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  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels
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  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels

Rainboat

Life continuously cruising the canals and rivers of England and Wales. Read more
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    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sutton Lane Ends, England
    Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Moving on to quieter, more rural surrounds
    A good mooring with access to a garden centre and pub up those stepsOur tiny daffodils have finally bloomed 🌼Vicky came away from Fairways Garden Centre with a lot more than planned 🙈Yay! The fuel boat is here!Look at that blue sky! It does help to lift the moodWhiskers enjoying the warmth of the sun3 of the 4 furries had to join us in the sunshine on the sternEvening sunshine and a backlit Pomeranian under Leek Old Road BridgeSpent puffballs

    Gurnett Aqueduct

    March 3 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    To escape the noise of the adjacent building site and the stress it was causing Leo, we decided to cruise to the next available mooring spot, wherever that may be. Vicky took her chair on the towpath with the dogs while Will steered Rainboat alongside. The chair travels up to 4mph and the canal speed limit is 4mph so it worked well.

    We soon left the noise and industrial surroundings behind and the scenery opened up to fields and trees. Rainboat slotted into the one space available between Leek Old Bridge (no.44) and the long line of boats tied up at Gurnett Aqueduct moorings. The name Gurnett comes from the small village nestled in the valley of the River Bollin below but the aqueduct appeared more like a continuation of the embankment than any bridge-like structure that would draw the eye.

    The sun was shining and our rooftop daffodils had bloomed. Will and Whiskers spent the rest of the day fishing from the stern, enjoying the warmth and a natter with passersby. Vicky and the dogs joined them later. Using a combination of post it notes and notes on the phone, we planned which of our seeds and plants would be planted in in which of our rooftop troughs. What prompted this scheming was the proximity of Fairways Garden Centre, just 150m down the lane running alongside the towpath. We visited the following day to restock on Vicky's houseplants. We also came away with a couple of hardy perennial evergreen plants that are supposed to be good for pollinators so we'll keep our eyes peeled for butterflies and bees when the flowers bloom in early summer.

    Vicky returned to Rainboat to rest while Will visited the nearby Kings Head for a spot of lunch. He'd only intended on grabbing something light but couldn't resist a lamb burger when he saw one on the menu. That evening our TV viewing was interrupted by loud yowls from outside. Vicky marched along the towpath with a torch and discovered Whiskers fronting up to a large tabby tomcat, who scarpered under the glare of the light and Vicky's abrasive admonitions. Whiskers trotted happily up to her when she called as if he was the best boy in the world. We locked him inside until bed time, hoping to give the tension time to cool down. At 2am Vicky was woken by more yowling from Whiskers and the territorial tabby so His Lordship was confined indoors for the rest of the night and we moved on the next day. Spring is definitely in the air!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Will managed to film 11 of the 12 locks before the drone ran out of range
    Particularly dark chamber stones quarried from the surrounding hillsOrchard Lock, our 2nd of the 12.Leo got tired travelling on the sternA rainbow made up for the one short shower as we travelledBroadhurst Swing BridgeOne of many Elf Cups we found on the woodland floorAlthough the Macclesfield is well cared for there is clearly a lot of maintenance neededBoat moored next to an industrial site with a lot of fly tipped rubbishRainboat's mooring through the bridgeMoored in a long line of boats waiting for fuelThe building site opposite was too noisy for Leo to handle

    Bosley Locks & Lyme Green

    March 1 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    We stayed longer than planned at the beautiful Dane Aqueduct because Vicky wasn't well enough to cope with a dozen locks. Our rubbish was piling high and our cupboards were depleted as it was a long way to the nearest shop.

    We eventually cast off on Sunday morning; Vicky steering with Leo and Tiger tackling the locks with Will. Despite not setting off early, we were closely followed by two other boats who'd been moored nearby and had had the same idea. The Macclesfield is a narrow canal so sadly there could be no sharing of the locks or the work.

    Apart from the Stop Lock we passed through early on at Hall Green with a rise of just 1ft, the dozen Bosley Locks are the only ones on the Macc and they are clustered together over the space of 1.5 miles. Together they raise the water level by 118ft to 518ft above sea level. They are a beautiful flight, set amongst rural surrounds. Short, wide pounds, just large enough for two boats to pass are all that divide most of them. Beside each lock lies a now redundant side pond. These were designed as a water saving mechanism, whereby opening a sluice would allow half the water in the lock to flow into the pond, ready for refilling the chamber when the time came. They used to work and would certainly have come in handy during our recent summers of drought, but they were decommissioned by British Waterways many years ago and now stand as a mere monument to the ingenuity of the past.

    According to the Pearson's guide, the chamber stones were quarried from the nearby hill nicknamed The Cloud. Unfortunately for Will, all the lock gates were mitered pairs instead of (as is usual) the top gate being a time-saving single wide gate. To make it even more difficult, the walk planks that are usually attached to lock gates allowing boaters to cross from one side of the chamber to the other did not exist on any of the Bosley Locks. Will either needed to use Rainboat's bow and stern as stepping stones (no easy task when the bow is uneven and slippy and the stern gates stay shut to keep Leo safe) or trek back to the small bridges crossing each chamber downstream of the lock gates (no easy task when Tiger is either dragging slowly behind on the lead or getting stressed about being left by herself). He worked very hard and we made steady progress, cheered by the wooden troughs of daffodils about to come into bloom at each lock. The Macc really does seem a well cared for and loved canal. We get the sense that the voluntary Macclesfield Canal Society is very active, keeping towpaths maintained and adding little touches such as these planters.

    A several hours and only one short spell of rain later we cruised out of the top lock and moored almost immediately at services. Will filled with water and quickly relayed all our rubbish, recycling and composting to the wheelie bins. We didn't have the luxury of stopping for a rest as the boats who'd followed us also needed the services and a long line of moored craft ahead meant there was only the one spot to tie up.

    We were both exhausted by this point and Vicky was in no mood to carry on. For the first time in six years she isn't taking any antidepressants for her fatigue and her mood is still stabilising. Poor Will got the brunt of it, much to the shock of a passersby who heard her disembodied yells and saw a map book flying out the stern doors 🫣 Will gallantly took over at the tiller, mooring at the first place he could find; a rough bit of bank where he slipped and fell in a patch of nettles 🤕. This allowed us both to eat a very ate lunch and Vicky to go to bed.

    Regrettably our extended stopover at Dane Aqueduct meant we couldn't stay the night here. The fuel boat was due to deliver us diesel and a bottle of propane the next day but its route didn't come down as far as the locks. We needed to cover another couple of miles, including an electric swing bridge and a manual one before we could moor at Lyme Green winding hole; the southernmost reach of the fuel boat. With relief, Rainboat slipped into a line of about a dozen other moored boats, many of whom were also awaiting a fuel delivery. Vicky returned to bed while Will cooked us some tea and we both vegged infront of the TV that evening.

    Early the next day we were awoken by Leo's worried growling, woofing and the beeps and bangs from a building site directly opposite. So much for a lie in! What a contrast to the quiet of our previous rural surrounds. At least the towpath was good enough for Vicky to get out in her chair to walk the dogs. She'd been keen to explore Dane's Moss Nature Reserve that we were close to but sadly there was a railway line with a high bridge and many steps separating it from the towpath so it wasn't to be. Despite this disappointment and being in an industrial area, we enjoyed our outing. The day was warm(ish), the other walkers friendly and our route ran alongside a lovely strip of mixed woodland, where we had fun spotting Elf Cup funghi among the leaf litter. Vicky even took her chair back out to photograph the wooden swing bridge we'd passed through the previous day.

    Will went out afterwards and returned with his large rucksack bursting with fresh fruit, veg and other groceries. We had aimed to meet the fuel boat here but they'd messaged to say they were running a day late. Leo was really on edge with the noise from the building site so we decided to move on a short way that afternoon.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Bridge layers. F-B a road, flyover road, railway and pedestrian bridge looking back to Congleton.
    The long North Staffordshire railway viaduct blending onto the wooded slopes.Loving cruising outside in the sunshine2Happy Leo 🥰The land opening up to pastureThe Cloud or Bosley Cloud; a hill of 1125ft whose shape was carved during the ice age2Approaching Stanleys Bridge with stop planks on the leftLooking back on Stanier 1st Bridge with its swathe of snowdropsCongleton Bridge with Stanier 1st Bridge beyondWhiskers heading to the cobbled overspill. Free for the first time since the night before his op2Happy puss 😸Vicky found what she thinks is a Robin nest near our moorings. Small, mossy and lined with fleece.Heading back to Rainboat over Dane AqueductScreenshot of our position on a terrain map. You can see the Pennine Hills to the east and northLooking over the aqueduct railings to the River Dane 45ft belowLooking up to the aqueduct from the River Dane2Proud of Tiger making it down the muddy, overgrown slope. Leo wasn't having any of it!BT tower on the distant Suttons Common and the cobbled overspill in action2You can really see the embankment and shape of the aqueduct from this angle2Freshly baked, warm fruit scone with honemade strawberry jam courtesy of WillTreecreeper spotted on the offside

    Dane Aqueduct, below Bosley Locks

    February 25 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The cruise from Congleton to Dane Aqueduct was a true pleasure. Starting off, the sun warmed the air and made the colours around us pop. The course of the Macclesfield runs mainly straight with only a few bends so steering was a breeze. We began in a cutting, passing under numerous rail, road and footbridges, mostly constructed with huge hunks of squared off sandstone; probably Chatsworth Grit quarried from the surrounding hills.

    Our views had been somewhat limited within the confines of the cutting but now the channel emerged and was carried over a series of embankments and small aqueducts. The Shaw Brook and Dane Valleys sprawling away underneath and to our port while The Cloud hill rose amongst the Pennines in the distance to starboard. Beautiful!

    We'd seen Narrowboat Lexi setting off before us and timed it well because she was just leaving the water point on the offside as we arrived. Will even managed to return the tap connector they'd left behind after they'd winded and were passing us in the opposite direction. Another narrowboat arrived just as we were finishing, but apart from this we saw no other vessels on the move.

