We took a trip over to the Dry Dock first thing but when I arrived the surveyor was already in the middle of doing the complete hull survey for insurance purposes. I enjoyed a cup of tea and a quick natter with Barry, as usual, Judith was off gallivanting, and then it was time to be gone. It was a relatively quick journey back up the cut to our moorings, but it is always coming home.

Just as we left Worsley and came through the bridge near the Dry Dock, a Push Tug shot out into the main channel and floored it up the cut. It’s a good job I was going slow past the moored boats otherwise the tug would of been a new front fender! Not only that, but at the wider section of the canal a few boat lengths up the cut they winded right across the bows. Luckily it was only a small boat and was able to make it round in one and I wasn’t that close, otherwise I could see a jam happening as they didn’t give any notice of their actions at all. Tut!

I enjoyed a nice walk around Lymm Damn with the dog first thing. Every time we stop at Lymm I always make the effort of walking the dog around the Damn. He loves it just as much as I do I think!

After that it was a lazy morning really, as we didn’t set off for Worsley until after dinner as we had planned to meet up with some other friends, Barry and Judith off Serena who were currently high and dry out in Worsley Dry Dock for blacking. As we approached Waters Meeting in Stretford it suddenly dawned on me that, as we had left it so late to set off, we now might not make it to the The Tank (Barton Aqueduct) as this shuts at 4.30PM during winter hours I was told. We had a quick vote, it was either moor up where we were in Stretford which wasn’t really an option, detour to Castlefield for the night and then arrive at Worsley the following morning or just chance it and head for the tank. The latter option was chosen, and it was a relief to see that it was open when we arrived - we had planned to eat out that night as we had nothing on board and I was starting to feel a little peckish! After mooring up we went over the road to the Bridgewater Pub for a meal and a few drinks, personally, I don’t drink the stuff but not the cheapest of Fosters at £3.05 a pint. Criminal!

The following morning we chugged up to Stockton Heath to visit Brian and Margaret at Thorn Marine and whilst we were there, got some heatproof sealant to renew the existing stuff on the main Squirrel Stove in the saloon. Then it was off to the shops to have a look around and eventually we ended up in the Red Lion for a liquid lunch. After winding, we headed back north to Lymm again where we had planned to meet up with a few friends. Shortly after leaving our Grappenhall mooring I came across two unconverted motors which was a lovely sight. They were ex GUCCCo Lacerta, which has been cut down to what looked around 45ft and Petrel, an ex Fellows Morton & Clayton Josher, now under the Orion Canal Carrier name which I hadn’t heard of before. Both boats were very well presented and had that looked after feel about them which was nice.

Also, ex GUCCCo Pavo passed our boat and moored up in front of us shortly after arriving in Lymm, which didn’t seem to be full length and had a cabin conversion, and the back end didn’t appear to be original either. I had a quick chat with the owner, but unfortunately I didn’t catch his name. The engine is a Lister JP2 but is a bit unusual in the way that the flywheel is on the “wrong” side, which means that the engine was very high on it’s mountings. I was going to ask about whether this caused any problems with the propshaft having to run higher under the cabin floor etc. He mentioned aswell, that he was born on a pair of Willow Wrens back in 1955 and remembers my uncles boat, Stirling in its working day. I would of liked to chat all day but he was wanting to be off! We did also finally manage to meet up with my Uncle and Julie, his partner, in The Saddlers, before nipping over to the Bridgewater Hotel to meet some friends which turned out to be quite a good evening.

Instead of setting off on the Thursday like we had originally planned, we got down to the moorings on the Friday morning instead. After getting the supplies and coal loaded onto the boat we went up to the water point to fill up and then shortly afterwards we set of. At Dunham, I spotted my Uncle’s boat, Stirling, tied up near The Swan pub. We pulled up, and, as nobody was about on the boat we had a stroll down to the pub instead, but he wasn’t their either. After a quick phone call we found out he was in Manchester at the time. We pulled pins again and went straight through to Grappenhall where we had planned to stop for the night. After some grub, we had a walk into the village and went into both the Parr Arms and the Ramm’s Head pubs simply because we couldn’t choose between the two!

