They Think Its All Over.......

Well it is now ...

Today was our last day cruising on the good ship.  We were up at 07.00 and after saying our farewells to Dot, Gordon, Ray and Duane we were off.

To be factual, I was off!  Elaine stayed on the towpath to take pics up me leaving, plus walk the doggies along the towpath for a while.

Off we go ...

Farewell dear friends xx

Elaine had the camera with her and got some great pics of a lamb that had just been born.  I am not a veg head myself, but I can't do lamb or veal, it just doesn't seem right.

The boys pulled her through the mud ...

These will be our new friends in a couple of weeks when we go Pikey!

Into the first lock ...

Then the second ...

Woohoo ...

I have always loved this house at Weston, mainly because of its superb conservatory ...

Finally, the last lock after just over two years aboard the good ship Caxton ...

Sammie checking we are lined up OK ...

OK, hit reverse you muppet ...

And up she comes ...

All safe and sound ...

The crew were happy ...

Someone who I can't remember told me about this little trick a while ago ...

When you are coming out of a lock single handed, just as you pass the lock gates put the boat into reverse on idle speed then go back and shut the gate - by the time you have done that your boat is reversing back into the lock to pick you up.  Jump on, put in forward and away you go.  It is a bit disconcerting when the boat leaves the lock without you, but never fear she will always come back!

Bombo having his last sniff of country air ...

He was on lookout this time.....Dont bloody scratch it now!! 

Ya gunna hit the wall ...

No chance - all back safe and sound...

So that's it our mini cruise was over, the boat behaved impeccably as always.

We have a GPS onboard connected to waterways explorer.  I have never done a daily mileage, locks etc. but the total is 1614.55 miles 1033 locks and an awful lot of swing bridges. 

Once we were connected to the electric Elaine carried on packing whilst I got the hose out and cleaned the mud off the boat.

We then jumped into the little Citroen and headed off to Macclesfield as I have a blood test in the morning.

Whilst we were in Macc Elaine's brother Trevor returned my Laptop.....

BIG BERTHA LIVES AGAIN!!!!