Well, I know we've only been going for two days, but we're so delighted to be off again that I had to start writing!

We've had quite a winter. We spent a wonderful month in Cyprus, where the weather was at least sixty degrees every day. We rented a villa in Pissouri and enjoyed touring the island.We spent a month in the Derbyshire Dales, where the weather wasn't quite so good! But we had a lovely warm cottage and enjoyed the change from the boat.

Then of course, there was the breach on the canal, which meant we only had about six miles to travel on, so we decided that this was a good time to visit our friends in Ipswich, Massachusetts! It was even colder there than here. The snow was piled up higher than a car, and there was six inches of snow whilst we were there. But we were wined and dined and treated so well by everyone. We had a great time.

Whilst we were away, we left the boat in Whixall Marina. I can't speak highly enough of the great staff and warm welcome we had there. Everyone was so helpful and we had no worries about our boat being looked after whilst we were away.

We were very sorry to leave, but now we're raring to go on our cruise. Well, I know it's not summer yet, in fact, it's still officially winter, not even spring. But we're starting any way! So much to do, so little time!

Friday, 4th March
A rather late start today--we didn't get going until 4.45 p.m! And that wasn't because I wouldn't get up. We've had problems with the computer, and we had to fetch it back from Wolverhampton from the repairer, before we could set off. But at last, with very light hearts, we left our mooring of the last four months and travelled all of a mile before we moored up for the night! Whixall Marina is at the end of a short arm, so we just went up to the junction and hoved to. It was cold and starting to rain. But it was a nice spot to be, all on our own, which is what we like best of all. The stove was going, we cooked dinner and were very cosy.

Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, Monday 7th, March
The weather today was awful. I suppose that's what comes of starting a summer cruise in the winter! We set off around noon, for Whitchurch, as we wanted to buy the Saturday papers. It was about five miles, and Trev steered stoically, whilst I found lots of jobs which I just had to do "down below" in the warm! To be fair, I made an appearance at all of the lift bridges--there were five of them. And I fetched the papers from the garage near the canal.

On the way we found a good pile of logs from a newly felled tree. When BW fells trees, they cut the wood up in to shorter pieces and leave them on the towpath for passing boaters. We loaded lots on to the roof of the boat.

We went on past Whitchurch for about a mile and moored up at Grindley Brook. We're awaiting the arrival of the engineer to attend to the Whispergen--again. The Whispergen hasn't been working properly for some months, but as we've been away, it hasn't been easy to fix a convenient time for him to come. I do hope it gets sorted out this time. We have to run the engine when we're stationary in order to charge the batteries. And boy, are we looking after those batteries! We've just had to have six new ones @ GBP 75 each, so we're talking to them and telling them bedtime stories in an attempt to make them last longer than the last lot!

We turned the boat round at the top of Grindley Brook Locks, an art in itself as this is a very tight winding hole for a 70' boat, and today there was a boat moored in the winding hole, which made it doubly interesting. I stood on the bank with the front rope and helped by hauling the bow round as Trev swung the stern round using the engine. Once moored, Trev sawed up the wood in to lengths which will fit in the stove. Trev has bought an iPod and we spent the evening trying to get it to work. It seems to me that one needs a PhD in iPods to make it work.

We stayed at Grindley Brook until Tuesday morning. On Monday Phil came to attend to the Whispergen. He spent five patient hours on it, tracing the fault, and eventually decided that the fuel pump was the culprit. It wasn't sending enough fuel to the Whispergen when it was trying to start up. Apparently it demands more fuel at the start up and the pump wasn't supplying it. Fortunately he had a spare pump, he fitted it and the Whispergen has worked perfectly since! So hurray, we have a fully working boat for the summer cruise.

Tuesday, 8th March
So we set off today, back up towards Llangollen. We've decided that we want to do the full length of the canal before we leave, as it may be some years before we return. We only went a mile, as far as Whitchurch, as we needed to go to the Post Office to collect our mail which had been sent there Poste Restante. We did some shopping and stayed at Whitchurch overnight.

Wednesday, 9th March
Today we set off for a good day's cruising, the longest we've done since the New Year. We did twelve miles, as far as Ellesmere. We passed some moored boats, but we were the only one moving. It was a perfect day, the sum was shining and there was no breeze. We had the canal to ourselves, and reflected on how busy it will be in three weeks' time, at Easter, with hire boats all trying desperately hard to avoid the bank and each other! We saw two long-tailed tits looking for a likely spot for a nest.

We passed the spot where the breach had been and here is a photograph, but it doesn't really do it justice, as it doesn't show the steep drop immediately behind the embankment, where all the water escaped. You can see the new, extra strength piling starts half way along.

(I'm sorry about that, but it's probably the only chance I shall ever get to use the phrase--at least I hope so!)

We also made a momentous decision--we will sell the car! We've just had it serviced and MOT'd and the bill was GBP 550, which is ridiculous when the car spends most of its time parked and unused. It is I who hadn't wanted to sell it, I felt it was letting go the last link with our old life. But the finances are too stark to continue with owning it, and we shall hire whenever we need one. It also means that the trailer with all of our camping equipment is redundant.

So, if you know anyone who wants to buy a Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia estate, in good order, just serviced and MOT'd for the year, or who needs a trailer, with a great six berth tent and most of the equipment needed to start a family off camping, at a very reasonable price, tell them to get in touch!

When we drew in to Ellesmere, there was Jane moored up on Bramble. We hadn't seen her since before we went Cyprus, almost four months, as she'd been stuck on the other side of the breach. She said she'd enjoyed her winter, and we quite wish we'd been stuck on the other side too.

Thursday, 10th March
A late start as we pottered around talking to various people and sorting out some things in Ellesmere. It was another lovely Spring day, though cooler than yesterday. We went through the last two locks on the Llangollen canal, at Marton, and moored up at St. Martin's, all on our own, with beautiful views. How about this for a sunset?

In the evening we had visitors. We had never met David & Pam Croft, but I had exchanged emails with David. They're having a boat built next year, and were interested in our Whispergen. (What a good job it had just been repaired!) We spent a very pleasant evening with them, and look forward to seeing them when they're afloat.

So as you can see, we're up and running again! We've lots to do this year--have a look at our Summer Schedule using the link at the bottom of this page.