Reinicializar a pesquisa
Rainboat
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels

Rainboat

Life continuously cruising the canals and rivers of England and Wales. Leia mais
SeguirResumoResumoCalendárioCalendárioFotosFotosCompartilharCompartilharLista de metas
Os mais novos primeiro
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Home for ChristmasThe Oggy shopWill tackling the giant oggy2Beautiful painting on the butcher's windowLooking over the flooded Dee to the Llangollen railway stationOn the boaters' night outOn the Chain BridgeBrave kayaker under the Chain BridgeOn the way to Horseshoe FallsChristmas Day hike to Dinas BrânDinas Brân, the ruined hill fort above LlangollenBracing against the wind on top of the hillAt Dinas BrânA scrumptious Christmas dinner courtesy of Will

    Christmas in Llangollen

    21–29 de dez. 2023, País de Gales ⋅ 🌬 9 °C

    Our final leg of the journey to Llangollen was delayed slightly due to a tree fallen over the canal, but thankfully the CRT worked quickly and put out a notice that was cleared. The sun shone on the steep slopes of Welsh hills, throwing much of our passage through the valleys into chilly shade.

    Nearing the town there were two sections of 'narrows' where the channel was only a little bit wider than boats. Vicky and Tiger walked ahead with the radio to check there were no oncoming craft. Past a certain point, all moorings, whether on the towpath or in the basin cost £12 a night, but this included electricity and a water point. We spent the first night on the towath, from where we could look down through bare tree branches to to town. The next day we checked out the basin on foot. It has finger moorings with the potential disadvantage that we'd have boats moored either side of us but the grassy area for the dogs to run and the bright, open aspect with views of nearby hills won us over straight away.

    Over the next week we reacquainted ourselves with Llangollen's long mainstreet and lanes off to either side. It has a great many independent stores as well as an Aldi and a Home Sense a short walk out along the Dee. Will picked up his christmas order at the butchers and we enjoyed pastries, including a giant Welsh Oggy from 'The Oggy Shop'. Vicky remembered visiting a craft shop some 15 years previously and was heartened to talk with the lovely couple who were still running it, although now they were winding down stock for a well earned retirement.

    Llangollen basin had been many boaters' destination for christmas and it filled a little more each day. There was a wonderful community spirit and a couple of pub meetups organised. Paul, Antony and their elderly dog Dexter from Narrowboat Life Unlocked moored a couple of pontoons down while Rich, Fran and their two dogs from Floating Our Boat chose the towpath.

    We were overjoyed that Ali came to celebrate Christmas eve and the big day with us. We kept him busy with a walk beyond the basin along the non navigable stretch of canal to the meter house that siphons water from the River Dee at the Horseshoe Falls wier. On the way we explored the famous 'Chain Bridge' and watched kayakers braving the swollen rapids.

    On Christmas Day we hiked up to Castell Dinas Brân, the ruined hill fort above Llangollen. The views were spectacular and the old stone arches framed them beautifully.

    Will outdid himself in the galley and produced three delicious wellingtons with far to many trimmings to mention for Christmas dinner.

    Ali departed on Boxing Day and we used the last of the good weather to revisit Horseshoe Falls, using the canoe to get there this time. Our final adventure was a 'Mince Pie Special' trip on the Llangollen railway. A steam train chugged along all the way to Corwen. The smell of burning coal, the clunk clunk of wheels turning on the track, the whoosh and whistle as clouds of thick steam shot out the chimney and plumed in quickly evaporating clouds elicited a childhood nostalgia in the passengers and made for a really good journey despite the rain.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We stopped off at The Sun at Trevor for lunch
    Wet wet wetAbby and Tiger don't seem to mind spending lots of time hiding from the rainThe CRT about to ship the gates to close the aqueductClosed for maintenance and repairsThe Aqueduct Inn at FroncysyllteBanana Blossom as a substitute for fish

    Froncysyllte

    29 de dezembro de 2023, País de Gales

    Once the festivities were over a few boaters began drifting away from Llangollen basin but most stayed at least a few days to rest and recover. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was due to close on 2nd January so those like us who wanted to continue travelling needed to be on the far side by then. We left in what seemed like a mass exodus, directly Paul, Antony and Dexter on Morning Star and Tom, Sharon, Cari and Rocky on Uisce Beo.

    The Sun at Trevor is widely known as a great place to eat and drink. Sitting above the A539 Will had passed it countless times over the years when travelling to Bala in the campervan. We stopped for lunch and weren't disappointed. Greeted with a waggly tail as we stepped inside we chatted with the friendly landlord and took the menus to a table in the bay window overlooking the canal and valley. There were plenty of vegan choices for Vicky and local meat for Will. There was even a special doggy menu! It was a shame not to have the dogs with us, but Leo was still struggling to contain himself from all the festive hype and a trip to the pub wouldn't have helped him.

    Back on our way, the current carried us with it and it didn't seem long before we were swinging hard right at Trevor Basin to face the aqueduct. With calls of encouragement from Jackie, Fleur, Bob, Sharon and Nicci who'd come out for a walk, Will made the turning in one and we were once again crossing the Pontcysyllte. We moored with a group of boaters from the basin just a few hundred yards later at the small village of Froncysyllte.

    The rain poured and poured and poured over the coming days. We had no need to travel, for which we were thankfull but we were starting to get a bit of cabin fever. The towpath was flooded and neither Tiger nor Leo wanted to go out. At least the rain put off revellers from releasing many fireworks on New Years Eve!

    On New Years Day the rain took a break and a flood of people came to visit the aqueduct before it closed. At midday there was a charity tug of war, with opposing teams facing each other over the canal! We made the most of the dry weather with a canoe paddle over the aqueduct. It actually felt more secure than on Rainboat because we wete lower down compared to the edge.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    2Chirk Castle gatesChirk CastleThe Hawk House in Chirk Castle grounds22Chirk industrial estate, including the Mondelez factory grinding chocolate beans!1We needed to clear a pathway through the mud for the dogs!

    Chirk cutting

    5 de janeiro de 2024, País de Gales ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    With the aqueduct closed there wasn't so much to keep us at Froncysyllte. The weather has thankfully become drier so we chugged on, through the Whitehouse Tunnel and over the Chirk Aqueduct into England. From here the canal course leads through a deep cutting before plunging once underground once again. We moored just before the entrance to the Chirk Tunnel, with the town just 10 minutes away.

    We needed to stock up, so walked in that afternoon. Chirk has a Spar and a smattering of small shops including a gorgeous quilting and embroidery shop, a proper greengrocers and a pet foods store. About a mile away from our mooring there was a small Co-op and a fish n chip shop that we got takeaway from. The shopkeepers seemed particularly friendly and happy to chat. The pet store owner recommended a visit to Chirk Castle and even gave us an out of date Chirk calendar with photos of the local area.

