tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14374782386575354092024-03-14T02:33:00.134+00:00THE MEANING OF UBIQUEA NARROWBOATING ADVENTURE IN WORDS AND PICTURESAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723767838693170223noreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-82149820449628680982011-03-28T16:45:00.000+01:002011-03-28T16:45:51.769+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">NEW BLOG. NEW BLOG. NEW BLOG</span></em>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If anyone is interested we will be starting a new Blog about life after Ubique</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">here.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lifeafterubique.blogspot.com/">http://lifeafterubique.blogspot.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is still a lot to say about the waterways but it might be interesting to see what happens next, because one thing is for sure, we haven't got a clue....... as yet!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hope to see you over there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-67043464592741578272011-03-26T20:33:00.000+00:002011-03-26T20:33:51.932+00:00<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">The Brick House.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Well....now it's time for....</span></em><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Overview.</span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, where have those two years gone?</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are both in a bit of a state of shock at the moment, but as a consolation we are taking away two years worth of the best memories and experiences that it would be very hard to find elsewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Highlight:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Compared to living on land, the whole time we have spent afloat was just the best, but, if we have to choose, the Standedge Tunnel stands out head and shoulders above the other features of the system. It was a very big problem to get to it but well worth the effort once you got there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Low point:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not too many of these thankfully and those were only engine or tenant related.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I did have the head off twice - the engine that is, not the tenant - to fix some dodgy seals but that was not really a problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New injectors and a new gearbox oil cooler with high pressure pipe is all that I have had to fit in the past two years, so on the basis of running the engine for at least four to five hours a day minimum, I think we can class ourselves as pretty lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tenants on the other hand……………………well, lets say no more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Myth Of The Canals:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Continuous Cruising is not really possible no matter how hard you might try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let me explain…… Starting around the beginning of the summer you are faced with hire boaters aplenty, these are like a breath of fresh air really with their antics and “we are on holiday” attitude. But you are also faced with marina based craft. Most of these boats - and I mean this most sincerely - are the biggest pain on the waterways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They bring their boats out once in a blue moon and expect everything and everybody to get out of their way as they make their way to “their” favourite mooring or pub. This is usually the same as everyone else’s favourite place and leads to huge congestion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Congestion is the main problem at this time of the year and this lot are very responsible for causing most of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Think expensive toy and you are on the right lines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moving on from the summer, autumn is soon upon you and the leaves abandon the trees with a vengeance. These leaves unbelievably clog the boats propeller that is spinning at around two thousand revs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This might not seem too important but the only way to clear them is to run the engine astern. This goes on for weeks and weeks and if you are trying to move, the wear on the gearbox is enough to keep you awake at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By now you should also be planning as to where you want to be trapped for the winter. This is not only whether you might get iced in or not, wherever that might be, but also having to work around the BW winter stoppage programme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This starts in November and finishes at the end of March. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Some continuous cruisers take winter moorings and pay BW another small fortune for the privilege of …………..staying put!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then, all of a sudden the ice has gone, the sun peeps through, daffodils are around along with the new born lambs and it wont be long before the ducklings arrive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is still not quite time for the scourge of the marina boats to infect the waterways so therefore this is it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The best possible time to be out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But………………. the summer approaches once more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">BW Maintenance:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is now fast becoming almost non existent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The winter stoppages just haven’t done anything really this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To escape the onslaught of boats in the summer we found the Leeds Liverpool to be nice and quiet but the main problem up there now is no water due to an absolute lack of maintenance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a big canal in terms of length, shutting the whole of it admits to serious decay in the infrastructure, not - as they say - just being short of a little rain!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A canal without water is just a heap of mud and dumped rubbish which, given time, will always attract more rubbish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Only time will tell how they get on now they are a charity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Well thats it for us...... so as this door closes we are now looking for the next one that has opened. Thanks to you all for reading my drivel and i'll leave the last words of this blog for <em>Ubique.