Wednesday 13 August 2014

So many photos, so little mobile data signal...

The Llangollen Canal is beautiful - but out of range of mobile data signal, so we have been unable to blog for a few days. 

To make it up to you, here are a few photos. 








Wednesday 6 August 2014

The Anderton Boat Lift & River Weaver

After the hire boat traffic jams in Middlewich, the River Weaver feels luxurious: wide, deep water; manned locks; pretty moorings; and hire boats are not allowed down the Anderton Lift. 

As ever, Honey loved the river. A good hull can be appreciated so much more in the flowing meanders - and we loved our sunlit meals at remote moorings. 

As for the lift itself, go and visit. If you don't own a boat, jump aboard their trip boat. It's well worth it. 




Monday 4 August 2014

Wandering Aimlessly

Because that's what you do with narrowboats. You chug along pretty bits of waterway, turning at junctions when they look interesting, stopping for tea when you feel like it, and investigating anything that looks a bit interesting. 

Cheshire is a bit Mock Tudor for my taste, but that's just my inverse snobbery: when it looks like you're trying too hard, I instinctively think you're missing the point. 

The point is that we are here to have fun, and to rejoice in the beauty around us. And there's a lot of beauty in rural Cheshire (and the local beers.)

Tomorrow, the Anderton Lift and the River Weaver. 



Saturday 2 August 2014

The weather and our boating plans...

After two weeks of Mediterranean weather, we clambered aboard Honey just in time for the downpours. 

Settling in was quick, but we haven't been able to give Honey the thorough wash she deserves; that will have to wait until the rain stops. 

We met the local branch of the IWA at Hurleston Locks, where they were doing all the hard work in exchange for donations, and they were so friendly and helpful despite the weather. 






Sunday 13 April 2014

Shropshire in the spring...

...is very, very pretty. 

The area provided essential raw materials for Birmingham's most important industry - Knighton Wharf was where the milk was loaded onto the fly boats to be taken to Cadbury's in Bourneville. 
Woodseaves Cutting is a spectacular feat of hand-dug early 18th century engineering: over a mile of designated Special Scientific Interest, the rock is so soft that has been crumbling for 180 years.

As we passed through in the late morning, the sun had yet to rise in the cutting - so we were wrapped up in our thermals, cuddling hot mugs of tea. 

After two very easy days, the shock of Tyrley and Adderley Locks (all eight of them) was too much for Hugh. This was before I told him we were about to reach the fifteen-lock Audlem Flight. 


But Audlem is always worth a visit. 


Honey is now safely moored in her new home on the Llangollen, and I have strict instructions to buy a replacement shower drain pump before our next trip out. 



Wednesday 9 April 2014

A new season

We finally managed to collect Honey from the painter's yard this morning, after the previous two attempts were thwarted by gales and then a closed lock. 

As you can tell from my 'selfie' here, Honey's new coat is very fine indeed!

We're just having a short trip this time - too much work to do. But we're enjoying our short trip in the fine spring weather - and we saw some incredibly rare wildlife: a revising teenager!

Thursday 13 February 2014

The Bloody Weather

So we had to cancel our "brass monkeys" cruise during the Christmas break because of the bad weather.

This meant we had to overstay our welcome at the painter's wharf - a nuisance for everyone concerned, I am sure! However, I was not about to take a freshly painted narrowboat out into gales. The wharf owners were very understanding, though, and found us an out-of-the-way spot for a reasonable rate.

So we conscientiously arranged to move Honey back to the Llangollen during February half term... which, if current weather forecasts are to be believed, will be a week of hurricane-force storms.

I think not. The thought of destroying all of John's hard work is unbearable!

We will be boating again soon! I promise!