Back to Aynho....

Over the last couple of weeks we've made our way South toward Aynho down the Maccelsfield, Trent & Mersey, Coventry and Oxford canals.
We parked up at Fenny Compton last Thursday and then got picked up on Friday to spend two days at Oulton Park Racetrack up near Chester.
Today we continued South with a leisurely start about 1pm. We cleared the 5 Claydon locks and moored as continuing on to Banbury wasn't an option with a canal festival being held there over the weekend and spare moorings, there weren't any....
Tomorrow, if the forecast rain doesn't arrive, we should make our winter mooring in Aynho.
The weather has been sunny and mild and cruising the twisting canal between Marston Doles and Fenny Compton on a perfect tranquil morning was what narrow boats and canals is all about.

Down the Maccelsfield and we had arranged to meet with Elaine & Paul, ex NB The Manly Ferry...
They walked a couple of miles from where their motor home was moored along the tow path toward us and jumped on at a bridge hole...

Paul assumed the position on the helm and soon proved he....

"Still Had It"... after a short while the NB had run aground....
We could put it down to the approaching NB not giving us much room, plus Paul being "To nice" and giving them a lot of canal.. He's lost the "Killer" instinct..... since he became a motorhome driver....

We passed what could be called.....

A "Real Mans Shed"......

Tools, Toys and collectables.......

We moored at Higher Poynton, nice docking by Paul.
He continued to show he....

"Still Had It" by doing the old "Coiling of the centre rope" on the roof.......

We later went for a meal and a catch up at the local pub, Boars Head, a good time....
Next morning Leonie and I walked to the mooring site of the motor home..

During the coffee break...

Sammy done the customary "sharing of his tongue". He's quick as a flash and it pays not to expose mouths, noses and ears.......

While.....

Bombo .... he likes a good rub behind the ears.........

We said goodbyes and continued down the Macc,.....

Passed a typical modest family home with the usual...

Two choppers in the back yard.....

Through Maccelsfield and past....

The site of the Hovis Mill... birthplace of the famous flour and now breads......

Quiet as not to disturb.....

BBAAAAAAAAA.....

And the reason it's not "Wrong" to be having an ale by 10.30am because.....

It's.........

At Congleton the canal passes through a couple of....

Snake or Cross over bridges...

When the towpath changed sides of the canal it enabled towing horses to cross over while still towing the working boat and not be unhitched......

Has this bridge got a......

 

"Lean on" or was it built on the "piss".....

Some more houses that.....

 

 Caught.....

The.....

Eye.....

The last lock on the Macca, .......

Hall Green stop lock with only a rise or fall of 1 foot......

The day we passed through Stoke On Trent turned out to be a cracker as the sun shone late in the day.
So we got some "Greasy's" for dinner and pushed on farther than we intended...
In fact passing through a cutting by Trentham it became quite dark and....

With homes backing onto the canal our passing was turning on security lights in back yards........

Leonie steered through the ....

Atherstone flight of 11 locks.....

An approaching NB gave us a bit too much....

room and disappeared into the willow tree then emerged at full revs to take on the opposite canal bank....

Moored at Fenny Compton we were picked up by John enroute to a couple of days racing at Oulten Park up North by Chester....





The "A Team" at the track..... John, Spencer, Steve, Leonie and....
Thanks Guys for another great time...

In a couple of days our NB experience will come to an end...
After 20 months of living aboard and travelling the network we will be putting NB FireflyNZ  up for sale and moving on to the next adventure....

A map showing.....

canals we have travelled over.... some 3 times to get elsewhere...
From the top, Skipton, Leeds to the bottom London, Bath, of the system it's been an Awesome adventure.....Most of the lines on the RH side are rivers that we never intended to cruise.....

Our boat has proven to be the perfect live aboard....
Over the next few weeks I'll do some maintenance jobs, paint touch ups, full service etc, getting FireflyNZ ready for a sales advertisement feature .....

Until then here are a couple of photo's and.......

 

Everyone knows someone who wants to buy a narrowboat and.....

"Live The Dream".....

So.....

Spread the word.....

 

So others can live the dream.....

Remember... You'll Never See A Hearse Towing A Trailer.....

And tonight.......

 

Out the side hatch.......

 

Cheers......