible –‘Chance being 58 feet and the pound width being 58feet 6 inches!

Refuelled and ready for the off, we passed nb ‘Matilda Rose’ and Graham (hanging out of the side hatch!), and soon entered the more attractive southern portal of the tunnel to begin our return journey back towards Brinklow.

Heading for the tunnel.

Inside the tunnel – yes two boats can pass!

‘Chance’ passing back through Gayton junction.

Back through the lovely, and beautifully manicured, Flore Lane – is this the “Coffin House” Ross?

Almost at our mooring for tonight (just round the corner) Oscar and Doug having a little moment together – Oscar in his favourite place on the roof but these days he has to be held in place.

To Bugbrooke

2012-01-09T22:25:00.001Z

Today we set off towards Bugbrooke in yet another sunny day!– travelling through the lovely Nene Valley. The canal winds it’s way through 15 miles of lockless pound and sometimes rises way above the valley floor. We stopped at Weedon Bec to get some very needed supplies!

The canal is well above the village at this point. Here’s ‘Chance’ at the visitor moorings.

This is a view taken from the churchyard – ‘Chance’ is the bit of blue at the top of embankment!

While we were in the churchyard we noticed these snowdrops. Coupled with todays’ fantastic warm weather this was a wonderful bit of spring well ahead of time.

After Weedon Bec we passed through the little hamlet of Flore Lane – all along this section both sides of the canal are kept in really good order and this little bit at Flore was very pretty.

We arrived at Bugbrooke at about 12:30 just in time to pick up friends Ali and John from nb Triskaideka (but this time they came by car as their boat has been winterised) We moored up and had a good lunch at “The Wharf” pub and then back to ‘Chance’ for a glass of wine (or two!) and cheese and biscuits. We had a great catch up of info and gossip and Ali and John left at 8 o’clock to travel home.

Doug, John, James and Ali. Thanks for coming to see us guys we had a good time and hope to see you again soon.

A late start!

2012-01-08T20:22:00.001Z

After our very enjoyable late night with Del and Al we weren’t about very early however, at 11.30am as prearranged, we met up with them again, this time on nb Derwent 6, for coffee and cake and to have a look around their very nicely finished boat. There are some very innovative ideas especially the expanding bed and the foldaway office!

Doug, Del, James and Al in one of those awkward self timer shots!

By 1.30pm we thought we really ought to make a move and get down the Buckby flight of 7 locks while the daylight still allowed us. There was no one else to team up with so we were on our own and, although all the locks were against us, we were through in less than 2 hours.

Doug working the locks (as usual!)

Yet another mild afternoon with the occasional sunny interval. Lock 12

The short journey from the bottom of the locks to our chosen mooring was very noisy due to the M1 being about 3 feet away(!) and very messy due to a great deal of floating hawthorn hedge debris which built up in front of the bow and caught around the prop. However…….

tonight we are safely moored just after bridge 22, away from the M1 but still with the hawthorn debris. We’ve had to relight the stove as its been so mild today we let it go out! Here’s us (in a very poor photo) under a wonderful crimson sunset.

Braunston to Norton Junction

2012-01-08T11:31:00.001Z

We left our mooring yesterday in beautiful sunshine again - this weather really is amazing for the time of year! Correction to our mooring position from yesterday – should have read between bridges 80 and 81)

We were soon moored outside Midland Chandlers in Braunston for a few bits and pieces we needed.

After mooring further up we took a walk into Braunston village for a few supplies, had lunch on board and waited for another boat to share the locks with and along came nb Teal. This made made the 6 locks a much easier passage. Very bizarrely the owners came from a village in Oxfordshire very close to where James was born so there was much discussion about '”how things have changed in the Vale of the White Horse” as we ascended the flight.

nb Teal following us into Braunston tunnel.

‘Chance’ just about to enter the 2000 yard long Braunston tunnel – always exiting!

There being very little boat traffic around we continued to Norton Junction and who should be waving at us from their hatch but fellow blogger Al and Del on nb Derwent 6.

We moored up behind them and had a quick chat before they joined us on board at around 5pm for drinks!

Del, Al and James catching up.

Chatting away we suddenly all realised we hadn’t eaten so we put all the food we were both going to have together and made a very good meal.

With great company and good food, (and lots of wine) was it 6 bottles?

Del and Al finally stumbled back after 2am! This was a great impromptu ‘chance’ meeting and a brilliant night – Thanks very much guys and we hope to do it again sometime.

Happy to be afloat…

2012-01-06T18:18:00.001Z

We woke this morning to a completely different day weather wise - it was calm, sunny and warm! Due to having a few more jobs to do and added to the fact that we didn’t get up very early ('!) we set off about 12’sh towards Braunston.

Hillmorton Locks seemed to come upon us quite quickly and here we are at the bottom set still enjoying the lovely sunshine.

Enjoying the peace as we leave the bottom set of locks.

Just entering the middle lock. Everything was very quiet of course although there was a boat following which we were able to help by setting the locks in their favour.

Just above Hillmorton and through bridge 72 and who should we see but fellow bloggers nb ‘Piston Broke’ ! No sign of life though – must have been asleep! Sorry to have missed you Paul and Lynne.

Next to nb ‘Piston Broke’ was nb ‘Oakfield’ also fellow bloggers!

Further along, with the sunshine failing by now, we decided to warm ourselves with a glass of mulled wine. The rocking glasses have round bottoms and were a Christmas gift from our youngest daughter Frances and fiancée Kel. They were a bit scary to use at first but they do stay upright even when full. Great fun!

By 3:30pm we had moored up in splendid isolation between bridges 81 & 82. Here’s Oscar and Doug starting a short, but well deserved, walk while James faffs about with the mooring ropes! The towpath here is in good condition compared to other stretches we’d passed so it wasn’t too bad for an old dog to walk.

A great start to our week of cruising.

Taking the ‘chance’ for a short break

2012-01-05T18:58:00.001Z

As the weather forecast looks quite good for a week or so we have decided to take ‘Chance’ out for the week.

So yesterday, after packing the car (as usual to the gunnels) including the newly varnished woodwork for the rear deck, we got in and the engine wouldn’t start! After a panicky phone call to our local tyre and battery man in the village and within the hour we were on our way with a new battery!

We arrived at Brinklow Marina mid afternoon to a very brisk wind blowing. Before we’d finished unloading the wind speed had increased dramatically and we quickly got the heating on and the “Squirrel” lit and hunkered down to a celebratory mulled wine as we are now afloat again after 2 months – even if it’s only for a short while.

We slept reasonably soundly amid the howling gale and the bumping and rocking of the boat and, miraculously, Oscar didn’t need to go out for a wee in the middle of the night either.

Today, the wind continued to blow hard and James just managed to get a few necessary jobs done so that ‘Chance’ was ready to go out – including getting the wood on the back. The only casualty was a plastic dust pan blown overboard but with the help of the boat pole and running down the neighbouring pontoon we got it back.

The wind has now abated and, as the photo shows, we’re now fairly calm and looking forward to getting cruising tomorrow.

The stern looks much better now the wood is back in place but we’re leaving the windbreak off until we leave.

Welcome 2012 and all that!!!

2012-01-02T22:07:00.001Z

Happy New Year everyone! We hope you all enjoyed whatever you did to see the New Year in.

We’re not keen on resolutions but we are both agreed on one thing – which is to say “YES!” to even more things when we get the ‘chance’.

Quickly going back to Christmas - Doug gave James a fantastic surprise in the form of two copies of our blog, beautifully printed and bound as a hard back book. It’s a fantastic keepsake of our first year on ‘Chance’ – one copy to keep as best and the other to pass around to family, friends and anyone who isn’t too bored already at reading about adventures!

It was produced in the States, taken directly from the blog, by Blog2print, very clever and very well done.

Back to the present and we had a terrific celebration on New Years’ Eve as we had been invited by Patrick Moore to welcome in 2012 at his party. We were very pleased to be asked as he puts great emphasis on the New Year. There was good food, good wine, his special knock out punch and live music performances throughout the evening ranging from the violin to the xylophone by some very talented people!

The good man himself – covered in party poppers!

Here’s Doug with another '”new year Eve” – one of Doug’s clever card playing friends and a great friend of Patrick’s. And, yes, that is Sir Terry Pratchett in the background! James had a very interesting chat with him about his work promoting a better understanding of dementia and the case for assisted dying. A heavy subject for New Year’s Eve perhaps but you have to say ‘yes’ to the chance of talking to him when you get it!

At about 1 o’clock, after wishing a Happy New Year to everyone from near and far (one couple even had to drive back to Liverpool!) we wended our way home after a surreal but very enjoyable evening.

Happy New Year!!!

2011-12-31T18:02:00.001Z

As we are in the midst of some very dull and uninspiring weather right now we thought we might use a picture with a much brighter feel in order to extend our best wishes to all of you for a very Happy New Year. Here we are at the start of our cruising back in May - so much has happened since then and we now find ourselves making plans for the next year. We hope to do the full length of the River Thames, including the Kennet and Avon when we get to Reading, and then into, and out of, London before the Olympics get under way. After that we hope to venture onto new territory and explore east of the Pennines.

As we’re missing the lifestyle a bit at the moment we are planning to use ‘Chance’ for a week in early January (if the weather permits!). James has nearly finished refurbishing the wood surround for the rear deck – the new varnish is looking really good - so we’ll take that back with us when we go and there’s sure to be a few mid winter jobs to do while we’re back on the cut as well. It’ll give us something “proper” to blog about as well!

So, once again, a very Happy New Year to you all.

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-21T16:38:00.001Z

Now the season’s upon us we would just like to thank all of our followers for reading our blog this year and for all the comments we have received. We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!

If you want a giggle click on the e-card below:

Well Done British Waterways!

2011-12-18T12:34:00.003Z

Having decided to cash in the remaining portion of this years’ licence and take out a gold one for next year we asked BW if they would process it asap. Within a week and a half we have our new licence so we give credit where it’s due. Well done BW.

We’ve been on our travels for the last week visiting family and friends around the Oxfordshire / Wiltshire border and visited the pretty little market town of Faringdon in Oxfordshire. It was an important town during the sheep trade in the 1600’s and it has, over the last 20 years, resurrected some of its old charm by a lot of renovation work and removing much of the awful render from the beautiful old stone buildings.

Until the bypass was built, all the traffic on the A420 would rattle past this lovely old market building.

The Market Place looking towards the church – the spire was knocked off by Oliver Cromwell!
From Oxfordshire we head South West for Watchet in West Somerset to see friends who have recently moved there.

The outer harbour at Watchet – used to be full of fishing boats.

The inner harbour – more going on here.

An impressive bronze statue depicting the Ancient Mariner.

We then continued onto Devon for a few days, so James could have the rest of his dental work completed.

Getting back home a few days ago we discovered the sea wall at the end of the road had taken a severe battering during the storm last Monday night.

Anyone know of a good builder?

Can’t leave the boat alone!