    A well signed path took us over muddy fields up the hill to Chirk Castle, a National Trust property 1.5 miles away. The gardens were open for anyone to view and it really lifted our spirirts to find a few roses and snowdrops in flower. We don't know whether the castle rooms were open but we enjoy the outdoors more so didn't enquire.

    Although Chirk cutting was an impressive spot, with tall trees arching over its steep slopes. However, it was wet and dark. The towpath was covered in thick mud and decaying leaf litter meaning the dogs didn't want to go out and Leo was up all night each night barking at the owls. Unfortunately the bad outweighed the bad here so we moved on.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Sunset outside The Poachers

    The Poachers Pocket

    7 de janeiro de 2024, País de Gales ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    We were thankfull to see the towpath outside The Poachers had very little mud on it and the dogs were very excited, racing up and down. The pub seemed popular and had access directly from the canal so we went in with Leo and Tiger Lilly around 4pm for a drink. The dogs got fussed by customers but when we got to the bar we were apologetically informed they were closed from now on for a month of repairs! What timing! Oh well.

    The nearest shop was 15 min walk away; a Dobbies that had expanded to host a food court and an outlet village selling Wierd Fish and Cotton Traders clothing amongst other brands. It was expensive but we got some flour and arborio rice that we hadn't been able to get on our last few shops. Part of the Llangollen Canal's beauty lies in its rural surroundings but with these come longer trips to services and often more expense.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A little bridge for our little furries 🥰

    Below New Marton Locks

    8 de janeiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    For months we had the goal of reaching Llangollen Basin by Christmas. Juggling planned and unplanned canal closures together with the winter weather. Since our New Year mooring at Froncysyllte we've not had a short term travel goal to keep us moving forwards and we've felt a bit lost without it. We're retracing our steps, seeing sights we've seen before. Don't get us wrong, these sights are beautiful, but we're struggling to transition from a feeling of 'doing' to one of 'just being'.

    We worked our way through two locks and stopped soon after the second on a stretch of towpath which we hoped wouldn't be too muddy. Nici and Sharon with Jackson the Staffy on Delta (aka The Beanie Boat) came past after a while and moored a little further along.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels

    The farm at bridge 67

    11 de janeiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    We forgot to take a piccie for this one. It was just a short trip and a mooring out in the middle of nowhere a few hundred metres away from a farm on the opposite bank.

    There wasn't much to do on site and the weather was dry and calm so we paddled Little Green the canoe into Ellesmere, about 2.5 miles away and had lunch at Pete's Café. It was a small canteen style setup whose windows were steamed up and whose seats were full with locals. The servers were older and had the place running very efficiently. They knew what they were about and the simple food was good. We bumped into Jenny and Boy but needed to get back so Leo and Tiger Lilly weren't left for too long so we declined her kind offer of a cuppa.

    It felt really relaxing to get a bit of paddling in. We hope to do more as the weather improves.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Rainboat moored behind The Black Cat, taken from the bridge
    Clear skies and frosty days2View from the sidehatchJenny and Boy come to tea1The main Llangollen canal was still free flowing but the Arm froze us inWill's 70th birthday bash at The White Hart2'The dog corner'. Owen kindly looked after Tiger Lilly all eveningWinter scene at the end of the Ellesmere arm1The ice saved the ducks from having to dive for their corn!Happy 70th Birthday Will! A morning walk around The Mere1A statue to George the Goose who lived on The Mere and recently died of old age2A muscovy duckBirthday lunch at the Red Lion2Yes, Will got more than one whisky for his birthday 🥃

    Just one more day on the Ellesmere Arm

    12 de janeiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    When we returned to Ellesmere there just happened to be a mooring spot on the Arm directly behind our good friend Jenny on The Black Cat with her dog Boy and cat Amber.

    With waste and fresh water facilities and easy access to shops, pubs and eateries, many of the boaters we'd got to know along the Llangollen were spending some down-time here. Jenny also introduced us to many of the long term winter moorers. Ellesmere had a really strong feeling of community and we stayed just over the two weeks permitted by CRT.

    We used the small shops but also Will stocked up with bulk items from Tesco at the end of the Arm. Many boaters would wheel shopping trolleys along the paved towpath and load items directly into their boats via a sidehatch.

    We'd often pop over to The Black Cat for a chat and a cuppa. Leo particularly enjoyed going for cuddles with his Aunty Jenny. Boy was so tolerant of him stealing his Mum for half an hour. A real breakthrough happened when Leo allowed Boy to come on board Rainboat when Jenny came over for fish 'n' chips. He's always been agressive towards other dogs who dare set foot on his floating home.

    Directly outside our window was the picnic bench Jenny scattered bird food on each day. We added our grain and mealworms and watched with great enjoyment as the sparrows, dunnocks, tits, robins, magpies, pigeons and even the odd squirrel came and feasted. We even recorded results for the Big Garden Birdwatch.

    We met Jenny's friend Irene one day when we were having a cuppa on The Black Cat. She popped her head in while on a walk with her adorable Scottie dog Hattie. She lives in town and had offered Jenny a lift into Oswestry to get her phone repaired. Vicky tagged along with them and picked up three of her photos she'd had printed at an art shop. Ellesmere Framers did a good job mounting them in their A3 frames and added mirror clips to the sides to secure them firmly to Rainboat's sloping walls. The motorhome didn't really have space for Vicky's photos so it is a real pleasure to have some on the walls once again.

    Irene was so kind to give us a lift and she and Vicky bonded over their creative hobbies. It turned out Irene had trained as a jeweler. Though retired now and despite being busy she was happy to fix a silver ring of Vicky's and tried to refuse any payment. We meet the most wonderful souls on our travels, we really do.

    Will had been racking his brains for some while as to what to do for his 70th birthday. Things couldn't be organised much in advance because we didn't know where we'd be and Rainboat would get crowded quickly if we started inviting people on board to celebrate. Back in Llangollen we'd both really enjoyed the boaters' christmas get-together at Bensons pub so Will invited everyone we knew in Ellesmere to The White Hart pub a few days before his actual birthday. There was no pressure amd it turned into a brilliant evening with just the right number of people (and plenty of dogs). Half a dozen more who had intended to come gave their apologies. We got to know the boating community and Irene better and had a real laugh. The Hart didn't do food but was happy for us to bring in pizzas from the nearby takeaway at Ellesmere Hotel.

    On the big day Vicky managed not to burn the birthday boy's bacon sarnie and we took the dogs for a walk round the shore of The Mere. After burgers at The Red Lion we chilled in the afternoon, opening presents and talking to family and friends before homemade pizza and drinks.