</em></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Goodbye old girl and thanks............you did us proud!</strong></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The end.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-33477720839639211652011-03-21T17:33:00.000+00:002011-03-21T17:33:39.456+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Buckby Top Lock To Whilton Marina, 7 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Oh..... if you have ever had a surreal day this one takes the biscuit!!! </span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Setting off</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> for Whilton on an idyllic canaling day, we were just about as fed up as something very fed up in a very fed up place. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Did I mention we were fed up?</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">No?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well we were!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uSgQsceV1k8/TYeFujltq1I/AAAAAAAAEsQ/Qc_13qh12Jo/s1600/100_9205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uSgQsceV1k8/TYeFujltq1I/AAAAAAAAEsQ/Qc_13qh12Jo/s640/100_9205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mooching through what must be some of the heaviest locks on the system - they have nicely painted in the cill markers over the winter though - gave D her final workout.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then, the final doom laden lock and we were out and moored for the last time.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Now for the surreal bit.....</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The man from Whilton appeared in the bow doors with a bankers draft handed it over.........and that was it!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"> <em>Ubique</em> was gone!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just like that, no form filling no post mortem...... nothing.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time......................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-9642567055566206622011-03-20T16:20:00.001+00:002011-03-20T16:24:21.594+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Buckby Top Lock.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Ousted by boxes.........just as well!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DWD313aIaTA/TYYicmhqviI/AAAAAAAAEsI/dG4I2yM4qZI/s1600/100_9199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DWD313aIaTA/TYYicmhqviI/AAAAAAAAEsI/dG4I2yM4qZI/s640/100_9199.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Isn't it funny how things work out?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We arrived here a day ahead of schedule, we packed like demons yesterday until we could not move on the boat due to the piles of boxes and have had to transfer to the tow path or cratch for our meals.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This morning was a bit chilly for breakfast but we had to brave it as there is no room to set the table up inside.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Sitting there we could here this crackling noise start up which gradually got louder and louder and sounded like a bonfire. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This turned out to be the hedgerow going up in smoke next to the boat moored ahead of us.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Dashing down there with buckets and banging on their roof to get them out we all got it under control and then managed to put it out.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It seems they had emptied their ash bucket in the hedgerow last night where a not quite out ember must have smoldered away and suddenly burst into flames this morning.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Had circumstances not led us to being right there just when we were needed, that whole hedge would have gone up as it is as dry as tinder.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A salutary warning to make sure your ash is definitely out before dumping it!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Off to the Marina tomorrow...........Ooooeer.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time....................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-65732164893311953332011-03-19T18:35:00.000+00:002011-03-19T18:35:48.471+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Willoughby To Norton Junction, 6 locks And 1 Tunnel.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;"></span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;"></span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;"></span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;"></span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">It's nearly all over now......and out comes the sun!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Away we went on this our last real cruise. One last picture of the bridge that has managed to stay up in this state for the last two years.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One last shot of the approach to Marmite land.........</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">...........where the marina is full to bursting and waiting to fill the canals with weekenders.........</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">..................onward past the myriad of hire boats being made ready for the fast approaching silly season...........</span><br />
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........until we were back out into the country once again.<br />
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</div>Not for long though as we still had to negotiate our final tunnel and make our way to.......<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Norton Junction and Buckby top lock where - and this is typical - the sun came out with a vengeance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Forgetting the packing for now, tables and chairs were put out on the side and we soaked it up.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Until next time.......................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-15214183710703423472011-03-17T18:41:00.000+00:002011-03-17T18:41:31.026+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Stretton Under Fosse To Willoughby...ish,</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">3 Locks And One Tunnel.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Nearly at Marmite land now!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yet another trip through the strangeness that is the Newbold Tunnel, will they ever turn those lights off?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Wasteful or what?