A High Wind in Jamaica (Lymm actually)

Rather to our surprise it wasn't raining when we woke this morning - slightly later than usual, about 7:10. We think the dogs are sleeping longer because it isn't getting light so soon. Anyway we got up as usual and had breakfast, and that's when we realised the horror - we had left our supply of Yates Greer ham behind. After some discussion we realised there were a few other items we could do with from the house, so we called Jonjo and he came over and picked Loulie up. Although we travelled for a couple of hours last night, we had only gone about seven miles, so it didn't take him long. I took the boat on and sailed into Lymm, where I moored, and Loulie rejoined us.

We pressed on after that, and Loulie got out again with the dogs to give them a walk. However the wind had become really strong, to the point where I struggled to get off the bank after dropping Loulie off, and then found myself zigzagging down the canal as the wind came and went.

After I had picked up the landing party, we decided to moor for the rest of the day near Dunham Massey, by the Bollin Aqueduct - the same place we stopped on our weekend in August. We were not going to be able to get right through the urban stretch of the journey before nightfall, and we did not want to moor somewhere that the dogs would not be able to get off the boat safely. This spot is ideal - no roads for miles, no stock in fields close by, and we are well away from other boats. We idled the rest of the afternoon away, took the dogs for a walk and did some reading. That's the beauty of having your own boat - there's no pressure to get things done in a limited time.

Today: 4 hours. 5.4 miles. 0 locks.

Voyage: 6 hours. 13 miles. 0 locks.