> Ann wrote... >>We moored overnight at Portland basin and we were in luck cos it was one >>of >>the nights when the restaurant was open and we treated ourselves to a >>decent meal. Otherwise it would have been the emergency rations as there >>is >>no way out of the basin on foot after the gate is locked, presumably when >>the museum closes. > Martin wrote > You should have let me know you were coming. I could have met up with > you - and I have a key for that gate! > -- > Martin Clark
That would have been good and a pity we didn't meet up but the whole holiday as a bit "odd". We were both so stressed out before we left that neither of us posted our intended route - to do the Cheshire ring at last - part of it being shut every time we have been in a position to do it before. We set off from Acton Bridge on the Friday Pm and had a good run up Heartbreak Hill on the Saturday. We next cruised the Macc, stopping to chat to Phil or Why Worry for a while on the way past. As we approached Whaley Bridge on the Monday afternoon, we got a phone call form our local boys in blue asking if Iain had given anyone permission to drive his landy while we were on holiday and where did he keep the keys? We had had a break in at home and all the 15 year old was apparently interested in was the landy keys (which had been stored in a sock drawer in a bedroom). However, he and his mates removed all the other keys they found around for good measure. This meant that Iain abandoned me and boat and dogs in Bugsworth basin while he got the train (well, 3 trains actually) home to replace locks etc. Fortunately, his Police keys turned up but the handcuffs are still missing :-). While he was away, I communicated with Peter and Elaine Scott, other owners of Copperkins and they were planning to attend the Macc canal society meeting on the Thursday night. The upshot was that we took CK back to Macclesfield and went to a very interesting meeting. Where we met Phil (of Why Worry's) brother! We then did the rest of the Cheshire ring with a side trip to Wigan for good measure. We actually came home early to sort out a new set of caravan keys as we needed it the following week to go to than trail boat festival in Grantham . We took out trip boat down and ran trips for 3 days Mostly in the rain) . We must be mad! hauling a boat and several caravans 300 miles each way just to cruise a new bit of canal.But what a lovely canal it is. Sadly when we came home form that trip and put the trip boat back in the Union canal, she had sprung a leak and was quickly hauled back out again. It is going to cost lots of pennies (which the canal society doesn't have) to replate her. Still, every cloud has silver lining as it has made the "boys" get a move on and get Bluebell , the narrow boat we are restoring, ready for trips we are committed (I think that's the right word) to doing on Saturday. Subject to the BSS examiner passing her on Wednesday of course. Who said life was dull and boring? Ann, not at all stressed out Ann and Iain Street NB Gamebird; One tenth NB Copperkins11 Web site http://www.nbgamebird.co.uk Scottish Inland Waterways Association - http://www.siwa.org.uk Bridge 19-40 Canal Society - http://www.bridge19-40.org.uk