2011-12-09T17:23:00.003Z

This weekend we’ve travelled up to Oxfordshire to see the family and to meet up with friends we haven’t seen this year. While we were in the Aldermaston area we popped in to see Tom and Jan on nb Waiouru on the Kennet and Avon canal. We hadn’t seen them since they came out with us on ‘Chance’ for the day last May and so we had a good catch up with them. It was good to see that work is in progress on nb Waiouru now.
We’re now staying with Frances (youngest daughter) and Kel for the weekend before going down to Devon next week to get James’ dental treatment finalised. However, before we left…….!
……….James just had to do something “boaty”. So, having brought the woodwork home from the rear deck for refurbishment he started sanding down the old varnish. Although it still looked very good the weather was starting to take its’ toll and another year would certainly have reduced its’ appearance.

Getting both side pieces back to bare wood before the supply of sanding pads ran out!

At least the difference can be seen!

Getting your Ecofan refurbished.

2011-12-03T18:10:00.001Z

Like a lot of boaters we have an Ecofan on “Chance”. Ours is about 4 years old now. We had it on our previous boat and it then took a holiday with friends for 2 years in France! where they used it on their wood burning stove in their farm house. Deciding they no longer needed it, it came back to us this year just in time for us to use it on ‘Chance’.

After a bit of use we noticed that the blades didn’t spin as fast as they used to so we searched the internet for a new motor, which costs about £15. Then we came across a company called Calfire who advertised a refurbishment service. The estimate, if the motor needed to be replaced, was about £25 including a full check up and return postage. So, glad that we kept the box, we sent if off and it was returned as good as new for £22! The motor was replaced and they provided a test certificate as well. Worth every penny we think when you consider the cost of a new one. We’re delighted with the service we’ve received.

If you buy a new fan – KEEP THE BOX!

Jurassic Journey

2011-11-28T22:02:00.001Z

On Wednesday last week (Oscar’s Birthday) we went to Devon for a few days to catch up with old friends and to get James some much needed dental work as he’s spent all summer on the boat with a very large filling missing from a front tooth!

This was the sunset on Budleigh Salterton beach on Wednesday evening.

Thursday morning we took Oscar for a very familiar walk back on the beach at Budleigh as this was our previous home town. Otter Head is in the background where the River Otter meets the sea and behind it stretches the beautifully picturesque Otter Valley.

Another beach walk for the old boy – this time on the sandy Exmouth beach which makes a change from the Budleigh pebbles.

Doug and Oscar on the sea front at Exmouth.

A windy Friday morning and another early walk back at Budleigh Salterton.

We managed to get Oscar to walk down towards Otter Head. The red sandstone cliffs here are the westernmost part of the Jurassic Coastline which is a world heritage site. The cliffs and the famous coloured pebbles are 280 million years old at this point.

On Saturday, with friends Ian and Yvonne, we took a trip towards Honiton and then on to Beer.

Enjoying a drink in a nice little wine bar in Honiton before visiting the Saturday market.

The High Street in Beer looking towards the sea.

The beach at Beer looking west – more Jurassic coastline.

After the enjoyment of four days of seeing old friends on Sunday we headed back along this wonderful coast towards home. Taking the “back road” from Budleigh Salterton to Sidmouth this is the first view to be had of Sidmouth……..

….. more Jurassic Coast! – this bit is only 240 million years old.

Further along we had another break and stopped at delightful Lyme Regis for an hour or so. Leaving (worn out) Oscar in the car we took a stroll to The Cob – where many years ago they filmed part of the French Lieutenants Woman.

We were very lucky to have had glorious weather for the whole trip – can’t really believe it’s the end of November!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OSCAR!

2011-11-23T10:43:00.001Z

Our dear old friend Oscar has, amazingly, reached his 14th Birthday today!

We thought we ought to mark this birthday with a special card – trying to get him to hold it long enough to take a photo without chopping Doug’s head off was too much!

He’s always opened his own presents!

Last Christmas he did not want open his presents so there must have been some improvement since then. He went to the “Doggy Doctors” yesterday for a quick check up and more of what keeps him going. We left with the same advice as before – just keep on enjoying him - he’s coping very well at the moment.

An Astronomical Adventure!

2011-11-21T22:41:00.001Z

Today was a truly momentous day! We were invited to Sir Patrick Moore’s house to meet the great man and join him for coffee and cakes. This was organised for last week, through a mutual friend who Doug plays cards with, but due to filming schedules it couldn’t happen until today. Sir Patrick has lived in Selsey for half a century and for a long time now The Sky at Night programme has been recorded in his study and from the observatories in his garden.

We joined him in his study for a chat and a coffee and he answered a number of James’ questions on astronomy and discussed the remarkable achievements of the Mars Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) and Voyagers 1and 2; Voyager 1 is now 11 billion miles from earth after being launched 34 years’ ago. It is still sending back information and is about to leave the solar system and travel into interstellar space. We also chatted to him about our narrow boat and canal adventures and he said that it was one thing he would like to have done himself but didn’t have the ‘chance’.

He is a really lovely man and, although very advanced in years now, he still has an incredibly active mind. One of the great scientific “movers and shakers” of our age he’s like the Voyager spacecraft – well past his design life but still going strong!

Friend and fellow astrologer John Fletcher of the Mount Tuffley Observatory in Gloucester, who was also visiting him today, kindly took us to see Sir Patrick’s famous 15 inch telescope in one of the observatories in his garden.

We went back to the house for a further chat before leaving this very busy man to get on with his schedule. We had a fantastic experience today and he has very kindly invited us to go back.

Shore Leave

2011-11-17T19:43:00.001Z

It’s been three days since we last blogged and we’ve been settling into life on dry land. While catching up with other blog sites we’ve recently read similar articles from Jo and Keith on nb ‘Hadar’ and Maffi on nb ‘Milli M’ about picking up the litter around your mooring position at the end of the day. We think it’s a great idea and will take up the challenge as soon as we’re back on board ‘Chance’. It rather ties in with a similar activity here in Selsey as James joins the regular beach clean up team when he can – so it shouldn’t come as too hard a task on the towpath!

Oscar and Doug earlier in the week walking on Selsey Bill when the weather wasn’t all that great. The attractive building in the background is the Bill House with it’s own lookout tower.

Walking round from the Bill, and on our way back home, we came across this view looking east along the beach (where we litter pick) – couldn’t see much past the lifeboat station!

On Tuesdays we usually take Oscar for his swimming therapy session in a purpose built “doggie pool” which is only a couple of miles outside our village……

…..it’s generally a matter of luck these days if he finds his toy as his eyesight is so poor. But he seems to enjoy himself!

Swimming over, and after a warm shampoo and shower, here he is in his dressing gown with his friend and swimming partner ‘Skye’.

Yesterday and today have both been lovely sunny days……..

…. today we got this view from Selsey Bill with the Isle of Wight in the distance (it looks closer in real life!). From here we can see cargo ships and cruise liners going in and out of Southampton Docks.

First Weekend at Home

2011-11-13T21:22:00.001Z

The weather has been so warm and sunny this weekend (not unusual in this part of the world) it’s weird to think it’s November. So we ‘ve taken the ‘chance’ to get Oscar out and about and give him some different walks to his normal beach outings.

Yesterday (Saturday) we took the car all of 2 miles to the lovely Pagham Harbour nature reserve. Fortuitously the tide was in which makes it prettier to look at as there’s less mud!

A view across Pagham Harbour with the Village of Pagham to the left in the distance and the sea (The English Channel) out to the right.

Today we took the car in the other direction for about 20 minutes to arrive at Bosham (pronounced Bozam). This is one of the prettiest villages on the waterfront around here and is situated within the huge expanse of Chichester Harbour. Bosham is well known for its road and car park being flooded twice a day when the tide comes in. Visitors are well advised not to forget they have parked their car at the waterfront! It’s a local sport to watch and wait to see whether all the cars are retrieved in time – quite often the rewards are worth the wait!

Bosham waterfront where the swans swim freely in the road.

Doug and Oscar in the “High Street” which is very narrow and lined with old cottages and houses. The doors in some of the buildings in Bosham are made to withstand high tides and storm surges and, as in this photo, don’t reach the ground!

Bosham is the oldest site of Christianity in Sussex with parts of the church dating back to Saxon times – in fact most of the tower is Saxon. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Bosham Church with King Harold entering it.

Bosham is also a popular place for dingy sailing and racing.

We completed a walk around the village (at Oscar speed) – well the bit that wasn’t under water, and finally ended up at the pub. The Anchor Bleu is a great old pub which is good for beer and food and there is a small terrace overlooking the water (which is good for relaxing with a beer and taking part in the local sport!)

The Anchor Bleu with the sea against its walls and half way up the road.

Bosham is a very busy place in the summer months – especially the pub – but at this time of year, with the weather as glorious as it has been today, it’s a lovely place to visit.

Back Home

2011-11-11T20:11:00.001Z

Yesterday (Thurs) we got up quite early to complete the winterising jobs on ‘Chance’ and to pack the surprisingly large amount of “stuff” into the car. We got going at about 12;30, had a pleasant journey home in good sunny weather to arrive at 3;30 in plenty of time to unpack!

Before it got too dark we gave Oscar his customary evening walk along the sea front.

He’s getting very old now and his walks are getting shorter but he very much enjoys getting out all the same.

A few yards further on!!

We are about 100 yards from the sea wall and, after a short walk from the house, we get this view of the lifeboat station. This was a great view for us as the moon had risen early on this occasion but, as is so often the case when you want to capture something great – the camera doesn’t always perform. It’s just visible above the walkway to the station, half way along – oh well.

Being at home for a while now gives us a ‘chance’ to look back on the last six months. Since we took ownership of ‘Chance’ back in May this year we seem to have experienced so much and met up with so many people. Friends and family have travelled to be with us, friends from our previous voyages on our last boat ‘Spirit’ have met up with us on their boats and we’ve met and made new friends this time around. We’ve also been very pleased to have had contact with so many of our blog followers and amazed that so many of you read our progress. One follower enjoys it more than her daily newspaper – so kind!

We have been delighted with ‘Chance’ – the build quality, the layout, the finish and the way it performs - MGM have done a great job for us!

A couple of statistics for those who are interested – since leaving our builders, MGM, we’ve completed just over 900 miles and passed through 460 locks. It’s amazing how far you can travel at 4 mph (or less). Much of the system travelled this time, we’ve passed over on our last boat but next year we hope to experience the waterways on the east side of the country and to do the trans-Pennine routes which will be new to us.

Here are a few of the highlights of the past year:

It seems a long time since this moment.

After a great six month’s build with MGM here we are on our maiden voyage.

A very busy weekend at the Crick Boat Show during the late May bank holiday. We were all so delighted to be voted Runner Up!

Sky high on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal, North Wales.

Loaded onto the Anderton Boat Lift (the Cathedral of the Canals)for the 80 foot drop to the River Weaver below.

We spent quite a while moored in Castlefield Basin, Manchester enjoying the sights and sounds of this terrific city.

‘Chance’ has taken us into the heart of the cities, towns, villages and countryside of England. Every day has been a different day and occasionally we would wake up and have to think a while as to where we had moored up the night before!

The next few months will be a change and a ‘chance’ for us to catch up with dry land things but we will continue the blog through the winter, looking forward to more adventures next year on the canals and rivers of England.

