Total to date : 68 miles, 25 locks, 11 lift bridges, 6 tunnels, 6 aqueducts
We did a big grocery shop before heading out of Ellesmere. While we were at the supermarket we had
closed up the windows on the boat. On
returning we noticed that the saloon windows were slightly fogged up between
them and our double glazing. It’s probably
not a good idea to close up everything, we'll see how we go tomorrow.
Next we needed water so we could do a load of washing as we
cruised. From the water point just
outside the Ellesmere Arm we had to reverse back to continue on our way down
the canal. Mick’s getting pretty good at
this now!
I worked today while Mick steered. There wasn’t a single lock so that made it
easier. We looked at the canal guide
before we left and decided we’d head down the Prees Branch and top up (diesel),
empty out (loo) and buy gas at the Whixall Marina at the end of the arm.
We stopped for lunch on a stretch of canal away from other
boats. Mick needed a haircut and didn’t
fancy an audience. It was absolutely
freezing in the wind so there we were rugged up in our coats with the electric
hair clippers out. Sure enough a boat
came past! They had a bit of a giggle at
the sight.
I managed a good few hours work by the time we reached the
junction with the Prees Branch. There
are a couple of lift bridges after you turn in and after them the canal was
quite overgrown on both sides. There was
absolutely nowhere that you could stop.
When we reached the end the wind really picked up and kept pressing the
boat against the bank on the right. We
wanted to turn left into the marina and it took a couple of attempts to be able
to get away from the bank.
Finally we made it to the right place in front of the diesel
pump and loo pump. I went inside to pay
for everything and the fellow came out to help us with the pump out. As he started the pump there was a very
slight leak where their hose joined the connector bit. How gross, although it doesn’t look like
anything identifiable as we have a macerator loo and plenty of “loo blue” so there was no smell either. It seemed to be doing it’s job despite the slight leak. When it was all done Mick was standing right
there beside the hose and as they tried to remove the connection from the boat
the hose broke off. To put it bluntly
Mick got splashed! It wasn’t too bad but
I wasn’t letting him back on the boat so he stood there while I hosed him
down with the rinse hose! Hope that doesn’t happen again.
The whole process took a lot longer than we anticipated so
it was getting later than we prefer by the time we got out of the marina. They did say we could moor up alongside on
the bank but we’d spied a mooring between the 2 lift bridges and decided to head
back there. Just as we reached the first
of the lift bridges we saw a boat pull into the mooring we’d earmarked. There was room for a couple of boats so we
weren’t fussed. Of course they moored up
with an enormous gap between them and the other boat ahead of them. It would be awkward for us to get in there
and we might not fit. We decided to just
go behind them although the bank was a little less cleared there. They watched as we tied up and just as we
were heading inside they called out that they’d move up if we liked. Bit late now!
I think they offered because they felt they should but waited til we
were obviously done because then we’d most likely tell them not to bother. If course that’s what happened. We’re fine where we are, and it’s only to
sleep.
No photos of the pumpout loo disaster but here's today's selection :
1. One of the "meres"
2. Pretty stretch of canal
3. And another
4. Enjoying a pleasant cruise
5. More lovely canal views
6. Turning right into the Prees Branch
No comments:
Post a Comment