Preston Brook to Anderton

23rd & 24th January

Yesterday was the second day in a row that I set the heating to come on at 7.30, rather than waiting to see when we woke up. (Oh, the stress of it...) This was because we wanted to get through Preston Brook Tunnel in good time, not because it was the first birthday of this blog, though that's important too. As it was, I had time to nip along to the shop and get a paper and some bread before we made the 9.30 slot for going southbound through the tunnel.

Sheila steered briskly along, and we emerged at 9.45. Spurred on by Andrew Denny, I tried taking some photos in the tunnel – it's a slow connection just now (though it was faster earlier), so won't try putting them up today, but if it speeds up again tomorrow, I might well.

In mild, calm weather, with no rain for the second day running (hooray) we had a good run back to Saltersford, arriving there just ten minutes before the 11.30 slot to go through. Just as we were about to set off, Baris Haven came up behind and followed us through.

We stopped in the pool between the Saltersford and Barton Tunnels, but Baris Haven carried on. On the way, I had discovered that we had a decent internet connection, so took the chance to upload the 2007 cruising album. It always seems quite odd, travelling along this 18th century canal using 21st century comms technology, but there you go. Later on, I updated the outline of our cruising plans for this year.

Today we had a more relaxed start. The mooring in the pool was quite sheltered, but walking up to Barnton village showed that some of the forecast wind was around, and the sky clouded over in a menacing fashion.

We checked in the Post Office that they still accept Poste Restante mail, as we need Elanor to send us some stuff to do with our finances, (they do) and went on up the hill to get supplies from the Co-op. On the way back, we called in at the butchers and got some more of their excellent stewing steak, paying £11 for 5 pounds weight.

Then it was off through Barnton Tunnel, in steadily improving weather. In fact it caused something of a problem, as I was dazzled by the low winter sun on the way in, and spent about half the time steering through the tunnel trying to ignore a purple after image floating just above the bow of the boat. Since, as I've said earlier, Barnton is not the straightest of bores (though nothing like as bad as its partner Saltersford) this was a bit of a challenge, but we made it through without touching the sides.

It was a pleasant run into Anderton, where we watered and then backed onto the 48 hour mooring just the other side of the Travel Reign marina entrance. The forecast is not good for the next couple of days, especially with regard to wind, so if necessary we can hunker down here while it blows out.

This afternoon, I've been tidying up some of the older picture albums, making them more consistent in appearance with the new one, and will carry on with that tomorrow, I expect.