A fabulous sunset last night, with it being so hot we left the front, back, side and roof hatches open, boy did we get a shock at 1.56am with thunder, lightning and heavy rain. It was a mad dash to close everything up. Toby much prefers these dark and stormys.
Toby doesn’t cope very well in the heat and struggled yesterday, so we cast off much earlier than usual at 7.15 to try and avoid the worst of the heat; I steered while Toby made breakfast. We passed this huge industrial site owned by TATA Chemical, it was quite something.
The canal soon narrowed with lots of blind bends to keep Toby on his toes. There were a few flashes, with great views.
This has to be the boat with the most solar panels, the owner said he’s not had to charge his battery from the engine once this year.
Middlewich and our first locks for what seems like an age (Liverpool, some nine days ago). Vlockies helped on site and we paid in kindness with flapjacks, it did the trick as one of the vlockies stayed with us for all three locks – or maybe he felt sorry for me, as he asked me about the sleeve on my arm, his parting shot was ‘a day over ground is better than a day underground’ thanks for that!
We passed the Middlewich breach repair, this stretch was out of action from March to December last year, and cost some £3m to repair. That’s somewhat different to a breach many years ago at The Lion Salt Works which was repaired in two weeks!
The countryside views and the blue skies have been wonderful today and have lifted my spirits. I was feeling a little flat the last day or so thinking that we’d done all the funky bits, how wrong could I be.
We found a perfect shady spot under a big tree, it required pins – these big long pins – and boy did I whack them in!
Toby sat out in the shade with a glass of Pimms and his kindle, he’s much more chilled today.
It was also ‘bone juice day’ and my three monthly injection in my tummy to strengthen by bones. I’ve been looking at the box in the fridge since we started, so it’s good to get it over and done with. Toby was very gentle, I’m hoping there is a bit less belly fat now to find a spot.
We also had a thunderstorm last night but had shut all hatches in anticipation! These tin boxes are jolly hot though in such high temperatures.
We hope you whacked them in using your left arm”?????? And a hammer! For two pins Romy’d give you a wiggin’.
Large photos???