Aqueduct Marina

To Aqueduct Marina on the Middlewich Branch today, for a boat test.  It's an attractive marina, not too big, and with great facilities including a cafe.  And the sun shone.

Ellesmere Port and Chester

A fantastic day today, which started with a quick visit to Ellesmere Port. The Waterways Museum hadn't opened yet, but a gate was open so we had a look round the basins. We're planning to come this way in September, and wanted to work out the lay of the land.

We then went on to Chester for a look at the Northgate staircase locks, and the canal below the city walls.  Our return route took us up on the walls, looking down on the canal.

We had lunch at The Boot Inn at Willington with my sister and my little neice, before a walk with them in the afternoon.

More pictures when I've got a better connection.

Foxton

We left home at 7 this morning, heading indirectly for Cheshire.  Actually, our final destination was past Chester just into Wales.  But first stop was Foxton for a boat test, which included an all too brief spell at the helm up to Debdale Wharf, in lovely sunshine.  We walked back to Foxton for lunch at Bridge 61, then an ice cream at the top of the locks.  The whole place was swarming with people as usual.  In the afternoon we were back in the car, driving further up the M1 and cross country towards Chester.  En route, thanks to avoiding an accident on our intended route, we crossed the Caldon Canal at Froghall, and the Trent and Mersey at Stoke.  Then it was over the Llangollen at Hurleston and the Shroppie at Barbridge.

Apsley

A visit today to Apsley Marina on the Grand Union.  It's an area I've neve been to before, and it looked lovely in glorious sunshine.  The marina is quite small, and surrounded by attractive housing.  There's also a small supermarket, a cafe, and a pizza restaurant, in addition to boaters' services.

Out on the canal itself, there are to contrasting bridges.  In one direction, there's a striking modern footbridge.  The other way, there's an attractive traditional bridge, painted white.

In spite of the weather, we saw very few boats on the move, although the working pair Bletchley and Argus did go past.

Rory the skipper

One of my former colleagues is featured in this week's edition of the BBC newspaper, Ariel.  It's in a double page spread about people who've left the BBC, and what they're doing now.  Rory Maclean, who used to be a Home Affairs Correspondent, and who owns Sudbury.  He appears to be enjoying himself, having landed a job as a skipper on the waterbus from Little Venice to Camden.

Farncombe Boat House

Travelling back from a weekend seeing family, we stopped at Farncombe Boat House on the River Wey for lunch.  On the other side of the road is Farncombe Lock, the most southerly on the river.

After lunch, we walked the short distance along the towpath to Godalming Wharf, the head of navigation.

Norbury Junction Streetview

View Larger Map

Google Streetview has gone nationwide, and includes a nice shot of Norbury Junction. Given the number of boats in the basin, I'd guess that the shot was taken on a Friday, the OwnerShips handover day. Unfortunately the picture isn't good enough to see whether Debdale is there.

Braunston

A visit to Braunston yesterday, in the bitter cold.  The trip was primarily to see Caxton undergoing its stretch, but there was also time to chat to Dave Taylor of OwnerShips, and have lunch with Lesley and Joe at the Old Plough.  It was trying to snow by the time I left; further south it was snowing quite heavily.

Sarah's sticker album

Sarah from Warrior and now Chertsey has started a new blog, the Town Class Sticker Album, where she's trying to spot and photograph all the Town Class GUCC boats. It made me wonder how many I'd got photos of. The answer is nine ten that I can immediately lay my hands on, although there may be others that I can't identify. I know this is not really the point, because Sarah wants to see them all herself, but here goes anyway.

ALTON -- September 2009 at Bugsworth Basin. We bought a couple of bags of coal from Brian.


BALDOCK -- At the Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, 2008.


BARROW -- Braunston, 2008

BATTERSEA -- Braunston 2008

DOVER -- Braunston, 2008.

HADLEY -- With a wedding on board, Braunston, 2008.


NUNEATON -- Sarah's comment reminded me of this photo of Nuneaton, with the butty Brighton, stuck in a bridge hole, Uxbridge, April 2007.

NUTFIELD -- Braunston, 2008.

RENFREW -- Braunston, 2008.

SALTAIRE -- Black Country Museum, September 2008 (just behind President and Kildare).