    We moored just before the impressive Dane Aqueduct that passes over the river some 45ft below. Will got busy stirring our compost boxes and Vicky did a little more on a macrame window drape for the bedroom. Later, Will worked with his niece, going through her online maths homework, while Vicky walked the dogs past 6 of the 12 Bosley Locks that we had yet to navigate.

    The following day it rained and we rested inside, blogging, learning on Duo Lingo, making marmalade, scones and fajitas. Being around 1km from the nearest road, it was wonderfully quiet and wonderfully dark when the sun set😊    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    2The refurbished Congleton Wharf building opposite our moorings
    2Growths on Mr Whiskers' gumsCongleton Community Garden2Lamberts Lane Roving Bridge allowing horses to switch towpath sides without being unhitchedDog Lane Aqueduct passing over Canal RoadThe three (noisy) geese who had made the wharf their homeCongleton Town Hall and Tourist InformationThe Tourist Info sold apple juice pressed in CongletonWill sitting on a 'Chatty Bench' hoping to find someone to chat to 😊The container village where we had lunch. It was quiet for a Saturday2Thai dishes from Nam Ploy with beer from R&Gs Tap House 😋An ornate water tower we spotted while walking to the closed garden centre2Fallen roadside daffs and newly sprouted seedlings brightening our dayMr Whiskers insisted on accompanying the dog walk. We had to turn back when he began crying 🙄1Morris Change Bridge being restored. Also called a Snake or Snailly bridge.Avo on toast for Vi and a Scottish Bap for Will at Sienna's with its 'carnivore based' menu.Vicky loved visiting the North Rode Wood Yard2Congleton high street with Orso Lounge on the leftVegan cake at last 🥳 Raspberry chocolate torte and carrot cake at Orso LoungeGetting up earlier than usual for Whisker' op, Vicky spotted Goosanders in the wharf basinThe male leading the female Goosanders who took off pretty quickly when Vicky popped her head out.2Mr Whiskers returns from the vetsA post op Mr Whiskers wanting to be out exploringWill caught a few big fish in the Wharf basinWill's caught a big one and Mr Whiskers is there to 'help' 😬

    Congleton

    February 21 in England ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Before the journey to Congleton, Vicky had looked ahead to see that there was a vets less than a mile from the canal. We've been keeping an eye on some growths on Mr Whiskers' gums and felt it was time to get them checked again. Wright and Morten Vets had good online reviews and the added bonus of another branch close to our route through Macclesfield, should further appointments be needed. An evening phonecall managed to get Whiskers registered and booked in for the following morning.

    The journey wasn't an easy one to take in the wheelchair, with narrow, sloping pavements and too few drop kerbs, but we got there in one piece. Jo the receptionist offered to pop the rained on fleece we'd used to cover Whiskers' carrier in the dryer, very kind! Olivia the vet had already reviewed Whiskers' medical records and the photos of the growths Vicky had emailed through the previous day. Whiskers made himself very at home in the surgery, soon spying the packet of Dreamies and giving Olivia 'the eyes' until she did her duty and fed him 😻 He even jumped up on the counter and stole a gravy bone from the dog treat jar. Cheeky puss!

    The oral masses didn't bring up any red flags in their appearance but they had grown and become inflamed. The longer they were left the greater the risk there was of them causing infection and damage to his teeth, so it was decided to give him a dental and have them removed. Jo was able to get him booked in on Tuesday, just four days away, with Olivia, who he'd taken a shine to. All in all we were very happy with this.

    Saturday was market day so we repeated the journey in to Congleton. Joining the main street at the impressive Town Hall, we saw it was buzzing with activity. Cafés were full to bursting and footfall was high in and out of the many independent shops. The market seemed deserted in comparison. There were a few indoor and outdoor stalls selling books, phone cases, veg, eggs, meat and dairy. Will found some organic cheese but the offerings in general weren't very inspiring. What did look exciting was Congleton Market Quarter; a 'container village' that opened just over 2 years ago to help breathe new life into the town centre. This too was strangely quiet but held an exciting range of eateries and bars with shared seating. We chose Thai dishes from Nam Ploy, which we ate in R&Gs Tap House with their lagers 👌

    Knowing Whiskers would need some soft food after his procedure we went a little off the beaten track (difficult in the chair) to find a pet shop using Maps.Me. If it had ever existed it had shut down a long time ago because there wasn't any sign of it. (There was plenty of provision for dogs and even a pet fish shop in town but nothing for cats 😿). We headed back towards the Town Hall and the nearby North Rode Timber Company in the hope of getting plywood for replacement 'Boat Cat' signs and a plank for a bathroom shelf. We arrived to find it had closed at noon 😭

    We didn't fare any better the following day when we walked a mile to a small garden centre, where Vicky had high hopes of getting some replacement snowdrop and crocus bulbs, only to find its gate padlocked. The hours on both google and facebook said it should be open but there was nobody around so we had no option but to turn around and head home. Vicky picked some broken stemmed daffodils on the way back and Will bought some alcohol free bubbly from a Spar to cheer us up. Feeling slightly better we decided to swing by the closest pub to the boat; The Wharf Inn. This was also closed, despite google stating otherwise 😕

    Monday saw us catching the 91 Beartown Bus into Congleton. With services every half hour and only costing £1.50 it's a good community service that we felt happy supporting while saving our feet. The wood yard was open, friendly and very helpful in cutting us the pieces we needed. In search of a café lunch we found Congleton high street wasn't a good place for vegans. FEAST, the first independent we visited didn't have anything and Sienna's, the second, turned out to have a 'carnivore based menu' 😳 They did however make everything fresh and were keen to veganise their avocado on toast by subbing spinach for the egg, so we dined here, then asked at the Tourist Information for a source of vegan cake. After recommending the two places we'd already tried, the helpful advisor pointed us towards Orso Lounge. The Lounges are a chain but one that we like and Vicky found herself in heaven sitting on a comfy sofa amongst the quirky interior tucking into carrot cake and sampling Will's raspberry torte 🥳

    On our way to the bus station Will, who was wearing his rainbow scarf, was accosted by a street preacher asking him if he believed he was created by a higher intelligence. Will had seen the chalk board listing LGBTIQ as a 'perverted practice' alongside abortion and Islam. 'Not by a higher intelligence that wants to ban LGBTIQ!' he retorted angrily. The preacher sought to explain that they didn't want to ban those with 'sexual deviancy' but save them from hell. Oh dear. After doing some digging, Vicky found the guy had been arrested back in August for harassing people and 'preaching' against abortion even when conception happened under the most terrible of circumstances. She wtote to the town council who got back to her straight away thanking her for relaying the experience, which was useful to add to the body of evidence. The police had been called by several shopkeepers who were also accumulating evidence and a Code of Conduct had been implemented which limited expressions of free speech such as this to 30 minutes. It was good to know.

    The wheelchair came in handy for transporting Mr Whiskers into Wright and Morten for 08:45 the next morning. It would have been a real struggle to carry his nearly 6kg weight for the 20 minutes it took to walk otherwise. We weren't too worried about the anaesthetic and minor procedure but it was still a relief when Olivia called that afternoon to say everything had gone well. They'd offered him some soft food when he came round and apparently he'd been so enthusiastic he gave himself a gravy bath! There was just one small extraction needed of a tiny front incisor, all the previously visible growths had been removed as well as some small flaps further back on his gums and everything had been scaled and polished. Pupils huge in his green eyes, he made it known he was very happy to see us and didn't seem at all phased by the taxi ride back. The drugs had hyped him up and he bolted later on when we took the dogs out. Luckily he came back so we put his harness on and all sat out on the stern in the evening sunshine while Will fished and Whiskers looked on excitedly whenever the rod twitched.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Moss Lane Bridge crossing one of the cuttings in the canal course.
    A site of one of many former bridges narrowing the channel.Hall Green stop lock. 1ft rise. A brick and a stone keeper's cottage, one from each canal company.Filling at Hall Green. The footbridge shows some ornate ironwork, of which there is more to come.Squeezing under a bridge with Rainboat's chimney up.Disused swing bridgeHeritage Marina and chandleryRamsdell HallCarved woodpecker on an old tree stumpA milestone restored and reinstated by Macclesfield Canal SocietyA closer view of a milestone. We couldn't read the inscription on this one.A 'Snake Bridge' allowing horses to switch towpath sides without needing to be unhitched

    Poole Aqueduct to Congleton Wharf

    February 19 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    The gales had passed and the chances of rain were low so after five days at Poole Aqueduct moorings we took the chance to move on. Vicky wasn't well so lay on the dinette bench with the dogs while Will single handed.

    We've had a bit of time to research the Macclesfield and have found it's history interesting. It is one of Britain's narrow canals for boats no wider than 7ft. A latecomer to the water haulage scene, it was completed in 1824, for the purpose of connecting the Trent and Mersey to the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, 26.25 miles to the north.

    Initially surveyed by the famous Thomas Telford, it's creation fell to the less renowned engineer William Crosley. It is a typical cut and fill construction; the route takes as straight a course as possible by cutting through hills and building up embankments to keep the elevation level. Many of the raised stretches provide good views over the surrounding countryside and there are some very attractive looking aqueducts over valleys as well as tall bridges spanning the cuttings. Much of the course is rural, but it does skirt via the east sides of Congleton and of Macclesfield.

    Due to historical worries over tolls, the well established Trent and Mersey Canal Company actually built the first 1.5 miles of the route from Hardings Wood Junction on its mainline, to an area called Hall Green. Here a stop lock with a rise of 1 foot was installed, along with two keeper's cottages, one built by the Trent and Mersey and the other by Macclesfield Canal Company, one of stone and one of brick. This is formally known as the 'Hall Green Branch', although nowadays it is considered part of the Macc.

    Will worked Rainboat through the lock and docked to fill with water, before cruising onwards. From this point there is a nine mile reprieve from the seemingly endless locks.

    Will enjoyed the countryside views and curiosities such as the roving 'Snake Bridges' and the milestones indicating distances between Hall Green Stop Lock and Marple (removed during WWII for fear of helping the enemy but since lovingly restored and reinstated by Macclesfield Canal Society).

