A Four Counties There and Back Again - and Back Home.

 Friday 2nd October 2020 back at Aston Marina.

We had promised ourselves breakfast at the café at Great Haywood opposite our mooring. It opens at 9:00am so, with five minutes to spare, we set off to walk across the bridge. 

They have a large marquee, where we have eaten before, and a mobile catering facility, where you order your drinks and food. It works very well.

We had invited our friends Bridget and Peter from Weston to join us for breakfast and fortunately, we were allowed to eat inside the café as it was very windy. As ever, the food was excellent and very welcome. And the company was brilliant! We laughed so much together.

After breakfast and a very enjoyable catch up, we set off to do the last eight miles and three locks back to Aston. On the way, we passed their house and tooted loudly, but it seems they were not yet back at home.

It had been forecast to rain heavily but we were lucky and the rain held off all the way. Finally, after just over three hours, we arrived back at the marina and turned in through the entrance. It always feels like coming home.

The wind was blowing quite hard from the east, which meant that it was just in line with our mooring pontoon as R turned MM in order to back her into the bay, A22.

M photographed the clock for the record as we arrived. Guy was still staring out the window, hoping for a banana....

So, MM was safely back in her home mooring for another year. Let's hope that 2021 brings a bit more freedom to cruise through the summer and possibly to return to Guildford and the Wey & Arun Navigation. We can but hope!

On our way into the marina, we had noticed a recent arrival opposite MM's mooring - a narrowboat called "Zodiak" which used to belong to our good friends Jackie and Mick, so we walked around and photographed her for them. We have very fond memories of Zodiak from trips with Jackie and Mick.

There is a very well known circular route on the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union Canals called the "Four Counties Ring". In going down to Braunston and Wigram's Turn we had done, not a "ring", but a Four Counties "There and Back Again" - going through Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

So, another year's rather truncated cruising comes to an end. MM lived up to her name as we met so many friends on our travels and, despite the breakdown, we had a great time with brilliant weather. While we live in "interesting times", we count ourselves as very blessed being able to travel the waterways of England.

Now we look forward to next year and hope to see you then! Meanwhile, our warmest good wishes to all those of you who take the trouble to read this! Please stay safe!

Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 3.2 hours.

Trip: 207 miles, 58 locks and 99.7 hours.

Since MM's Launch: 4,239 miles, 2,695 locks and 2,946.7 hours.