Altrincham Bound

We spent the night just after the Anderton Boat Lift and set off in heavy showers, removing the cratch cover ready for the tunnels.

We stopped at Northwich Services for water, emptying Elsan and rubbish. Chris had a shower (not as good as the ones in Bosley). Then, we did the three tunnels - one each. Fiona did Barnton, Stella Saltersford and we let Chris do Preston Brook! We were in a convoy of four boats through Preston Brook (we were third in line, followed by a Scout Group, who had a wonderful weekend and saw a goat at the Barnton Stoplock!)

We all took turns on.the tiller and managed to get as far as Dunham Massey,  before mooring up, putting the cratch cover back on and having chilli and rice. A good day and after Barnton; no rain, but very windy all day. It has been really enjoyable having three people to share the steering; Stella has yet to do the steering in a lock, but this trip and Fiona has given her the confidence to steer Nb Gracie. We will go to Altrincham tomorrow and let Fiona catch up with her Dad's family.We will be mooring where we used to take the dogs walking, so it will be interesting to see their reaction.

So all in all, a successful day and life on NB Gracie is very chilled.

No, we're not going up Llangollen Canal

Well a few days of not a lot happening; we moored up just up from.Wardle Lock in Middlewich and awaited the arrival of Stella's daughter. The following day, we headed off towards the Llangollen; however,  after 4 hours cruising the heavens opened,  so we decided to pull in at Sykes Hollow mooring for the night and wait out the rain.
This morning,  it was off to Barbridge and Hurleston Junctions, to start our journey. Gracie, however,  had different ideas! Despite a survey giving our beam (width) as 6foot 10inches, she would not go into the lock and became wedged in the lock. We tried flushing her out and she wouldn't budge. So, the boat behind us had to pull us out, like a cork from a bottle! So, where to go? We thought of Chester; but the wind caught Gracie and we decided the locks would be horrendous,  plus we thought that moored boats and Gracie has a penchant for kissing every boat in the wind that it wasn't worth it and we would continue our journey round the Cheshire Ring. This then gave Chris the,chance to show Stella's eldest how to steer and once she had the hang of it to let her take over, culminating in her handling Gracie in the last lock of the day while Chris & Stella did the lock. As  we came up, Stella then decided that she would steer as well (no moored boats and not many trees!) and so we have a steering rota now!
All in all, a good day and week as we finally got the stop cord refitted and the water hoses replaced with heat resistant piping. So, we have a working engine thanks to Middlewich Boats of this parish.
We continue up, planning to be up towards Manchester mid-week and then on and up the locks!