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Scooting along to Hillmorton, we find that the winter stoppage program has had BW changing all the balance beams on this lock but seemingly they could not find a pot of paint to bring them up to scratch.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's not quite the same is it?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Jj6Rl37K2c/TYJOEZH7MnI/AAAAAAAAErU/WayM9PMOC0M/s1600/100_9171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Jj6Rl37K2c/TYJOEZH7MnI/AAAAAAAAErU/WayM9PMOC0M/s640/100_9171.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The second set of beams - from this angle - look like they could well and truly tangle themselves up</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qRno6-CGojw/TYJOJYP3nJI/AAAAAAAAErY/WOiEzuJeV_Y/s1600/100_9172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qRno6-CGojw/TYJOJYP3nJI/AAAAAAAAErY/WOiEzuJeV_Y/s640/100_9172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the marina that was going to be opened in Autumn last year. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All the plant has now gone and that looks like a very expensive hole in the ground!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We are now within shouting distance of Marmite land, aka Braunston - you either love it or you hate it - and the packing has begun.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When you start, you suddenly realise the enormity of the task ahead. Just exactly how much stuff can you cram onto a narrowboat over two years?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Boxes, we need boxes, many more boxes.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.....................</span> </div><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-65988629255035783542011-03-16T17:54:00.000+00:002011-03-16T17:54:20.528+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Hartshill To Stretton Under Fosse, 1 Stop Lock.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Decay in abundance along here......</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This little ladybird seems to be around a little too early if you ask me.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NbTyDD3Wvtg/TYDsceW30UI/AAAAAAAAEq0/cLoxDZA7GtA/s1600/100_9138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NbTyDD3Wvtg/TYDsceW30UI/AAAAAAAAEq0/cLoxDZA7GtA/s640/100_9138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nuneaton......What on earth has happened to Nuneaton??</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was the only bit of colour in the whole drab, dreary and filthy place it is now. The canal is a bit of a joke as it is just a mass of floating debris.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Polythene is the name of the game for the propeller around here.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We were only saying yesterday how much Atherstone had gone down hill since our last visit but..........Nuneaton, that wins hands down and I am sorry to say that on balance it is far worse than Blackburn or Burnley.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For those of you whose boats are too big to get you there, that is really saying something, believe me!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-udC1UMBftBA/TYDs0QkdiNI/AAAAAAAAEq4/-q5tcqb0Wlw/s1600/100_9133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-udC1UMBftBA/TYDs0QkdiNI/AAAAAAAAEq4/-q5tcqb0Wlw/s640/100_9133.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a bit out of sync but I thought I might as well go with the theme. The BW yard at Hartshill has been like this since last year, when they cannot even be seen to fix their own yard........ alarm bells should be ringing.</span></div><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The poor old Navigation, a canal pub for years. Now just a boarded up ruin.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moving on...................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A quick left turn through Hawkesbury Junction/Sutton Stop onto the North Oxford.......</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cnnPj3IkeqA/TYD0k8wsQDI/AAAAAAAAErE/ZYi2BO7BrSc/s1600/100_9153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cnnPj3IkeqA/TYD0k8wsQDI/AAAAAAAAErE/ZYi2BO7BrSc/s640/100_9153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.........found us in a completely different world. This one of no prop clogging rubbish and a little bit of obvious maintenance.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The only things marring this bit of the system are the M69, the M6 and the high speed rail link, but hey, you can't have everything.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.................................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-6012190413875920632011-03-15T19:09:00.000+00:002011-03-15T19:09:44.904+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Fradley Junction To Grendon, 2 Locks. Then Onto Hartshill, 11 Locks.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Flying along now.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Heading off to Fazeley Junction we passed quite a few encampments along the way, this boat has got to be the smallest livaboard we have seen in our two years.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How they manage beggars belief.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Passing through a very empty Fazeley Junction we could only stop for some chips from the local chippie as we must press on.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0uL7ZwQkhEI/TX-uvMhVUdI/AAAAAAAAEqo/t_usefT0nnM/s1600/100_9125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0uL7ZwQkhEI/TX-uvMhVUdI/AAAAAAAAEqo/t_usefT0nnM/s640/100_9125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Passing through what must be two of the slowest filling locks on the</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> system, Glascote Locks - </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A whole hour it took us just to get through these two - we went off to a favourite mooring of ours in the middle of nowhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After setting up camp we were just settling down and guess what?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AOuEOkf1aSs/TX-0CXrWfqI/AAAAAAAAEqs/_g1P1bM9ALA/s1600/100_9128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AOuEOkf1aSs/TX-0CXrWfqI/AAAAAAAAEqs/_g1P1bM9ALA/s640/100_9128.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh yes........Along came</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the usual boat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All the canal and any mooring that they want to choose, so where do they stop? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Twenty feet from our bow!