31/05/2008 Congleton to Whitely Green.  The sun was shining again this morning so we were off early. As we approached the railway viaduct we could see four large raptors circling to gain height. Probably common buzzards – they are certainly more common now than a few years back when you would be lucky to see one and now four in the same place. The climb up Bosley locks was relatively slow, only on two occasions did we get a lift from boats coming down. Then on to Whitely Green where we met up with other NCCC Members returning from the Caldon Canal.Today’s picture is Gralyn moving between locks 12 and 11 at the bottom of the Bosley Flight 

01/06/2008 Whitely Green to High Lane A dull day that soon turned into a cruise in the rain. Once into the High Lane arm we quickly closed up the boat and caught the Bus home. We returned later to clean up a bit and take off the things we need at home. More on this Blog once the medical tests are over and we can go cruising again

28/05/2008 @ Chester.  It was raining most of the night and still at it this morning so we missed the early bus from Christleton into Chester. When we finally set off we found our choices of return bus was limited so we got the 2.30pm bus back leaving only a few hours to shop for provisions and see the sights. Whilst in Chester we had a call giving an appointment for next Wednesday so we decided to leave straight away. We are now moored above Beeston Stone Lock. 

29/05/2008 Beeston Stone Lock to Wheelock.  We woke to sunlight streaming through the chinks in the curtains and were ready to set off by 8am. We managed the broad locks by ourselves ok and got the technique perfected just as we left the last wide lock at Bunbury staircase. Had to wait for an hour at Cholmondeston lock the queue to go down the lock reached six boats at one stage. After that plain sailing to the Trent and Mersey canal at Middlewitch then up to Wheelock.

Picture shows Gralyn entering lock 69 on the T+M

Also saw this.   A “Green” alternative to fenders?.

24/05/08 Today’s run was from the bottom of Bosley locks, on the Macclesfield canal, to the BW yard at Red Bull on the Trent & Mersey canal. There was a stiff breeze which gave our colleagues coming down the locks lots of problems. We had it on our stern so we did not notice it much. Lots more boats around today, with the water getting cloudier, not clear like yesterday. Saw my first definitely recognised tree sparrow by the Red Bull aqueduct.

Maybe the Thames will see us later in the year. We set off just before noon from the NCCC arm at High Lane in dull weather rain sporadic still not enough to get you wet but still needing you to wear a waterproof. 

It carried on like this all the way to Bosley and stopped as we did the 12 locks in 1hr 40 mins. Then as we finished tea it started again. Hopefully the weather forecast will be better for tomorrow.

Set off from High Lane on Friday and travelled via Marple and New Mills to Bugsworth Basin for the bank holiday weekend. Weather was fine for Friday and Saturday but started to rain on Sunday which made the NCCC annual boat handling competition a bit difficult. Earlier on the Saturday the Kelvin Engine Owners group held their Tug-o-War competition as part of their weekend gathering. The trip back to High Lane on Monday was uneventful we had to work both swing bridges, got through without stopping and closed one of the lift bridges.

Weekend 10/11 May

A long-standing job to stop rain water running into the back deck area was done. This involved bolting a 3mm steel plate on each side across the access to the rear deck, sealing and painting. The temperature was in the high 20s C which made the filler set very quickly and the paint to dry fast. I am also trying to get a piece of 4mm thick aluminium chequer plate 1224mm x 705mm to replace the heavy steel access cover to the engine and weed hatch – so far without success, and with only two more weeks to go before we set off I think I will have to put up with the heavy lift each time I want to access the weed hatch.

Weekend 17/1/ May

All the week things have been taken to the boat in preparation for the trip (a good job we took lots of unwanted stuff off earlier in the year). Most of the tinned and packet food is already onboard and most of our clothes will go on board on Sunday. That will leave things like TV, Cameras, PC and generator to go on in the week with the perishable food going on last on Thursday evening when we will connect the fridge to a shore line till we set off on Friday. Diesel and water top up at the NCCC arm will also be done in the week.

At the moment a friend is on on our mooring untill Sunday ( the day we planned to relaunch) but I was persuaded to go back in the water early to allow Joric to come out to have some work done on her bow thruster. So at the moment we are on Joric’s mooring.