End of the season!

2011-11-09T17:42:00.002Z

Yesterday we pulled pins and left our mooring on a misty overcast morning on the Oxford Canal and soon met Jo and Keith on nb ‘Hadar’ coming the other way - a quick and pleasant exchange and off we all went, maybe next time we can meet up for longer.

Jo and Keith on nb Hadar disappearing into the mist.
With only an hour and half cruising we were soon at Brinklow. The colours of the oak trees as we approached the marina are lovely.

Passing a family of swans with the young ones now well on the way to getting their adult plumage.

We then made the right turn under the lovely original bridge into Brinklow marina.

We entered a very misty marina where ‘Chance’ will be safely moored for the next four months. We will spend the next couple of days sorting out a few jobs then we will return to our home on the south coast for the winter.

We pumped out the black water tank and then settled onto our mooring pontoon – luckily there was no wind so we got in between our neighbouring boats without incident. In the afternoon we were joined by the crews of Nb ‘Toulouse’ (Janet and Gerald) and nb ‘Triskaideka’ (Ali and John) on board ‘Chance’ for coffee and home made cake. By 7pm we all decided to head into Rugby and have a meal at Titash - an excellent Indian restaurant which we can highly recommend and a very good evening was had by all. We finally got back to ‘Chance’ at 10.30pm after a great final evening to this year’s cruising.

James, Doug, Ali, Gerald, Janet and John having just wined and dined.

Brinklow Bound

2011-11-07T18:13:00.001Z

Saturday night as we were promised, we had a lovely firework display, free of charge, courtesy of The Globe at Snareston.

Due to camera limitations the only half decent photo we could get of the firework display.

Sunday morning dawned bright and with one of those wonderful misty canal mornings and heralding a fantastic sunny day ahead.

The view from ‘Chance’ on Sunday morning with bridge 61 (the last bridge on the canal) ahead of us.

A wonderful autumn sight in the grass around the basin.

A view of the basin and winding hole at the end of the canal. Beyond the little white foot bridge is another 9 miles of canal, under restoration at present (albeit very slowly!), ending at Moira.

On the way back on Sunday and our first treat – the Snarestone Tunnel – only 250 yards long but nonetheless exciting as always.

Our next treat on our journey back was Shackerstone and ……..

….. the wonderful Victorian station which forms the headquarters of the Battlefield Line. We moored up and took Oscar for the 1/2mile walk up to the station where we had a coffee in the equally well presented tea rooms.

The tea rooms were quite busy but everyone scattered when I got the camera out. However, they were very pleased to know they would get some free advertising on our blog site! The station is well worth a visit even if you don’t go on the train ride.

Back on the “road” again and our next treat was to see working narrow boat ‘Gosty Hill’. It’s great to see a coal boat trading on this canal as it was originally built to transport the good quality coal from the pits in the area – Moira coal was highly sort after on the London market. Although we knew ‘Gosty’ was somewhere in the area we were fairly desperate for coal last week and bought it elsewhere. Pity.

Today was very different, weather-wise, to yesterday – very dank and gloomy and quite cold at the tiller. It doesn’t bode too well for the rest of the week so we’ve decided to press on today and get back to Brinklow marina a day early.

Not many photos today due to the weather but James decided to take this one of these very old hawthorns and also the smoke coming out of the chimney – little things please little minds!

Deciding to push on and get off the Ashby Canal we came to bridge 1 (the first bridge on the canal) and, shrouded in the mist ahead, the junction with the Coventry Canal.

Tonight we moored at, what is fast becoming, one of our regular moorings just after bridge 19 above the aqueduct. We’re on our own with just the trains again.

Tomorrow we’re due to arrive at Brinklow Marina mid morning and will spend a few days winterising ‘Chance’ before we go home for a while. We still hope to use ‘Chance’ in the winter, if the weather allows us, and we shall still continue to blog whatever we’re doing.

As another lovely treat we are meeting up with John and Ali from nb Triskaideka for a farewell meal tomorrow night as they’ve also just winterised their boat nearby.

The end of the line

2011-11-05T18:35:00.001Z

Yesterday we left our mooring at bridge 13 and carried on down the lovely Ashby Canal. We see some unusual craft on occasions as we cruise around….

but this one takes some beating! It could be a relic of “It’s a Knock Out” or some ones’ primary mode of transport – who knows?

As we’ve said already the Ashby is a beautiful and, in the main, rural canal and at this time of the year the autumn colours are starting to show themselves to full effect. With the fine sunny periods we’ve been getting you never know what fine vista might be round the corner….

through bridge 26 with the Ashby Canal Centre entrance on the left there was this fine sight.

Just after this photo was taken the weather took on a threatening look and we were soon plunged into some heavy rain. After several abortive attempts at mooring up ( the chosen moorings were not deep enough to take our 30 inch draught! and we ended up grounded on silt and mud banks). Enduring the rain we eventually ended up at our original destination choice of King Richard’s Field moorings. This is right next to the field where Richard 3rd was slain at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. We pitched up in the pouring rain and quickly settled in for the night.

This morning we took a walk with Oscar (actually more of a very gentle saunter – he’ll be 14 later this month!). This photo is of King Richards Field with the commemorative stone in the foreground.

The inscription on the stone – and nearby an explanatory notice to say that they’ve now found (in 2009) the correct site of his murder and the aforesaid stone will be removed this winter (after forty years!) and placed where they now think it took place. When we came here 3 years ago we questioned whether this was really the site .. well well.

We carried on with our walk to Shenton Station which is part of the Battlefield Line steam railway which we went on last time we were here.

Shenton Station.

A walk back to the boat and we were off again and soon mooring up at Bosworth Wharf for a long walk into Market Bosworth for a newspaper, milk and bread. This is a stunning little town with every viewpoint a pleasure…….

the Market Place, Market Bosworth. Too many cars!

Another view of the Market Place.

On our walk back to the boat we had to cross the railway bridge over the Battlefield Line and we were lucky enough to get there just in time to see the train arrive at the station.

A pity we can’t reproduce the smell!

Off again towards Shackerstone Station (what another great name)

Back on the ‘Chance’ and another great scene on our way to the end of the canal at Snarestone (this time at bridge 59)

We got to the end of the canal at 2:45 this afternoon and winded to face the right way to go back tomorrow. A fine evening with another red sky and, again, we are on our own. We’re promised a firework display in Snarestone village tonight which we should see over the field in the background.

Onto the Ashby Canal

2011-11-03T18:16:00.001Z

Yesterday we did the short trip from our mooring to Hawkesbury Junction where we had arranged to meet friends Gerald and Janet on nb ‘Toulouse’. (They were heading towards us from the other direction). In the evening we went for a meal at The Greyhound (situated right on the canal junction) and we had a really excellent meal so we can highly recommend the food at this well known boater’s pub.

On our journey to Hawkesbury just before Tusses Bridge we came across a rather unusual back garden…..

….about a dozen or so ageing VW’s but is this a Ferrari Dino? If so he has two!! Both have been there for quite a while.

Anyway - this morning nb ‘Toulouse’ left in the opposite direction to us but we shall see them again when we get back to Brinklow Marina as we’re both mooring there for the winter. As always we had a great time with them.

Gerald setting off on nb ‘Toulouse’ – Janet is just visible on the front of the boat.

Leaving Hawkesbury Junction and back on the Coventry Canal. The old junction pumping station is ahead on the left.

We continued for about an hour and turned onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction. After another hour we decided to moor for the night just after bridge 13 near the village of Stretton Baskerville. (We’ve got some cracking place names in this country!)

Photo taken from the top of bridge 13. ‘Chance’ in the distance on our mooring tonight – all on our own again.

We had a drop of rain today but after we moored up the sun came out and we took the opportunity for a walk with Oscar.

Doug and Oscar returning to the boat.

A lovely peaceful evening in the sunshine – is it really November?

On the move again!

2011-11-01T17:34:00.002Z

Not too much has happened in the last couple of days as Doug went home to get the car, so it’s here for when we go home later this month. James stayed on board with Oscar at Brinklow Marina, doing a few odd jobs on the boat, the most important being an inspection and top up of all the batteries.
As the weather is still good we’ve decided to travel back up the Oxford Canal a short distance and turn off up the Ashby Canal. It’s a lovely canal which we enjoyed when we had our last boat – it’s a lockless canal, and a dead-end, so we plan to have a lazy cruise up and back in a week.

‘Chance’ on the temporary mooring in Brinklow Marina.

A view from the top of the marina – ‘Chance’ is right down at the bottom! James has had the privilege of watching a father swan using this stretch of water to teach his two youngsters to fly. A wonderful sight.

Having left the marina we travelled through some lovely oak glades – the autumn colours are just beginning to show.

One and a half hours later we moored up where we moored before (all on our own again) with lovely open views across towards Coventry and just the trains to keep us company!

Another lovely day!

2011-10-30T17:29:00.001Z

Today started off as yesterday had finished, drinking and eating, this time morning coffee and cake on ‘Briar Rose’. James did a quick bit of work on ‘Briar Rose’ for Adam and Adrian and so after the cake we set off back the way we came for Brinklow Marina.

Doug and Adrian tucking into sponge cake (baked by Doug)

On the way back we bumped into Lyn and Paul on ‘Piston Broke’ – we’re quite often seeing them around these days.

A dog on a cold tin roof! (Oscar still likes to get on the roof occasionally!)

Adrian ahead of ‘Briar Rose’ at the top of the Hillmorton Locks.

Adrian and Doug chatting while ‘Chance’ goes down in the world.

This was like this 3 years ago! one day it will fall on some ones’ head.

‘Chance’ at a quick stop in Rugby, to go to Tesco’s…

Entering the Newbold Tunnel – tunnels always seem exiting.

We arrived at Brinklow Marina at 3.30pm as Doug is having a lift home with Adam and Adrian to get the car back here. We are booked into the marina for 4 months over winter but don’t plan to come in permanently for another couple of weeks yet.

Sunset over Brinklow marina.

A weekend with nb Briar Rose

2011-10-30T08:35:00.001Z

On Friday we made our way towards Brinklow to meet up with Adam on Nb Briar Rose for a planned weekend trip to Braunston and back. Adam had left Brinklow marina about 1/2 hour before we got there so we followed with about 6 or 7 boats between us –it seemed very busy but was probably due to fact that people had not moved much on Thursday because it was so wet.

We passed through the Newbold Tunnel before getting to Rugby. The tunnel is famous for its lights which flood it like a rainbow. Sadly there are now too many bulbs which have blown and it’s all looking a bit grim.

We stopped off at Tesco in Rugby and while Doug was shopping James watched a British Waterways chap pull this lot out of the canal from under the road bridge in less than 20 minutes!………

We moored up with nb Briar Rose by the golf course just outside Rugby. Adam had managed to find a place for both boats and the place for ‘Chance’ was perfect down the last foot of space (bless him). Adrian joined us at 7.30 pm having taken the train from work.

‘Chance’ and ‘Briar Rose’ moored up for the night.