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I know I keep harping on about this, but....politeness and common sense would dictate you leave at least a seventy foot gap so even if these completely empty moorings suddenly filled up, a boat could still get in and moor. Nothing could get in the gap these "people" have left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our cosy warm evening with a bottle of wine plan, was to attack the Atherstone Flight at silly o'clock in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Silly o'clock arrived but..... good evening ideas don't seem quite so good in the cold light of day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In our defence though, it was cold and it was misty and it was quite dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The warm duvet soon won.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We moved on much later!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.........................</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-86853368309840549652011-03-13T19:36:00.000+00:002011-03-13T19:36:06.382+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Great Haywood Junction To Fradley Junction, 4 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Who on earth.............</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Picture this.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's a quarter to eight in the morning, it's pouring with rain and it's Sunday.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">People are walking through the mud on the towpath past the boat with animated and happy voices.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Now.....to me, there are only two types of people in the world who would do this, Fisherman and Ramblers.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Today it was the turn of the Ramblers, loads of them all bouncing along and laughing. I tell you, that is serious dedication or..........is it total lunacy? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Warm bed? Wet muddy towpath? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Warm bed? Wet muddy towpath?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Decisions decisions!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had no choice, we had to go. Coats, gloves and hats were the order of the day when we set off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I do have a lot of faith in weather lore though and I was relying on the one that is "Rain before seven, fine before eleven".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">True to form the rain stopped at ten thirty and by the time these volunteers were out and about to clear some more BW bank side, it was a lovely sunny day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Even Rugeley looked great in the sun today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you look closely on the right of this picture there is a boat moored up, that boat has been there since we passed through here on the fourth of October last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The friendly local power supplier at the end of</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">your street.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is a fairly new estate built more or less in the grounds of the power station, all the houses are sold though and someone even seems to be trying to sell on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another day and another canal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are now on the Coventry in what seems like a headlong rush to get back to the beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The removal van is booked!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time...................</span><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-43969873377561635612011-03-12T18:39:00.000+00:002011-03-12T18:39:27.669+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Penkridge To Great Haywood Junction, 7 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Not too sure if we are actually enjoying this trip.....</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Many heartfelt thanks to those messages of support, they do mean a lot......honestly.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There were a few questions in there from various readers so I thought it might be easier to answer them in a Blog.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Yes we are taking <em>Ubique</em> back to the Marina and I think they have bought her to sell on, but you never know.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One door closes and another one opens, so as to what we will be doing next, Who knows? certainly not us at the moment and that, to be honest, is quite exciting!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A letting agent was never for us owing to the huge fees involved, also we would still have had to return for painting etc on changing tenants.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Ruth, as soon as we have bought a car we will be over for a visit.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As for returning to the cut...........again, who knows?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now, how cute can you get?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This was a field of new borns who could hardly even stand to follow mum as she wandered off.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They seem to know what a camera is though.</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Continuing in a spring theme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cygnets are on the way here, and if you point that at me again.... I'll fix you good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This, unbelievably, is Tixall Wide on a Saturday afternoon. A distinct lack of boating activity here today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Not so early this morning, as not one but two yellow perils passed us heading for the first lock. Half an hour - and one breakfast later - they are still there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Off goes D to <strike>find out what's going on</strike> buy a paper, to find them trying to fill the lock with the bottom paddles open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bearing in mind that they must have worked through six locks yesterday from when they left the boatyard to arriving here, they messed this one up with style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Big ole smiles and the explanation that they are doing the four counties ring and need to travel at least eight hours a day to get round.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Best they turn back now then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Another day under the belt and no one's feeling any happier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.......................