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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Monday 4 September 2017

Sheer luck I reckon

Them by washes on the Llangollen, vicious they are and in the past I had come unstuck by trying to drive through at speed and crashing into the lock walls. Therefore for the sake of keeping perishables intact I nominated Ian to do the steering today. If breakages occur at least I can blame him and not me. Camera at the ready to record the evidence of banging into the wall, he drove into the lock without a scratch. Sheer luck rather than skill in my opinion! Next came Dennis. Surely he was going to crash into the wall. Nope, a perfect manoeuvre counteracting the flow and in he sailed. Ive come to the conclusion it must be my steering that's at fault after all!





Glad we were heading up the canal as loads of boats on the move toward Hurleston Junction. So all the locks should have been with us except we had the last turned round even though I was waving my windless at him. He pleaded ignorance so I suppose I will have to forgive him.

 Next came swing bridges and Ian managed to get to one of the bridges as a loan boater was trying to do this himself. One of the hardest things to do for a single hander in my opinion.





Getting to Wrenbury motorised lift bridge and it was in the process of being operated. A boat emerged and the crew off that boat asked the skipper if they should wait to allow us through, but the skipper told them to drop the bridge and let Ian do it himself. Oh well it saved those car owners waiting getting too irate!







We stopped below Marbury lock. The sun was shinning and the warmth was welcome after yesterdays freezing weather. So the plan for tonight was another BBQ. Meat out of the freezer and BBQ ready to be lit later. Then those black clouds came over obliterating the sun. Blast!!! Looks like we may well be under the brolly cooking the chops after all!



And wildlife today,





3 comments:

stevefree said...

We are a day behind you having come off the Chester branch. Came up Hurleston locks yesterday late morning. 3 of us going up and no one going down. Low water between 2 and 3. They ran water down when I was coming out of Lock 4 but we had to get them to stop as it was stopping me getting out.
Moored by bridge 3/4 last night and aiming for Wrenbury today.
Steve and Angela
Tumbleweed no5

stevefree said...

Just done the 5 locks before Wrenbury. One small nudge the rest not touched. It's definitely you!!!

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Hello Steve, we should meet at some point so will keep a look out for you. We will be going down the Montgomery at some point most probably on the way back from Llangollen.

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