    All feelings of ennui we'd had before arriving in Ellesmere had evaporated. It wasn't the prettiest of places but the feeling of community really boosted our spirits. We'd not intended to stay long but kept finding ourselves saying 'just another day' until our two weeks were up. Thank you Ellesmere 💕    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    12

    Beautiful Blakemere

    26 de janeiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    From the urban surrounds of Ellesmere we navigated our way through the short Ellesmere tunnel and out the other end, mooring a short distance away at a beautiful lake called Blakemere.

    Blakemere is a privately owned fishing lake and there were signs banning boating, swimming and fires. Access for non club members was only from the towpath side, but in many ways this added to its beauty. The mature native woodland rose up a hillside on the opposite bank and had been left to nature. The tops of old trees had broken off leaving tall bare trunks that stood prominently in the winter light. Birdlife wasn't as abundant as it was around the feeding stations at Ellesmere, but we saw a Tree Creeper, Mallards, a lone Great Crested Grebe diving for fish and we heard owls and a woodpeker.

    Past the end of the mere, to the side of the towpath, the land became swampy, with vines and brambles trailing from branches of submerged trees. It looked really wild, as a knarled, semi-submerged tree wood would suddenly animate and you'd realise it was a crocodile lying in wait 🤣

    One afternoon Will was fishing off the stern when a couple approached and said 'that's a Cain boat isn't it!' It turned out to be the owners of Badger's Rest, built by Cain Narrowboats about a year before Rainboat. We chatted for a while and found out they live in a house nearby and can't travel full time because of work. They stay on Badger's Rest every weekend and holiday they get and are looking forward to a time they can move on board with their two blue staffies and explore more of the waterways.

    We found Blakemere to be wonderfully peaceful place with a view you could get lost in, as it that changed with the weather.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Signs of new life
    Tiger Lilly enjoyed her walk round ColemereLeo walked a little way before he asked to be carried 🥴ColemereThe water level was higher than usualWe're seeing more and more snowdrop drifts as the days grow longerThe chickens have noticed the change in daylight hours and begun to lay again 😊This boat is looking a bit worse for wear and has a CRT notice on it; presumably it has overstayedNewly painted lift bridge shining in the sunshineBeautiful wall paintings inside the bird hideWill reported the farm who had made our passage so difficult and the council will look into itUpcycling placemats to add colour to the inside while the skies are dull and grey outsideView of horses accross the canalBeautiful Imbolc skiesA male Teal hankering down against the wind11st lamb of 2024 that we've seen 🥰

    Imbolc on the Prees Branch

    1 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Between Blakemere and the Prees Branch where we intended to stay, lay Colemere; another beautiful lake. With quite a long cruise ahead, Will left Vicky in bed and single handed to near Colemere. We had breakfast then took the dogs all the way round the lake, through woods and over marshland. The paths and boardwalk were well maintained and we met a good number of friendly dog walkers on our circuit. The small boat club at the head of the mere reminded us fondly of the one we used to belong to that sailed on Netherton Reservoir.

    After a little rest we cruised all the way to the Prees Branch, close to Whixhall Moss. It had been frozen over when we'd passed it in the opposite direction. It was fully accessible now, although the towpath was slick with mud. Vicky walked up with Tiger and Leo to open the two lift bridges and Will turned in Whixhall Marina at the end of the branch, mooring between bridges one and two, opposite a field of four horses for Vicky's viewing delight 😉

    That evening we were treated to a beautiful sunset. The days had begun stretching out once again and today was Imbolc; the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox.

    Two days of strong gales and one of heavy rain followed. Thankfully there was a nice dog walk along the country lanes whose thick, high sided hedges sheltered us somewhat from the winds. We ventured out without the dogs to visit the bird hide we'd enjoyed so much before. Frustratingly the footpath across the fields was made all but impassable by one farmer who had removed the style and whose field was a mudbath. Fresh earth had been dumped in huge piles and Vicky sunk in up to her knee, having to crawl out. The farmyard itself was ankle deep in s**t and dirty water and we both emerged stinking and filthy.

    The smell followed us into the hide so we were glad to be the only ones in there. The birds, it seemed, had had more sense and hunkered down to wait out the bad weather. A small flock of Teal flew in to save the day and after a while watching these we made our soggy way back to the boat via the lanes. Our spirits were lifted when we spotted our first two lambs of the year gamboling and suckling!    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Walkers café with its higgledy piggledy walls, ceilings and floorsWalkers café, a bakery and pie shop from the outside2Pigeons sheltering from the rain2Pacifist graffitiRain, rain, rain! The ground is soo muddy. Mucky pup Leo gave Vicky a big hug when she picked him upWe planted the xmas tree Jenny gave us at the side of our mooring. Hopefully it will surviveVicky made a bowl hanger to feed the birds. No doubt we'll forget to take it with us one day!

    Whitchurch Arm

    7 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    The cupboards were bare and so we cruised a little way down the line to Whitchurch. Mooring on the privately run arm gave us good access to Aldi and Sainsburys to refill our supplies. When we stayed here before christmas we took the scenic footpaths into town, but a few months of winter wear had turned these into mud baths. We opted for the pavenent route this time, which was shorter and significantly drier.

    We'd previously placed a few orders on Ebay, which we were able to pick up at the Argos in Sainsburys. We try to get things locally where we can but there are certain things that are difficult to track down, like Leo's 'Keep Calm' oil and a MCT oil for Tiger that will hopefully help the fits caused by her movement disorder.

    Thursday started as a truly grotty day. Near freezing temperature and strong winds brought sleet but we wrapped up warm for our trip to the highstreet and didn't get too wet or cold. Walkers, a shop selling hot pies, looked popular and advertised the fair trade logo on their door. We were directed to the cafe up the narrow switchback stairs. It was in an ancient building and the walls and floors sloped at odd angles. It had a really cosy, homely feel to it and the food was simple and warming. Just the ticket!

    We picked up another parcel from the Post Office, found a pet shop a local fisher had recommended to Will for maggots, revisited the wonderful 'Refill Your Boots' ethical food store and had a good rummage in the charity shops, which held much to tempt us!

    The Whitchurch Arm had a limit of 48 hours and the fuel boat, which was on its way towards us, would find it easier to fill our diesel tank on the mainline. The perfect mooring spot became available just downstream of the junction but because of the angle, boats can only exit the arm upstream. Will did this and turned around at the winding hole a few hundred metres away while Vicky raised the small lift bridge, finally giving Rainboat access to the mooring rings! It was a case of easier said than done!    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Vicky used some old jute to hang a bowl of bird food.
    3Winter salad and roast pork at The Horse and JockeyYummy chocolate brownie and creme brulée 😋1Vicky added a little colour to the bathroom and space in the cupboard by making these towel rails

    Grindley Brook visitor moorings

    10 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We'd not planned to move on from Whitchurch, but since we discovered we could power the washing machine from the generator instead of having to wait until the engine was running, Vicky has been doing more washing and consequently using more water. Despite the taps still working, our tank level was showing as empty so it wasn't going to be long before we ran out. Our bins were also overflowing as we there hadn't been any refuse points since Ellesmere.