</span><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-6432754936325344312011-03-11T17:56:00.001+00:002011-03-11T17:58:41.882+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Penkridge, 8 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">A Digest of a Blog today....... to catch up.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After selling <em>Ubique</em> on Tuesday morning we set off on a two week cruise to get her back to Whilton.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First though, we had to get past the rest of the Shroppie which is in a terribly unstable condition through most of the cuttings, this fall has only been partially cleared for reasons best known only to BW.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Leave a seven foot gap lads and bung some fenders on it, that should do for a few years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A bit of a beer, music and wine fueled night later we were off to Gnosall on Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It was here we worked out our trip and realised that we have left ourselves too much to do in our normal mode and will have to step up a gear and go whatever the weather.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thursday, of course, was blowing an absolute gale and we made a very slanted, crabbing, four hour trip to Autherley Junction to find - yet again - a boatyard taking over everything in reach. Where do you drop off or pick up crew at this lock?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Friday is here and we are off to Penkridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few locks to do first though and five hours later we arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are now actually wondering if we are in the right place for tonight as there are so many students - of all ages - hanging around on this towpath making a huge nuisance of themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.....................</span><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-49593539666672271522011-03-10T18:22:00.001+00:002011-03-10T18:24:13.075+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Market Drayton And Beyond.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Oooo Tuesday was a very surreal day</span>.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tuesday morning found us waiting for the man from Whilton Marina to call.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The horse hair has snapped, the sword has fallen but we have managed to dodge most of the sharp bits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The man arrived bang on time and after a quick look around offered us some money, a little bit of haggling later and <em>Ubique</em> was sold. Just like that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Gutted, <span style="font-size: large;">Gutted</span>,<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gutted.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We have been forced into this situation by tenants and their continuously changing minds. Trying to Manage the house from this far away on our own just isn't possible any more so the decision was made and back we go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Two years out here was our original plan and although we have done a lot more in that time than we thought we would, we were not quite ready to go back just yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But.........needs must.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.................... </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-82757709003572970522011-03-07T17:40:00.000+00:002011-03-07T17:40:34.271+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Market Drayton.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Staying put.</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sword of Damocles is poised!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.....................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-50267772311682960182011-03-05T19:52:00.000+00:002011-03-05T19:52:39.525+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Nantwich To Audlem, 2 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">The "marinas" are out...</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Off we went into a distinctly autumunal morning, absolutely nothing springlike about it but a great day nonetheless.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There was though, an influx of boats racing from the local marinas to the pubs within their reach..... I forgot it was the weekend! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-khc8INXzzQY/TXKM0t1dWpI/AAAAAAAAEpU/IpjFSBYvBXM/s1600/100_9078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-khc8INXzzQY/TXKM0t1dWpI/AAAAAAAAEpU/IpjFSBYvBXM/s640/100_9078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What on earth are all those people doing standing on that bridge? says I.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Whooo, Whooo says the steam train.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is the result of a flying steamer and the slowest camera money can buy.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Still, a canal boat being passed by one of those does stir something up that will never be the same again.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hey, hey, hey, topical or what?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time..............</span><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-4280285542974753192011-03-04T17:00:00.000+00:002011-03-04T17:00:48.225+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Baddiley Locks To Nantwich, 9 Locks.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">What a day and what a sign.......</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moving ever downwards we were soon at another lock that had been closed for the winter repairs, one of the Swanley pair.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This one had had all three of the hard standings for opening and closing the gates renewed in this lovely brickwork. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bd4C0_KCcDg/TXEQw16J3QI/AAAAAAAAEo8/bo3fP6a9dWw/s1600/100_9062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bd4C0_KCcDg/TXEQw16J3QI/AAAAAAAAEo8/bo3fP6a9dWw/s640/100_9062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So now.......you have a nice place to stand and watch the water pouring through - not just around - the rotting gate. I wonder who planned that one then?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Plodding on through another fine and sunny day, we were a</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ll too soon at the top of the Hurleston</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">locks.