Narrowboat Vegvisir

While Andrew was away at Shrewsbury Folk festival,  I had been planning to go cruising with chum Sarah Ping. The stars did not align however, so the plan was to have a dash to Whitchurch for a canal festival once he was back. However, a friend of mine who as well as singing (how I know her) is also into sailing, and was keen to give narrowboating a go, since she was at a loose end over the next few days. So welcome aboard Anna Bitowski! We set off on Thursday morning, each with a random bag of stuff from our fridges, and headed off for the Llangollen. A volunteer lockie on duty wafted us up the hill, where we paused for lunch and some fab free range eggs.  Where on the summer cruise we might have stayed put, we were having so much fun and the weather so fab that we pushed on to Wrenbury, and dinner at the Dusty Miller. On Friday morning we went into town now that we knew what gaps there were in our provisions, and then set off again. Anna st...

A gentle start on Tuesday. It's the 9th, and we are due at Cholmondeston Lock for Thursday afternoon. I went for a look around Audlem and was pleased to see repairs had been made: a new wall to the waste compound to hide it from view : And a repair to the gate leading up from the towpath: Both had been visible eyesores in a village that prides itself on its tidy appearance and community ethos.  I also had a look see at the nature reserve opposite our mooring. A pretty spot, with some wildlife in evidence: a Common Blue. but also this: ?? An early lunch and away in the heat of the day. We were in a queue of several boats so all four locks out of town were against us. But they are small and fill quickly, and the mechanisms are in good condition,  so not that much of a chore. The garden at the last one is looking lovely. We were soon at Overwater Marina, for pump out, diesel, ice creams and water top up. I got th...

Saturday 6th August,  and I was snug and snoozy, but Andrew was keen to get on, so I let him. Lock free cruising after all, until Tyrley at lunchtime. Definitely back in familiar territory.  I always have problems deciding who is nearest a bridge hole.. what do you reckon? A really beautiful day for boating, sunshine but not too strong, a gentle breeze, no oncoming traffic at Woodeaves, beatiful rural scenery: all matters for thanks. We stopped for a late lunch south of Market Drayton before the tree shaded embankment. And there we stopped for the weekend because, with a view like this, who wouldn't? Sunday was an idle, reading, pootling sort of day with an excursion into town for Sunday lunch. Red Lion, Joules tap house, excellent. Worth asking about gluten free options because, while they had indicated some, by no means all were noted. Thus I had an emotional reunion with a steak pie, oh joy! ...