    The waterway widened at Congleton Wharf and this is where we chose to moor; directly opposite the original Macclesfield Canal Company Wharf building. Since converted to apartments, this was the site were Congleton's supplies and wares would have been loaded and unloaded. It mainly served the nearby cotton mill but would have traded in silk, coal, quarried stone and later functioned as a canal / rail interchange.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Bunting decorating one of the Lawton Treble Locks
    Iron from the water staining the lock gatesOne of the duplicated locks left to nature alongside the working oneVicky went ahead to set the locks while Will exited and closed the previous lock gate.A roller to protect the wall from horse lines wearing it awayCruising under Poole Aqueduct that carries the Macclesfield over the Trent and MerseyDelay at the last lock where the bridge was too low to keep Little Rainboat on the roofTurning onto Hall Green Branch of the Macclesfield at Hardings Wood Junction!Passing over Poole Aqueduct. Notice the difference in water colour between the Macc and T&M belowMooring spot just beyond Poole AqueductPearson's guide book map of our journey from Rode HeathWe had a great time at The Red Bull2Breaded Mushroom starter and a Dizzy Blonde for Will1Will's Sunday lunch with plant based 'chicken' and Vicky's vegetable sizzler with black bean sauceHappy lady with vegan ice cream dessert2'Old Tom' 8.5% from Robinson's celebrated its 126th birthday in November 2025So happy to have these beauties in our roof gardenVicky fished this bike out of the canal and arranged for the police to pick it upEnjoying a rest day 🥰Such a joy to spot Spring bulbs bloomingBuilt in 1939, a really interesting building with tasty food to bootIt was 'Chippy Tuesday' so Will had fish while Vicky had Cottage PieSuper indulgent Biscoff Cheesecake for dessertA swathe of snowdrops on the towpathMow Cop summit & ruined castle folly has been in our sights for a long time. Alas, too far to visit.

    Celebrating new waters! The Macclesfield

    February 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Whoop whoop! We've made it to new waters! 🌟 The Macclesfield Canal 🌟

    After a sub zero night morning dawned bright and sunny. Vicky was feeling well and it was a joy to be outdoors, so we decided to travel as far as we could. There were twelve locks between Rode Heath and the Macclesfield so we didn't expect to reach it in one go. Departure was delayed because Mr Whiskers had also sensed the sun and scarpered when Will tried to lure him inside. He loves to spend a sunny day secreted in the undergrowth somewhere near the boat but unfortunately for him, today wasn't that day. Vicky used his Pit Pat GPS tracker and waded through the bramble clogged undergrowth with a tube of turkey pate to retrieve him.

    To quicken our passage through locks we lifted the canoe onto the roof so there was no need to worry about it getting crushed as the water surged in and pushed Rainboat backwards.
    Leo was tired by this point so it wasn't long before he went in the backpack with a hot water bottle while Tiggy trotted faithfully along the towpath behind her mum to set the first lock.

    Lawton Treble Locks came in quick succession but we made short work of them, moving on to Hall's Lock and the two Church Locks. It was then a bit of distance to travel before the first three Red Bull Locks. We stopped at Red Bull services to fill, empty and for Vicky to fuel up with a quick peanut butter and marmalade sandwich. With just three more locks between us and the turning onto the Macc we decided to go for it.

    Passing through Red Bull Lock we eyed up the eponymous pub next to it, reckoning we'd deserve a treat for all the effort it was taking ascending this last stretch. As for the origin of this unusual place name, we've searched online and in books but can't find any references, so it remains a mystery to us. Perhaps it is something to do with the water becoming increasingly 'red' due to the iron leaching from the Harecastle Tunnels we were fast approaching.

    The next feature was very exciting as we passed under Poole Aqueduct carrying the Macclesfield Canal over the Trent and Mersey. Sighting our destination put a spring in our step to work through Limekiln Lock but it was short lived as Rainboat ground to a halt before Hardingswood Road Bridge just before the final lock. It was too low for the canoe to pass underneath on Rainboat's roof. As Vicky stood on top, hauling Little Rainboat over to the towpath side, two walkers offered to lift it down with Will. This was a great help and it wasn't long before she was tied up to the stern and being towed into Plants Lock; the last of the 'Cheshire' or 'Heartbreak Hill' locks. Phew!

    It was exciting to turn right, underneath the arched bridge at Hardings Wood Junction onto the Hall Green Branch. This was the first time in exactly 7 months that we'd sailed new waters! Running alongside the Trent and Mersey in the opposite direction Rainboat then made another 90° right turn to cross Poole Aqueduct and stop at the first of many moorings on the Macclesfield Canal. Yippee!

    Will, who had been standing on the stern all day nipped out to the nearby Lidl, then got to work prepping a well earned dinner of Mac 'n' Cheese. What more appropriate dish to celebrate our arrival on the Macc?

    Sunday was drizzly and the towpath muddy but we took things easy, walking the dogs then treating ourselves to a late lunch at the Red Bull: a Robinson's Brewery pub. The food was delicious, the staff friendly and knowledgeable and the service efficient. A brilliant experience!

    Vicky rested the following day, after having taken the last step in withdrawing from Venlafaxine and stopped taking the pills altogether. It's been really physically tough but she's glad to have finally reached this point. Will kept busy looking after her and cycling to Tesco for healthy treats. Unfortunately the towpath was so muddy that the bike tyres slipped and catapulted Will towards the canal. His leg got a dunking but thankfully the rest of him stayed dry. Will being Will decided to carry on, do the shopping, pop into the lockside Canal Tavern (at least here he stayed dry, there being no cask ales on tap and no decent alcohol free beers). It was only when he returned to Rainboat, warmed up and dried out that he began to feel the bruising and swelling around his knee.

    On Tuesday we met the lovely Derek, a retired guide dog and his new owner, who recommended we visited the Bleeding Wolf. Vicky was feeling unexpectedly well so we hiked a kilometre past posh looking detached houses and their large drives and gardens to arrive at the stunning thatch roofed pub. It turned out to be another Robinson's Brewery establishment, though with a different menu. The food was equally delicious and the service just as good as the Red Bull. The interior had retained many original features from it's 1939 inception, like huge carved wooden beams above the bar and fireplace and tiling in the loos. We felt utterly spoiled.

    On the way back Vicky fished a bike out of the cut. It looked quite new and had a serial number so we reported it to the police who said they'd come and pick it up. Whether they did or not we don't know as we moved on a day and a half later.

    The Poole Aqueduct moorings were a good spot in all. They had decent access to shops and some top notch pubs. Situated on an embankment, they had sewage works to one side and a skip company burning some foul smelling waste on the other. The weather was mostly windy, wet and cold so we didn't spend much time outside but we could see that the odours may have been a problem in warmer weather.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Thurlwood Top Lock with its pretty cottages
    Moored with other boats at the visitor moorings1The canalside Broughton Arms1MainsMovie and duvet time. Big spoon and little spoon. Excuse the mess; too cute not to share.We were happy to see the fuel boat. We'll be using a different one when we get onto the MacclesfieldRode Heath Rise grassland on our day of departureVicky finished reading this iconic book, a gift from Pete & Maggie. A great read.

    Rode Heath

    February 12 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    With cold weather on it's way we wanted to be a bit closer to civilisation so it was yet again a short cruise, this time through Thurlwood Lower Lock and Thurlwood Top Lock to moor at Rode Heath visitor moorings. Pretty rows of terraced cottages stood alongside the locks. They were adjoined by a more recently developed housing estate of brick built semis. On the towpath side we passed a muddy collection of small paddocks with equally muddy ponies pulling at a round of hay. These led on to some rag tag allotments and finally to the slopes of Rode Heath Rise. Formerly a salt works, this area has been turned into grassland and opened to the public. It was certainly a popular asset judging by the number of dog walkers we encountered.

    The Broughton Arms was only a 4 minute walk away along the towpath and over the small, arched, brick pedestrian bridge. We had lunch there on the first day but were not impressed. We knew from the last time we had visited not to expect much but even so, we came away disappointed. The Broughton is a Marstons pub and signs advertised 10% off drinks if you ordered via the QR code at your table. This was a faff and required a code that wasn't displayed. Will ordered a veggie burger and Vicky the soup, with a side of corn on the cob. The person we ordered from told us she didn't think they'd got any plant based butter so when the food arrived with butter we needed to check it was vegan. Vicky was excited to see the jaffa cake slice was vegan but disappointed that the this version was just served without ice cream whilst being charged at the same price. It took ages to arrive and our empty plates were still on the table when it did... with ice cream. Once again we needed to check whether this was vegan and were told that 'as the kitchen doesn't have any vegan ice cream, it wouldn't be'. Full stop. No offer of replacement or refund. Vicky was feeling quite unwell by this point so Will ate the ice cream and she had the cake. We left poor online reviews and resolved to avoid eating at Marstons pubs in the future. We've never been impressed by their food but this wasn't acceptable.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Making the most of a dry spell by combining the cruise with the dog walk
    Chells Hill BridgeCrossing Chells Hill AqueductMoored at the wholesale nursery on the edge of Rode Heath.What a nice surprise to find all these iris bloomed together in the space of a dayA few more to come too. The wholesale nursery trees in the background.1"I'd rather stay at home mom"

    A short hop to near Rode Heath

    February 11 in England ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Rain, rain, rain. Here in Cheshire we've by no means had the worst of the UK's wet weather but the towpaths have certainly had their fill and we've spent many a day huddled inside Rainboat listening as a light patter turns to heavy drumbeats on her roof, while droplets splash against and run rivulets down her windows.

    When in the motorhome we spent many a rainy day travelling. Things are different on a narrowboat when you need to stand on the stern with your hand on the tiller, so travel is usually reserved for dry days. However, with our food cupboards beginning to run low, today we waited for one of the short dry spells and did a short hop between locks. Vicky put coats on the dogs and walked them along the muddy slick of a towpath while Will piloted Rainboat. The rain resumed just before we pulled in but thankfully it came on slowly.