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then in even quicker time we were at the bottom lock and clear of our overwintering grounds.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">October 27th was the last time we were in this spot, 4 long and cold months ago.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A strange thing happened again shortly afterwards, the banks seemed to disappear away to each side, then <em>Ubique</em> found some water under her baseplate and she was off. If I didn't know better I would have said we were speeding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Making Nantwich early we went in for a walk and it was there we found this sign.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2NnzOeZH9lk/TXEYlIA0hKI/AAAAAAAAEpM/gkn4lWY8V5E/s1600/100_9077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2NnzOeZH9lk/TXEYlIA0hKI/AAAAAAAAEpM/gkn4lWY8V5E/s640/100_9077.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nibbly Fish, I couldn't believe what I was looking at.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Apparently you sit with your feet in a tank of water and these fish nibble away at the dead skin and whatever else might be lurking around your toes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Nooooo, no, no, no, no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.....................</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-74711084967033261422011-03-03T19:25:00.000+00:002011-03-03T19:25:04.140+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Grindley Brook To Baddiley No1 Lock, 7 Locks, 1 Staircase And 2 Lift Bridges.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">A canal fest of a day in the sunshine......... but then,</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Grindley Brook has been closed for some of the winter for repairs.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They didn't fix the top gate!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They didn't fix the middle gates!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pzbzAXtq-pI/TW_Z5lnuRoI/AAAAAAAAEoo/xaEyqBw-EjY/s1600/100_9045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pzbzAXtq-pI/TW_Z5lnuRoI/AAAAAAAAEoo/xaEyqBw-EjY/s640/100_9045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And they certainly didn't fix the paddle gear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There was a bit of new paint on the bottom lock gates though.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZwVp1irVOsg/TW_aGJGHnxI/AAAAAAAAEos/cIoLYLLmoeg/s1600/100_9046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZwVp1irVOsg/TW_aGJGHnxI/AAAAAAAAEos/cIoLYLLmoeg/s640/100_9046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The weirs were just as ferocious as we wended our way down.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sj5hMfoZ8Ng/TW_aPsMWZ6I/AAAAAAAAEow/NVC4J7WlWKA/s1600/100_9048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sj5hMfoZ8Ng/TW_aPsMWZ6I/AAAAAAAAEow/NVC4J7WlWKA/s640/100_9048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The boatyard at Wrenbury are really taking the mickey here, all the boats on the right are on the visitor moorings and there is not one space left for us "visitors".</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VD8h9qODPE4/TW_aZehn8wI/AAAAAAAAEo0/ti35X1N8xT0/s1600/100_9057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VD8h9qODPE4/TW_aZehn8wI/AAAAAAAAEo0/ti35X1N8xT0/s640/100_9057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Imagine the scene...... we have just chugged down the Llangollen for about four hours on a perfect canaling day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We have negotiated a fest of locks and other features all in the lovely warm spring sunshine and are considering ourselves very lucky indeed. Mooring at the top of the next few locks we</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> even had drinks on the stern as the warmth of the late afternoon sun</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">was too good </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to miss.......Then</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We get a phone call from the new tenants saying their situation has changed and they can no longer afford to pay the rent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We are now in trouble!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time..............................</span><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-1355369398391755202011-02-28T17:35:00.000+00:002011-02-28T17:35:46.002+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Prees Branch To Grindley Brook.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">One incandescant me.....</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WX-A1BLlj8U/TWvWgFsLnVI/AAAAAAAAEoc/DqyXWKfx5C4/s1600/100_9037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WX-A1BLlj8U/TWvWgFsLnVI/AAAAAAAAEoc/DqyXWKfx5C4/s640/100_9037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just look what I have done! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Caught out by a blast of wind whilst passing under a lift bridge.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Two years of taking on some of the worst tunnels and bridges on the system without the faintest hint of a scratch to the topsides and I get caught out under a stupid little lift bridge. The list of tunnels includes the Standedge, The Harecastle and even the Frogall where only a few boats our size fear to tread.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Oooo I was mad, madder than mad, blood pressure raising mad.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We do have paint aboard though, I just hope it hasn't set.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time...................</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-9443406454567768732011-02-27T18:01:00.000+00:002011-02-27T18:01:48.833+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ellesmere To The Prees Branch.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Of all the moorings. on all the canals......etc, etc.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1j0G9pJ0DJw/TWo0faehObI/AAAAAAAAEoY/u2Ka4ZVdwI8/s1600/100_9035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1j0G9pJ0DJw/TWo0faehObI/AAAAAAAAEoY/u2Ka4ZVdwI8/s640/100_9035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yesterday we left Ellesmere in our wake and started our journey to leave the Llangollen canal and onto pastures new.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">First stop was the Prees branch to visit what must be one of the cheapest diesel spots on the system at the moment. 