Last Day and Back to Aston Marina.

Thursday 5th October 2023 in Aston Marina.

 It seems to be traditional that, each year, it rains on the very last day of cruising back to Aston, and today was no exception. At least it was only gentle rain! This very fancy bridge was made to serve the needs of the aristocratic local Sandon Estate (not that the posh folk would have been able to see the fancy brickwork as they drove over in their horse-drawn carriages!). Very pretty artistry, nonetheless.

Although the sky looks quite good and a watery sun did try to shine through, the gentle rain continued all day. 

This is MM coming into Sandon Lock, the last lock on our summer cruise. M (the resident photographer, failed to take a better photograph, on account of chatting to two Americans on a hire boat following us. One was from Idaho and one from Arizona, and they were loving our little canals and colourful, eccentric narrowboats!).

M took this photograph because the scene resembled a Constable painting; all it needs is a haywain.

This is the penultimate bridge before we reach Aston. We love it and have always called it the "Sheep Bridge", can't think why!

Finally turning into Aston Marina. Every year, this is a happy/sad moment.

It was on the 5th June that we set off in the spring and it is the 5th October that we have returned to the marina.

What a fabulous four months it has been. Despite it being our shortest summer cruise, we managed to pack a lot into the time. The highlight has undoubtedly got to be the passage into, and staying in, Liverpool; an absolutely magic nine days. Next year, we are planning to go back to Liverpool with our friends Harley and Shelley who sadly could not make it this year. We miss them and we wish them well for the Australian summer.

Tomorrow, we shall take the train(s) back home. We will be back with the car later in the month to prepare MM for the winter. So, until next year then...

Today: 5 miles, 1 lock and 2.0 hours.

Trip: 318 miles, 137 locks and 170.4 hours.

MM Since Launch: 5,538 miles, 3,361 locks and 3,641.2 hours.