On Saturday both boats headed up the Hillmorton Locks where we met up with, and had a quick chat with, Ian and Irene on Nb ‘’Free Spirit’, (fellow bloggers) - hope to meet you for longer next time!

Adam, Adrian and Doug at the top lock at Hillmorton – having a quick coffee and home made ginger biscuits made by Adam.

Passing the somewhat infamous Barby Marina still very much unfinished but with a few boats moored together as there are still no pontoons!

We arrived just after lunch time at Braunston. As there weren’t many spare moorings we breasted up together and then took a walk to the Admiral Nelson pub at lock 3. Surprisingly they didn’t do a lunchtime snack menu so we had a pint and then walked into Braunston village and had a bite to eat at The Old Plough.

Breasted up at Braunston.

After a walk around and visits to various chandlers we then headed back towards Brinklow and mooring for the evening just after bridge No 88.

We had a great evening aboard ‘Chance’ with Adam and Adrian - plenty of food and drink of course!

Adam, Adrian and James (James looking surprised for no apparent reason)

Adrian, Doug and Adam after several more bottles of wine (not really!)

A quick visit to Coventry

2011-10-28T09:41:00.001+01:00

On Wednesday we took the bus into Coventry by walking back passed Hawkesbury Junction in the beautiful sunshine to Longford where we found the bus stop.

A couple of shots of Hawkesbury Junction in the morning sunshine.

Arriving in Coventry we walked to the Canal Basin to find it virtually deserted. We were hoping to get a coffee and a bun and sit in the sunshine but no cafe. Out of the few “units" which were occupied we could have had our nails done or had a body piercing! (but that’s all)

The iconic statue of James Brindley in Coventry Basin.

The lovely old weighbridge office at the Basin – not in great condition unfortunately.

The 10 ton weighbridge by Avery who make kitchen scales as well!

When we arrived back at the boat we continued on for an hour or so to find a nice quiet mooring (apart from the trains!) Ideal for Oscar and lovely views over the countryside. We guessed we probably wouldn’t me moving on Thursday as it was forecast to rain for most of the day.

Moored after bridge 19 and the “pinch point” AND at the end of the fairway!

As you can see Thursday was very wet so we didn’t move. We did manage a few walks in between the showers with Oscar and went and picked a few bags of sloes to make some sloe gin for Christmas.

The view out of the front of the boat this morning. Last night we were joined by nb ‘Jemima’. Today we will travel onto the village of Brinklow, and stop around lunchtime for a walk into the village.

Hawkesbury Junction bound….

2011-10-25T19:11:00.001+01:00

Yesterday morning, there was a wonderful sunrise. This was taken at 7 o’clock but our point-and-press camera doesn’t do it justice.

Here ‘Chance’ and Nb ‘Lola’ are moored about a mile below the Atherstone flight of locks. We had a pleasant journey up the flight, a few boats coming in the other direction, and Doug cycling along the towpath operating the locks. The weather was good again although the canal was about 8” down from its normal levels which made slow going in some parts.

We moored up between locks 6 and 5 of the flight and walked into the town of Atherstone. We’ve never visited this nice little town even though we’ve passed this way twice before on our last boat.

A very attractive market square – and the main street is full of individual shops and not the usual high street chains.

Here we are at one of the prettier locks (no. 5)

We moored in the middle of nowhere (again) last night – picture taken from bridge 28. Oscar had walked all the way down to the Valley Cruises (marina) and back – and was looking forward to a lie down!

This our first photo of the day. Taken from bridge 28 is Caldecote Hall – a massive Victoria mansion which looks brand new! and is currently being converted into 50 apartments, (taken on max. zoom – sorry.)

Our trip through Nuneaton was not without it’s surprises - a burnt out boat at bridge 21. The boat in the background had a burnt out generator on the bank next to it! The graffiti on the bridges and walls was dreadful sadly but, on the positive side, we didn’t hit anything underwater this time around.

Just passing the entrance to the Ashby Canal. A lovely lockless canal which we hope to do again one day.

Next to assail our senses was “Charity Dock” - with all its paraphernalia (this is just a taster)! Not the most beautiful of canal-side scenery but interesting all the same.

Here turning into Hawkesbury Junction – we’ve had bright sunshine in our faces for the entire trip today – wonderful but not good for photos.

‘Chance’ in the stop lock at Hawkesbury. Just after the lock we found a good mooring – very lucky as all the moorings the other side of the lock were taken. Just as we tied the ropes Chas and Anne on nb Moore 2 Life arrived (we read their blog).

‘Chance’ moored next to nb Moore 2 Life. Lots of electricity around this site!

Taking Oscar for his last walk of the day we came across this massive sub station by the canal – we could have charged up our batteries just by mooring next to it!

Opposite the sub station we just had to take this shot – it’s not every day you can stand under a pylon!

Sheep shape and Bristol Fashion!

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Yesterday, after traveling for all of 1/2 hour, we moored at Hopwas by the village school and caught a bus into Lichfield. We’ve been before but it was great to return.

The beautiful west front (with 113 statues) of the cathedral. It’s the only medieval cathedral in the country with 3 spires.

The fabulous Rood Screen in front of the Quire.

The Lady Chapel and the Shrine of St Chad at the far east end of the cathedral. The stained glass windows dating from the 1530’s have been taken away for restoration but the effect of the plain glass in it’s place on the structure is wonderful.
Walking back through the town it’s surprising what can creep up on your blind side…..

This morning we left Hopwas and continued for 40 minutes to arrive at Fazeley where we met Maggie and Michael to cruise towards Atherstone Locks with us.

A not-so-good glimpse of the impressive Pooley Hall. Dating from1509 it’s the oldest inhabited building in Warwickshire.

Michael giving us a break from the steering while Maggie and Doug eat cake and James balances on the gunnel to take the photo!
We were just past Polesworth when Maggie heard a sheep bleating! Doug said “I hope its not in the canal” but, sure enough, it was! It was exhausted and trapped against the the metal armco piling which was lining the edge of the canal. It had no ‘chance’ of getting out. We managed to grab it with the boat hook and, with one of the mooring ropes, we made a noose to go around it’s neck so that we could hold it securely. While Doug held onto the sheep and Maggie held onto the rope we were able to hold it tight into the boat.

It was far too heavy to lift out or even help it up and over the piling. So we decided to then tow it for over 60 yards to a part of the bank where it could get out by itself. Doug was holding onto it to stop it going under the boat and into the propeller!

The poor sheep was so exhausted it still couldn’t pull itself out of the water so Doug had to jump off and pull it out!

Finally the sheep was out of the water and out of danger and it wandered off into the field - not the field it should have been in but at least it was alive.

The sheep seemed to recover from its ordeal quite well!!

An eventful half an hour - thank goodness there were four of us on board to deal with it!
Maggie and Michael left us after we moored up to walk the 8 miles back to their car at Fazeley (yes they’re quite fit!) - thanks guys for a lovely day and look forward to meeting again in the future.
Within half an hour fellow bloggers Paul and Kath and family moored up next to us on nb Lola. We met them at the locks at Tamworth earlier and finally managed to catch up with them for a long awaited chat a glass of wine on board ‘Chance’. We are having dinner and then going to them tonight for a drink or two. Another great day!

Nb Lola and Chance moored just before the Atherstone flight of Locks.

A great night out at the “Mucky Duck!”

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We went to the Swan at Fradley Junction for a meal last night which, as usual, was excellent. At 9 o’ clock a great variety of instruments were produced and the group started playing and singing some lovely old folk music. This is a regular event on Thursday evenings and very much reminded us of our local pub when we lived in Devon and enjoyed much the same thing.
After we had eaten we were joined by Jayne and Steve who we met up with yesterday – which brightened up the evening even more!

All the musicians showing their amazing talent.

James with Steve and Jayne from nb Dolce Far Niente – (the latest Braidbar boat) enjoying the music.
We had a great evening, some of us didn’t get home until after midnight, (you know who – Steve and Jayne!)
Today, after having Steve and Jayne on board for an impromptu coffee and a natter none of us got going until after midday when we had all watered up. We set off down the Coventry Canal while Dolce Far Niente set off in the opposite direction for the short trip to Alrewas. We hope to meet again next year guys – have a good winter and thanks for a great evening.

We watered up just as we joined the Coventry Canal.

The footbridge across the entrance of the Coventry Canal.
We hadn’t travelled far when we passed yet another new marina in the process of being built! This was between 85 and 84 (Streethay to Huddlesford)

You can’t see it from this photo but the marina was exceptionally deep.

Better seen on this photo.
We stopped at Whittington for a couple of hours to put the washing out to dry and pop into the Co-op to get some provisions. We left at 4pm, cruising for about an hour before mooring up a mile before Hopwas.

Tonight we are on our own in the middle of nowhere. Fantastic!
We’d just like to say “thank you” to all of you who regularly read our blog – we can’t believe that we can get well over 100 hits a day! and we even have readers from Russia as well as Europe, the Antipodes and the Americas. We try to be as interesting as we can but sometimes it can be a load of old rubbish! Thanks again to you all and for all your comments and e-mails.

Fradley Junction

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Yesterday we left Branston and had a brief and leisurely run up to Alrewas (less than 3 miles).

The lovely church at Wychnor on the way to Alrewas. Set with the Manor House (hidden) on the hill.
After mooring up we had lovely relaxed day – we had a walk round the village and popped into the wonderful local butcher. We then went round to the house in Post Office Street offering home made jams and chutneys over the garden wall (honesty box provided) which we’ve used before and can thoroughly recommend. We spent a lazy afternoon on board with James doing a bit of paint touching up (damage sustained in a lock with an inexperienced hire boater!).
The weather is quite chilly now and we’re keeping the solid fuel stove going during the day as well as through the night. It’s a Morso Squirrel stove and works so much better than the Villager Puffin we had on our last boat. It stays in overnight easily and uses very little coal using the coal inserts we brought for it earlier in the year. So we’re warm and cosy and Oscar is very pleased!
Today we ventured an even shorter distance to Fradley Junction (less than 2 miles). We’re planning to have a meal in the The Swan tonight and meeting Jayne and Steve on nb ‘Dolce Far Niente’ who we’ve moored close to and who we met on the Macclesfield Canal a few weeks ago.

Doug and Oscar at Fradley Junction.

A long shot of Fradley Junction showing the Swan (painted white)

The entrance to the Coventry Canal from Fradley junction – we’ll be starting up this stretch of canal tomorrow.

Back on the Trent and Mersey Canal

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We are now heading towards the Rugby / Coventry area so yesterday we left Nottingham and headed back (the way came a couple of weeks ago) up the River Trent. It was quite windy which is not good for boating and, not surprisingly, we only met two boats between Nottingham and Trent Lock. It’s always a bit of a strange feeling going onto a river – there’s a lot more water about! which is a bit unnerving because the bank, and safety, is so far away. Not that getting to the bank would be any good as they are usually so high and totally unassailable. So the anchor should, and is, always at the ready!

The very wide River Trent.

Oscar, insisting on staying outside on a cold windy day, had to wear his jacket. He is a happy soul regardless of the look!