    We did an afternoon journey to Grindley Brook services and what a relief it was to fill up and empty! Turning at the winding hole prior to the first of the locks was difficult due to the wind. We abandoned the canoe and Vicky ended up standing on the towpath holding the bow rope while Will turned the stern. Another boater called Phil saw us and offered an extra pair of hands. We were very grateful and astounded when we saw him walking towards our mooring with our canoe in tow! There are some lovely souls out there!

    Soon after we got settled the sun set over the adjacent arable field and farm while a huge starling murmuration flowed to and fro looking for their nightly roost. Ahh.

    On Sunday we visited the nearby Horse and Jockey for a delicious lunch. Vicky even had a choice of vegan chocolate brownie or waffles for desert!

    Over winter we've been running the generator to charge the batteries each day we don't cruise. The solar panels are beginning to feed in more power as the sun gains height and daylight hours increase but as yet they aren't producing sufficient watts. This time Will fired the genny up and there was a disturbing smell of electrical burning. We turned it off and tried it the next day but the same thing happened. Our inverter battery charger had something very wrong with it. We contacted Lainy the boat builder who called straight back and reviewed what what we were doing. Concluding it was definitely a fault, Will looked online and found it was common for generators to overload the system when there wasn't a surge controller fitted. Fortunately it was still under guarantee so we called Sterling who told us to remove it and post it back to them. We'd need to wait until we were moored near a post office but in the meantime charging via the generator was a no no.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    3You've got to love Cath's style- lippy for the locks! 💋
    Captain Paul 👨‍✈️Paul working the lift bridge at Whitchurch Arm junctionCath's in charge!13The Lockside CafeTiger enjoying a snack at the caféLeo searching for grated carrot to engage his senses and use his brain.We're seeing new signs of Spring each day; a Hazel leaf budLesser Celendine3A little crocus in our roof planter

    Cath and Paul visit us at Grindley Brook

    13 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Our good friends Cath and Paul had arranged to come and see us and luckily they were keen to help us down the Grindley Brook flight of locks. Cath and Paul had visited us when we were travelling on the continent and we'd holidayed with them in Spain, but this would be the first time they'd see Rainboat.

    Their impending arrival was great motivation for a deep clean so attempts were made to scrub away all the winter mud traipsed in by 2 sets of boots and 12 little paws.

    Grindley Brook doesn't have public parking close by, but we intended to return to the Horse and Jockey for lunch, so the pub were happy for them to leave their car there. After a little tour (there's only so much to see in a space 57 x 6.5ft) we headed off to fill our tummies. We were again impressed with the food and service; the person greeting us even remembered Vicky needed the vegan menu! It's been over a year since we last saw Cath and Paul but we quickly relaxed into each other's company and caught up on the goings-on.

    Rainboat was facing away from the locks so we took a jolly to Whitchurch to turn. Paul and Cath each had a go at the tiller and even if the sun didn't shine, the rain held back and it wasn't too windy.

    Paul used to volunteer for the CRT near their Wollaston home and got back into the swing of things, cranking open the lift bridge at the Whitchurch Arm junction.

    Having extra hands at the staircase of three locks was a real help and hopefully our visitors enjoyed getting stuck in and experiencing our way of travelling. They worked us through a further lock before we moored up and had a well deserved cuppa and a bit of Will's homemade chocolate cake for Cath. Their departure was made easier by arranging to meet up again when we travel down the Shropshire Union, close to Stourbridge, later this year. We were left with a sense of contented happiness after what had been a fun and relaxing day with good friends. Thank you Cath and Paul!

    Over the next few days we took Leo and Tiger to the Lockside Cafe for an afternoon cuppa, cake and fish skin (we'll leave you to work out who had what). It was a sweet little place and Leo revelled in the attention of customers and servers alike.

    On Friday Leo had a very special visitor just for him. We've had him 19 months now and have been working hard on his fearful reactivity. It's clear he's a very troubled little dog and despite time, love, research, positive training and a whole load of management strategies, he's still highly anxious a lot of the time and his fear frequently triggers aggression. We've been bitten countless times and decided we needed some expert advice.

    Caroline of Help at Hand is a behaviourist who specialises in rescue dogs with severe difficulties. She works long term with several foster dogs from the organisation that rehomed Leo; Boycie's Bridge rescue and she helped Will's son and daughter in law with their dog Jake.

    Leo loved her straight away and was overjoyed when she allowed him to lick her face. She spent two hours with us and really seemed to 'get' Leo. His fight or flight automatic nervous system has been engaged so many times in his troubled past. It has kept him alive and despite the threat no longer being there, the trauma and his response is. He isn't thinking when he's reacting, just as you don't think when you jump at a startling noise. We were relieved when she said we'd got further along the road to helping him recover than a great many of her clients and that there was always a way forward. She left us with a few new management strategies to try and a mix of plant extracts in a spray (selected by Leo) that has a visible calming effect on him. We'll continue to liaise online and she may come for future visits. We'll keep you updated.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    2Our wellies came in very handy!
    One of the delights of visiting different places is sampling locally brewed beers.The Dusty MillerThis kind gift came in very handy after Will had touched up the blacking on the hull!2Without power for tv. Strict adjudicator Abby wasn't letting any cheating

    Wet, wet, Wrenbury

    17 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    With the scheduled maintenance now complete on Poveys and Willimore locks we were able to move on to Wrenbury. The CRT may have improved the condition of the locks but they'd done nothing for the state of the towpaths, long stretches of which were collapsing into the canal and / or boggy with mud.

    We initially pulled in just beyond the electric lift bridge by the wharf at the start of Wrenbury. On closer inspection we decided the ground was too muddy so moved further along. Will was ok on board but Vicky, Tiger and Leo found their way blocked by a massive muddy puddle. Only Leo managed to keep his paws clean.

    Thankfully a shingle path saved us from needing to get mucky every time we stepped off, but even the fields were sodden, limiting the options for dog walking.

    While the familiar sound of church bells drifted through the air, the internet signal did not. The Llangollen Canal in general has poor signal but here it was virtually non existent.

    On Sunday we cleared out the electrical cupboard and removed the 20kg inverter charger from the wall. Will had wombled a sturdy cardboard box from a supermarket and Vicky used this, together with a stanley knife and gaffa tape to package the unit ready for sending back to Sterling on Monday morning. We feared the cost of postage would be exorbitant, but we got away with £22 for 24hr Parcel Force delivery.