    The spot we chose was a straight section just shy of Thurlwood Lower Lock at Rode Heath. The field opposite hosted a neat grid of saplings with canes and trunk guards; part of Matthews Nurseries. Beyond an ivy bound hedge on the towpath side, grew a weather-beaten crop of brassicas and more saplings. Further along the towpath this flowed into Rode Heath Rise; the site of an old salt works turned open parkland. Will passed one of the entrances to it when he walked into the village to get supplies from the small Permier shop and enjoy a pint at the Broughton Arms.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A bywash to the side of the first lock we tackled
    Ornamental Staghorn Sumac growing at locks. So called because its bark is hairy like stag antlersAnother lock but the surroundings are beginning to feel more ruralTraditional features of cobbles and a rubbing strip to protect the bridge from the horse lines3Mr Whiskers is getting fat eating kibble inside so Vicky was pleased he came out for a walkA dull dayA Ruddy Shell Duck with Egyptian Geese. A rare sight for us but they do sometimes interbreed.

    Pierpoints Top Lock, Hassall Green

    February 9 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We made the most of Vicky feeling well today and ascended a little more of Heartbreak Hill. We polished off the last two Wheelock Flight Locks, cruised under the noisy M6, through the two Hassall Green Locks and rounded the journey off with the pair of Pierpoint Locks.

    The further we cruised away from Middlewich the more rural our surroundings felt. It was good to see stone walls and mature native hedges bordering farm boundaries. The latter make such a positive difference to wildlife. The land around us is still flat but there is a hill in the distance. It felt good to be moving and seeing new sights.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Ascending one of the duplicated locks with a view of the next pair ahead.
    Vicky took stock of what bulbs had come up in our roof planters. No flowers yet.She also sowed some seeds indoors

    Malkins Bank

    February 8 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today's temperature reached the giddy high of 10°C! It was dry with only a light breeze and we felt a sense of relief to be able to cruise in such clement conditions. The journey began at Wheelock Wharf where we emptied our toilet, bins and filled with water before beginning the Wheelock flight; part of a longer run of 26 locks over the next 7 miles known as Heartbreak Hill.

    Vicky was weak so Will took Tiger ashore and worked all the locks. This section is unusual because each lock is twinned with another, sitting side by side, in order to speed the passage of boats at busy times.

    The latter part of our journey took us alongside the Malkins Bank golf course, built on the site of the old Brunner Mond sodium carbonate works. Small cottages, originally built for short haul boaters and employees of the chemical works added interest to our cruise.

    We ascended six locks before mooring between numbers 61 and 60. The flat fields around us were divided up into smaller plots by white prodigious amounts of white electrical tape to provide grazing for ponies. The birds were getting busy courting and beginning to build nests in the hedges and there was a distant thrum of white noise from a flyover of the M6 motorway.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    New piling being installed on a well maintained stretch of towpath
    Beautiful sunset from the towpath at WheelockWe discovered a little park near our mooringThe park gave access to a sandy beach beside the River WheelockIt was a quiet mooringWheelock; Cheshire Cheese pub (L), Pet Superstore (back R) and a sign for garden gnomesSandbach Market HallA novelty offering from the chocolate shop: Pork Chocs. Will tried them but wasn't convinced.2Vicky came away with a sumptuous bar of chocolate filled with mint ganache.Our lunch spot in SandbachCafé On The Square. 5 bean stew with kimchi and homemade quiche 😋St Mary's Church and the Sandbach Crosses seen from Café on the SquareSandbach main squareThe Sandbach Crosses. 9th century Anglo Saxon Grade I listed monuments.We hope our newly purchased boot scraper will be worth the space it takes upMr Whiskers does like a snuggle buddy at bed time. Leo isn't so keen 😏Good to see this pub reopened. Unfortunately Barchetta restaurant only had 3/5 food hygieneThe pups enjoyed their visit to the newly refurbished Cheddar Cheese pub2Vicky has been doodling mandalas during her rest days.

    Wheelock and Sandbach

    February 6 in England ⋅ 🌧 4 °C

    We are taking advantage of the dry days to zip along the sections of canal we've travelled on previously, in order to get to new waters. We intend to turn north off the Trent and Mersey and explore the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals, heading north east on the Huddersfield Narrow, through Standedge Tunnel. Long term we'll travel east to Wakefield, then south over The Wash to Cambridge.

    Today we ascended the three Booth Lane locks and cruised through rural surroundings to arrive at Wheelock, stopping just before Wheelock Wharf, between a field and some back gardens on the off side. Will went straight off to explore and surprise surprise, found a pub! He got chatting to some locals who advised him to visit Sandbach, just a short bus ride away.

    A bitter wind blew forcefully overnight, draughting in through the air vents at the head of our bed. It blasted Rainboat so she rocked against her lines, only to yo-yo back and bang against her fenders. It was raining and frigid the following morning, with a real feel of -1°C. We waited for a dry spell before walking the dogs and even then only gave them a short one. Leo has a little more hair now and can keep himself warm for a while by running about but he gets tired quickly.

    We left the dogs with the heating on and caught the number 38 a few stops to Sandbach. It was nearly 15 minutes late and we got pretty cold standing on the roadside. Wheelock seemed a quiet place with a restaurant, pub, convenience store, pet store and a vendor of garden gnomes but Sandbach was more lively. A few covered market stalls sold fruit, veg, eggs and brick-a-brack while permanent stands inside the small Market Hall offered jewellery, vintage clothing, dog 'wellness', woodcraft, new age crystals and goth paraphernalia alongside the more conventional butchers, cheese shop and café. We were drawn to the Chocolates to Cherish stall which had a whole shelf, small though it was, dedicated to vegan chocolates, all handmade by Paul Stockbridge, Master Chocolatier. His partner Tracy runs her A Sense of Wellbeing business from the same stall.

    Vicky needed a sit down so we didn't linger long. The cobbled main square bordered by old townhouses was just around the corner. Here we found The Café On The Square which not only had a vegan option but a whole plant based menu alongside their vegetarian and meat based one. We joined other diners up a winding staircase where we were treated to a view of the square though the olde worlde vertical grid window. From our table we could see the locally famous Sandbach Crosses; Anglo Saxon stone monuments from the 9th century. They'd been destroyed sometime in the 16th or 17th century and their pieces scattered, but in 1816 a local historian had collected together most of the pieces and reassembled them!

    Sight seeing over, we visited the fruit and veg stall, butchers, Aldi and Handy Household; a good quality 'sells everything' store where we somehow managed to buy £77 worth of items, including a boot scraper in an attempt to stave the endless tide of mud tramped into Rainboat's galley. We really enjoyed our trip to this little town, which had a good mix of sightseeing opportunities, practical services and places to treat yourself.

    Friday was much the same weatherwise so we took the dogs to Cheddar Cheese; the Wheelock pub that Will had visited when he first arrived. It had been reopen for less than a week after a shiny new refurbishment. The staff were happy to have customers and the dogs got treats and fuss from them as well as other patrons and even the plumber 🥰 From here it was on to even more strokes and some interesting smells in the pet superstore. We took the opportunity to buy cat litter even though we didn't need it. The bags are so heavy they are difficult to carry over any distance so a canalside pet shop was an opportunity to be taken advantage of!

    Will returned to Cheddar Cheese for a fish and chip lunch the following day while Vicky rested. It was the pub's first day serving food so it felt good to support them.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We were shocked to find ourselves in a queue for Stanthorne Lock 🚤🚤🚤🚤🚤
    A heart of rusty bells someone had hung on Wardle Lock gate1From descending the Middlewich Branch we began to ascend the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kings LockThe British Salt factory alongside the canal produces more then half the UK's domestic outputAnother part of the salt manufacturersEntering the larger part of Tetton Bridge......only to find the profile change half way throughRectangular entrance and an arched exit1Another muddy mooring spot. Tiger stuck to the concrete lined bank to avoid getting mucky.

    Tetton Bridge, Trent and Mersey Canal

    February 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    The day was a bit nippy and breezy but dry. We even got about 10 seconds of sunshine! After checking Mr Whiskers was onboard and not prowling in Stanthorne Woods Vicky took the dogs ahead to set Stanthorne Lock. We got a shock when we encountered a queue! Not one, but two boats were moored waiting to enter the lock and incredulously a further two boats arrived and queued after us! This rarely happens in summer, never mind on a dull day at the beginning of February.

    We chatted away with the other boaters and helped work the paddles and gates until it was our turn. We then stopped at the visitor moorings for Will to fetch his prescription and make a long awaited visit to Middlewich's Angling Superstore. After lunch we timed it right at Wardle Lock, arriving just as someone was leaving. We still needed to fill it before we could enter but at least we didn't need to wait. Once we'd descended and exited, Will sounded Rainboat's horn and turned right off the Middlewich Branch onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. There is a very awkwardly placed water point at this junction which was in use so Will then needed to reverse and moor on the other side to wait for it. We are wearing a lot of layers this time of year and needing more water than usual to get through all the washing. When the woman and her French Bulldog had finished filling their tank, Vicky worked them up Kings Lock while Will began to fill Rainboat. Another boater then came to help Vicky work the lock when it was Rainboat's time. All in all it was a very cooperative and sociable day.

    The busy main road runs very close to the canal for more than a mile here with only a small embankment between them. It wasn't the nicest place to stop so we cracked on past the British Salt factories, up Rump's Lock and by some new Traveller homesteads. We came to a grinding halt half way under Tetton Bridge where the main road crosses the water. The bridge has been widened and its entrance profile is high enough to fit Rainboat's chimney and the canoe underneath but half way through the ceiling drops by about a foot. Thankfully Will spotted the danger and stopped in time, allowing us to put the chimney down and get the canoe off the roof. We moored not long after, alongside a large house and garden where it was safe for the furries to explore.

    Will messaged the fuel boat to let them know where to find us the following day, then managed to sit and rest for a whole 10 minutes before heading to the stern to fish with his newly purchased pole and maggots. He was rewarded with four fish and the sight of a huge flock of Starlings flying overhead.

