Saturday 6^th June 2020

 

It had been a wicked night of heavy rain and strong gusty winds. Fortunately, we are quite sheltered with trees on both sides of the canal. Unfortunately, the weather prevented us seeing the full Strawberry moon.

Although the rain subsided and became intermittent during the morning, the winds continued. After the two of us having had a bad night’s sleep, Brenda had breakfast in bed, a rare treat and we spent a quiet morning.

The chimney roof flue collar had been leaking worse than ever so, in between the rain, it was resealed yet again. Not a neat job but it should do. There has to be a reason for the seal popping so often.

In the afternoon I went out for a walk with Harvey, the first time I seem to have walked any distance for a while, and continued with the Somerset Harris line of family history. Brenda had an off day and so sat reading.

We had a visit from Jess off ‘Beccles’ and in the late afternoon Sonia called on us. It was lovely to see them both. They are currently doing the Four Counties Ring in company with another two boats. We will have to try and arrange a gathering before they head off.

We had a late dinner and, mainly because of broken night’s last night, we headed for bed early.

 

Today, 6^th June, we regard as our D-Day. It was 2 years ago that we left Swanley Bridge Marina and the start of our new narrowboating life, after the launch of Bridge Street on 17^th May.

Although we have settled into the life, the past year has seen more boat ‘evolution’ as we term it. Learning more about the boat herself, the boating life in general and making improvements on board.

We have travelled pretty extensively although we tend not to travel very far in a day and get off the boat and explore, which we very much enjoy.

The past 12 months has seen us travel 669 miles, pass through 373 locks, 7 tunnels, 47 swing bridges and 13 lift bridges.

We have travelled from Gloucester and down the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal before undertaking the crossing of the Severn Estuary and up the River Avon to Bristol. Most definitely a major, exciting highlight.

From Bristol we travelled the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal, joining the River Thames at Reading. The Thames was cruised as far as Oxford, where we joined the Oxford Canal, travelling its length to join the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction.

At the head of the Coventry Canal, the boat was left at Streethay Wharf to have the roof repainted while we went on holiday to America.

From Streethay, we passed up the Trent and Mersey Canal and spent a month discovering the Caldon Canal before travelling to Middlewich where we overwintered.

We finished up spending almost 4 months in and around Middlewich with a few trips out to Anderton and Nantwich, before resuming our travels at the end of February.

We visited Ellesmere Port and christened the boat under the very bridge she is named after. We had intended to perform this after originally leaving Swanley Bridge, but did not have the time with the builder delaying visiting us and wanting to reach Middlewich for the Folk and Boat festival.

From Ellesmere Port we returned to Chester, then to be caught by the Corona Virus lock-down and subsequently spending weeks sat at Syke’s Hollow on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

We always look forward to people visiting us on the boat, but visitors have now become confined to family members and a few friends.   

There are some great characters living on the canals, and we have become friendly with many. Some will always remain special to us.

We still very much enjoy our canal life, have no regrets whatsoever apart from leaving the grandchildren behind and we look forward to many more years to come.