After, what seemed, an endless section of the River Trent we were back through the Cranfleet Cut, up through Trent Lock and Derwent Mouth Lock and back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. After passing through the pretty village of Shardlow we decided as it was so windy and we’d had a long day (for us!) to moor where we’d moored last time….

just outside Weston on Trent after bridge 9.

Today we carried on in the same very windy conditions as yesterday - stopping to do a toilet pump out at Stenson Lock. Further on and, by chance, we met Geoff and Mags on nb Seyella (fellow bloggers) at Willington. A brief exchange was all we could achieve as we were just leaving the service point and Geoff was trying to get on it. The wind was so strong it was all we could do to keep the boats under control. We hope one day we have more time to meet you both properly.

Geoff getting nb ‘Seyella’ on to the service point at Willington.

Further on we passed Horninglow Wharf coming into Burton-on-Trent. A special place for us as it was where our last boat ‘Spirit’ was built and put into the water for the first time.

Horninglow Wharf.

This is our last photo of the day. This is Branston Lock, which is very exposed, and the wind was so strong that ‘Chance’ was being pushed hard against the lock wall requiring Doug to push against the side of the boat to get us safely out of the lock.

We are now mooring safely near the “Bridge Inn” where we plan to have a nice Italian meal tonight.

A weekend in Nottingham

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We have been having such a pleasant time in Nottingham - moored in the very nice Nottingham Castle Marina since Friday, where the staff and boaters have been so friendly and helpful.
Yesterday we took a walk around the city – the very warm weather seemed to bring the crowds out in the centre of town.

Nottingham centre with its fountains in front of the town hall.
We visited Nottingham Castle which, for some reason, we didn’t see last time we were here. The actual “castle” was left to ruin and the mansion built in it’s place was gutted by fire (very careless the people of Nottingham!) so the internals of the building are virtually non existent. Most of the building is taken up by an art gallery which, sadly, exhibits the paintings very poorly. The basement is taken up by a very interesting “History of Nottingham” exhibition but for £5.50 it was worth it.
Doug outside the front door of the castle.
From some very timely advice (thanks to Ian and Karen (nb Tacet) we visited the oldest pub in England - the “Trip to Jerusalem”. Amazingly, its all built into the rock at the bottom of the castle so inside a lot of the rooms are like caves. Below the castle there are caves and tunnels which can be visited at certain times – sadly we didn’t have the time!

“Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem” - a very busy place especially on a sunny weekend.

Nottingham Castle sitting high on the rocky outcrop.

Today (Sunday) we planned to meet up with friends Di and Steve, as they were over here from their home in France and visiting their daughter in Nottingham. We took them out for a trip on ‘Chance’ through Nottingham for an hour or so before lunch.

Steve taking to steering ‘Chance’ “like a duck to water!”

while Di did all the heavy work at Nottingham Castle Lock!

Steve, Di and James enjoying yet another warm day in Nottingham. Yes, that is Champagne in those glasses!

Steve being so confident at steering ‘Chance’ with his glass of bubbly as well! Show off!!!

We moored up again in the marina and had a lovely meal at the Waterfront Bar in glorious sunshine. A lovely day and we hope to see you both again very soon…..
Tomorrow we will head out of Nottingham and back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal towards Burton on Trent.

Arriving in Nottingham

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Today, Friday, we arrived in Nottingham having had a great run down from the MGM boatyard yesterday morning. We saw two boats on yesterdays’ journey – solitary stuff!

Here we are at Bishop Meadow Lock having left Loughborough. Strange weather most of the day – we seemed to be in sunshine all the time but had threatening clouds in front which made for some terrific scenery.

Further down the river we passed Normanton-on-Soar - a very well- healed village with some lovely river frontage properties. Like this one?…..

or this one?….

or perhaps this one!

Further on down, passing through Zouch (wonderful name!), we saw the chain operated ferry which carries people across the canal for 25p per person – well you get what you pay for!

After nearly 6 hours cruising we decided to moor up near Kegworth just above the Deep Lock. An idyllic spot as you can see. We didn’t realise it was right under the flight path from East Midlands Airport! (and the planes don’t stop at 11 o’clock like the trains do!)

Today we did the rest of the River Soar – continuing the delightful surroundings…..

but Ratcliffe power station had to get into one of the shots.

After leaving the Soar we did the short Cranfleet Cut, getting to Cranfleet Lock which took us down onto the River Trent and into Nottingham.

Tonight we are moored in Castle Marina, where we’ll stay for the next three nights. The staff here are very helpful and friendly – the chandlery even lending James their entire stock box of o-rings overnight so that he can do a small job on the throttle lever – very kind. We shall have a walk into the city tomorrow morning.

28 miles and 13 locks. Thurmaston to Nottingham

Back on board…..

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After a week back at home in Sussex, Doug and Oscar returned to Leicestershire today after spending last night at Vicki and Tom’s (eldest daughter). Oscar finally met his little nephew Ernie. As you can see from the picture Ernie was desperate to make friends although Oscar was slightly more reluctant!

Ernie finally getting his own way and cuddling up to old Uncle Oscar!

‘Chance’ in the tunnel getting a full overhaul for the winter. There were some terrific winds which threatened to lift the tunnel – hence the strapping 0nto one of the trollies that ‘Chance’ is resting on! The idea being that twenty tons of boat will not move in a hurry!

‘Chance’ nearly ready to go back into the water having had its new blacking– the protecting grills still have to go on the bow thruster tubes and looking a bit naked without the front fender button.

The view which James had each morning while on the slipway –the back of the boat is about 10 feet in the air!

‘Chance’ went back into the water on Monday. The morning of the re-launch was extremely windy but it had to go ahead as the slip was required for other work. Miraculously, just as the stern entered the water, the wind dropped and we were able to quickly and safely get out into deeper water without the wind blowing the stern round. It was a bit like ripping a plaster off quickly!

‘Chance’ now at rest on a borrowed mooring on the MGM “island” and looking extremely smart.

Tomorrow morning we will set off towards Nottingham, where we hope to be for the weekend.

Back at Home!

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Seems strange to be back at home for a week, after such a long time away on “Chance”

Oscar enjoying being back on the coast….

Selsey Life Boat station and all the moored fishing boats.

Its been lovely to be able to walk along the beach twice a day with Oscar, and last night the sunset over the Isle of Wight was fantastic, sadly my camera phone doesn’t do it justice.

You can just make out the cliffs at Bembridge to to the left of the Sun. And looking inland it looked like this!

An almost double rainbow!
“Chance” is now all blacked and is going back into the water on Monday, James is getting all the other jobs completed next week, before Oscar and I return on Wednesday. Its been great to come home for a week, but we are all looking forward to getting cruising again as we hope to be in Nottingham to catch up with friends next weekend….

Chance out of the water

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We arrived at MGM in Thurmaston yesterday and had a nice evening catching up with some of the boaters on the moorings who we haven’t seen for 4 months.

This morning ‘Chance’ was taken out of the water to be re-blacked in preparation for the winter, a replacement bow thruster grill, which we lost during our travels, and a galvanic isolator fitted.

Mark getting ‘Chance’ on the carriages and winching it up the ramp and into the poly tunnel.

A view from across the river with ‘Chance’s’ rear end nearly under water! The holes for the exhaust and heating had to be covered beforehand!

Slowly ‘Chance’ is winched out of the water.

As Chance is going to be out of the water for a week, and James wants to do a few jobs on it himself, Doug has a hire car for a week to go back home tomorrow with Oscar. He will call in to see our daughters on the way back. Oscar also has a couple of swimming sessions booked at his doggy pool and a visit to the vets so he will be having a busy week back at home.

Another Hot Day!!

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The weather continues its heat wave, poor old Oscar, its just too hot for him! We did let him have a swim in the River Soar yesterday as he was just so hot;. this was followed by a shower back on board!

A beautiful old craft which passed us on our mooring on the River Soar. Rivers offer a more varied sort of vessel than canals usually do.

Saturday 1st October

We arrived at the basin in Loughborough at 11am. Crick Boat Show visitors Ann and Chris were coming to have another look and a chat about ‘ Chance’ as they are considering having MGM build them a new boat. We had a very enjoyable couple of hours with them and hope that they will also be boating very soon.

Moored in Loughborough Basin.

After doing a quick bit of shopping in Loughborough, and getting and M&S (2 dine for £10) meal, we set off again and decided, due to the heat, to call it a day after spotting a good mooring near Pillings Lock marina. A good mooring but the closest we’ve ever been to a railway line – just the other side of the hedge!

We moored next to Graham and Della on nb Ardea ( Latin for Heron) and soon got chatting on the towpath - then out came the wine! We had our M&S meal then were invited by Graham and Della for a few more drinks on their boat. Their boat is exceptionally well fitted out – being all electric (gas free) and powered by hydraulically driven propeller and bow thruster. They have the most fantastic induction hob in the galley. We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with them getting back at 11pm! Isn’t boating wonderful; the people you unexpectedly meet and have a lovely time with……….

Sunday 2nd October

This morning we had a late start as we weren’t in any hurry and were chatting again to our neighbours…..

Della, Graham, (nb Ardea) and Doug enjoying the morning sunshine.

There are some wonderful gardens along the banks of the R Soar at Barrow-on-Soar.

A very elegant bridge built in 1860 approaching Mount Sorrell.

We are now moored back at MGM Boats where we started our travels in May. We plan to have a few jobs done and some routine maintenance carried out before the winter sets in. ‘Chance’ is scheduled to be taken out of the water tomorrow.

Onto The River Soar

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We have come to the end of the Trent and Mersey Canal and continued onto the River Soar over the last few days – heading back to the boat builders at Thurmaston, Leicester for a few jobs to be done after 4 months of continuous cruising.

A misty morning just before we left our mooring on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Branston on Wednesday. It didn’t last long as it has been so hot up here over the last few days the mist soon gets burnt off!

We passed another well known blogger at Horninglow Basin, Burton on Trent. Andrew on Granny Buttons wasn’t at home.

Leaving the Trent and Mersey canal we enter the River Trent. The expanse of the river is a little different to the canal. The depth of water also makes the boat go easier (and faster if you want! - a good opportunity to give the engine a bit more stride)

Here we are filling up with diesel, 95p a litre at Sawley Marina. We also topped up the water tank. We then went through Sawley Lock (this is an automated lock so there are push buttons instead of having to heave on lock gate beams to open them – a nice change for Doug!). A quick 1/2 mile further down the River Trent we made a left turn onto the Erewash Canal. This canal is virgin territory for us and we wanted see what it was like.

As you can see it was full of duckweed and so thick, as you passed through, it filled in the gap behind us! It is a very urban canal for the first part and because of the duckweed and so much rubbish floating in it we decided to turn back at Sandiacre Lock and head off the canal and back onto the pristine River Trent.

Some of the floating homes as we left the canal were amazing – this one reminiscent of a Mississippi steamer. Still on the canal, and just before we left through Trent Lock, we met Ian and Karen on nb Serenity, (another fellow blogger!) We had a quick chat with them (as they were blacking their boat in dry dock) before leaving the Erewash Canal. We may return one day when we have more time and we can be assured of a cleaner canal.

