Looking back it’s been a year of significant difference for us and also one of new opportunities.
We started 2024 on the Ashby Canal, headed onto the Coventry, Trent and Mersey, Bridgewater and Leeds and Liverpool.
Through the late Spring and early summer, we had 3 months stationary in one place (thanks CRT for your sympathetic and accepting approach when we contacted you regarding our situation). The Leigh branch of the Leeds and Liverpool was an interesting place for the first while, but we feel we’ve explored it well now! We had a brief dash to Liverpool – an awesome experience wending our way down and round the docks.
Once back we had time to see the sights of the
Lymm Vintage Transport Weekend – some amazing boats to be seen.
We also had an eventful weekend of lock-wheeling for the steam narrowboat Tixall from Venetian Marina to the top of Bosley Locks on the Macclesfield, so that’s another 47 (46 plus back down Bosley top lock) locks we worked, although they don’t feature in our regular lock summary.
We travelled two waterways which were new to us – the Caldon in Staffordshire wending its way from Stoke-on-Trent to Leek and Froghall, and the Erewash in Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire which goes from the River Trent at Long Eaton up to Langley Mill. The Caldon gave us the excitement of Froghall Tunnel, one of the lowest challenges on the network.
Now at the end of the year we are having another new experience – winter mooring.
So our 2024 stats compared to the previous year are
2024 2023
Miles cruised 508.75 909.75
Locks completed 288 479
Tunnels 12 8
Distance underground 6 miles 8 miles
The winter mooring finds us on a river – not always a brilliant idea but it’s a CRT mooring and they don’t tend to allow people to take up moorings in dangerous places…
After the first month in one place on the Soar we are getting used to not moving every day because time flies due to the delight of being able to be more involved with our grandson. We’ve also taken the opportunity to at last join Canal River Trust as official volunteers which is great. It allows us to more fully appreciate the work of the volunteer task force who are so vital to our waterways. One total delight is the opportunity to be grandparents who collect from school, get involved in supporting school activities, and supporting football matches in mud and miserable weather! BLISS🤣
Looking ahead, when we leave our winter mooring in the spring, we are heading for pastures new to us, hoping to catch up with yet more friends and family on the way.
More info on our route next week when our planning has started in earnest. We look forward to taking you along with us as we chug our way through another year working, living afloat, and hopefully now volunteering as we go.
We hope 2025 brings you all peace, lots to see of interest, some excitement, safe moorings, clear routes, and working locks. Oh, and the opportunity for some relaxation!
Pickingupducks 