    The following day was a pretty miserable movie and duvet day as Vicky wasn't well but the fuel boat came and filled our tank so at least we were toasty warm with no worries about where to get diesel.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    The towpath was a mess of claggy mud which inevitability got traipsed into Rainboat
    2Barbridge JunctionThe narrow Cholmondeston Lock was so much easier to work than the large, heavy, wide locks.Passing Paul and Antony on Morning Star at Venetian MarinaHe really does love being in his backpackVicky's been spotting Signs of Spring for the Woodland Trust. First flowering Lesser CelandineOne of the many stocked bird feeders alongside the towpathOur mooring at Stanthorne Woods near Coalpit Lane beeping bridgeThe Alhambra, Middlewich. A cinema in the 1920s, then a bingo hall, a bar & Chinese, now an ItalianOne of Will's many pleasures; sampling local alesBeetroot burgers at the White Bear

    Stanthorne Woods, Middlewich

    Jan 30–Feb 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Calveley services were a short walk along the towpath and over a bridge from our previous night's moorings so Vicky took the dogs on foot while Will piloted Rainboat. The air was too cold and damp for Leo to want to be outside, so he was tucked inside her coat. A few minutes later she took pity on Tiger's efforts to pick her way through the claggy mud and tucked her under her other arm. Not quite the dog walk we'd hoped for!

    After emptying bins and the pee pot and filling with water, Vicky and the furries travelled inside while a well wrapped Will steered on the stern. The journeying was slow going with what seemed like miles of moored boats lining the banks. When passing any stationery craft it's expected that you drop your engine into tickover (about 2mph as opposed to the usual 4mph) so your wake doesn't unduly disturb the floating homes. Despite the slow pace it wasn't too long before we got to Barbridge Junction, taking the tight left turn off the wide Shropshire Union mainline on to its narrow Middlewich Branch. From her vantage point at the side hatch Vicky didn't think Rainboat would make it round, but the feared collision never came as Will executed the manoeuvre in one- bravo Will 👌

    There are hardly any other boats moving at this time of year so it was a surprise when we saw one ahead of us going into Cholmondeston Lock. It was even more of a surprise to realise it was Paul and Antony from the very successful YouTube Channel Narrowboat Life Unlocked. We got chatting while helping Paul work NB Morning Star through the lock and he remembered that it had been here on the Middlewich Branch where we'd first met, before spending Christmas 2023 moored in the Llangollen Basin together.

    The narrow lock was easy and quick to refill and get through compared to the heavy gated wide locks of the mainline and it wasn't long before we were overtaking Morning Star as she filled with fuel at Venetian Marina. We passed through Minshull Lock and pottered on to moor at Stanthorne Woods; another favourite spot of ours. Whiskers loves stalking down the bank into the mature copse and the towpath has been hardpacked so the dogs were happy to potter and we weren't traipsing in great clods of mud every time we stepped aboard.

    Someone has installed a series of homemade wooden bird feeding stations along this route. They are kept topped up with a seed mix and the hawthorn hedge is alive with the flutter of tiny wings and the chirps of happy birds; a real joy to witness.

    On Saturday Will cycled and Vicky took the chair the 2km in to Middlewich high street. We arrived at Rowlands Pharmacy at 12:04pm to pick Will's prescription up, only to find it closes at noon on Saturdays. Oh well, we could wait 'til Monday. The independent pet shop had neither Dreamies nor lickilicks for the cats and no sweet potato chews that Vicky had been looking for for the dogs. We did a Lidl shop and treated ourselves to a beetroot burger and chips at the friendly White Bear hotel and pub. Thankfully Tesco Express had Dreamies so we were welcomed back aboard by Abby and Whiskers!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Approaching Wharton's Lock and its strong bywash
    Happy puppyGeese flying in front of Beeston CastleAn unimpressed Tiger Lilly at Beeston Iron LockRainboat approaching Tilstone LockTilstone Lock at its Lengthsmens' hutThe old stables at Bunbury Staircase LockVicky and Tiger were relieved this was the last lock of the dayWill made Vicky very happy by returning home with cake 😋

    Calveley visitor moorings

    January 28 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    The sky was blue and the sun was bright on this cool, windless day. Perfect winter cruising weather! Vicky set off with the dogs along the muddy towpath to set Wharton's Lock; the first of six on today's itinerary. She opened the paddles and popped Leo into the backpack with his hot water bottle. Leo gets bored very easily and his boredom tends to lead to mischief. Mischief and locks are not a good combination!

    Will steered while Vicky either rode inside or walked between the locks, depending on how far apart they were. We tackled Beeston Iron Lock (so called because of it's reinforced iron walls, Beeston Stone Lock, Tilstone Lock and finally the Bunbury Staircase Lock. The gates were heavy and the paddles stiff to wind and we were both pretty knackered by the end. Even Leo had refused to get out of his bag and walk the last time he was put on the floor! The small chandlery at Bunbury had sold us ice creams the last time we'd passed. Alas, Vicky's hopes for another to reward all her hard work were dashed when they didn't have any vegan ones 😪

    There were a line of boats moored just beyond Bunbury and we pulled in hoping to do the same. Vicky hopped on board with the dogs and Mr Whiskers hopped straight off, keen to make the most of the good weather after two days of captivity. Unfortunately, the underwater shelf protruding from the bank was too wide even for our tyre fenders, scraping and banging against Rainboat's hull whenever either of us moved around inside. We ate a late lunch and Vicky scoffed our last mince pie. Will found what looked like suitable moorings on Canal Plan AC and lured a reluctant Mr Whiskers back on board before casting off and cruising another 10 minutes up the cut. There were several other boats at Calveley, no shelf to contend with and Mr Whiskers was just as happy with his surroundings as he had been at Bunbury 🙂

    The next day was a duvet and movie day for Vicky and the dogs. Will walked 20 minutes to the Tollemache Arms in hope of a pub lunch but it turned out to be more of a formal restaurant than a pub so he took advantage of his Pensioner's bus pass and caught a bus to the the a canalside Texaco fuel station where he bought a hot pie and some fruit. There has been a dearth of supermarkets so it was a relief to get some fresh food. He followed the pie up with a pot of tea and slice of cake from the nearby Calveley Mill Shop and Café. Next door was a cheese shop we were used to passing on the canal but had never been in, so Will siezed the opportunity and bought a huge chunk of mature cheddar. He then walked back along the towpath with a slice of cake stowed away in his bag for Vicky.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1If bridge number 111 was the NHS bridge, what would this one be 🤔
    Our mooring opposite the Shady. We were pleased to have rings to tie up to with Storm Chandra's windLeek and potato ravioli and Mi Amore pizza.Chocolate and hazelnut delice with kirsch cherries. Sooo gooood!1Mr Whiskers' substitute catnip mouse as compensation for him having to stay indoors.

    A poisoning beside The Shady, Tiverton

    Jan 26–28 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    We'd planned to do a long cruise but Vicky wasn't well so she stayed inside with the furries and we just did a couple of hours, stopping at The Shady pub before we needed to do any locks. We're fond of The Shady so it was no hardship!

    That evening Mr Whiskers returned from exploring, sat on Will's lap for a while and was then violently sick. Luckily Will had time to put him on the floor before he vomited up three mice and some small colourless beads. Rat poison 😢 We locked him in to keep an eye on him and thankfully he didn't suffer any more obvious ill effects. His body obviously sensed something was wrong and was able to get rid of the toxins quickly enough for them not to do any serious harm. Thank goodness! We are aware we take a risk with the cats' safety by allowing them outdoors but we don't think Whiskers is the type to be happy as an indoors cat so we choose to take that risk for his mental health and physical fitness.

    That night Storm Chandra made herself known, lashing rain and gusting wind. It was rocky and noisy on board and not the most restful of sleeps but happily the worst had passed by morning and we were able to get out for a dog walk by mid day, even if Vicky did need to carry Leo in her coat because of the cold, muddy towpath!

    It was a treat to revisit The Shady for lunch. The food is pretty expensive but good quality and they have Vicky's favourite nonalcoholic cider: Smashed 😋    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    High pressure water spurting in to fill Hoole Lane Lock
    Leaving the city behindWe've always loved the look of the Tollemache Terraced housesPassing Boughton Water Tower and approaching Chemistry LockMuch deserved rest after an afternoon's cruisingMr Whiskers was very happy to moor next to a hedge and farmland. It was good for birdwatching too.Happy Haggis Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Waverton

    January 24 in England ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    Will had a serious case of 'itchy tiller' (don't worry, it's easily cured!) A move was what he needed, so on the first dry(ish) day after his birthday we cast off Rainboat's mooring ropes, cranked up the engine and set sail for some fresh scenes. There were five locks to get through, but happily Vicky was feeling good so she took Leo in a doggy backpack with his hot water bottle and Tiger on foot and was able to work us through all five. We cruised until the light began to fade and moored between farmland and some back gardens at Waverton.

    Will spotted the perfect place where a mature hedge made a T junction between two fields and the towpath. Mr Whiskers was overjoyed to get outside, although it was still a little busier than was ideal for him with all the weekend dog walkers.

    The next day was cool but dry and we all enjoyed dog walking somewhere new. Will caught up with composting and Vicky spent an hour on the stern doing the Big Garden Bird Watch. She'd been too poorly this time last year so it was extra special to be able to do it this time round. The results may have been skewed somewhat by Mr Whiskers' insistence on sitting on her lap but she spotted:

    4 Mallards
    5 House sparrows
    2 Robins
    2 Starlings
    2 Wood Pigeons
    2 Black Headed Gulls
    1 Blue Tit
    1 Dunnock
    1 Great Tit

    Evening brought a Burns Night supper and also the fuel boat. Will put the haggii on hold while they filled Rainboat's tank with diesel, then we settled down, toasted all things Scottish with a nip of whisky and tucked in 😋    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A Mediterranean lunch at MRKT Café, Chester Indoor Market
    Our mooring in Chester BasinThe dogs enjoyed walks with their Dad in the Water Tower Gardens near Chester BasinVicky enjoyed time with her family, walking with Al at Hagg BankIt was fantastic to see Suhaine and the gorgeous Nathan on a day trip to EdinburghShe didn't get away from the canals that easily; a jigsaw she and her stepmum Sarah did togetherWill did his best to sample Chester's culinary offerings; a battered soft shelled crab burgerWe moved on to King Charles Tower Gardens beside the city wallsAttractive art work in one of Chester's many cobbled alleysA fantastic city centre green grocers with delicious organic fruit juices from small businesses.1Walking the city walls on Will's 72ndBrie wedges for the birthday boy at The Pied Bull1Initially disappointed that braised feather blade of beef was off the menu 🙊3On the pub crawl - this one had an digital detox policy so we took a piccie outside insteadEnjoying a single malt on the evening of his birthdayWatching Mufasa, Lion King to distract from Vicky's withdrawal. Tiger knew who the baddies were!Happy 6th Birthday Mr WhiskersA special birthday teaIt didn't take him long to demolish it!2Where's Will? 'Blending in' at the Rainbow Café 🌈😂Goodbye Chester. We love you! 🌈

    Chester, a trip up north and birthdays

    January 10 in England ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    Vicky kept warm indoors while Will piloted Rainboat from Ellesmere Port to the basin at Chester. It'll be a while until we reach new waters and in the meantime we are enjoying revisiting old haunts, Chester being our favourite waterway city. There were a lot of other boats moored in the basin but there was just enough room for us on the grassy side, giving the dogs somewhere nearby to toilet.