68ppl across the board. Luvverly Jubberly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We then moved out to a mooring we had earmarked earlier as being so secluded and rural it was just the right tonic after being in such close proximity to other boats for so long. Thoughts of late night TV and games on the Wii with the genny running after eight to power it all came to the forefront of our minds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Along they chugged and there they stopped, this was the first boat we had seen all day and of course as soon as they saw us they moored up less than a boat length in front.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">No running anything into the night for us then.......could you pass that book?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.........................</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span> </div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-57365076973565998542011-02-25T19:20:00.000+00:002011-02-25T19:20:19.980+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Trevor To Ellesmere.....Eventually!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Noooo, It's Unbelievable</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz2P3g2ejwI/TWfw35Uxv-I/AAAAAAAAEoM/F7aVCX-0NSE/s1600/100_9021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz2P3g2ejwI/TWfw35Uxv-I/AAAAAAAAEoM/F7aVCX-0NSE/s640/100_9021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our guests have been taken over two aqueducts, through two tunnels, under one lift bridge and dropped two locks, then the whole process was reversed. The Llangollen has a fair bit of diversity, you cannot deny that.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This lift bridge had "the gongoozler from hell" standing by it.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We passed through and as I got D back aboard he starts running off at the mouth.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Shouldn't you close that bridge? Mr self imposed bridge controller asks.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Pardon?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I think you will find you have to close that bridge after you pass.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Normally, yes we would, but what about the two boats who are waiting to come through? Or words to that effect.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This did get me chuntering a bit on two points, (chuntering is not something I do any more, but this ice cream munching fool hit the spot).</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Point one is what on earth has it got to do with him anyway? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Point two is just how brain dead and so unaware of what is going on around him was he not to notice two gaily painted narrowboats waiting to pass through the bridge no more than forty feet away on the other side? Some people! </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEDKrql8j_E/TWfxhy-1pvI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/QOAi-pfy3xY/s1600/100_9023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEDKrql8j_E/TWfxhy-1pvI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/QOAi-pfy3xY/s640/100_9023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After leaving our guests at Trevor we set off to.......... who knows where?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sun came out on the Chirk aqueduct as we re entered England, this didn't really help us as we were in the mood for pressing on anyway.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8wR16C9AKQ/TWfx6x_jK4I/AAAAAAAAEoU/5q7nSiXOgZ4/s1600/100_9027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8wR16C9AKQ/TWfx6x_jK4I/AAAAAAAAEoU/5q7nSiXOgZ4/s640/100_9027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We plugged on - far too far - and made Ellesmere in just over six hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Now........... Ellesmere was absolutely packed with boats when we arrived, there was only one mooring left, and this was the exact same mooring we had spent our winter confinement on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">No way we both said, lets try the arm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The arm was a solid line of boats with not a single chance of getting in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We are now - as you might have guessed - back to where we started. NOoooo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.......................</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-43618667327587124272011-02-23T18:29:00.000+00:002011-02-23T18:29:54.683+00:00<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Llangollen Canal.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Just that little bit of spring in the air.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADN99nfM-lg/TWVO8Sqj22I/AAAAAAAAEoI/TGKjWynQoi0/s1600/100_9012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADN99nfM-lg/TWVO8Sqj22I/AAAAAAAAEoI/TGKjWynQoi0/s640/100_9012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh so blurry as we rushed by at two miles an hour, spring in a nutshell.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-58546688482549513862011-02-21T18:00:00.001+00:002011-02-22T11:33:34.094+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Trevor.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brass, rain. Rain, brass. Huh,Huh,Huh.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeG-DercEr8/TWKmhR2qpiI/AAAAAAAAEoE/k02zQ4RU1H8/s1600/100_9004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeG-DercEr8/TWKmhR2qpiI/AAAAAAAAEoE/k02zQ4RU1H8/s640/100_9004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's a few brave souls</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">out for the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We, on the other hand, are just marking time until tomorrow by making it rain again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.....................</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-47374740210385604422011-02-20T13:32:00.000+00:002011-02-20T13:32:50.144+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Trevor....ish To Trevor.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A small move.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's another three, all uploaded in less than a minute now it's a bit quieter in broadband land.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgZJETHD47I/TWEUFQgMJlI/AAAAAAAAEn4/NY7Olsz-3jk/s1600/100_8999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgZJETHD47I/TWEUFQgMJlI/AAAAAAAAEn4/NY7Olsz-3jk/s640/100_8999.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5JWxlDFFrcU/TWEUJn_atRI/AAAAAAAAEn8/WjmWKlUi32E/s1600/100_9000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5JWxlDFFrcU/TWEUJn_atRI/AAAAAAAAEn8/WjmWKlUi32E/s640/100_9000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auG2PLkMre8/TWEUNUBQqmI/AAAAAAAAEoA/3HKa6PL0CHE/s1600/100_8996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auG2PLkMre8/TWEUNUBQqmI/AAAAAAAAEoA/3HKa6PL0CHE/s640/100_8996.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This little inconspicuous thing is the plug to drain it.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We have moved back to Trevor now to await our guests (Sam & Ian) who will be with us for a couple of days over half term.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There are quite a few more boats on the move now but it is not as busy as you would think it should be.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We have TV signal again, joice, joice and rejoice.....Or not as the case may be.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time..........................</span></div><br />
