Here we go again (at last).

Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th May, 2019 at Great Haywood.

"Many Meetings, here we go again.
My, my how can we resist you?"

(...with apologies to Abba!).
So here we are, another year, and finally ready to set off on our 2019 summer cruise.
We visited MM over the winter several times to stay overnight. In February, we needed to top up with diesel and to pump out, but the marina was frozen over - nothing for it but to act as an ice breaker! No other boat had dared venture out; the noise of the breaking ice was quite dramatic. It was fine going in a straight line but turning around proved to be very difficult!

One of our April visits was to see MM out of the water, as she was having her bottom blacked. She was not in the workshop, as we'd expected, but still on the trolley which had pulled her out of the water. She looked very smart below the gunwale but there was a little pitting on the waterline. Next year we plan to have her bottom shot blasted and then treated with two-pack, which gives a longer lasting finish.

We had been up to spring clean MM in early May but it had rained, so the cleaning was mainly restricted to the inside, although R heroically managed to clean the roof in the rain.
However, we arrived back at the marina on Wednesday 15th May in readiness to depart the next day. R puchased a couple of new centre ropes as the old ones were getting a bit frayed. (bit like us!!)

We planned to go out together with our friends Mel and Peter who also keep their narrowboat nb "Inkling" at Aston Marina.
Thursday dawned bright and fair. Shortly after 10:00am, we let go and left MM's winter mooring.

Nick, the Marina Manager, waved to us as we passed; M blew him kisses in return (note from R: she's such a hussy!). As we headed towards the marina exit, we passed Mel and Peter just getting under way.

There was a fairly stiff breeze blowing and Peter found that he couldn't turn the 72ft of "Inkling" into the wind, so they went the other way and exited the marina through the "entrance". We, however, went out the proper way!

What a joy to be out cruising again! The countryside was at its best in that lush freshness of the month of May. On the banks were buttercups, cow parsley,campion, hawthorn and a few late bluebells, in the fields calves and lambs looked at us curiously, and on the water broods of cygnets, ducklings and tiny baby moorhens mooved swiftly out of our way.
Sandon lock is always our first (and last) lock going south. Mel and Peter had now caught us up and were approaching the lock as we were about to open the paddles to empty the lock.

Our other good friends Bridgett and Peter live alongside the canal at nearby Weston, so we pulled up at the end of their garden and introduced Peter to Mel and Peter (Bridgett was not at home unfortunately). The five of us admired their beautiful garden.

Then we all came on board MM for tea and coffee.

Our goal for this evening was Great Haywood and we were lucky enough to find a spot for the two boats to moor together opposite the cafeteria (where we plan to have breakfast tomorrow morning).

And a real treat for M - Peter cooked supper, a brilliant curry, so we dined royally on board Inkling.

A great end to our first day's cruising.
Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 3.3 hours.