    On our first full day Vicky whisked Will into the centre to visit Fat Face, Seasalt and the new Lucy and Yak store, before a delicious Mediterranean lunch from MRKT Café in the Indoor Market food court. We then had a day to relax together before Vicky took the train to Newcastle.

    While up north she had a blood test for iron, ferritin and transferrin levels. She's recently been diagnosed with a genetic condition called Haemochromatosis. It causes iron overload and its main symptoms are fatigue and joint pain. It can be dangerous if left unchecked but is manageable. Her levels aren't too worrying and the diagnoses meant she stopped taking the daily vitamin and mineral supplement that contained iron. She's also cutting down on her venlafaxine medication with the aim to stop completely and apart from the horrendous withdrawal syndrome, she has been feeling a lot better. Long may it last!

    She enjoyed spending time with her family, had a wonderful day trip to Edinburgh to catch up with her friend Suhaine and her adorable toddler Nathan, then had a very emotional day attending the funeral and celebrating the life of our good friend Andrea who died suddenly and unexpectedly in December.

    Meanwhile in Chester, Will was hard at work. Vicky had set him the arduous task of finding somewhere nice to have a meal out on his birthday! When she returned we moved Rainboat up through Northgate staircase locks and moored at King Charles Tower Gardens. Chester Basin was good in theory but it was busy, with no cover for Mr Whiskers to hide so he didn't feel confident enough to go out. The dogs had got into the habit of scrounging underneath the picnic benches where they found scraps, including chocolate which is dangerous for them. A homeless person had taken up residence on one of the benches and Leo had begun making a beeline for him, hassling him and trying to cock his leg on his bags. It wasn't a good situation.

    On Will's 72nd we had a posh lunch at The Pied Bull hotel followed by a bit of a pub crawl - we were spoilt for choice in Chester! Whiskers turned 6 years old two days later, but his celebration was a little less extravagant, consisting of a chicken mousse for tea and a new hug and kick toy. Happy birthday boys! 💞    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Little Tommy Tucker's food stand served hearty portions at Ellesmere Port Market Food Court
    One of many pieces of pavement artGrotty, grey, dull dayGrace Tea Rooms serving cookie dough cake and lime curd and almond cake, both vegan 😋A little gem of a placeAbby liked the gourmet treat Uncle Ali got her for Christmas that Will decided to treat her againPoor Tiger has been badly affected by mites that Mr Whiskers brought back from the farm 😪

    Return to the Shroppie at Ellesmere Port

    January 7 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    After 6 months of river living we were finally back on a canal with access to the wider network. No more worrying about winter floods. Far more opportunities to moor, better provision of services like water and bins and the ability to roam and explore new places. Returning to the Shropshire Union had lots of positives but we would certainly miss the beauty and nature of the Weaver, the quiet rural moorings, the cafés and bars we'd got to know, not to mention the people. Adrian, Alison and the 'Thirsty Thursdays' crew from Northwich Quay marina, Jane, Ian, Georgia, Mojo, Clyde and Melody from Sandy Lane Equestrian as well as Paul from Northwich Art Shop and Jenna and Shaun from Dante's Boutique. They'd all become part of our lives and will be missed.

    Also, we hate to say it, but Ellesmere is a bit of a dump. The towpath is littered with dog poo, rubbish and fly tipped items. The pristine white snow had melted, leaving a soggy, muddy mess behind, not improved by the weak and limited daylight. Nonetheless it was invigorating to be somewhere new. The boat museum and surroundings are mostly clean and well maintained so we headed to the Port and Anchor restaurant for lunch. It had advertised itself as open but alas there was no sign of life. We went to Plan B and made our way into town. A huge retail outlet called Cheshire Oaks has stolen most of the trade from the highstreet which is now filled with vape shops, takeaways and minimarts. It was a grey day with grubby streets but we enjoyed searching in the charity shops for replacement plates and found a food court in the indoor market. It was homely food sold cheaply on large plates. We found ourselves feeling glad the Port and Anchor was closed because we'd discovered a place with some life in it where the people behind the counter were either the owners or directly employed by them and invested in the business doing well.

    We reckon Mr Whiskers picked up some little friends at the farm who had jumped ship to Tiger. The insides of her ears and end of her nose had come up in horrible itchy spots which were driving her to distraction. The small market pet shop didn't have any treatment but a nearby Jolleys did so we stocked up on Spot On to zap all four furries and crossed our fingers that would be the end of it. There weren't any vegan sweet treats in the market either but we'd spotted the cute looking Grace Tea Room on the high street, which turned out to have a choice of vegan cakes and a quirky selection of crockery. It is such a pleasure discovering gems like this in an initially unpromising area.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Tied half in and half out of Marsh Lock entrance due to the floating pontoon having sunk.
    One gate was opened manually so narrowboats could enter and exit.Heading into the wind and waves on the Manchester Ship CanalPassing the narrowboat flotilla coming in the opposite directionThe final boat in the flotillaTurning into Ellesmere PortMoored under the closed swing bridge waiting for the council to open itVicky needed to crawl out under the bridgeA quick sarnie while we waited1Working our way up our first narrow lock in 6 months

    Manchester Ship Canal

    January 7 in England ⋅ 🌬 5 °C

    The long awaited day had arrived. We were due to leave the River Weaver! There are two routes on and off the river. Anderton Boat Lift, the most popular, takes boats to and from the Trent and Mersey Canal. It has been broken since 3rd January 2025 and it's going to be well into 2027 before it is operational again. Marsh Lock gives access to the Manchester Ship Canal, from where narrowboats can travel to the Shropshire Union at Ellesmere Port or the Bridgewater Canal at Manchester. It has been out of action since 12th September owing to electrical safety concerns and there is no estimate as to how long it will take to fix. There was a special manual opening, early in December and we'd booked Rainboat in to the only other opportunity on Wednesday 7th January.

    We'd originally planned to travel along the Ship Canal to Manchester but the journey was too long to do in the daylight this time of year. Instead we'd arranged to return to where we'd come from; the Shropshire Union Canal at Ellesmere Port.

    Over the last 3 days we'd driven a 5 hour journey back from Northumberland with four furries in a hire van and fought our way through ice on the river to get to Marsh Lock. Today we faced winds of 17mph with gusts of 33mph. We usually don't pilot Rainboat in anything over 15mph as her long sides and shallow draught mean she gets blown all over. We'd broken through thin ice to arrive at Marsh Lock that morning only to find the floating pontoon we were planning to moor at was half sunk. Improvising, we tied Rainboat half in and half out of the lock entrance.

    It wasn't long before the CRT lockies arrived. Vicky was in the middle of washing up when they asked said they were opening up early, so she piled the plates up as best she could and Will reversed Rainboat out to make room for the lock gate to open. We'd expected to be part of a small flotilla. As it turned out we were the only boat leaving the river but there were five travelling from Ellesmere Port to the Weaver. The lock operators took it in turns to wind the massive handle opening the gates into, then out of Marsh Lock, warning us that it was very blustery out there. We needed to cross the River Mersey in order to reach the Ship Canal. The full force of the wind battered us together with side-on waves as soon as we exited the protection of the lock walls. Our adrenaline spiked and a crash from indoors was heard as Rainboat lurched to one side. It was pretty hairy! Luckily the only casualties were a couple of plates, a bowl, a kilner jar of Seville marmalade Will had just made and a chipped floor tile.

    Things became easier once we'd crossed the Mersey and were heading into the wind and waves of the Ship Canal. We were grateful for Rainboat's 42bhp engine as she ploughed ahead, white spray crashing off her bow as she cut through the peaks. We met the other narrowboats half way. The sun was in our eyes so we didn't realise it at the time but the first couple were piloted by Matt and Rebekah Parrot who owned Northwich Dry Dock and had blacked Rainboat in September!

    The wind and waves were a lot gentler when we reached Ellesmere Port. Despite having been there before it was very difficult to see where to turn in to the port. We ended up going past the entrance and turning back into it. This made it easier to avoid the bow being blown into the wall. Our hearts sank when we turned the corner and saw the Swing Bridge across Whitby Lock was closed. We'd needed to wait over an hour for the council to send someone out to open it in the summer and feared the same now. We were cold and knackered and there was nowhere to moor but in the lock under the bridge 🤦‍♀️ Vicky got on the phone to CRT who were in charge of our booking and after 15 minutes a lockie arrived to tell us the bridge operative shouldn't be long. Around half an hour after we'd got there we were backing out, ready to be worked through into the boat museum marina.

    A further two narrow locks lay between us, the start of the start of the Shropshire Union and a place we could moor. As we wielded our windlasses for the first time in 6 months and winched open the gate paddles, Sue from the CRT turned up to check we'd got through the swing bridge- she'd tried to call Vicky back but there hadn't been any signal. It was very nice of her to check on us personally.