    With the electrical cupboard empty, Vicky took the opportunity to rearrange boxes from under the bed and dinette. Rainboat had been listing to port so shifting some heavier items to starboard levelled her up a bit. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of damp and mould on the walls in the bedroom cupboard and under the bed. We've managed to increase the air circulation slightly but it will always be a problem storing things directly against cold external walls.

    As a treat we had lunch at the Dusty Miller (great name for a pub!). Unfortunately they'd run oit of many of the dishes on their menu, leaving Vicky with a beyond meat burger with a mushroom on top. Not the best but at least Will enjoyed his battered haloumi burger and pint of the locally brewed Trooper.

    Later that day Sharon and Nici of the Beanie Boat pulled up in front of us. Nici knits some amazing items and creates patterns while Sharon makes a range of soaps. Vicky is currently trying to use up a rather large yarn collection but we were running low on soap so we asked if they had any on board we could buy. The next thing we know Sharon is giving us a huge slab of her charcoal and cedarwood soap, refusing to take any money for it! What a kind gesture!
    https://beanieboat.com/    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Squash and spinach sandwich at Vicky's favourite Nantwich café; Ginger and Pickles.
    The mayhem of rearranging storage to rebalance Rainboat2A repaired inverter and new surge protector fitted 👌Nantwich Camera Club put on a free exhibition in the museum in collaboration with the RSPCAWe liked the paintings on this boat. The other side was similar but in blue hues.Setting off from our Nantwich mooring3Nantwich Aqueduct

    Nantwich & the Shropshire Main Line

    20 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Having posted our inverter on Monday, Will was optimistic Sterling could repair and return it to us by Friday. We began making our way towards the Nantwich pickup point on Tuesday, planning to moor halfway and break the journey over two days. We were both surprised when Sterling called mid cruise to say it would arrive on Wednesday morning! At 17mph the wind wasn't ideal that afternoon but it would be dangerous to travel in the 40mph gusts forecast for tomorrow so we decided to plough on, completing the nine locks and eight miles between Wrenbury and Nantwich.

    We were all knackered by the time we completed the last of the Hurleston locks and turned right off the Llangollen, rejoining the Shropshire Union main line that we'd left back in November. Whilst it felt good to be moored on the familiar embankment overlooking the town (and to have phone signal and a tarmac towpath again!), we did feel sad about leaving the Llangollen Canal behind. It had been a relaxing and extraordinary place to spend the winter months and already the Shroppie felt decidedly busier and mainstream.

    On Wednesday we had lunch at Ginger and Pickles café and a mooch round the charity shops before finding the newsagents where the inverter had been delivered. Will hadn't been sent a delivery code or barcode and didn't have any photo ID on him but after a while Vicky found a photo of his passport on her phone which the vendor accepted. The package weighed over 20kg and was too large to fit in even our biggest rucksack. Unfortunately it was quite a distance between the shop and canal, not to mention the steep embankment steps. We used the two plastic straps to carry it together, taking frequent breaks, making the journey slowly but surely. Once he had recovered, Will installed the surge protector and we refitted the inverter together (Vicky being able to fit inside the cupboard and take the weight while Will screwed in the fixing brackets).

    We once again had 240v power and when Will connected the generator there wasn't even a small puff of smoke. Yipee!

    With all the boxes still out of the electrics cupboard, Vicky hauled out those stored under the dinette and bed in an effort to redistribute the weight. As Rainboat had been listing to port she moved as many heavy things over the starboard side as possible, making the hull a bit more level.

    We rewarded ourselves for a good day's work with fish, chips and a greek salad from the Welsh Row Fryer. 😋 Having visited the town before we didn't feel the pressure to go and explore and were able just to revisit favourite places and focus on the work behind the everyday living.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Leo enjoying the sunshine
    Vicky made Tiger a kerchief to spray calming liquid onto while travelling. It seems to help a littleBoat artBeautiful display of daffsPassing the Middlewich Junction to waters newCute heart doors and a sunshine/daffodil turbine.The staircase locksOld stables by the side of Bunbury locksFunny domed structure to the left of the lock. Anyone know what it is?2Deserted towpath in a frosty fog1Oops, didn't notice that half fallen tree when we mooredBeeston Stone LockSnails on the door of the domed building

    Beeston Stone lock

    25 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Keen to explore new waters we turned Rainboat round and headed North West towards Ellesmere Port. It took a long time to leave Nantwich as we needed to fill with diesel, pick up the oils and filters we'd ordered from Nantwich Canal Centre for Rainboat's next service, then fill the near empty water tank and get rid of rubbish and recycling.

    The bright sunshine and unfamiliar warmth of the day made these jobs seem less arduous. We were therefore in good spirits when we passed the junction with the Middlewich Branch, from which we'd emerged early in November. The character of the Shropshire Main Line is markedly different from that of the Llangollen. For one it is wider, with more housing, old industry and roads bordering the towpath. The locks are double width and have little domed brick structures alongside, which may have been something to do with controlling water levels.

    Vicky was pretty low on energy so Will got off with Tiger and worked the Bunbury staircase lock and the one after that. We'd forgotten how much longer the larger locks take and time was ticking on. Towards the end of our journey the blue skies changed to an intense steel grey and it began to hail. The cruise took 6.5 hours in total and we were so knackered we didn't even notice we'd moored under a half fallen tree until the next morning, which brought a beautiful frosty fog with it.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    It was a nice sunny dayBeeston Iron LockOur mooring opposite The ShadyBeeston Castle as seen from the walls3Walking the walls of Beeston CastleFound at The Shady; a good alcohol free ciderA curios at The Shady; a signal generator to test circuitsBhaji burgers with dirty fries

    The Shady Oak, Tiverton

    26 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    The cruise to The Shady took us down 4 locks, including Beeston Iron Lock. This lock was built out of cast iron in 1828 to replace two original locks that were affected by subsidence.

    The day was sunny but there has been so much rain this month that the towpaths are thick with mud. We moored in as dry a spot as we could find, but were restricted in how far we could walk the dogs in either direction without them having to wade through the stuff.

    We enjoyed lunch at The Shady - bhaji burgers with a rasberry frangipane for Vicky's desert. We were the only customers save for one guy who came in for a drink towards the end of the meal, but the bar tender was friendly and it had a good feeling about it so we returned the following day for a drink with Leo and Tiger Lilly. They'd been cooped up inside the boat because of the heavy rain, so taking them to the pub at least gave them a change of scenery. We got chatting to two boaters, one of which adored the dogs. They recommended a pub called Telfords Warehouse in Chester that we'll try and visit.