The last lock (Trent Lock) on the Erewash Canal next to the Steamboat Inn. The Radcliffe-on-Soar power station in the distance dominates the surroundings for many miles around. We moored just off the canal on the River Trent for the evening.

Sunset on the River Trent.

Continuing along the Trent and Mersey

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Monday 26th September

Today we completed the very short journey (3 miles 7 locks) from Fradley to Alrewas. We wanted to stop overnight at Alrewas as it’s a nice quiet mooring and we also wanted to revisit to National Memorial Arboretum. As it happened the weather was fantastic and we had plenty of time – both of which we didn’t have for our previous two visits. We walked miles around the 150 acre site planted with hundreds of thousands of different trees all maturing nicely. The atmosphere was very special as we visited many different specific memorials and finally arriving at the central Armed Forces Memorial which honours the 16,ooo who have died in the service of their country since World War Two. It’s only 20 mins brisk walk from the canal and well worth the visit.

The central Armed Forces Memorial at the arboretum.

Our mooring at Alrewas – very pleasant.

Tuesday 27th September

We left Alrewas to head towards Branston (of pickle fame) – another short trip of 6 miles 4 locks.

The Trent river section just outside Alrewas.

We popped in to Barton Marina further on and walked the short distance into Barton-under-Needwood. A very nice village with a staggering number of pubs!

‘Chance’ at the visitor moorings at Barton Marina.

Back on the ‘road’ again and through one of the narrowest bridges possible – just another couple of inches would have been nice! By 1pm we had moored at Branston just down from the Bridge Inn.

Doug doing a bit of outside housework at the Branston mooring.

The weather today has been extremely hot and sunny, which we have enjoyed but Oscar has found it a little too warm! So we spent most of the afternoon on the back deck enjoying the sun.

Red sky at night……..

Onward to Fradley Junction

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Saturday 24th September

We left our lovely quiet moorings and the neighbours were out to see us off:

We’ve ‘herd’ of a foot bridge but this must be a hoof bridge.

We got to Sandon Lock and a very nice chap approached us. We didn’t know it but he happened to be quite an important person for us – he helped to build ‘Chance’s’ hull with Ken Martin. He recognised us through the magazine coverage otherwise he wouldn’t have had any idea what the boat eventually would have looked like.

This is Lee – the assistant hull builder.

A very handsome bridge along our journey.

Further along – ‘Chance’ at Hoo Mill Lock – this is a very pretty stretch of the Trent and Mersey canal.

We got to our intended destination of Tixall Wide –which is another of our favourite mooring spots. We had to turn off the Trent and Mersey and go up the Staffs and Worcs canal a mile to get to it. We moored here three months ago on our way ‘out’. It’s just a short walk into Great Haywood and the River Trent where Oscar could have a safe (and clean) paddle.

Oscar in the Trent

Sunday 25th September

Today we left a bit earlier as we wanted to get to Fradley Junction for our next mooring and a late arrival can spell disappointment at the moment: the system is fairly busy with the ‘older’ section of society taking advantage of the good weather, reduced hire boat fees and lack of children and mooring spaces can fill quite fast especially at popular places like Fradley. We stopped briefly at Rugeley for supplies.

‘Chance’ at Colwich Lock – another pretty lock on the way to Fradley Junction.

This is Spode House – the home of Josiah Spode just outside Armitage. They certainly liked to show of their wealth in days past!

Just a short distance further on are some ‘narrows’ as the map describes it. It’s the remains of the collapsed Armitage Tunnel. The modern road bridge now acts as the roof.

Inside the collapsed tunnel – you can see the tops of the original rock faces – and it is very narrow!

We arrived at Fradley Junction at 2pm, just as a boat pulled out just in front of us, which was extremely lucky as it was the only spot left to moor. Tonight we are going to The Swan (mucky duck) for a meal.

Continuing on through Stone

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We left our overnight mooring at Barlaston at 10am as we weren’t in any hurry. The canal is very pleasant and rural with the occasional well kept house and lovely gardens down to the canal edge. We soon came to the four Meaford Locks dropping us down a total of 35 feet. The little bridges at the exit to the locks, where the lock setter needs to cross from one side to the other, are in two pieces with a slot between. This was to allow the rope, of the horse drawn boats, to pass through without having to detach the rope from the boat. Clever!

After the four locks we were very soon in Stone.

‘Chance’ at Lock 29 in Stone (4 in total) – very nice architecture and a quirky little personnel tunnel to go under the road bridge.

The old ale stores at Joules Wharf. Everything is built of brick in Stone!!

The last of the four locks is adjacent to the Dolce Vita Restaurant which we used last time we were here on ‘Spirit’ and we couldn’t resist it this time. We moored up just down from the lock and went for lunch - 2 courses for £7.95 or 3 courses for £8.95, and it was excellent last time and still is!

The Dolce Vita Restaurant by the lock at Stone. (we briefly thought about leaving ‘Chance’ in the lock while we ate!)

Unusual Lock Arm at the lock designed like this as the road bridge runs so close to it. Clever again.

Tonight we are moored on our own in the middle of nowhere a few bridges past the new Aston Marina.

Separate Ways

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After watering up at the last tap on the Macclesfield Canal ‘Toulouse’ and ‘Chance’ set forth on their final trip together (this year anyway).

‘Chance’ and ‘Toulouse’ leaving this morning.

Soon we arrived at the Harecastle tunnel. At 2926 yards long it’s pretty impressive. It takes about 45 minutes to get through – there are officials at either ‘portal’ and you get booked in and told when you can enter. The other impressive thing, at the North portal, is the colour of the water – a very bright orange! Which clashed terribly with ‘Chance’s’ colour!

The North portal of the tunnel. To the right of the picture is Brindley’s original tunnel which required the boats to be ‘legged’ through – men on the backs with their legs against the tunnel wall and they walk the boat through. The new tunnel, originally with a towpath, was opened in 1827 as the old one caused too many hold ups.

Towards the middle the tunnel ceiling gets quite low!

After the tunnel we sped onwards towards the pottery towns of Middleport and Stoke. A pitiful sight these days with lots of the surviving buildings urgently needing restoration.

Longport Potbank – a beautiful bottle kiln looming large over the canal.

We journey on until it’s time for the two boats to go their separate ways. We’ve had a fantastic 10 days travelling with Janet and Gerald on ‘Toulouse’ – thank you for some great times!

We now travel alone down through the locks at Etruria – past this wonderfully refurbished Bone Mill.

Not all the sights are wonderful but there you are!

We took very little time to pass through the attractive village of Hem Heath and, just beyond bridge 104, close to the Wedgwood Pottery museum we arrived at one of our favourite mooring sites. Lovely open countryside views and it was sunny (and windy) – just right to dry the washing!

Our new neighbours came round for a drink!!

What could be better at the end of the day? – after cleaning down the boat that is!

Another normal day?!

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Today was our last on the Macclesfield Canal. We’ve enjoyed our trip very much – the canal seems shorter than the last time we came 3 years ago! We woke this morning to a fantastic sunrise from our elevated position above the River Dane.

Sunrise from ‘Chance’ this morning

As always, we took Oscar for his morning walk to keep his old bones moving! Here he is at lock 11 of the flight we came down yesterday.

We left the mooring at 9:30 this morning thinking that the sooner we start the sooner we can get to the end of the canal and moor up at Scholar Green where we planned to have our farewell dinner with Janet and Gerald this evening.

‘Toulouse’ leaving the mooring and crossing the aqueduct.

However, our journey was to be interrupted! The odd shopping trolley yes but lorries we don’t see very often. We were asked to moor up and wait for the recovery to take place. The lorry plunged in, together with the car it was carrying, at 5 o’clock this morning – they had already recovered the car!

Wonder how the driver explained this one!

Only a few scratches!

The lift was quite tricky as there were power cables above the crane. They eased the lorry over the hedge (without further damage to the hedge) and dumped it on its roof in the road. The show over, we were able to continue our journey.

Another famous site from the canal – the beautiful Ramsdell Hall

We are now moored at Scholar Green at the end of the Macclesfield Canal ready for our farewell dinner – Gerald and Janet are planning a different route from this point and we are making our way back to MGM (our boat builders) for a few jobs to be done before winter sets in.

Continuing on the Macclesfield Canal

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Monday 19th September

Delightful gentle run down from Higher Poynton. The bridges are very nice – they curve back in at their lower edges and, together with the tree lined banks, made an interesting journey.

Going through Bollington takes you back to the days of the industrial revolution with its fantastic mills which look more like castles than places of work:

Clarence Mill, Bollington.

Adelphi Mill, Bollington.

Another delightful scene on the way towards Macclesfield.

A turnover bridge – where the towpath had to cross to the other side of the canal it allowed the horse, pulling the boat, to cross over without detaching the tow rope.

We decided not to tackle the Bosley Locks until tomorrow so, after a 4 hour cruise, we moored up at a tiny hamlet called Oak Grove where the ‘Fools Nook’ pub was only a few yards away where we had a good meal with Janet and Gerald.

Tuesday 20th September

This morning we left at 10.30 after the rain had eased – still quite a wet journey for the next hour. From Oak Grove it wasn’t long before we arrived at Bosley locks (12 locks in1 mile).

The 2nd Bosley lock – waiting for a boat to leave before going in. A very dank atmosphere this morning after the rain had eased.

‘Chance’ with mist shrouded hills in the background – to the right of the picture, but unable to see it because of the mist, is Jodrell Bank.

Doug multi tasking – riding a bike and drinking a cup of coffee! - speeding between locks helping both ‘Chance’ and ‘Toulouse’ down the flight of locks.

We completed the locks by 1.30pm and moored up for lunch - then we all decided to stay put as the weather had improved and the mooring below Bosley locks was very nice.

‘Chance’ on the moorings next to the aqueduct 80 feet above the RiverDane. In the background is “The Cloud” – a hill 700 feet higher than the canal and 1120 feet above sea level. Blissfully peaceful and remote moorings.

12 Locks and 3 miles in 2.3 hours

Onto the Macclesfield Canal

2011-09-18T20:43:00.001+01:00

We left Bugsworth Basin at 10:30 am after watering both boats, the weather has been quite warm and sunny today giving us fantastic views over the Derbyshire countryside.

‘Toulouse’ and ‘Chance’ being watered just before leaving Bugsworth.

Just another section of canal – lovely!

As promised yesterday a few photos of the views from the Peak Forest canal – we’re very high and able to see the Pennines on occasions.

A shear drop of a few hundred feet below this house!

Turning left at Marple junction we got onto the Macclesfield Canal and one of the first sights, just outside Marple, is the huge Goyt Mill. Said to be one of the most impressive cotton mills ever built – today it’s home to a variety of small businesses.

After a few more miles we moored up at about 3 o’clock just past the Braidbar Boat Yard at Higher Poynton. Had tea and cakes on on the rear deck, as it was warm and the sun was still out.

Gerald, Janet and Doug enjoying the weather (and tea and cakes!) The canal is very wide here, probably due to a ‘burst’ where it seems it was cheaper to pay out out compensation to the farmer than go to the trouble of rebuilding the canal bank – it certainly provides a very nice backdrop to our mooring position.

