On the Bank 4th to 8th May

A complicated weekend, this. On Star Wars Day Andrew was up early to catch a bus and 2 trains to Nantwich,  fetch the car and drive back to Gnosall for me .. driving to Colwyn Bay for the night. Not wanting to create food waste, and with the fridge switched off, there was no alternative but to eat out. Very nice too!

Then up early again to dash to Blackpool to celebrate Andrew's mum's birthday- another meal out, yum
- before then heading to Market Harborough in the afternoon/evening.

So this is my Christmas present: a narrowboat engine maintenance course.  I expect to prove once and for all that I am no engineer: but I hope at least to improve as a mechanic.

Far too busy to take any photos! But after Saturday's course finished we went to the next village to check out Foxton Locks and the remains of the Inclined Plane. In this, a boat would enter a caisson, or open topped tank. Sealed, the tank, complete with boat and its water, would then be winched sideways up or down the hill - 1 caisson in each direction, balancing eachother, I think.. At the end, the tank would be opened again, and the boat would sail out to continue its journey.
This contraption replaced 10 locks, saving huge amounts of time, effort and water.  But it fell into disuse as it was complex to maintain, leaving the locks in situ.
Wonderful views from the top of the hill.

The course complete, 
 we headed back to the boat, for a well earned pint at the Navigation Inn and an early night.  Bank Holiday Monday, and Alison's turn to take the car to Aldi, for shopping, then
deliver back to boat, then on to Nantwich, and return via 2 trains and a bus to Gnosall, and then we can continue the cruise.

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