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Here, probably because it was Saturday, we came across more boat movements in one day than we had seen all week. And two were broad-beams, and they would appear at what felt like the narrowest parts of the canal wouldn’t they!

Other than that we had a straightforward morning’s cruising, ending with that comfortable feeling of arriving home.

Final approach to home: Bridgewater Marina.

Pulling in to home, which is next to Andy’s grey battleship on the left here.

The last day was relatively easy, 2.5 hours cruising, no locks and 7.5 miles.

So there you have it, 10 days for the whole journey, with us home a day earlier than we had available. Not too worn out, occasionally soaked through, but very happy. (And not too many scratches on the paint work Stuart!, when will we get a dry enough couple of days for you to do the touch up work?)

So what has happened since then?

Well we get to regularly “camp out” at the marina on Betty and have warmed to the social life of the marina, making new friends with our neighbours. According to Andy next door we have a “skip” whilst the GRP boats are known as “Flora tubs”. Dave & Mildred who run the marina have warmly welcomed us and finally at Christmas we have managed to turn up at one of the many parties we’ve been invited to.

23^rd October 2004

Keith visits to try with us to find the cause of the rattle. We’re now convinced it must be the fuel feed pipes inside the diesel tank because we believe we’ve eliminated everything else. A short cruise to Worsley village, about 30 minutes away, still left us all puzzled with Keith absolutely sure it wasn’t the fuel pipes, but also not believing it was the engine mounts.

Into the engine bay and start pulling out anything which might move (we’d already returned the pair of pliers left in there to Keith!).

Well lifting the weed hatch and moving the baffle plate was a Eureka moment. There it was, the identical metallic rattle. Doubling up the weed hatch tape and refitting the lid, off we set back to Bridgewater Marina in total peace. At last ! Thanks Keith.

24^th October 2004

A five hour cruise out to Waters Meeting Place and back. This gave us our first crossing of the famous swinging aquaduct where the Bridgewater crosses the Manchester Ship canal. Fascinating.

30^th October 2004

A weekend cruise to Lymm. Barton aquaduct was still closed when we got there, but when the bridge keeper arrived we were given a full tour and explanation of the workings. Just over 5 hours in total saw us into Lymm for the night. Being Pauline’s birthday weekend various presents associated with the boat arrived, including an LED torch and posh bathroom fittings.

31^st October 2004

Straightforward gentle cruise back home taking about 6 hours.

That’s it for cruising in 2004, but we have successfully rounded the year off by spending all of Christmas aboard. This has fully tested the heating system and at -5°C John has found the hole (in the floor) causing an unexpected draught in the bedroom (around the radiator pipe in the box, so not very obvious) and filling this with carpet has made a huge difference.

Also if you do get a Kabola Old Dutch stove I can now give you chapter and verse on lighting and running without having to feel that you’re going to blow up. Once she’s up and running now we spend cosy warm evenings in what has been the most extreme conditions to date.

Christmas dinner went down well, as did two bottles of wine with Andy (when the pub wouldn’t let him in – only ‘cos they were closed!).

Boxing day – we awoke to a wonderful white “Christmas”.

Real snow !

Bridgewater Marina, Boxing day 2004, we were there!

Now there’s only new year’s eve to go – guess where we’ll be!