We are moored up next to the newest Braidbar boat ‘Dolce Far Niente's’ (behind the washing line – sorry!) which owners Stephen and Jayne kindly let Doug have a look on today – very nice.

We also took a wander down to the ‘Trading Post’ (shop), next to Braidbar Boats, where we saw nb ‘Sanity Again’, but Bruce and Sheila weren’t at home. When inside the Trading Post, after finding a mug the same colour as ‘Chance’, Doug’s attention was drawn to one of the magazines for sale………

And look who’s on the front (and back cover) of it! James just had to buy a copy as he was in the picture with Adam from Canal Boat magazine. Bit of a surprise as we had no idea we were being used on The Canal Boat Buyers Guide!

The day ended with drinks and wonderful nibbles with Janet and Gerald on board ‘Toulouse’.

Bound for Bugsworth Basin

2011-09-17T20:00:00.001+01:00

Friday 16th September

We carried on along the Peak Forest Canal which winds its way towards a terminus at Bugsworth Basin and Whaley Bridge. There are lovely views out over the River Goyt Valley and, hopefully, we will get some nice photos on our way back as the visibility was not too good on the way out.

Doug walking along the towpath with nb ‘Toulouse’ - he was doing all the lift and swing bridges along the way.

A typical view along the canal - with pretty cottages, tree lined glades and the lovely panoramic scenes makes it a very nice journey.

Doug, taking his life in his hands, sweeping the roof of leaves at the start of the trip on Friday (rule no 368 – do not moor under trees!)

The smell is better than the sight! – the Swizzles factory at Newtown – manufacturer of many sticky substances.

The occasional disaster lurks round the corner. This was a ‘Springer’ narrow boat only recently meeting its demise. The pot plant on the front must have been screwed down!

We arrived at Bugsworth basin about lunch time and spent the afternoon cleaning and doing some maintenance – working up an appetite for an evening meal in ‘The Navigation’ pub next to the basin.

Bugsworth Basin was opened in 2005 after a fantastic restoration by the Inland Waterways Protection Society. Now enjoying Ancient Monument status, the basin was a transhipment terminal for lime and limestone. There are many wharfs available for mooring and the whole complex is a mass of original walls and bridges and definitely worth visiting.

Doug with Janet and Gerald at the Navigation Inn - they also allowed Oscar in as well!

Saturday 17th September

Today we have stayed put, getting a few more jobs done on the boats (in between the heavy showers of rain) - taking a walk to the nearby Tesco’s and a walk into Whaley Bridge. Tomorrow we plan to head back and onto the Macclesfield Canal.

‘Chance’ and ‘Toulouse’ basking in this evenings’ sunshine.

The Marple Flight

2011-09-16T09:38:00.002+01:00

Yesterday we tackled the flight of 16 locks at Marple. On the way, passing through Woodley and Hyde Bank tunnels and on to the Marple Aqueduct – reminding us very much of the Chirk Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal with the railway viaduct running alongside.

James steering across the Marple Aqueduct.
Very soon after the aqueduct we arrived at the bottom of the Marple Locks. The locks raise the canal 208 feet to the town of Marple. We think this flight is one of the prettiest on the system – ascending through an area of dense vegetation, it’s well maintained although the paddles of almost every lock are very, very heavy to operate.

The pool at the bottom of the flight with ‘Toulouse’ waiting to go up.

Some of the masons marks on the each of the stone blocks making up the lock walls.

Doug on the folding bike we carry on board racing up and down the flight setting the upper locks and going back to drain the lower ones ready for ‘Toulouse’ following up behind.

‘Chance’ about half way up the flight.

Some of the locks can resemble a jungle!

At the top! Lovely views.
We stopped to water up both boats and get provisions in Marple before continuing on the Peak Forest Canal (towards Whaley Bridge). After a short distance we moored up for the night. A good days’ work!
16 Locks, 7 Miles, 5.6 hours.

A visit from Renaissance Canal Carrying Company

2011-09-15T08:58:00.001+01:00

We set off late yesterday morning for a very short journey (1 1/2 hours!) along the Peak Forest Canal and moored up for lunch.

The beautiful Peak Forest Canal but very shallow…

After mooring for lunch we all decided that we would stay put for the day, as we had a busy day on Tuesday with all the locks and we’re about to tackle the Marple flight (16 locks) so decided on a rest day (cleaning the boats!).

Later in the afternoon Nb Alton of the Renaissance Canal Carrying Company and its butty came passed so we stopped them to buy a couple of bags of coal and also had a pump out.

‘Chance’ receiving its pump out.

And the couple of bags of coal. It was then ‘Toulouse’s’ turn as they wanted to fill with diesel.

We were really impressed with this little enterprise. We do try and buy from canal traders if and when we can so this was a bit of luck that they came past today. They had their butty in tow as well which didn’t help manoeuvring. You can follow nb Alton’s diary where they will be on their blog.

We were joined later in the day by nb ‘The Pearl’ so all had a peaceful evening moored in the middle of nowhere even if it was under the flight path of Manchester airport!

Farewell Manchester!

2011-09-14T11:10:00.002+01:00

Yesterday we left Manchester after a really enjoyable 3 weeks!

Getting ready to leave Castlefield at 8am! with nb Toulouse (hidden) for the Rochdale Canal. The wind had dropped and the sun was starting to come out.
Luckily, as we had 27 locks ahead of us, we had help from nb Toulouse’s friends Graham and Lorna who joined us all for the day.

Two of this years’ Crick show boats slip through the Rochdale 9 locks by Whitworth Street.

Travelling in between the apartments and under the hotels.

Continuing through the locks along Canal Street.

Doug, Janet and Graham stopping for a coffee in Canal Street, and enjoying the sunshine.

Doug travelling on the front of “Chance” as there is no towpath for some of the way in Canal Street so you have to access the locks from the boat .

‘Chance’ and ‘Toulouse’ under the Malmaison Hotel and nearing the end of the Rochdale 9.

A good way up the Ashton Flight of 18 locks - ‘Toulouse’, with Gerald steering, passing the entrance to the old Stockport Branch between locks 10 and 11.
We had a really good passage through,what can be, a fairly tough days’ work thanks to massive efforts from Janet, Lorna, Graham and Doug who worked all the locks and Janet, who provided a fabulous lunch eaten on the hoof. Gerald and James just steered the boats! – trying hard to avoid a lot of debris under the water and, on more than one occasion, getting down in the weed hatch to remove all sorts of rubbish from the propellers. Not a clean canal but it could have been worse – last time we did this stretch on ‘Spirit’ Doug had to remove a bed from the entrance to one of the locks!
Anyway, we have now turned right at Portland Basin and on to the Peak Forest Canal – mooring up for the night as soon as a good spot presented itself. With great thanks to Janet and Doug all six of us plus Oscar and Graham and Lorna’s dog Billy had a brilliant meal on board ‘Chance’ thanks to Waitrose’s 2 meals for £10 deal!!
12 miles and 27 locks in 8 hours!

Our Last day in Manchester

2011-09-12T20:01:00.001+01:00

After being here on and off for 3 weeks we plan to leave Manchester in the morning. With Janet and Gerald, on nb Toulouse,we will tackle the Rochdale 9 out of the city and then up the Ashton Canal (18 locks at the last count) and on to the Peak Forest Canal. Anyway:---

Saturday 10th September

We spent a lovely evening on board with Birgit and Michael after mooring up at Lymm. At 12.30 in the morning Doug woke James to tell him he thought someone was on the boat. James rushed outside (forgetting to put any clothes on!) to find a guy walking off up the towpath and quickly realised he had pulled both mooring pins out of the ground and pushed the back of the boat out. Luckily James was able to jump off and secure the boat before we drifted too far out ( a leap of about 5 feet in the dark – this time with his dressing gown on!). We guess it was just someone thinking they were having some fun on their way home in Oughtrington from the pub in Lymm. If it had been windy it might not have been such a great jape but “hey ho” no harm done. This has never happened to us, even on our last boat ‘Spirit’, but at least we can now look other boaters in the face.

Sunday 11th September

We left Lymm in the morning and travelled back to Manchester – hoping to get back to port before the hurricane. It was very windy but we had a pleasant journey meeting both the (very wide) trip boats from Manchester in bridge holes! One was a blind bridge and (technically) ours because we were there first – and luckily the trip boat stopped very quickly!

We passed nb ‘Seyella’ (fellow bloggers) at Dunham Massey, but Geoff and Mags weren’t aboard..

Michael and Birgit doing very well steering ‘Chance’ towards Manchester.

We arrived back in Castlefield around 1.30pm giving Oscar a well deserved walk around the basin – something he’s been used to of late.

James, Oscar and Michael taking a walk in Castlefield

We then all went to The Ox just off of Deansgate for a lovely Sunday lunch!

Sunday Lunch at the excellent Ox.

We arrived back at the boat at around 5pm and were invited for drinks and nibbles on nb Toulouse and so spent a lovely evening with Gerald and Janet.

Monday 12th September

This morning we said our goodbyes to Birgit and Michael at Deansgate station as they got the train to Manchester Airport to fly back to Frankfurt.

We have spent the rest of the day, getting the washing done at the YHA and food shopping for our trip tomorrow.

A trip out to Lymm!

2011-09-10T19:47:00.001+01:00

On Thursday our friends Birgit and Michael flew into Manchester airport so Doug went on the train to meet them in the afternoon.

Friday was spent showing them around Manchester – John Rylands’ Library and the Town Hall being on the itinerary.

Michael, Doug and Birgit in Albert Square outside the Town Hall.

We had a lovely warm sunny day, so took a walk through Canal Street – stopped at Via for a pint and sat outside watching the world go by. We helped two American couples on an Anderson hire boat through a few of the locks on our walk back along the canal to the Castlefield Basin.

Birgit and Doug enjoying the weather at the Canal Street Locks.

Getting back to ‘Chance’ in the afternoon, although the weather forecast was not good for Friday, we spent a wonderful few hours on the rear deck relaxing, drinking wine and catching up in the sunshine…….

For our evening meal we graced Pesto in Deansgate, a very good Italian Restaurant that serves the meal as tappas and with 4 dishes for £9.95 we had a lovely evening with plenty of dishes to choose from…

Michael, Doug and Birgit at Pesto in Deansgate. We even sat outside it was so warm! – watching the Friday rush hour

Today (Saturday) after doing some shopping in the Arndale Centre this morning we decided, after lunch, to head off to Lymm for the night. We were intending to do it Sunday to give Birgit and Michael a trip out of the city but the weather forecast for Monday (our planned return day) is for the tail end of a hurricane so we are doing it a day early and hopefully ride out any extreme weather back in Manchester.

Birgit steering ‘Chance’ out of Manchester. James having a break for a change!

All four of us enjoying the cruise to Lymm

Although quite windy today it’s been extremely warm so it was a pleasant 4 hour cruise to Lymm during which we had fresh home made spring onion soup made by Doug followed by Victoria sponge cake (made by Doug). We took a walk into Lymm and up to the Lymm Dam (through the Dingle and up to the Bong! – well that’s what the sign post says). We’ve enjoyed a warm sunny evening again despite a poor forecast.

