Friday 29th June 2018



Again, we had a fried breakfast outside. Bramble Cutting has to be one of the prime spots on the canal system.

The two boats that were moored with us had moved on by 7.30 and so for an hour we had the place to ourselves before another boat moored. It must be a continual coming and going of boats here, certainly in the summer.









 









I fitted door stops to the side doors so they no longer open again the cabin sides. Every job we do now is an improvement for the boat. Brenda picked all the masking tape off the gangplank, a laborious task.

We went for the same walk across the fields behind Bramble Cuttings but this time crossed the bridge over the canal and walked up to see the boat from the opposite bank. It is not often you get a view of her from afar. On the way back there were lovely views across towards Middlewich in the distance, nestling as it does in a slight hollow.






The Commodore of the Broken Cross Boat Club visited at lunch time. A nice couple, as are most people on the cut. They also watered the oak sapling that we had been asked to water by a passing boat the day before. Apparently it is a memorial to a past member of the boat club.

Then we were away from Bramble Cutting and it was with some regret we watched it pass behind the first bend. It had been lovely being here, just chilling, enjoying the boat and gorgeous English countryside in the sun.  

It has been a difficult year for us as regards the boat build but now, hopefully, we can start to put that behind us. Once we see if there are any issues with the electrics.

We slowly cruised the 3 miles to Orchard Marina, passing mine and Manny’s favourite fishing spot at Whatcroft and the two new marinas each side of the Davenham Road at Billinge. This just goes to show how popular boating is nowadays, hopefully they won’t all leave the marinas together.

And so we arrived at Orchard. Sandra came on board and did a first inspection.

In the evening a crowd of the marina dwellers had a get together outside our boat. It was lovely to be included and a nice way to finish the day.



Day Total: 0 locks; 3 miles; engine running hours 3.2

Overall Total: 97 locks; 105 miles; engine running hours 74.7





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