Finally, We Start our Summer Cruise.

 Saturday 31st May 2025 at Weston.

 After all the trials, tribulations, health issues and consequent delays, we finally drove back up to Aston (via the Brew Box for coffee and a bacon sandwich, of course!).

Finally, at 17:42pm, we set off!  

M's leg had been pronounced "healing at last" by her GP, R's head cold was subsiding, we were fully provisioned and MM was spring cleaned - inside at least. The out side had been washed but polishing had to wait because R had been told about a paint "restorer" called "Finesse It" that had been highly recommended by the owners of a neighbouring boat in the marina, and R was keen to try it. They had just finished polishing their boat and it looked incredible!

The sky looked a bit threatening as we cruised under the service bridge in the Marina.

However, as we turned south out of the Marina entrance, it brightened considerably.

We are fond of this bridge as we have often seen sheep crossing it and even saw them being shorn once next to the bridge.

Sandon Lock is always the first and last lock of the season when we go south. It always takes us a couple of locks to get back into the swing of doing locks.

We only went as far as Weston-upon-Trent where our friends Bridgette and Peter live. We moored up outside their beautiful garden, which borders the canal. Unfortunately they were away on holiday but we had managed to see them last week for a catch up.

 

Since MM was launched, she has done 5,833 Miles, 3,511 Locks and 3,794.9 Hoours.

Today she added 5 Miles, 1 Lock and 2.6 Hours.
 

 

 

The Best Laid Plans....

 From 18th to 30th June 2025 at Aston and Home.

 Hallo again!  Well, things haven't quite gone to plan! This year's cruising had already started being complicated because we need to go home very frequently in the first few weeks, which requires a great deal of planning to arrange marinas where MM can moor while we return home again (and again...), and also where the car will be at any one moment. So, after a many phone calls, it was all arranged and on 18th May, we drove up to Aston and arrived at MM ready to go - or so we thought ....

 A couple celebrating their wedding at Aston Marina had walked out to the pontoons adjacent to our mooring for photographs; we asked if they would like a photograph on a narrowboat and they readily agreed. Their names were Emily and Matthew, and they were clearly very happy. So nice to see.

Then, next morning, the unexpected stepped in...

Last week M had a precautionary biopsy on a small spot on her leg (all clear) but the wound turned septic; we called NHS 111 and, as a result, spent the day at the walk-in centre in Stoke-on-Trent getting it dressed and getting medication for M.

On 20th, we drove up to Chirk in Wales to meet up with our lovely Australian friends Shelley and Harley who are now back on their boat "Lazy Bee".  They were travelling with Shelley's brother and his wife, who were over from Australia and had hired a narrowboat for a week. It was so good to see them again after the wonderful time we spent with them last year in Liverpool.

 

Then things became even more conplicated as R went down with a nasty head cold and, combined with M's leg refusing to get better, plus wet and cold weather, we decided to give up and go home for a week. 

Of course, all our carefully laid plans had to be re-arranged. More phone calls to make and working out where we could be when.  By this time, we were on Plan D (or was that "E"?)

Finally, on the last day of May, we drove back to Aston Marina and MM, ready at last to set off on our much delayed 2025 Summer Cruise.

Poor MM only got to go to the Service Bay and back for a Pump-out!