Saturday 6th April

Our last day for this trip. We have to get back to Swanley today as we need to go home tomorrow. I have a big birthday on Thursday and am having a houseful next weekend – mad or what?? We are then off to Tenerife on April 19th for a week so it will be all go once we are home.

Muffin trying to be a town dog in Chester

The sun shone and the wind dropped for our last day though which made it just perfect. We did our first lock with some “first lock” hireboaters. We never saw them again, not even when we pulled over for lunch - which was rather worrying! We came across two locks where the boat in front of us had left paddles up and we were rather worried what we would find at the Bunbury staircase locks but they had either got the hang of things or someone had put them right!

At Tilstone lock there is a seat with a lovely plaque on it – I couldn’t resist photographing it.

The seat at Tilstone Lock

Just before the Hurleston flight is a house which I would really like. Not only is right on the canal but has wonderful views over rolling hills which, last weekend when we passed, were covered in snow.

I could live here!

The Hurleston flight was deserted when we got there but by the time we left each lock was full with boats going one way or another – it’s funny how that happens. Muffin gave up on the last lock – there were lots of dog walkers around and one spaniel got a little over excited and Muffin fled back to the boat and settled down in his bed.

So we are now safely back in Swanley Marina. We’ve had a lovely week even though the wind has been bitterly cold at times. Muffin has enjoyed his first outing and I’ve had time to do some training with him and an see a marked improvement. Bring on summer cruising :-)

Statistics. 7 days, 43.97 miles and 40 locks.