    Perched on an upthrust of rock and surrounded by woodland, Beeston Castle was a prominent feature of the landscape and only 2.6km away via footpaths. We waited for a break in the rain before loading Leo into the Pom pouch and taking the shoulder bag for when Tiger got tired. It was a pleasant walk over fields but when we got to the walls at the base of the hill a volunteer told us it was still on winter opening hours and closed today. She recommended a walk around the walls instead, which turned out to be pleasant enough.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    2A Weeping Willow coming into leaf. There seems to be new signs of Spring every day now.
    Not the most scenic spot we've stayed, but handy for the shops!

    The Bridge Inn

    29 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We set off towards Chester without walking the dogs. Before long we left the muddy towpaths behind and Vicky hopped off onto a dry tarmac surface- heaven! Leo and Tiger raced up and down gleefully as we followed Will along the cut.

    Whilst the walking improved, the people became more guarded and wary of making eye contact as we drew nearer to the city. We moored beside The Bridge Inn on the outskirts, leaving the locks leading into central Chester for another day. There was a little road noise but a lot of dog poo around. Someone had dumped their pasta dinner on the grass by the canal which we needed to drag Leo away from. We've heard of people putting rat poison in such things and didn't want to risk it.

    A small high street with Barbers, a vape shop, Spar, a kebab house and a chippy lay a short distance away so we treated ourselves to a chips for tea. We only stayed the one night as people gathered outside the pub were chatting into the early hours. They weren't being disruptive but Leo could hear them and he made sure we were aware at repeated points through the night.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Passing a charismatic terrace on our way to the centre
    3Cashew 'cheese'; truffle+charcoal, 'cheddar' and garlic+herbBistro café lunch1Atina's lights were made out of kitchen utensils: colanders, whisks, graters...2The Exchange Indoor Market food courtThe Jaunty Goat with peach iced tea; sweet but refreshingThe Mill hotel close to our moorings2Our mooringsWalking the wallsChester Race CourseSmall amphitheatre viewed from the wallThe River Dee1Cormorants and gulls sunning themselves at the weir3We liked this hoodyChester Canal Basin viewed from the wall2Tiggy was happy to get off the lead after walking the walls3Finishing our walk with ice cream and a beer at Eastgate Clock

    Chester

    1 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    A short trip with a couple of locks brought us into central Chester. Concrete banks meant we were limited to official moorings. Vicky walked ahead with Tiger and Leo to scope out potential sites and we settled on a mostly pedestrianised street called Canal Side where we were greeted by a friendly waterways chaplain who just happened to be strolling by. The person from the boat in front of us ignored our attempts to say hi and avoided contact 😏

    With heavy rain we decided our time was best spent nipping in and out of shops. The dogs didn't want to walk so we bundled them up in their bags, got our brollies and wandered into the centre.
    There were plenty of charity shops to peruse on the outskirts while the tall black, white and gilt trimmed tudor buildings further in spoke of Chester's well preserved history. The businesses themselves weren't remarkable but the premises were petite and a good number resided within The Rows; two storeys of galleries set back from the street behind a collonade.

    A couple of small outdoor markets proved enjoyable. We gave way to temptation after sampling handmade cashew 'cheeses' from Wild Roots and gooey vegan peanut butter and chocolate brownies.

    The dogs had had their fill of historic architecture by lunch, so we left them back on Rainboat with lickimats and went in search of our own food. The only pub we could find serving meals was a weatherspoons, so we opted for a bistro café called Atina's that served a yummy a Baba Ganouch salad bowl for Vicky and a Bhaji burger for Will.

    We were almost disappointed we'd already eaten when we discovered the buzzing atmosphere and wide variety of food kiosks at The Exchange indoor market. As well as hot food there was a tiny chinese supermarket, fishmongers, butchers, wool shop and a pet shop. Tables in the middle were accompanied by staging at one end, where younger visitors tended to hang out. After some of the small cities we've visited, it was great to see such vibrant activity in Chester.

    The 'cheese' seller had recommended the Jaunty Goat café and we eventually found it with Google Maps (her directions had been as bad as Vicky's sense of direction 🤪). The cakes weren't anything to write home about but it was worth trying out a local recommendation.

    On our last legs we visited one final shop; Abakhan Fabrics. Vicky recognised the name as she'd previously bought from them online. A two storey cave of creative possibilities, She pulled off an amazing feat of self restraint and we only came away with some waterproof fabric for Will to sew a couple of cushion covers for stern seating.

    As is often the case in Spring, our second day shed not a drop of rain and we were instead bathed in glorious sunshine.

    Walking Chester's city walls was a perfect way to spend the morning. Being lifted level with or above the building tops gave a totally different feel. As we passed the red sandstone towers, the castle, small amphitheatre and regimented roman gardens, nobody was in a hurry and there was a feeling of relaxation and enjoyment. We extended our outing by stopping at the Eastgate Clock where the walls cross the mainstreet for icecream and a delicious hand crafted beer.
    There was still much more to explore but we'd be returning this way before long and felt we'd had our fill for now.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Passing one of the red sandstone towers in Chester's walls
    Alongside Chester walls1One of the deep Northgate Locks hewn out of the rock1There were plenty of people to watch our descent down the Northgate LocksTowpath closure1Quiet mooring spot on the closed towpathPeople working on the towpath

    Blacon, NW of Chester

    4 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After months of rural bliss on the Llangollen Canal we found we'd reached our fill of the city quite quickly. We cruised on down to Northgate Locks; a triple staircase lock lying in the shadow of the city walls. These locks were deep and as the water emptied you could see the lowest parts were hewn directly from the rock.

    We passed through Chester Canal Basin and earmarked it for mooring on the way back. Before long we were in the suburbs, much of them quite run down and rough around the edges. A lot of rubbish floated in the water and goodness knows how much lay below the surface.

    A tall metal fence and gate with spikes on top closed the towpath for repairs but we cruised on until suddenly there was a sign saying
    'Stop. Canal closed 100m'. With a hard reverse we ground Rainboat to a halt and used the centre rope to haul her back to a point we could moor her to the closed towpath.

    Will keeps a very close eye on canal closures but any planned work on this section was due to have been completed already and there was were no emergency notices to be found online. It being late Sunday afternoon there were no workers around to ask so we just stayed put, moored on the closed towpath. The following morning Will went and talked to the fluorescent vested people arriving on site. It turned out they'd completed the work as planned and the canal was open. They'd just forgotten to take the sign down; could Will do it on his way back?

