Recovery morning, busy afternoon

As anticipated, it was a very good evening last night, but it did mean that we didn't get to bed until gone midnight. Peter and Susan were on fine form, and it's clear that yard continues to thrive. There are still a couple of build slots available late next year, but Peter has just taken a booking for 2015…

We spent the morning in recovery mode, though we did make an expedition to the butcher and Sainsbury's. After lunch and a restorative doze, Gareth in the lemon Ocado van turned up in good time. He cheerfully trucked our crates to the boat.

Once all the stuff was on board, we pulled forward onto the service wharf for pump out, diesel and a fresh gas cylinder.

Deep breath, pay for it all, then set off to wind further up. We'd been told we might manage to get round in the moorings beyond London Bridge, but after a good look, I didn't fancy it; there was a GRP cruiser on the towpath, and the mooring pontoon looked pretty shaky.

The next winding hole, in Grappenhall, is 69' 6"wide, which we demonstrated by very nearly getting Sanity Again round. Heigh ho, on we went to the really good winding hole just short of the Thelwall Viaduct. Sheila checked off the delivery whilst I steered, then she took over the helm whilst I put it all away.

I'd nearly done when we reached Thelwall, so Sheila had the pleasure of the winding. I've done a bit more steering since, and Sheila's just taken over again to let me get this away. It looks like we'll not finish boating tonight until about half five or six. Tomorrow, we plan a long day most of the way back to Middlewich. The batteries are due for topping up, and I like to give them a really good charge before doing so.

It will also facilitate some meetings we're planning next week, but more about that next time.