Withnell Fold moorings

The days we cruise now depend a lot on the weather. Weather warnings for wind and rain were in place for the following day so we took the opportunity to move on and hunker down somewhere new for the storm to pass.

Withnell Fold moorings had space for 2 boats on a jetty with rings. A wide swathe of grass separated us from the newly layed towpath of crushed sandstone, which ran along the border of mature native woodland. Opposite stood the pale stone wall of a factory whose tall windows remained shattered from a fire that had ripped through the building several years back.

It felt blissfully remote and we enjoyed walking Leo and Lilly through the woodland trails, past a wildlife pond and on a short round route up the hill and through muddy farm fields.

The storm blew in quickly and buffeted Rainboat, despite her being head on to the winds. We were wary of the gusts tearing down a large dying Ash opposite but what kept us awake all night was Leo yapping and howling at the owls shrieking. Vicky camped on the dinette bench trying to comfort him whilst playing Radio 4's Mindfull Mix and the Sleeping Forecast in an effort to drown out the nocturnal noises.

Stepping outside the morning after the storm, the old Ash was still standing, but a tree had fallen over the end of the driveway that led to a large house a few hundred metres away. It had bent the top rung of the metal gate and blocked access. It wasn't long before the house owner was out with their chainsaw and near the end of the day a contracter towed a wood chipper to the site, leaving only a smattering of sawdust where the tree had so recently lain.Read more