Monday 21 May 2018

Well on our way

Hi
Well what about this weather I am fried to a crisp, covered in sun oil from 07.00 every day
We made The Anderton boat lift without any effort even pick up a couple on a hire boat who were struggling so we led them through the three Tunnels they seemed very relieved to be instructed and led. I suppose for the first time they can be daunting. We hung around Anderton for four days I know its only a 1 day mooring but it was very quiet and there was always a free mooring if it had got busy then we would have moved we were hanging around waiting for Mat to bring Mark but shift patterns were out so they couldn't make it However it enabled Maryanne to come over with Pippa and Zac whilst they were with us Silvia and Alan came over with their Daughter and Granddaughter so we had a great afternoon playing in the nature park . In the  evening Margery came over for dinner and the following evening we all went for a really nice diner all in all a really nice weekend. We also met people we haven't seen for years I hate it when people come up and say " Hi great to see you" and I am left wondering who the hell they are (that is because of the brain Damage) its one of the by products anyway most people see the look of wonder on my face and then elaborate on our last meeting thank goodness. Yesterday we left Anderton to face the trip up to Kidsgrove and the Harecastle Tunnel this trip involves some locks that boaters refer to as "Heartbreak Hill" I have no idea why as it is only a set of locks nothing difficult they are nicely spaced out and they all work well. Today we did half of them 14 out of the 30 we started at 07.30 and even then it was so hot we moored up at 13.00 as we were knackered not with fatigue but heat exhaustion ,, Again helpful annie (Noreen) assisted a young lady and her 85 year old dad he was driving she doing the lock  but like us they were also knackered they wanted to turn around and start their trip back to hire company but did not know how to turn the boat around As usual Noreen volunteered me to do it, the turning hole was a mile away and through two locks however above the first lock the pound was wide enough to take the 58 footer. they were very appreciative in the guise of two bottles of red.
The canal   is very busy with hire boats Scots, Canadians, Australians and Americans  
None of them know the etiquette of locks I may add that most of these boats have come from Back Prince Boat hire who it would appear are not giving  proper instructions to the hirers it just causes chaos with arguments and cross words at locks which you can do without After all we are all on Holiday

Tomorrow we are off to Harecastle tunnel that is the end of Heartbreak hill its plain sailing then through Stoke on Trent
God Bless

Pippa and Rowan      Great  day in the nature park


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