Oakwood marina

We have arrived at our new marina. The trip down from Wheelock went fairly quickly as all the locks were in our favour. The weather wasn’t too good though with a cold wind blowing most of the time. There were very few boats around, we didn’t meet any until after Middlewich. As we needed a

Wheelock

A really good days boating. 10 miles and 26 locks, mostly in lovely autumn sunshine. There was quite a hard frost overnight.First thing this morning it was still freezing enough to make the ropes solid. We set off at 8:00 to get to Harecastle tunnel by 8:30 when the tunnel keepers come on duty. It

Westport lake

A much warmer day today. When the sun came out it was very pleasant. Quite a few more boats about than yesterday. We met one at almost every lock. We followed an Australian couple on a Black Prince hire boat up through the Stone and Meaford locks, but they then stopped at Barlaston. Near Barlaston

Above Weston lock

To confuse matters there are two ‘Weston’ locks on tne Trent and Mersey canal. We are moored just above the more northerly one, near Weston Upon Trent. Today has been the coldest boating day we can remember in over 20 years. Ususally I dont feel the cold too much, but today I had five layers

Fradley Junction

An uneventful day. We set off at 8:00, dropped down the last two Atherstone locks then chugged the long pound past Polesworth, Alvecoteand Amington to reach Glascote locks. We had hardly seen any boats all morning, but now found ourselves third in a queue for tne locks. These are very slow to fill so it

Below Atherstone lock 9

The weather forecast for the week speaks of much colder. So we thought that we would get going early in case we need to do short days later. The water was topped up, then round the junction and onto tne Coventry canal. Again the wind was cold and today the sun didn’t come out. It

Hawkesbury Junction

A fairly uneventful day with only the three Hillmorton locks to do. The sun tried to come out, but it was still cold due to the wind. Last time we came this way we saw several water voles, despite keeping our eyes especially alert today we didnt see any. Perhaps they were all hiding away

Braunston

Much colder today than yesterday. There was a cold wind blowing along tne Oxford summit. It was slow progress down the Napton flight. We were following a couple on a hire boat who insisted on using a rope in each lock. We told tnem it wasn’t necessary, but he said that it gives him ‘more

Fenny Compton

We have left Cropredy for the last time and are on our way up to Oakwood marina in Cheshire. This will be our mooring for the next couple of years. The day started off with Mark Paris coming to do our BSC test. All was ok except tne back plate on tne stove wasn’t fitting