Moore

Yesterdays visit went very well despite inclement weather, but we did manage a short walk into the park to see the deer and the old mill before we had a meal at the Swan.  It had been a number of years since we last saw James and we were not sure what to expect.  However he looked and sounded very well and seemed very positive about his progress.   We hope that he will soon be strong enough to enjoy a trip on the boat with us and look forward to a steady recovery.

Is an improvement in the weather on the way?  The day started very wet again woke to rain beating down on the roof and decided not to rush off anywhere too soon.  However by the time we were ready to depart about 10:30 the rain had stopped and the sky was gradually turning bluer.  However it was early afternoon before I felt warm enough to dispense with my coat.  Now at 7pm it is a lovely evening and the birds are singing their appeciation!

We have managed about ten miles cruising today having had three stops along the way.  First we stopped to fill the water tank at the tap at Little Bollington (not far from where we were moored).  We had no sooner got the hose on the tap than two boats arrived and were waiting to use same tap.   There has been a steady procession of boats heading north last night and this morning, most having just left a rally at Runcorn.   We were soon (but not soon enough - filling our water tank is always a slow business) topped up and on our way down the long line of moored boats on the approaches to Lymm.  At Lymm we managed to squeeze into the moorings close to the shops for a trip to the local Spar.  Here we christened Molly (the trolley)! Being almost old aged pensioners we (who?) decided to buy a shopping trolley to have on board.  Today was the first time Bridie remembered to use it.   It was useful and given the number of wine and beer bottles we brought back my arms might have been stretched were it not for the trolley.  Having reprovisioned the boat and lunched we moved on and made brisk progress through Thelwall and Grappenhall to Stockton Heath were we stopped again to top up with fuel at http://www.thornmarine.co.uk/

Onwards in improving cruising weather we went under the A56 at Walton New Bridge and then passed the tree which still bears the scar where our rope brought Prairie Oyster to a stand under full throttle a few years back, when we had a fire in the engine bay and the throttle stuck in the open position.  Thankfully I managed to put out the fire and RCR came to the rescue in the form of an engineer from Claymore Navigation at Preston Brook who rigged up a temporary cable to get us to Preston Brook where a permanent repair to electrics and throttle were carried out http://www.claymoore.co.uk/ We are meeting friends week after next who are hiring 'Ruby Tuesday' from Claymore and intend to go down the Anderton lift onto the weaver with them.

We are now moored just before the village shop at Moore. We are close enough to the Manchester Ship canal here to take the dogs for a walk over the swing bridge and into the nature reserve.  That is plan A for tomorrow.