    Feeling exhausted but exhilarated we finally tied Rainboat to the towpath mooring rings just a few hundred yards outside the boat museum. What an adventure. It had been exciting but we were very glad to be back on safe waters once again.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Mr Whiskers exploring the snow covered Northwich Quay on our first night back
    About to set off the following morningBeautiful scenes to remember Northwich bySun shining off the Odeon building at Baron's QuayVerdin Park- a favourite of Leo'sThe first stretch of ice we encountered just downriver of Anderton Boat LiftSun setting over Saltersford LockRainboat moored against the lock wall. Lovely to see Ice Stars formed by water seeping up.2© and Credit to Sam Harmer. Our passage through the ice above Dutton Locks.© and Credit to Sam Harmer. Made it!2© and Credit to Sam Harmer. Vicky smashed ice with a barge pole at the bow.It had begun to melt after a rest at the bottom of Dutton Locks.Leo wasn't best pleased at the strange goings on.

    Breaking Ice to Escape the Weaver

    January 5 in England ⋅ 🌙 -2 °C

    The Canal and River Trust had announced they would manually open Marsh Lock (whose electrics are broken) on 7th January. They made it clear they may not be opening it again for some time. Keen to leave the River Weaver and get back to touring the canals, we booked Rainboat's passage through Marsh and along the Manchester Ship Canal to the end of the Shropshire Union Canal at Ellesmere Port.

    We then had some very sad news a few weeks before Christmas. Our good friend Andrea passed away unexpectedly in her sleep at the age of 59. We lived on Andrea's farm for nearly three years in between touring Europe and moving on to Rainboat. She left behind her partner Simon, with four horses, two collies and two geese. We put Rainboat into Northwich Quay marina, hired a car and moved ourselves and the four furries up to the isolated Northumberland farm for a fortnight over Christmas and New Year, staying in the old static van Andrea had bought. Vicky helped look after the horses and we tried to be around for Simon.

    Staying in the van in sub zero temperatures was tough but it wouldn't have been fair to move our furries into the house. Whiskers was scared of the collies, Tiger was scared of the younger dog Milo and Leo suffered from being left alone while we did the horses or spent time with Simon. We hope our stay did Simon some good.

    Three days before we were due to leave the Weaver we drove back to Northwich. The three hour journey took five hours because of the M6 being closed to repair a railway bridge. Despite freezing temperatures it was 2.5°C on board when we arrived because Will's wonderful friend Adrian Chattaway, who was also at Northwich Quay marina had been running Rainboat's engine most days to charge the batteries and putting the heating on for an hour to keep her from icing up. We'd met Adrian and Alison of Narrowboat Yorkshire Tyke on the Llangollen Canal and they'd celebrated Will's 70th birthday with him at Ellesmere. Adrian had welcomed Will into the group of boaters who met every week at Baron's Lounge for 'Thirsty Thursdays' when we met again on the Weaver.

    As Will ferried luggage from the hire van to the boat it began to snow. By bed time there was a proper covering and we woke the following morning to a world blanketed in white. After returning the car, shopping and dropping off a 'thank you' bottle of JD for Adrian he piloted Rainboat out of the quay and downriver for the last time. Despite the cold temperatures the channel hadn't frozen and we assumed that because there was a flow, there wouldn't be a problem. Well you know what they say about assuming don't you...

    Just after passing Anderton Boat Lift we encountered our first stretch of ice. It was thicker than we'd ever traveled through on the canals but we needed to keep going because we'd arranged for CRT lockies to work us through Saltersford and Dutton Locks the following morning. The boat shuddered and lurched as the ice creaked and snapped at the bow, scraping along the newly blacked steel hull. Whiskers darted under the bed, then emerged to cuddle with Vicky, Leo reacted as he usually does to anything unknown, by barking his head off and Tiger trembled and clung to Vicky, despite anti anxiety medication we'd given her before setting off. The ice continued for a couple of hundred metres and we managed to get through. It was sometimes necessary to reverse Rainboat to build up speed and ram the thicker parts. We encountered several more patches where the sun hadn't thawed the frozen water, the last being at our destination; the floating pontoon at Saltersford Lock. It was too thick to break here, so we improvised by tying up to the high concrete wall at the lock entrance. We had to lift the dogs up and down for their walks but they weren't that keen to be outside anyway as Leo was too cold and the snow clumped painfully in Tiger's paws. We kept the cats in for safety, much to Whiskers' disapproval.

    It rained heavily overnight which helped to thaw some of the ice but it was still a struggle to get into the lock when the CRT arrived the following morning. Vicky stood on the bow with the barge pole, spearing it through the ice to weaken it in the direction we wanted to turn. She did this again when we reached Dutton Lock. The ice was 2-3 inches thick here and very difficult to get through. Unbeknown to us a person called Sam Harmer was out to capture photos of the snow covered landscape with his drone. He took a few photos and a video of our exploits which you can see below. Thanks Sam!

    Once through Dutton Lock well moored on the lock landing and rested, giving the ice ahead a little more time to thaw. With our passage through Marsh Lock booked for 11:20am the following day we wanted to get a couple more miles under our belts, so 'cracked on' after an hour or so.

    A couple of miles from Marsh Lock the light fading. Will tried to reach the bank by the boat club, but again the ice was too thick, forcing him to reverse up and moor at the floating pontoon behind the restored Daniel Adamson tug boat; now a popular trip and event boat.

    That night a front of warmer air and rain moved in and thankfully melted most of the ice so it was easily broken by Rainboat's bow. It unfortunately brought with it winds of 18mph with gusts of 33mph 😪 Our usual cutoff for travel is 15mph but needs must. Will wrapped up warm and ploughed through the now thinner patches of ice to arrive safely at Marsh Lock with an hour to spare before it was due to be opened. Well done Will!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    The work of Northwich Toppers
    Will's shy and retiring personality shining through 😉'Chuck a Pudding'Bratwurst for lunch with his charity shop Christmas waistcoatAnother crocheted masterpiece from the ToppersThe Hogfather at Harlequin TheatreDeath and Albert dressed as the Hogfather and an ElfLantern ParadeTiger Lilly's 3rd Adoptiversary at Coffee #1Getting in the Christmas spiritLeo's 7th Birthday at Coffee #1This year's new Christmas decoration, bought from Dante's Boutique, personalised by VickyVicky did a bit of decorating with a Posca pen

    Northwich Christmas Celebration

    November 29, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Time had ticked by and we found ourselves approaching Christmas. Neither Anderton Boat Lift (nicknamed Anderton Broke Lift) or Marsh Lock had been fixed, meaning we were still on the River Weaver. We'd come to really love Northwich and it's small businesses and had been looking forward to celebrating the festive season here.

    Christmas kicked off on Saturday 29th November when Will donned his novelty waistcoat with golden snowflakes on and we headed into town for the Northwich Christmas Extravaganza! The weather was cold and rainy so we wrapped up warm with waterproof clothing and began to explore the stalls. Unlike the Piña Colada Festival in summer, most of them were run by the high street shops. As frequent visitors there was little new to look at but we did enjoy a go on the free 'chuck a pudding' game and saying hi to the stallholders. The weather didn't encourage a ride on the ferris wheel so we moseyed on round to Baron's Quay where Will found a bratwurst stall for his lunch.

    After warming up on Rainboat we walked to the Harlequin Theatre where we'd booked seats for the matinée performance of The Hogfather, adapted from a Terry Pratchett discworld novel. We'd watched the small company's performance of 1982 the pervious month and it had been top notch so we were really looking forward to this. We weren't disappointed. It was a high quality adaptation with humour and great acting.

    From the theatre we went straight to Waitrose car park and the start of the lantern parade. Volunteers were giving out free mince pies and mulled wine and children were attaching their handmade lanterns to sticks. Snow geese floated above the crowd on flexible poles and soon a giant snow queen puppet led the procession up the high street to the sound of drum beats from the marching band in Christmas fancy dress. It was an amazing atmosphere, with crowds lining the walkway and turning in to follow on behind. Everyone assembled in the square at Baron's Quay where a Radio Northwich DJ was broadcasting from the stage and lights bedecked a large Christmas tree ready to turn on. By this time we were both very cold. With fireworks due to accompany the lighting of the tree we made our way back to the furries so we'd be there to reassure them. The big switch on was broadcast on Facebook and we watched the fireworks from the boat while Leo and Tiger happily tucked into peanut butter licky mats. Thank you Northwich. What a way to kick off the Christmas season!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Rainboat and Enigma in the dry dock under a full moonRainboat's old propeller with the dink in it2The used anode, designed to slow the rusting of the steel hull.You can see the rust at the waterlineThe hulls before the old blacking was removedOld blacking removed and a grey undercoat applied to the steelThe sacrificial anode was good enough to keep until next blacking so was painted overSmart coat of primerShiny new propeller and the two pack epoxy appliedShiny bottomsSteps down from the stern. None of the furries were keen.The dry dock to the left with the stopgate being lifted by the yellow gantryWhiskers was very happy to get back out of the dock

    Northwich Dry Dock

    Sep 5–12, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Every three or four years narrowboats need their bottoms blacked 😳 The base and sides of the hull get scraped and bashed and exposed to all sorts of detritus and bacteria in the waters they travel through. To avoid rust taking a hold and eating away the steel, boats are taken out of the water and a new protective coating applied.

    Northwich Dry Dock is located on an island near Hunt's Lock on the River Weaver and has a good reputation. Rainboat has been afloat for 28 months now and we have time to spare before any route off the Weaver opens up, so now was a good time to get this particular job ticked off.

    Will got in touch with Matt and Rebekah who operate the dock and booked her in. At 15:30 on Friday 5th September we took the branch off the main navigation that led to a weir and the dry dock, located between two of the arches of Hunts Viaduct; a visually striking position. On arrival we found another narrowboat called Enigma already moored in the dock. Following Matt's directions, Will steered Rainboat in and we tied up to the starboard side.

    Matt used the overhead gantry to lower the stop gate in. He carefully tied both boats to ropes which ran through pulleys and had weights on the end. Next, the paddle at the far end of the dock was opened, releasing a torrent of water into the navigation and gradually draining the dock. As the boats lowered with the water level, Matt and Rebekah kept a careful eye on their positions. Sturdy sleepers lay across the base of the dock and each boat came to lay gently on top of them as the water drained away.