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.Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-79831843272210979582011-02-19T18:44:00.000+00:002011-02-19T18:44:32.263+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Trevor....ish.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">A little wander.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmhZ14NmdKQ/TWAK6Vn_JXI/AAAAAAAAEn0/SVdy8KZBcsM/s1600/100_8993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmhZ14NmdKQ/TWAK6Vn_JXI/AAAAAAAAEn0/SVdy8KZBcsM/s640/100_8993.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We walked into Trevor and back across the aqueduct today. This gave me a chance to take a few different pictures and also to find out that D is fine crossing it on a boat but turns into a pile of jelly when on foot. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Odd...most odd, but not without humour.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have a few more pictures but the Internet tonight is..........well lets just say it would be quicker to post them to you.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's amazing how this technology falls to pieces when more than six people try to log on at the same time, they must know when it is going to be busy by now.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But then they do, and unless you pay more money for superfast fatter broadband you will keep getting squeezed off the net until you do. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then it all starts again.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.........................</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-23520626626074818182011-02-17T17:42:00.000+00:002011-02-17T17:42:38.135+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Trevor To Rhoswiel And Nearly Back.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">A long day for a gallon of petrol.......</span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What shall we do today then?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Well..... we are nearly out of petrol for the genny and could nip to the garage.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Four and a half hours of "nipping" later we are heavier by a gallon and lighter by pounds.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These BW houses on the English side of the Chirk aqueduct have proper bridge number plates as their house numbers, quirky!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One thing you definitely do not need around here is something that makes the bridge holes even lower. This is a real duck and cover type. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the moment we have our winter chimney fixed</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">which is considerably taller than our summer "steaming about showing off the brass bands etc" chimney, with coolie hat it just makes it under this one, and I do mean "just".</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> This is - I am reliably told - .........no I cant do it, it must be a wind up.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Ok.... she is sure</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is ....Pussy Willow.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You have to look carefully at a bad picture but those buds look like Cotton wool balls and have this amazing name.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I really hope this is not a wind up.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time.......................</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437478238657535409.post-73907466900586041042011-02-16T18:20:00.000+00:002011-02-16T18:20:52.570+00:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Trevor.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">If it rains it's not my fault.......</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How about this Taxidermi shop in Llangollen? they really do look like they have been frozen in real time.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not for us but still pretty impressive.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lets polish that brass says I.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">No! you will make it rain again says D.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Guests are on the way says I.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Umph!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So..... if it does rain it is all our daughters fault.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jumping in on the</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">great bow thruster/girlie button/that's not boating debate..... when we went to pick up <em>Ubique -</em> who is fitted with a thruster - the man hit three boats in the confines of the marina just because he was to pig headed to use it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you need that you cannot handle your boat was his rather stupid excuse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Today was a bit of a classic though, imagine a beautifully painted and blacked hire boat leaving the dry dock here at Trevor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The man at the tiller was of the old school - full throttle and what do you need a bow thruster for? - boat handling style. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He smacked the newly painted boat into the side taking that new paint off all along one side, bounced off and scraped all down the other side before practically tearing the gearbox out of the poor thing as he tried to reverse it back to its mooring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It does make me wonder how we ever got out of the caves sometimes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Until next time...................</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span>Chris and Debbie,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09212114404566880478noreply@blogger.com1