Well, it’s coming up to Easter time and the first proper break of the year for me. I’m so looking forward to spending a long weekend out on the boat, and, with a bit of luck, I’ll be spending it at Acton Bridge. Over the past couple of years it has been one of my favourite stopping places as I don’t really class myself as being “on holiday” until I am at Preston Brook Tunnel, and Dutton Stop Lock. With Acton Bridge being relatively quiet and also having 3 local pubs its as good as any other place. Also, the views over the Weaver Valley are absolutely awesome if you have the right weather, and it’s a nice walk over the field to the banks of the Weaver itself to Dutton. Unfortunately, though, the weather isn’t looking that good at all! Earlier I checked the 5 day forecast on the BBC Weather website and both Thursday and Friday are going to be raining with up to 30mph winds! Saturday, although sunny, will have 23mph winds and the temperature is going to drop to -4°C. I’ll just have to play it by ear!

Continuing of the subject of the Weaver, I have recently found out that developers want to create a Wind Farm in Aston in the Weaver Valley, more can be found on the Stop Aston Wind Farm website. Also, Narrowboat World reports that consultants have been commissioned to submit plans for the development of the waterfront at Winsford on the Weaver. Locals will have the oppurtinity to have their say on the plans with two informal drop-in sessions. The borough council is appealing for people to become involved in the consultation process and say how they would like to see the town develop.

Just checking through the sites which I link to, and have noticed that Sickle has now been finished (if a boat is ever finished) and has been launched back on the 28th January - well done! It certainly looks the part! I have also noticed that Oakley is coming on leaps and bounds, it’s gone from a bit of a wreck stuck in a field to looking like a boat now. Well done Steve, keep up the good work.

I have been in touch with Giles via email today, who runs Camberwell Covers from his barge, Hawthorn. He tells me that they are currently heading for Tarleton and then are off to Dublin in Ireland via the Irish Sea. Rather you, than me matey! Oh, and a few extra links have been added, too. These can be found on the menu to the right.

I planned to move the site to a new server a while ago, but tonight I eventually got round to it. You won’t notice much difference really, although I hope it will load faster! I think I have double checked everything but if you notice something which is either broke, or missing completely could you please let me know. Ta!

A friend had his boat out of the water recently for a hull survey and annual blacking at Worsley Dry Dock. Fortunately the hull survey came back fine, the boat only needs the odd bit of welding here and there - not bad for an aging Harborough!

In the second dock alongside was “Hawthtorn”. Giles and Jill, the couple who own this boat run their company, Camberwell Covers from the boat. They specialise in cratch covers, cratch boards, stern covers, and pramhoods etc whilst also offering fabrics, fixings and repairs and alterations. I can vouch for their good work and honesty as I’m one of their happy customers, nothing more. According to their website, www.camberwellcovers.com, they have now left for Dublin and the Irish system via Tarleton and the Irish Sea!

It’s been a while since I have posted due to having alot on. Not too much to say really, apart from that we’re still not set up with the stove! Fire/heat resistant boarding has been put up and tiles have been put over the top, and it looks rather good if I may say so. I spoke to Eddie earlier and he’s scheduled us in for 2 weeks time. Can’t wait!

I did take a few pictures of the cold snap we had a month or two ago on my phone but I never got round to posting them on here. As you can see, one of them is a frozen canal, and a bike which some plonker has thrown in (never to be seen again when the cut thaws) and also the pubs frozen handrail. Apologise for the poor qualty, as they were taken on my mobile.

Our friends arrived back from Africa last Thursday. It was nice to see them and looking so well too. I’ve not had a chance to have a chat with them properly yet, and I can’t wait to hear all the stories, especially those about them accidently swimming in a croc infested pool! It wasn’t exactly hard work looking after somebody elses boat but it was always on my mind with wondering whether its okay and that. With only being down on the moorings at weekends, I did my best and the usual airing of the boat (by leaving the doors and windows open all day) aswell as the occasional running of the engine, cruising up and down and keeping my eye on the bile pump there wasn’t much I could do, but that seemed to have done the trick. They’ve said that after a few hours of the stove being in, it feels like home again.