We Set Sail this Morning in the pouring rain, after four days of doing nothing except repairs and The Funeral (Everything when well it was a most beautiful Service ) first day back on the water and its bucketing down, that was 12 hours ago and its still raining However after 7 hours cruising we found our first stop and are in for the night. The most gratifying thing is everything is Still working fingers crossed its a good DIY  However, it is great to be back sailing and moving I had almost forgotten the feeling of freedom it gives you and the beauty that surrounds you and the idiots you share the water with, less than a mile into our journey and we faced a boat that had come adrift and was lying across the canal just a gentle tap on its bow pushed it back to the toe path and woke the crew who seemed unconcerned that they were not in the same place that they were when they went to bed last night and one young man was quite upset that I had the audacity to wake him up so early (09.1...

  Hi Everyone As I said before every day is an adventure but our last adventure was a difficult one and one I was not happy with Buggerlugs had an electric problem but as most people know I am colour blind in fact I am the only colour blind Artist on the canal now thats a great accolade? So thats why I do not like Electrics. Last Sunday whilst on the Weaver I found a bad smell of burning coming from our bank of Batteries, it was easy to find the offending one as it had steam coming from it and it was red hot. Immediate action was required turn off the isolator switches disconnect the battery get the battery out before it blows, All sounds very dramatic and scary If I had known what I was doing I may have thought so!! So here we are on the weaver with one battery out of the system. Luckily I carry a spare but it is slightly bigger than the one I took out so the straps didn't quite fit however with a lot of squeezing puffing swearing I got it in and everything worked again ...

  Hi Everyone We are still on the River we have booked to go up the lift to the canal on Monday morning we are to wait there until Thurs when Maryanne will collect us to go to the Funeral. Someone said to me a few days ago that living on a boat must be like having a daily adventure. That astounded me because I had never realised that because thats exactly what it is. Yesterday having watch our new Neighbours sail off into the sun rise. Was the water and pump aou was behind us in a very fast flowing we either go forward and turn around or reverse looking at how fast the river was flowing I decided to take the less authordox way and reverse I forgot to mention about the bridge between us and the water station made it I should have filmed it. What I am saying that adventure lasted about 90min but an adventure anyway. Yesterday being a thurs we decided to leave our mooring in the Town and move up to the lift quite an uplifting trip as this time I left our mooring did a 360 degr...

  Hi Folks Buggerlugs at reat on the Weaver For the past week, we have just been mucking about on the river, No special intention, nothing in the diary, and Keeping an eye on the weather because where we are mooring is opposite where the river Dane flows into the Weaver, the Dane gets its water from the Pennines and with these thunderstorms about if the Dane becomes flooded the amount of water coming into the Weaver becomes dangerous in the fact that boats moored where we are become pinned to the wall with the force of the flow, so its worth keeping a very close eye on the weather and water. The above picture is taken fron the River Dane (actually its the Waitrose car park bridge over the Dane ) it now forms quite a nice T junction. The river is full of traffic it seems to have become a very popular destination, for boaters though I dont believe that hire boats are allowed on the river My theory is that the popularity of the river has increased because of the de...

   Here we are at resting Northwich Well here we are in Northwich its a nice clean mooring, overlooked by a few houses  But thats good it means its a good security aid.            Northwich is a strange town, it is going through a strange period in its history  50 Years ago it was a thriving little town with a lovely town center but over the past few years, it has deteriorated.Then the developers moved in, building multi-complex cinema, a large Asda, and many large retail units. the big shops overtook the little man. Now most of the small traders have left leaving a very empty high street and today a large empty retail space However the saddest part of the Northwich redevelopement is one of the best chippies we have found on our travels was the Wayfarer here in Northwich eat in or out always excelent food and service. My only hope is that the guy made enough money for his retirement he deserved it you dont keep a chippy like that for tha...

 Hi Everyone  Yesterday we welcomed our Four Australians back to Anderton and the end of their epic Journey Completing the Cheshire Ring consisting of 120 miles and 92 locks 4 tunnels and considering from the start they had never seen a proper lock until they were introduced to one in Manchester To complete the trip unscathed. with in the allotted time with the boat intact, that was a wonderful achievement you should all be very proud of yourselves you are all good enough to pass your helmsman certificate. Not sure about reversing but we will do that on your next visit We had a lovely meal last night that was a fitting tribute to celebrate an epic journey Noreen had a Fall yesterday she says it was a trip because only children and Old people Fall either way it has left her with a sprained wrist and a very badly bruised lower leg, I have administered first aid and Comfort I have given her two days sick and as sall the locks on the river are manned I have given her...

                                                  Buggerlugs checking into the Manchester Hilton Well we left Manchester at 08.00 this morning heading south for a much quieter location and not as many people Although I must say the People here in Castlefiefled Basin  in the heart of Manchester have been great though I believe that they are to busy with their own agenda and life to be even interested in anything else but them. Except for the old guy (67) who yesterday morning at 07.00 whilst I was doing my morning check I disturbed him as he was sleeping on a bench opposite Buggerlugs. His Story was that he had come up from Liverpool to watch is favourite 70s group play at the stadium (don't ask me who or what stadium speech was still blurred All I do know is that his wive was going to give him hell WHEN he got home apparently he had left the stadium and got l...