A view of Lymm Dam.

Still in Manchester with more unexpected surprises!

2011-09-07T20:35:00.001+01:00

Since returning to Manchester on Sunday morning we have been having an enjoyable time moored here. Yesterday we were visited by our friends Howard and Wendy from Budleigh Salterton in Devon (where we used to live) and daughter Jackie who they were visiting in Sale for a few days. We had a lovely afternoon catching up with them.

Howard, Jackie, Wendy and James. Great to see you all and thanks for coming to see us guys…

Within an hour of them leaving, James was busy outside doing some work on Chance and who should walk up? Janet and Gerald from nb Toulouse who were our neighbours at the Crick Boat Show and we spent quite some time eating out and socialising with them at the show. They have now moored up next to us and hopefully they have decided they will stay until next week and we will travel together up the Rochdale flight (9 locks) and the Ashton flight (18 locks) and on to the Peak Forest Canal.

nb Toulouse and nb Chance moored together again this time in Castlefield. Why ‘Toulouse’? we once asked Gerald – “because it has” was the reply.

Also today we had Oscar’s three monthly supply of his special dog food delivered to the boat. We are so impressed by Oscar Pet foods, (Oscar was named first!) This is the second time the ‘local’ rep. has delivered to the boat instead of our usual man in West Sussex. The head office are so helpful and their products are excellent - Oscar has the Pinnacle mix especially for old dogs! – and has made a great difference to him in the last two years.

Oscar delivering to Oscar - Doug chatting to Claire of Oscar Pet Foods.

Canal Boat Review

2011-09-05T09:53:00.001+01:00

For those of you, (especially friends in Europe) who have been asking us where they can read the review in Canal Boat magazine on the internet. Our Boat Builders MGM Ltd have published it on their web site, follow the link www.mgmboats.co.uk and click on Press Releases and the whole review is shown. Hope you find it interesting!

Great excitement! – quite by “Chance”

2011-09-04T21:22:00.001+01:00

On Saturday we walked from the marina into Worsley. We particularly wanted to see the “Delph” – the access point to the 40 or so miles of underground canals which allowed the coal to be brought to the surface from the mines.

The “Delph” showing the access tunnel to the mines.

The Courthouse, Worsley.

Today we set off from the marina for the two hour journey back to Manchester. Heading towards the famous Barton Swing Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal we rounded the corner to find the bridge sealed and ready to swing! Great excitement – we never dreamt we would actually see this fantastic feat of engineering in action. After mooring up we went to see the ‘man in charge’ who very kindly allowed us to access the bridge area at the Bridgewater canal level and also to go down to the Manchester Ship Canal level.

The bridge just starting to swing to the right. The operator is standing on the edge of the canal sealing gate.

Down at MSC level – the bridge caisson (full of water) has swung round through 90 degrees. The road bridge, which also has to be swung, is on the far right.

Looking up to see the sealing gate holding in all the water of the Bridgewater canal (right back to Wigan!) Not a drip of water.

Canal bridge and road bridge swung and ready for the ferry to pass. Good job as well as the ferry wasn’t going to stop!

The Manchester ferry at full pelt!

Extra excitement as steam tug ‘Kerne’ follows through after the ferry.

Back to the upper level and we were allowed to stand right next to the sealing gates as the caisson approached its docking position.

We were also allowed into the operating shed where the original water operated hydraulic equipment from the 1890’s is still in working order.

After about 45 minutes we were on our way – still in awe of the terrific surprise which awaited us on our journey. We arrived in Manchester at about midday to find our exact mooring spot, which we had last week, still available to us! The weather has been really good today and we finished a brilliant day off by enjoying wine and nibbles on the rear deck in wonderful sunshine.

Fame again!!

2011-09-02T18:47:00.002+01:00

After having a lovely day on Wednesday celebrating James’s birthday in Manchester - and enjoying a meal at Pesto who serve a delicious combination of Italian ‘tapas’.
James enjoying our al fresco meal out at Pesto in Deansgate.
Today we left Castlefield Basin and travelled out to the Bridgewater Marina again. Our time limit was up in Castlefield so we’re motoring out for a few days. On the way we stopped off at the Trafford Centre to take a look around as we’ve never been. Very Las Vegas!

An amazing shopping centre, no wonder people take a day trip there. We didn’t really need to buy anything but did get some spare covers for our directors chairs (which we use on deck) in Habitat as it was closing down. We’ve normally paid £10 each for them in the past - today they were reduced to £3 each!
We continued in the afternoon to the Bridgewater marina where we filled with diesel. We haven’t filled up for over a month and still had 1/4 of a tank left! Just as an aside – we’ve lasted 2 weeks without filling with water and the black water tank lasts a good 5 weeks before pump-out so we’re certainly not having to stop to service the boat every 5 minutes. We have a few nights in the marina on electric again for £8 per night as we have a bit of time to kill as our friends from Germany fly in to Manchester airport on Thursday. We have some routine maintenance to carry out on ‘Chance’ and will return to Manchester on Sunday.
While paying for the diesel we noticed that they had just received the October issue of Waterways World and who should feature in it?……….

Well, well it’s us again. Waterways World came out to see us when we were moored at Beeston Castle on the Shropshire Union canal. They wanted to review our boat with MGM’s following build nb ‘The Tardis’. Some great pictures again and a very good review….
Lastly, for this blog, James would like to say “Thank you” to everyone who sent their best wishes on his birthday. Greetings came by phone, e mail, text, blog, cards and carrier pigeon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!

2011-08-31T11:19:00.002+01:00

Its James’s birthday today so we are staying put here in Manchester for another couple of days and plan to go out for a meal later. We have managed to get most of his birthday cards up here from home!

James received this morning a beautiful bouquet of flowers and chocolates from daughter Vicki, Tom and grandpuppy Ernie.
Yesterday we spent a quiet day - using the YHA here in Castlefield to get the washing, drying and ironing done. A very useful amenity considering there is only a water point in the canal basin. The Bridgewater Canal, in general, is not good for boating facilities.
A few of the views of the Castlefield basin and moorings:-

The Beetham Tower dominates the city over the Rochdale Canal. This is the first lock in the Rochdale flight.

The Castlefield area around by the YHA. This area is where the Bridgewater canal finishes and was the ‘port’ of Manchester in the early days of the industrial revolution. The old wharf buildings and massive cast iron structures around here are very impressive.

Our mooring in the Castlefield basin - not so busy here now.

Some of the wonderful flower displays all around the city. The picture doesn’t do it justice - they are all of the same colour scheme (a limited palate as they say in artistic circles) and they look fantastic everywhere. These are outside the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) at Castlefield and well worth a visit.
Last night we ate at the The Lost Dean half way along Deansgate. We just had to recommend it as the staff couldn’t be more helpful, and the food was incredible for the price, We paid £4.95 for a bottle of excellent red wine, 2 main courses for £6.95 (for both not each!) and 2 desserts at buy one get one free at £3.95. Amazing value and really good pub food - I had Scampi and James had a vege lasagne both were excellent so we highly recommend it if you are this way. Certainly wouldn’t find prices like this down South!
We have eaten out every day since we’ve been here and we’re amazed at the low prices of food and drink.

An amazing finale to Manchester Pride!

2011-08-30T12:56:00.001+01:00

Monday 29th August

We had a fantastic day yesterday in Manchester. In the morning we watched Jenson Button race up Deansgate in his Formula 1 car - there were huge crowds.

The stretch of Deansgate where he reached 70 mph!

We took a walk round to find a place to have lunch and taking in the endless supply of beautiful buildings.

The iconic Midland Hotel – the back entrance!

We came across this tiny pub - fully tiled on the outside with the striking detail around the windows and doors!

In the afternoon we headed back to the Gay Village for another day of entertainment during this Manchester Pride weekend. Today, being the last day, produced the big names on stage.

We saw Hazel Dean…..

Toyah! …….

Four Poofs and a Piano - who got everyone rocking!

Then Bucks Fizz, with Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan. By now the atmosphere was amazing!!

We were really pleased to be so close to the stage. Looking behind us this was the scene……..!

Huge crowds in the “arena”….it was actually a car park with 4000 of us inside plus more outside the fence.

And finally the best of all “Blue” came on stage,

The Boys from Blue, Simon, Duncan, Anthony and Lee….

Such a great evening and what a great weekend Manchester Pride has been again for everyone!

The final event of Pride is the Candlelit Vigil - a special moment at the weekend to remember those people who have been, and are still being, affected by HIV and Aids. The moment was hosted by Anthony Cotton (Shaun from Corrie) .

The sea of the lighted candles was very moving.

We have had an amazing weekend up here at the Manchester Pride weekend and wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Manchester is a city with a very special identity. The people love the place they live in and there is an enormous respect for the city and the people. Manchester has responded very quickly and positively to the recent riots which have affected so many communities. We are staying for a couple more days and then will head out for a short while – but will return to meet up with some German friends flying over in early September.

Having a great time in Manchester!

2011-08-29T10:55:00.002+01:00

Since arriving in Manchester on Tuesday, we have been very busy around the city enjoying all the architecture, shopping, eating and drinking.
We also have finally met up with Paul and Kath on nb Lola who moored overnight in Castlefield. Sorry we didn’t have more time to catch up guys but good luck with your mammoth trip of the Cheshire ring! See you again.

It seems remarkable that Manchester planners and architects have managed to achieve such a pleasing contrast between old and new buildings (when other towns and cities have made such a hash!). There is so much wonderful architecture showing the power and wealth of the city at it’s industrial peak – all in such a relatively small area. The recent developments have achieved a spectacular and vibrant atmosphere.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The photo doesn’t really give the full impact of this new building next to the John Ryland Library…

The front of the Ryland Library.

Manchester Cathedral.
On Thursday we were joined on board by friends Mike and Brian who came up from Worthing for a few days. Together we visited the Town Hall (considered to be one of the finest buildings in the country). It was completed in 1879 at a cost of £1 million and contains 4500 yards of marble flooring. The hour bell in the clock tower weighs 8 tons and is the largest perfect clock bell in England (Big Ben is cracked!) – it’s worth standing in front at mid day and listening to it. We can also highly recommend the coffee and wonderful cheese and chive scones they serve inside.

Front view of the Town Hall – didn’t have a wide enough lens on the camera!
On Saturday it was Manchester Pride and the parade through the city was led by the comedienne Pam Ann who we had seen on stage the night before!

Pam Ann!
The parade started a 1pm from Deansgate and went all around the city.

The next 2 shots are of some of the cast of Coronation Street on their float.

Even the (a) Queen got out and did a walkabout!
We finished up at Canal Street in the afternoon and evening, enjoying the bands and entertainment - a great atmosphere!

Mike, Doug and Ian enjoying a beer or two!

Brian (who thinks he’s a fireman) in the spirit of Pride.

The very busy Canal Street.

On Sunday we took another wander around the city to enjoy more of the architecture. Brian, Doug and Mike in front of the Mulberry window display.. which was art itself.

The new national football museum building due to open in 2012.

Our mooring in Castlefield Basin.
Mike and Brian left us on Sunday evening – we will be staying on for a few days more. More photos of this super city to follow.