    We may not have chosen to stay there otherwise, but with the towpath closed there were no passers-bys so we enjoyed the peace and quiet for a second night!    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Our approach becoming more built up
    Entering the mooring basinThere were only two mooring spots and lucky us got the 2ndWoodworkers' workshop at the National Waterways MuseumThe old gaffa's officeSlipway with Winchhouse at the topThe forgeSome of the metalwork produced by the craftsman who rented the forgeBeautifully made rowing boatsSome of the old river boatsThe 'Power Hall'This huge engine used to operate a swing bridge over the Manchester Ship CanalYou can just see the embankment of the Manchester Ship CanalPorters Row Cottages. Each was decked out in the style of a different time period21950sMossdale; the last surviving all wooden Mersey Flat Barge.Will achieved his goal of taking Rainboat to the basin at the very end of the Shropshire Union Canal

    Ellesmere Port

    5 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    In another day of gorgeous sunshine with some real warmth, we cruised to the end of the Shropshire Union Canal at Ellesmere Port. Although the canal corridor continued to be green, the area surrounding it became increasingly industrialised. Ellesmere Port is the site of the Stanlow oil refinery (the second largest industrial space in the UK) and the UK's only Vauxhall car factory. It also has the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet - the UKs largest outlet village and is just a stone's throw over the Mersey from Liverpool, so demand for housing is high.

    The nearer we got to the end of the line the more floating debris there were. Rainboat's hull slid over silt banks built up under bridges and near banks, threatening to ground us.

    We were wondering whether we'd find somewhere far enough away from road noise to get a decent night's sleep, but we needn't have worried as the basin at the end, next to the National Waterways museum was quiet enough.

    Boaters Tom and Jim helped haul us in and lent us their hose (as it was already out) to fill with water. They chatted with Will as the tank filled and even gave him a lift to shops in their car on their way back.

    Vicky fetched fish and chips for tea. The underpasses and the town itself felt quite neglected and rough but the basin was well cared for and welcoming. Beyond it lay the Manchester Ship Canal, running alongside the Mersey estuary on whose bank we could see the lights of Liverpool at night.

    The Waterways Museum was closed the day we arrived but open at 10am the next morning. We were happy to see the signs saying it was dog friendly. When we came to buy our tickets the attendant told us the site was partly closed due to recent thefts and the police investigation. School groups were also scheduled to use other areas so they'd decided to grant everyone free entry!

    Outside were docks, locks, historical slipways and of course boats. A working forge with multiple furnaces was being used by a craftsman who rented the space but was happy to chat. Most of the volunteers were gathered in the warm 'Power Hall' where they tended to and fired up historical engines large and small. These had been salvaged from various river and canal boats, pumphouses and there was even one that used to operate a swing bridge over the Manchester Ship canal. At the far end of the museum lay the Porters Row Cottages that used to be part of the main street when Ellesmere Port first began to establish itself. They were decked out in the styles of different ages, beginning back in the 1800s, right through to the 1950s. It was an interesting progression to follow and we were able to do so at our own pace as there were very few other visitors around.

    Our visit to the museum was well worth it, but beyond this there was nothing to keep us at Ellesmere Port so we set off back towards Chester that afternoon. Before we could do this though, Will wanted to take Rainboat through the two Whitby locks contained within the museum grounds, just to say we'd travelled to the very end of the Shropshire Union. Beyond them was the lower basin with a waterfront hotel and another lock that separated the Shroppie from the Manchester Ship Canal. There was a choice of narrow or wide locks and happily a volunteer lockie was happy to help Vicky work through the easier narrow ones, so our passage up and down didn't take long at all. Other volunteers were busy dragging the growing islands of Pennywort out of the water in an effort to forestall their inevitable spread that made our passage to the Wigan flight so difficult back in October.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We've been thankful for well maintained towpaths since coming off the Llangollen Canal
    Leo keeping a watchful eye on Will while he carries out a service on Rainboat's engine2Fantastic to see this stage in hedge laying

    Between Ellesmere Port and Chester

    7 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We had a lock free cruise, stopping at mooring rings midway between Ellesmere Port and Chester. On the opposite bank were stables and an outdoor arena where we enjoyed watching a young horse being schooled. Halfway up a hill on the towpath side we could see a very tall, strong wire fence, behind which lay the grounds of Chester Zoo. We heard some very unusual animal noises but didn't see any of the creatures making them during our stay.

    We spent a couple of days here to slow down and rest before heading back into the city. Rainboat's engine had clocked 250 hours of running time so
    Will carried out a service with oils and filters he'd picked up from Nantwich Canal Centre in February.

    Apart from melodious Spring birdsong it was a quiet spot and the towpath had been recently layed, meaning it was dry underfoot. A border of close-planted Hawthorn saplings had become well established. Their trunks had recently been sliced in order to bend them over at 45° and weave them into a hedge. It was great to see the technique in practice to replace some of the many miles of hedge the UK has lost in recent decades.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    The fishing umbrella that got wrapped round Rainboat's propellerOne of Chester's characterful cobbled side streetsThe Rows. Will enjoyed visiting Mollie's Sweet Shop on the cornerGreat to see so many people enjoying the city on Foregate StreetThe chippy, just a couple of hundred yards away from our mooring, run by a couple in their 70sThe Shropshire Union main line and Dee Branch side by sideChester Basin. We found a nice mooring spot on the right2Leo just loved the open space and short grass of the bowling green in the Water Tower GardensVicky's replacement engagement ringViolas for Mothers' Day

    Chester Basin

    8 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Warning- lots of mundane detail of our day to day life on board in this post.

    Prior to setting off Will opened the weed hatch and removed a couple of sections of plastic tape the propeller had picked up. The water was full of sediment so he couldn't see what he was doing. It was also cold enough to be painful if he kept his hands submerged too long. Our luck held out until we reached the outskirts of Chester, when the propeller suddenly emitted a nasty clanging noise and the engine ground and began to falter. Adrift in the middle of the canal it was Vicky's turn with the weed hatch. To her dismay she felt a thick wire she thought might be a bicycle spoke. It turned out to be a fishing umbrella, complete with fabric. Will managed to get us into the side and as Vicky snapped, pulled and untwisted the thing from on the deck, he used a boat pole with hook to drag the rest out from below, onto the bank.

    Thankfully it wasn't too long before we pulled up in Chester Basin. Our spirits were lifted when we were able to nab the last space left on the quieter grassy side.

    Having done the touristy things on our last visit, we focused on the facilities the city could offer us this time. At the post office Will sent the drone controller off for repair and we picked up a couple of large bags of kibble for the dogs. We feed them a dried food called Percuro, made from insects to avoid supporting the low welfare meat industry and to reduce the carbon footprint. Next was the newsagents to pick up ebay orders of charcoal to filter our drinking water as well as some charcoal pouches to help dehumidify the bedroom. We've yet to see how effective they are but they don't use any power and are safe for the furries so we thought they were worth a go.

    A few weeks back the diamond had fallen out and been lost from Vicky's engagement ring. On our last visit we'd found a nice replacement among the cluster of jewellery shops in and around The Rows. We'd ummed and ahhed but finally decided to go ahead and get it, which made us both happy.

