Monday 25th June 2018



At last we are on the move again, albeit for less than a ½mile. We fuelled up before leaving the boat yard, 91.3 litres, £85.99 including our electricity.

The 3 locks through Middlewich leak badly. Most often the pound between the first and second lock is empty in the mornings, made worse with the breach on the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch, and consequently, the whole of the pound above them and the Kings Lock become very low. Such was the situation this morning and water had to be run down from above Kings Lock before we could move as we were sitting on the bottom.

We moved down through Middlewich, doing the three locks and moored up at the Moorings. We intend to stay here a few days before heading off.






























                       An idyllic scene in the centre

                       of Middlewich, just 50 yards

                       from Town Bridge

















Numerous jobs were done and the oil changed in the gearbox. It is so much easier with the proper equipment. A plastic storage box for sandwiches for example, was bought as it was the right size to fit under the engine and the right capacity to collect all the drained oil. Again, a measuring jug is being used to measure out the correct amount of oil as the oil is very difficult to see on the dip stick.

We had planned that last Monday would the start of our future life, and adventure. While we enjoyed the run around from Swanley Bridge to be in Middlewich in time for Folk and Boat, it was not what we envisaged.

Folk and Boat of course, had to be done. So the Monday was supposed to have been our start. The stay in the boatyard for repairs was not foreseen.

So now, today, is our start.











Martin and Michelle dropped in on Sunday and Martin downloaded a whole load of our videos

that he had put on disc for us.

After watching England hammer Panama in the World Cup 6-1, Chris and Donna came for their

Sunday Lunch. Really nice, with Prosecco in the front cratch.    

                   

A hot, hot day today and said to continue for the foreseeable future. The experts reckon, once again, that it is to be a summer to rival that of 1975.



Day Total: 3 locks; 0 miles; engine running hours 9.0

Overall Total: 96 locks; 100 miles; engine running hours 68.9



The engine running hours includes the running of the engine for hot water and charging the batteries while we were alongside the Middlewich Narrowboat site for Folk and Boat. However, with solar panels, I feel the engine is having to be run excessively to charge the batteries and feel something is not quite right.

Had a phone call this evening from Sandra. She agrees something with our electrics is not right and has agreed to look over next weekend at Orchard Marina.










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