Farewells and preparations in Aylesbury

The last month has been a time of winding down our time in Aylesbury, and gearing up for our departure on our summer cruise.

The life group we have been leading ended as intended just before Easter. It has been a good time of getting to know a few people in more depth, while at the same time studying scripture and having good discussions.

Then on Palm Sunday we led the worship for the last time this season, and on Easter Sunday we played in support of Jack who was leading.  Our final worship team practice was on 18^th April, and the team prayed for us for our mission work in the summer.

We have also been having farewells on the folk music scene.   At Chesham Folk Club, which meets every Monday, at the Half Moon at Wilstone where there is a session on the third Sunday each month, and at the Cock Inn at Wing where a session happens every other Tuesday.  We have made some friends in these places and we will miss them until we catch again in November.

Cock Inn session

We also went to see Suntrap perform in Bracknell.  It was good to see our good friend Sue Graves again.  We also caught up with Barry and Adline, and Vicky and Ernon who had come from Salisbury and Godalming respectively. We put one of Suntrap’s songs on YouTube.  Here is the link. Sue is the one on the left.

Some of our boating friends have already left the Canal Basin.  Simon and Pat on Daedalus left in early April when there was a lot of wet weather, and rivers were not navigable. Instead of getting to Reading for a wedding, they had to keep off the Thames, so they stayed in London and took public transport to the wedding.

Daedalus leaving, with Pat at the bows, and Simon at the helm

Then the weather changed and we had some incredible days of hot sun.  Tim and Hilary set off on Willowbrook and we saw pictures of them having barbecues as they head slowly north.

Willowbrook departs

We discovered that a BCF boat, Ichthus, was in the town basin. They were not aboard so we sent a text to John and Jane Pescod, and they replied but we didn’t get the reply until after they had left. We met them for a drink in the Half Moon at Wilstone. It was good to see them again.

Ichthus in Aylesbury Town Basin

When the dry weather arrived we let Hugo out at last after three months being confined to the boat because of his broken leg.  When we opened the doors and encouraged him out he looked incredulously at us as though he couldn’t believe his good fortune. His leg is much better, and his hair is slowly growing back where it was shaved for the operation he had.  Two days later he caught his first mouse of the season, so he must be OK.

Hugo’s first day out

Enjoying the sunshine

We had a good sort out of clothes, and packed the winter things under the bed in vacuum bags, and brought out some summer items. In hindsight, maybe that was premature, as rain, colder temperatures and wind returned a few days later.

We made the most of the warm weather by visiting some National Trust places with friends.  We went to Greys Court with Jack and Sandra, Ascott House with John and Ruzenka, and Hughenden with Eric and Norma. All this in the space of six days. We each have life membership, and can take a guest each.

Daffodil at Ascott House

John, Ruzenka, Hazel

Lovely flowers at Ascott House

Ascott House

Part of the garden at Ascott House

Norma, Eric, Hazel at Hughenden

Benjamin Disraeli’s Grave

Celandines

We drove to Maggie and Clive’s place in Suffolk and had a very pleasant two nights there. Their bluebells and king cups were in full swing and the place was looking good. We had a lovely meal with them in a bistro on the waterfront in Ipswich. We returned by train on Friday, leaving our car off the road and under a cover for the summer. 

Maggie and Clive’s farmhouse

King cups

Bluebells

A tree in the sunset

Sat 28th April

Our final full day in Aylesbury started for James with a men’s prayer breakfast at More+, the cafe belonging to the church.  Meanwhile Hazel went to collect a final prescription from the chemist.

This was followed by a work party in the canal basin. Hazel helped to prepare a brunch for the workers, while James was employed jet washing the ramp to the dry dock, and repairing barbecues.

Clean ramp

We lit the fire once more on the boat, and hung James’s wet clothes up to dry.

The day ended with the bar opening, and a fish and chip supper.

Next: Church tomorrow morning, and a departure from the basin at about 1pm.

Change of plan. Which way now?

The delayed departure and changed route

Our original plan was to leave Aylesbury on Mon 2^nd or Tue 3^rd April.  With the extra time needed for Hugo's leg to heal, we now plan to depart on Monday 30^th April.

Our first destination we hope will be the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival (FABFest) in the middle weekend of June. Last time, two years ago, we moored at Middlewich Narrowboats, which was a very central location, and all the facilities were at hand.

The plan was to go from there along the Shropshire Union (Middlewich Branch) to get to Ellesmere on the Llangollen Canal, where we have a mission in July.

Originally proposed route in red

Two problems have arisen which mean our plans will need to change.

The first problem is that Middlewich Narrowboats have ceased trading, and their site is awaiting someone to take over the business. So we can’t book a mooring there at the moment. They also had the only elsan facility in Middlewich, and if that is out of action, many boaters attending the festival will have difficulties.

Our mooring last time at Middlewich Narrowboats

The second problem has happened in the last three weeks.  A large hole has appeared in the Middlewich branch, and a major section of the bank and towpath have been washed into the River Wheelock below, stranding about twenty boats. The breach is marked on the map below with a red circle. They have closed the waterway for about a mile between the locks either side of the breach, marked with yellow circles.  This section is the route we were going to take after the festival., and the closed section accounts for about half the available public moorings in Middlewich.

The location of the breach

The breach from the air (borrowed from Canal and River Trust - see link here

One alternative is to go back south down the Trent and Mersey Canal, and come north again up the Shropshire union. This involves 84 miles, 102 locks, and 52 hours instead of 10 miles, 4 locks and 5 hours by the original route.

Plan B

Or we could go via the Anderton Boat Lift, the River Weaver and the Manchester Ship Canal and to come in at Ellesmere Port. This would mean 54 miles, 24 locks and 22 hours.  Although the shortest alternative, it involves having a certificate of seaworthiness, and paying fees to the Manchester Ship Canal.  We would need to get Weston Marsh Lock opened for us, and going into Ellesmere Port we would have to arrange with Canal and River Trust for the Lock to be unpadlocked, and with the local council for the swing bridge to be operated. It is all a bit preplanned, just for seven miles of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Plan C

The other effect of the breach is that about half of the moorings for Middlewich have been made unavailable.  If we can’t moor at the old Middlewich Narrowboats site, then we will take a different route altogether, up the Shropshire Union instead of the Trent, turn right at Barbridge Junction, and go to Aqueduct Marina for a few nights. From there we can go to the festival using a hire car.

Plan D

So we wait to see what is happening.  Meanwhile we have about five weeks before we need to make the decision, which will depend on what is happening at Middlewich Narrowboats.

After further correspondence with Canal and River Trust, I received this reply on 9th April:

"...it is still too early to say at this point whether the (Middlewich Narrowboats) site will be occupied in time for the event.

Unfortunately at the moment we are unable to guarantee anymore elsan facilities for the event.

Due to the work being planned on the Middlewich branch, it is also too early to be able to guarantee moorings due to work being carried out at the time of the event. We will however try to accommodate boats on the T&M and around the Middlewich area.""