    We tired ourselves out walking/carrying the dogs to the out of town shopping centre along a busy and dirty main road. Pets at Home didn't have a harness suitable for Tiger (one she won't slip out of if she happens to fall at locks), nor did they have nail scissors suitable for Abby (at 14 her claws don't retract well and she often gets hooked on fabric). The lithium ion battery of our mifi has expanded worryingly but Curry's didn't seem to have more than one device and the staff, who looked like students, were more interested in catching up on the latest gossip than helping us. We were pretty fed up, but happily Homebase saved the day by selling us several things that had been on our shopping list for quite some time. Leo and Tiger also got Vicky some lovely violas for mothers' day (aren't they thoughtful 😉).

    One of the great things about Chester Basin is that you can get to the Water Tower Gardens without going near any roads. Leo could therefore walk all the way. In these gardens is a bowling green with nice short grass. Leo went wild, racing back and fourth, really loving the wide open space and soft ground. With his little legs and bald belly he doesn't find it pleasant walking through grass that has been left to grow, so this was a real treat for him.

    On one side of the basin were student halls. Considering it was Friday and Saturday nights they didn't make much noise but they made enough to unsettle Leo, which led to a couple of nights of broken sleep for us.

    On the other side of the basin was a branch leading to the River Dee. This is one of the Inland Waterways Silver Propeller locations -if you visit 20 of these little used stretches you can claim a special plaque. We would have gone but the branch was closed for repairs for another month. Never mind, with a whole network to explore we'll come across another opportunity before too long.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Cruising out of Chester
    Forgot to take an overnighter so here's the satellite view

    Boughton Cricket Pitch

    11 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    It was time to move out of the city and on to a quieter spot. The journey was a lot of effort over a short distance. First we navigated the staircase of the three deep Northgate locks, then a further three single locks.

    We stopped a few hundred metres beyond the Bridge Inn, where we'd moored a few weeks back, to settle ourselves beside Boughton Hall Cricket Club. The difference between these two places was striking considering how close they were. The pub was run down with flaking paint and cigarette butts trodden into the towpath. Small terraced houses and a noisy road sat behind it. The cricket pitch was beautifully mown, with a well maintained fence that had recently had ivy removed. On the opposite bank were cul-de-sacs of semi detached houses with drives and little gardens. As a rule, people walking past the Inn would keep their eyes to the ground, intent on their business. Those by the cricket pitch were mostly happy to exchange a few words in passing or stop and give the dogs some fuss.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Grains and Greens Salad and a butternut and chick pea burger at The Cheshire Cat
    Getting comfy in the snugWill enjoying a St Patrick's Day Guinness with Leo1Fold down balconies on an old warehouse converted to apartments3We cycled back to Abakhan Fabrics in Chester3Weeping Willows and Cherry Blossom

    The Cheshire Cat 🐱

    16 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    The Cheshire Cat pub is often mentioned in canal guides and by boaters as a point of reference. It is set in affluent suburbs with large detached houses whose manicured gardens sloped down to the water. Several had Weeping Willows, whose bows arched over the canal, dangling a curtain of branches just coming into leaf. Cherry and Magnolia blossom added creams and pinks to the Spring scene and you couldn't help but smile when the sun was out.

    We moored a short distance away from the Cat so the dogs wouldn't be disturbed and went for lunch on Saturday. It was a well presented place with four different areas varying from formal dining to a snug with wingback chairs. A Grains and Greens salad was just what Vicky needed to give her a boost and Will was impressed by the butternut and chick pea burger. It wasn't too busy on this first visit but when we returned the following day for a drink with the dogs it was almost full. It was St Patricks Day but there didn't seem to be any special promotions. The Cheshire Cat clearly isn't one of the many struggling pubs.

    We claimed the last place in the snug, which had a dog or two at three of the four other tables. Leo loved all the activity and hopped onto the floor to get closer to the action. Since we had Caroline the behaviourist visit in February we've been working hard to build a closer bond between him and Will in order to help his fear aggression. It was therefore a really great moment when Leo put his front paws on Will's legs and asked to sit on his lap 😊

    Before we moved on we took both bikes out for the first time this year and cycled back along the towpaths into Chester. Vicky visited Abakhan Fabrics and picked out some bits and bobs to make a full length harness for Tiger; one that we're sure she won't slip out of if, for example she falls in while at a lock. The shop bought harnesses cost upwards of £50 and Vicky will enjoy the project. We knew we wouldn't have easy access to shops forba while so Will stocked up at the waterside Waitrose and we cycled back to set off that afternoon.    Leia mais

    Ver tradução
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Gardeners busy at work
    A footpath where the ground was a little less muddy, but the dogs still weren't impressedView of Beeston Castle from near the mooringWe enjoyed the bhaji burgers at The Shady so much we went back and had them again this time 😋2Mud. Eurgh.1Interesting looking flower on the towpath. The PlantNet app identified it as a Butterbur.

    Muddy paws once more at The Shady

    18 de março de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We saw 4 Kingfishers while cruising! We haven't seen any for months and all of a sudden there were four. They are such beautiful birds, it always lifts our spirits to see them.

    A few days back we'd needed to top our diesel up with our emergency supply as it had dropped below the level at which the heating system draws it out. Today's mission was therefore to reach Tattenhall Marina to replenish our tank.

    We'd already cycled to Chester and back so set off in the afternoon. Thankfully there were no locks to slow our progress and we reached the marina in a few hours. It was a tight turning and we couldn't initially see where the fuel point was amongst the rows of boats. The wind was gusting and it was tricky 90° turn in between finger pontoons. Will did really well and we'd just sighed in relief when we realised the boat was front in and the diesel point was at the back 😭 Another bit of expert maneuvering and Will had spun Rainboat around and backed her in. The folk running the marina were really nice and loved Tiger and Leo. We'd also spotted our friends Tom and Sharyn on Whiskey Beo so went over for a catch up. We'd met them and their two dogs Cari and Rocky at Llangollen Basin over christmas. They were on their way to Chester so we were able to give them advice about where to moor.

    Once we'd filled with diesel we'd have happily moored anywhere but there didn't seem to be a break in the mud on the towpath. We ended up carrying on to The Shady where we'd stayed before. There was still mud but at least we could go to the pub and there were lanes nearby that we could walk Tiger on.

    There has been a massive increase in the number of boats on the move; most of them in share schemes where each part owner gets alloted a certain number of weeks each year. We've found ourselves once again having to explain that we're not on a coming from or going to anywhere in particular. We're at a point on a very long journey. We know it isn't for everyone but we do feel fortunate to be doing what we're doing 🥰    Leia mais

    Ver tradução