Sometimes visits to places spark memories of previous visits – or ignite memories in other people’s minds. Take, for example, the South Oxford canal trip in late April. https://www.boatwif.co.uk/boat-update/onward-to-cropredy . The weather was stunning at the time and during a walk around the small village of Cropredy (located just north of Banbury) signs and symbols were spotted referring to the 1644 Battle of Cropredy Bridge. The signs sparked this comment from a friend:

Have happy memories of Cropredy Bridge when I was a member in the Sealed Knot and a royalist musketeer. We re-enacted the 1644 battle for the Bridge. The Royalists won I'm pleased to say!

Really? Had the friend’s colourful past included working out as a weekend musketeer?

After the Captain had cross-questioned her, she inspected her archives and duly delivered her own photographic evidence through the letterbox. “Well, I was doing History at university,” she said.

Our royal musketeer and the Sealed Knot…

There was a trip down to Pembrokeshire to visit family. Even on a short visit various bits of coastline must be inspected. There, as far south west a beach as you’ll find on the Castlemartin peninsula, is West Angle Bay.

No boats.

No boats either at Freshwater West,

but surfers aplenty.

The surfers seemed to be under tuition…?

Further eastwards round the peninsula there was one little fishing boat, tucked up in a quiet corner… Memories of many happy high tide swimming excursions here.

…..

Mid-June: it was time to check Cleddau. Was she still afloat? Yes

Was she still sardined in as she was during the Crick Boat Show? https://www.boatwif.co.uk/boat-update/boatsgaloreatcrick No.

All the heritage boats had gone. All the fine boat builders show boats had gone, including the widebeam boat, which had been lifted out by crane and put on the back of a lorry.

All the marquees, trader pavilions and gazebos were gone. What remained were moorers’ boats and gaps on pontoons where boats had set off on waterway adventures. On a sunny weekend what better was there to do than position a comfortable chair or two on the bank between the marina and the canal and just chill. (No photos – sorry).

There’s been no Cleddau summer cruising yet – but that may change soon…

…..

“You must come up in the summer to take a look,” Techno Son-in-Law had urged a few months ago. There were several projects to inspect. After the Cleddau boat check at Crick there was a return to the M1 (to drive from Junction 18 to Junction 19), to take a route along the M6 /M6 Toll, for the first time in an age. Why, near the Toll is another HS2 worksite; there is such a lot of construction, such massive structures to get a railway line over a motorway…

Up in Cheshire there’s a new(ish) by-pass around Congleton, driven on once before. But the housing developments beside the by-pass are like a rash that’s spreading fast around your limbs…

Once in Macclesfield the inspections began. First was an upstairs room, a redundant window blocked up and a new one installed on the end wall, allowing grand views over the town towards the Cheshire East hills. The walls have been insulated and decorated, giving hope of far cosier winter working. There is a wind-up standing desk, large computer screens, a well organised bookcase, various pictures – but also live feed on a screen of the puffins on Skomer Island. What a successful transformation.

Next was a tour of the bathroom – no more clambering over the side of a deep bath as now there’s an easy access walk-in shower and improved fittings.

“Downstairs next,” said Techno Son-in-Law, directing the inspection tour. There was a quick peep into the outside loo (freshly painted and a new small wash basin) before reaching the tour’s finale, inspection of the recently dug garden pond. Tadpoles were spotted below the surface of the water – and then two tiny froglets appeared on a rock at the side of the pond. As if making a guest appearance two damselflies arrived.

Below the surface of the pond lily pads swirled and a tight lily bud was just piercing the water. Within 24 hours the lily had grown, opened her leaves and shown off her beautiful bloom!

But there was also something bizarre lurking in the waters

With one more inspection still to do there was a drive out to Bollington to look at the site of the recent canal leak.

Coffer dams and water pumps have been installed very near to Clarence Mill

and a workboat nearby held piles of clay for plugging the bed and sides of the canal.

What happy times the Cleddau crew have had in this spot, listening to the sound of weekend cricket being played on the Recreation Ground far below the aqueduct, eating an occasional tasty breakfast or treat lunch at the Café Waterside in the Mill, pausing on a cruise back to Victoria Pit to take a stroll around this little town. Expected date of repair completion? 25th June.

So that’s it: inspections, inspections, inspections.

But there is just one more inspection round in the offing. Cal Guy Jnr has flown in from the States. His crew status will be inspected! Can he remember how to operate the narrow locks at Watford and the broad locks of the Grand Union? (See 2023 boat trip https://www.boatwif.co.uk/boat-update/learning-the-ropes) . Has he retained his steering skills? And will he find the ceiling in Cleddau’s cabin rather closer to his head…?

Road miles (return trips to Pembrokeshire, to Cheshire, to Berkshire) several hundred!

Inspections…

Boats galore at Crick