Whixall Marina

We have had to run a few errands back in the Forest of Dean, so we stored the boat in Whixall Marina.

This marina is fantastic, the best I have ever seen. Friendly staff, good electricity and water points, little shop, shower block, laundry room (cheaper than the Llangollen launderette), excellent pontoons BT line and Wifi. The only problem is that it is in the middle of nowhere and you do need a car. On the plus side, it is surrounded by fields and it is so peaceful.

The marina is situated along an arm of the canal and involves undertaking 2 lift bridges. Our book warns us that the first one is difficult to manage and it was not wrong. It was such hard work that my arms are still hurting!

Grindley Brook

On Tuesday we left Hindford and travelled along the open countryside to one of my favourite places Ellesmere. I have been really taken in by Ellesmere, not only does it have a handy launderette and dare I say a Tesco’s close to the canal the canal, it has a lake and of course the canal which as a BW yard.. We stopped there to do some shopping and to go to the launderette. It was quite busy with canal boats and they have winter moorings along the arm.

On Wednesday we left Ellesmere quite early and travelled along to Whitchurch. It was quite far and we did not make it all the way, we did about four hours and then the cold got to us and when we could not bear it any more we moored up in a lovely spot with the sun shining through the windows. After Ellesmere the canal makes its way through woods and the lack of leaves makes it easier to see through the trees to the woodlands and lakes beyond. As I found going through the forest a little monotonous I multitasked and prepared our evening meal, ready to heat up later that evening leaving Scott steering the boat. My excuse was that the quorn needed to marinade, however, I just wanted to be in the warm a bit.

Today I woke up much to my dismay and my cold had not vanished. I felt terrible, everything ached and I could not move let alone being to think about doing the three lift bridges ahead of us. I stayed in bed until lunch time before slowing getting up. As the engine needed to be on to charge the battery it did seem silly not to move the boat so with me at the helm and Scott with the faithful windlass in his hand I navigated through three lift bridges whilst sniffling and sneezing, not a pretty sight. We are now moored up at Grindley Brook.