Thursday 4th November 2021 back at Aston Marina.
Today, the last day of our summer cruise, began with a clear blue sky as the sun rose.
The first order of the day was to move MM to the water point and fill up with water, so her tank will be full over the winter. Then we moored up again in time to walk over the bridge to the Canalside Café, which opened at 9:00am.
R was their first customer and he was greeted cheerfully by the staff.
We had arranged to meet Bridgett and Peter at the café for breakfast. As ever, we had a super time together, put the world to rights and laughed a lot! The breakfast was exceptionally good and very welcome on such a cold day.
MM looked beautiful in the early morning sunshine as we walked back from the café. All around was a carpet of copper coloured leaves from the overhanging beech trees. Lovely.
R got MM ready to leave on the final leg of our 2021 cruise. Eight miles and three locks to Aston!
Three hours later, we passed through Sandon Lock, the last lock on our travels this year.
The final mile post, just one mile to go.
This year we have hardly seen any Kingfishers, but today we saw no less then five at various points along our route. Five is the most we have ever seen in one day.
The sun stayed out all day, but it was very cold and we were so happy to turn into Aston Marina entrance with Lock No. 26 in the distance. The legendary restaurant at the marina is named after this lock.
We had to wait a while to get on the service bay so that R could fill MM up with diesel. It is always better to leave the tank nearly full as it reduces the amount of condensation that can build up in the tank over the winter. There was quite a strong wind which made backing into our space "interesting" but MM slid in very sweetly. (note from M - it was all down to the skill of the skipper!).
This is the first time that we have cruised into November and it is clear that most of the narrowboats that moor in the Marina have come back for the winter already.
We watched the sun set over Aston Church. Tonight we will treat ourselves to dinner at the No. 26 Restaurant here in the marina.
Tommorow morning, we will take the train back home.
It has been a fantastic year filled with wonderful people and great cruising, starting with Mel and Peter on the way down to the River Wey, all the lovely people who came to visit while we were around Guildford, Richie on the Thames, the many boaters that we met, and - very importantly - Simon, Matt and Tasha who did such a brilliant job repainting MM.
Next year we plan to go north to Skipton starting at the beginning of May. In the meantime, we send love to everyone, keep safe and see you next year. (to M's astonishment, another moorer just wished us a good Christmas!!!).
Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 4.9 hours.
This Year: 590 miles, 290 locks and 290.8 hours.
Since MM was launched ten years ago: 4,829 miles, 2,985 locks and 3,253.8 hours.
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