Saturday 10 March 2012

The return journey

 Devil's Garden at quarter to eight yesterday morning ...
 ... and at 20 to 11 - Moore 2 Life left about half an hour ago to collect water at Dutton Locks
 ... and now Seyella and Rock n Roll is on the move ...
 ... into the sunshine ...
 ... and under the railway viaduct ...
 What's going on there ...
 Crickey! not for me!!
Approaching Dutton Locks - M2L is still at the water point...
... close to the bridge over the oxbow of the natural course of the Weaver ...
 RnR and Seyella pull over to the opposite bank to await the lock keeper ...
 ... we've pulled back now to allow plenty of room for Seyella and M2L to negotiate the lock ...
 ... and follow them in ... we're going up the locks now and need to hold onto the ropes to keep the boat steady ...
 ... and the huge gates close us in ...
 ... the water coming in from the river ahead to fill the lock pushes Geoff and Chas across the lock ...
 ... and the lock keeper is now on hauling the front rope to bring them back to the wall.
 And off we go again ...
 ... under Acton Bridge ...
 ... under a rather dramatic sky.
 Young life goes on, on the farm ...
 ... as we approach Saltersford Lock ...
 Mags passes Seyella's front rope up to the Lockie ...
 ... and then Geoff does the same - Moore 2 Life is going to tie alongside ...
 ... and Rock n Roll brings up the rear ...
 ... not far to go now to our mooring ...
 ... at Barton Cut - a lovely mooring.
 Time for the pack walk up the hill and turned right onto the Trent and Mersey Canal to the west portal of Barton Tunnel and there's a boat coming!!
 ... it's All Day Breakfast.
 Oh what a beautiful morning - this morning
 George Ann and I are off on Rock n Roll to shop in Northwich ...
... passing derelict works ...
 ... this one is fantastic ...
 ... ships of yesteryear have left their marks ...
 ... on the wharf walls.
 ... and the internal structure ...
 ... amazing ...
 ... unbelievable ...
 ... all of it ...
 ... open ...
 ... to the air over ...
 ... the River Weaver.
 Pack walk time again - we turn left this afternoon - the  oxbow of the River Weaver from the Trent and Mersey Canal
 The 'Pack' walking!
 one lone sheep
West Portal of Saltersford Tunnel
Our journey on the River Weaver is nearly at an end - I know that tomorrow will be a good one!

2 comments:

  1. What a fantastic journey you have had this winter - we are very jealous!!
    We are having a narrowboat built next winter and intend to continuous cruise as you three do for as long as we are able.
    I know that Seyella have a wood burning stove - so I assume that yours is diesel. Can you tell me how much diesel you use to run yours? We were thinking of getting a diesel stove, but have been told that they are really expensive to run, so are now unsure. Anything you can tell us will be much appreciated.
    Carry on blogging - I really enjoy reading of your adventures and hope to bump into you one day on the cut!!
    NB Muleless (not built yet)

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  2. Hi - glad you've enjoyed our journey with us this winter!
    We have diesel central heating plus a Lockgate diesel fire. The fire has it's own 60 ltr fuel tank but we don't use it all the time. During very cold weather we usually have it on for a couple of hours to heat up the boat quickly and then put the central heating on as it gets too hot with the fire on and the heat doesn't quite reach the back of the boat. Using the fire this way 60 ltrs would probably last a minimum of 10 weeks (approx £6 per week). The central heating runs from the main fuel tank so that is more difficult to calculate. We don't find this too expensive - the alternative would be a wood/coal burner which would mean collecting and storing issues.
    Good luck with your boat build!

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