Oct 29th moored at Aston Marina on the Trent & Mersey canal

         255 miles, 94 locks, 2 short tunnels (twice each) and 2 lift bridges from Aston Marina

Monday 29th

A brighter start to the day today although it did rain overnight.  We took dogs for last walk to Aston Lock and finished packing and tidying up before heading north.  Cruise over for this year !

Sunday 28th - Aston Marina

Getting milder but wetter today.  However didn't stop us packing, loading the car, and tidying the boat. Last meal on board tonight.

Saturday 27th - Aston Marina

A dry day today,  but very cold with a frost when we woke this morning, also a day to remember as we drove down the M6/M5/M40 to Alvechurch for the official launch of nb Tuptonia.  My sister Lynne has been involved in raising funds to build and replace the existing nb Tuptonia for the last ten years - see http://www.tuptonia.org.uk/. This is the day the new boat is to be officially launched.  

We met up with family and friends at this launch and stayed on for a meal at The Weighbridge www.the-weighbridge.co.uk/ 

Friday 26th - Aston Marina

Bit windy overnight and rather cold, it had calmed down this morning and could see blue sky and sunshine but it was still rather cool.  After breakfast combine and tractors arrived in field opposite to harvest crop and kicked up rather a lot of dust so we decided to move as soon as we were ready.  Only about two miles to the marina and once we had turned to face the right way we enjoyed our last bit of cruising.  At the entrance to the marina nb Invincible appeared to be trying to turn left into the marina and failed. He then reversed and stopped opposite the entrance until we gesticulated that we wanted to turn right.  His second attempt was more successful but he had to use bowthrusters!  I turned right into the entrance and followed only to find he wastotally blocking our path through the bridge hole to our mooring and the landing for diesel.  I thought he was reversing onto a pontoon but it transpires he wanted diesel as well.  By now the wind had pushed us against a pontoon and we scraped past him onto the diesel landing point.  We were served first and moved onto our mooring, had coffee, took dogs a walk and went over to the office before Invicible had sorted themselves out. (I have painted over the scrapes already!)

Booked a table in the Bistro for tonight and took the dogs a walk across the marina to Aston Lock this afternoon but there is a decided chill in the air and it feels rather wintery with some menacing black clouds

about.

Thursday 25th - Sandon

Another dry day. Still rather grey and a bit colder but managed to finish the starboard side as planned. Bridie was busy sorting out cupboards, books, DVD's etc as well as preparing a lovely dinner for our last
night out on the system.