    The gantry crane was used to place a set of steps next to our stern so we could get on and off. Matt and Rebekah had thoughtfully put carpet onto them to make it easier for the dogs but each step was taller than Tiger so it was very tricky for them and we ended up carrying them. For the first two days Leo was too nervous to even descend the stone steps into the empty dock so needed carrying up and down these as well!

    Matt gave us the dock induction, including safety, facilities and routes on and off the island. Some people choose to do the work themselves but it is very labour intensive and Vicky had persuaded Will that it was a good idea to let Matt, who had done it many times before, undertake the task for us.

    The job started almost immediately with Matt blasting away the original blacking with a pressure hose. It was filthy work which required him to lay underneath Rainboat and get covered in the black layer of detritus as it peeled off. He worked fast. Once the hull was blasted back to the steel, he checked it over for damage and pitting, applied some anti rust paint in places and between spells of rain painted on two coats of Two Pack Epoxy over the next 5 days. We chose this instead of bitumen because it is more durable and adheres better. While the new blacking was left to dry Matt wrestled to remove our propeller. It had been damaged over the course of our adventures, probably due to frequent grounding on the shallower canals. It was a real struggle to remove and surprisingly heavy. With a shiny new prop installed and her unblemished coat of paint, Rainboat's underside was gleaming.

    It was a strange experience living in the dock for a week. The sound of water streaming through small gaps in the stopgate was a constant and a little disconcerting considering the river level on the other side was above our heads. Trains slowed when they crossed the viaduct but even so, the rumble and vibrations could be heard and felt inside Rainboat. Whiskers didn't feel confident enough to use the stairs so spent the entire time cooped up inside, sitting on the stern or prowling the rooftop. We walked the dogs on the island, being careful to keep them away from Matt and Rebekah's hens. A bridge led to a path along one side of the river and we could cross Hunts Locks to access a park on the other side. Leo liked this route best because it passed the lock hut where CRT people often fed him treats. Northwich was a reasonable walk away so we only went a few times.

    When the week had passed we were more than ready to regain our sea legs and enjoyed watching the paddles open, refilling the dock and refloating our boats. We noticed straight away what a big difference the new propeller made to how smoothly Rainboat sailed so were very glad we'd had it fitted.

    Thank you to Matt and Rebekah for the work you put in and for allowing us to stay on board. It was a lot easier doing this than rehoming ourselves and the four furries for the week! The closure of Anderton Boat Lift and Marsh Lock means Northwich Dry Dock Company will struggle for business while the Weaver is cut off from the rest of the canal and rivers network. We do hope they make it through.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Northwich moorings lit up at dusk
    Vicky returned to a tasty crop of rooftop cherry tomatoesSame blanket Vicky proposed on 20 years ago and same bloke she proposed to!Heidi the pirate's Jolly Roger boat with a painting of her first mate Bonnie the French BulldogTasty lunch at Wildwood on Baron's QuayThe dogs got into the spirit of the Piña Colada Festival2They got a lot of love while wearing their leis.2Will's appearance on Heidi the Pirate's vlog

    Northwich Piña Colada Festival 🍍

    August 14, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Now that we've traveled as far up the River Weaver as possible we are going to take a blogging break. We'll be pootling back and forth up and down the river over the next month and will only post if there is something particularly interesting. Which brings us on to Northwich's Piña Colada Festival!

    In 2021 it came to light that Rupert Holmes, the person who wrote and sung 'Escape (the Piña Colada song)' was born in Northwich. Ever since then the town has been celebrating this claim to fame with a summer festival. We knew that Northwich was a vibrant town that put a lot of effort into attracting people and trade to its streets. This was the best example of these efforts.

    The fun began at midday and ran until 6pm. The place was packed with people wearing Hawaiian shirts, tropical print dresses and flower leis of different colours. It seemed that every high street business had done something special. Shop fronts, pubs and cafés were decorated with pineapples, flowers and bunting. Outdoor tables served freshly made piña coladas; each with it's own twist. One place even served them up in hollowed out pineapples!

    The cocktails were expensive but there were a whole load of free activities. Live music blasted from stages at both ends of town and/simple fairground stalls including 'hook a flamingo' and a coconut shy were popular with the kids. Several tonnes of sand donated by a local construction firm was laid out as an urban beach. This kept the little ones happy as their parents put their feet up and watched on from deckchairs. A community of knitters and crocheters had been exceptionally busy; handmade pineapples and flowers decorated post boxes, bollards and railings, lending a Hawaiian feel to Northwich (albeit a woolly one!)

    Piña Coladas are normally too sweet for Will but he immersed himself in the spirit of the celebration and sampled a few, while Vicky enjoyed a virgin version. There was such a good feel to the day; everyone seemed happy and up for some fun. Later on Will caught the final parade of drummers, dancers in rainbow tutus and human butterflies. It was a day we'll remember with a smile on our faces!

    The pontoon moorings outside the Odeon were full but we moored a little way upriver alongside a stretch of grass, separated from a private residents' area by railings and a concrete wall. It was so much better for the furries than the pontoon and we spent the afternoons outside in the shade of the wall. We knew Heidi the Pirate (a YouTube vlogger we've followed for years) was on the Weaver so we were happy but not surprised when she moored along from us with her little French Bulldog rescue Bonnie. In keeping with her pirate persona Heidi likes a nip of rum so she couldn't possibly have passed up a visit to a festival all about a rum based cocktail! Her followers often gift interesting bottles of rum to her, which she features on her videos. Will had picked up some alcohol free Captain Morgan rum, which she jokingly told him he could keep! It's always a pleasure when you meet someone you enjoy watching and they are just the same genuine person as they present online. Leo and Tiger enjoyed playing a little with Bonnie, who Heidi is trying to socialise. She has recently bought a 'new to her' boat that she's renamed 'The Jolly Roger' and had a great painting of her 'first mate' Bonnie done on the side.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Whiskers felt relaxed outside with Al at Vale Royal
    Whiskers accompanying us on a dog walk2Blissed outAl has a way with animals, especially catsHeron on a dead branchAbby perked up with Al's attentionsPoor quality photos but she was really showing off for him2Quality play timeLeo was very happy with his pizzle stick2A family lunch at the KingfisherVicky got to catch up with Lenny (L) and Elsie (R) at her Dad and Stepmum's house2Vicky's parents' dog Elsie trying to make up for the doggie snuggles Vicky is missing from T & LVicky returned by train. The wheelchair space was in 1st Class!Liverpool Lime Street Station

    A visit from Al and the Manderscheids

    August 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Vicky's wonderful brother Alastair had finally secured a fortnight's holiday from his lorry driving job and was coming to visit us for a couple of days! We love Al's company and so do the furries. Vicky had gone a bit mad on Ebay and Al's boot was stuffed with her purchases. We met at Winsford Marina whose car park was free and close enough to cart the packages from car to boat after a sudden torrential rainstorm had passed.

    Following a cuppa and catch up, Will took Al on a mini pub crawl while Vicky rested. The boys brought a Chinese takeaway back which we ate before cruising to the quiet moorings at Vale Royal. The cats were a lot happier to come and go here and we didn't need to worry about the Leo annoying the swans or stealing their food.

    Over the two nights spent here Al had time to unwind and make a big fuss of Abby and Whiskers. He misses having cats and being favourite uncle to our two is the next best thing. Abby certainly perked up with his presence and he even got her to play with a wand toy!

    On Saturday we returned to Winsford and Al drove us to get a couple of large bags of cat litter to save us the trouble of lugging them back on foot. He helped Vicky choose a few toys to enliven Abby and a pizzle stick for Leo who had come along for the ride.

    As if Al's visit hadn't been enough of a treat, our niece, nephew, great niece, nephew and partner had arranged to have lunch with us on their way between the first and second part of their holiday! Rainboat was too small and Winsford didn't have anywhere to eat so the eight of us met at the Kingfisher pub five minutes' drive away. Since moving on to the boat we haven't seen as much of them as when we lived in the van. We really appreciated the chance for us both to catch up with them m.

    After desert we nipped back to Rainboat hoping Mr Whiskers would be around for Kaiya and Sophie to say hi to. Unfortunately his tracker was out of range but Abby, Leo and Tiger Lilly got extra love in his place. All too soon it was time for Vicky, Dave, Kaiya, Peter and Sophie to leave for the second part of their holiday so we said our goodbyes.

    Vicky and Al found Whiskers relaxing beneath some thick bushes and walked him back to Rainboat. They then packed the last of Vicky's luggage into the car and began the long trip back up north while Will set off for Vale Royal moorings once again.

    What a wonderful time catching up with family. Thank you everyone for visiting us!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    The wildflower meadow near our mooring.

    Winsford pub moorings

    August 6, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    The furries favourite uncle was coming to stay on board for a few nights and we'd arranged to meet him at Winsford. We'd given Al the location of the marina car park but decided to moor the preceding night at the CRT pontoon just before the end of navigation, close to the Red Lion pub. It would hopefully be less busy and had good access to a walking trail leading alongside the Weaver. By staying here we didn't need to worry about swans, swan food left on the ground or cars.

    Will went and stocked up on food and beers at the nearby ASDA before doing a bit of tidying. Whiskers ended up joining Vicky and the dogs on a walk past a lovely wildflower meadow but got scared by the sight of a big dog and darted into the bushes. The path was pretty busy and Vicky didn't want to call him out to another situation where he'd get scared so she returned with just the dogs. At dusk she went back out and he popped out of the bushes at pretty much the same point he went in, walking by Vicky's side all the way back home.

    Traffic noise from the bridge was quite loud into the night and started early in the morning. As we were getting ready to go on another dog walk Vicky looked around and couldn't see Leo. One of us had accidentally left the stern gate open and he'd taken his opportunity to escape. We quickly began calling his name and a woman with a large dog directed us to the Red Lion. Apparently he was inside! We found him getting some fuss in the beer garden but as Vicky retreated with Leo tucked under her arm, a bar attendant called her back to say he'd piddled inside. She returned on the walk of shame with cloth, water and enzymatic spray to deal with the tuppence sized drop on the wooden floor. Apparently Leo had misunderstood that pubs are places where people get p*ssed, not places to p*ss in! 😵‍💫    Read more

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