Last few days

 I'm sorry that I haven't posted the blog for the last few days but I have been having problems with the mobile version of Blogger. Whenever I post a picture to the blog it inserts it at original size whereas the computer version reduces it to a medium size. This means that everything I post from my phone only shows a fraction of the photo. Sorry about that but I have tried to go back and amend the formats and most of the posts are now at a reasonable size for viewing. Technology!!!***???***!!!

Where were we? Oh yes, Tuesday 7th May

Woke up to overcast cold weather, no fire alight, poor forecast until about 4 pm., so decided to head for the marina, tidy up the boat, use the washing machines and tumble driers, etc. True to forecast it all started cheering up in the afternoon. 

And then, what a contrast, Wednesday morning, clear skies, sun shining, everybody happy, especially the captain. 

As we reversed out of our mooring space we came near a family of geese. The marina certainly has a wide variety of lodgers with swans, ducks and geese being but a few of those we have seen.

It's glorious, on a sunny day, to just sail along through the greenery that's all around you. Mind you, on a wet day it's entirely a different matter. 

They say: 'Cast not a clout till May be out'. Well, the May (or blackthorn) may be out but I'm not casting anything for a day or two - too chilly for that.

We got to the top of Foxton Locks and spun the boat around ready for our return journey. All the moorings were full at the top of the locks but we managed to tuck ourselves in behind these two working boats.

We then did the touristy bit of walking around and having a look at the site of the inclined plane.

When built, there were two massive caissons full of water, one at the top of the incline and the other at the bottom. Boats would enter and then be raised or lowered as appropriate. 

And here's a view at the bottom to show where the boats would have queued, now private moorings.

All of the digging out would have been done by hand and the soil put into trucks, carted up to the top to build up the embankment for the new canal. 

After all that walking, time for lunch at Bridge 61. I never understand why it is that when you take a selfie it gets everything back to front. 

Unfortunately, Bridge 61 is at the bottom of the flight and our boat is at the top. Oh well, off we go. 

Our last night on the cut and we stopped at a quiet place that we found once before. Sat outside in the sunshine reading, a perfect end to a perfect day. 

Thursday - last day for the moment.

What more could you want? Porridge, eggs, bacon and toast and all outside at the front of the boat. 

After breakfast we had a leisurely sail back to the marina, spent about 3 hours tidying everything up, shutting down the gas and water and making sure that we didn't leave too much behind. Anyway, if we do, it will hopefully only be a month until we are back up again. 

Until then, happy sailing.