Pump-out

Pump out at GH.

Started varnishing

Started the varnishing of the front doors.

Mercia marina

Over to Mercia Marina to see what their engineering department and the New and Used Boat Company might say about dealing with leaking windows. Fixed up to take Erin Mae over for August 14th.

Great Haywood

Back up to Erin Mae

Bransgore

Back to Bransgore in the rain.

Tixall Wide

Down to Anglo-Welsh for ice-cream and the Wide for lunch, before packing up the car to take everyone to Manchester airport. Wind blew Erin Mae against the jetties, so we had to secure the bows and bring her off with the engine and the tiller hard over. Then we backed across the marina before turning the nose towards the exit.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1 hour.

Wolseley Bridge round-trip

Down to Wolseley Bridge for another visit to the Wildlife Trust Centre, with Chris doing the steering. On to the winding hole and back. With Chris around, there was an extra adult to make sure Elissa and Sam didn't fall in the locks, so they were able to do much more working of the locks.

9 miles, 4 locks, 6 hours engine

Round trip to Sandon

Iain and Simon, Elissa and Sam on board. Great Haywood to Sandon lock and back. Mostly fine and lunch in the sunshine. Occasional shower, one very heavy.

11 miles, 6 locks, 7 hours engine.

Wolseley Bridge to Rugeley to Great Haywood

On from Wolseley Bridge. Moored up just before Bridge 66 in Rugeley, for some shopping. Winded before Bridge 65 and returned, with a stop for lunch, to Wolseley Bridge for a visit to the Wolseley Centre. Then back to the marina in view of the bad weather forecast for tomorrow.

9 miles, 2 locks, 5 hours engine.

Great Haywood to Wolseley Bridge

Pump-out. Then out to the AW yard for ice-cream and a walk down to Haywood Lock. Back on the boat, we decided to continue, so down to Wolseley Bridge for the night. Ran the engine for extra time to ensure the batteries were charged.

2.5 miles, 2 locks, 4 hours engine.

Tixall Wide

With Elissa and Sam, down to Tixall Wide for lunch.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1 hour engine.