Retirement with No Problem

Today – Knighton to Norbury Junction to Tyrley, Shropshire Union Canal, 14 miles 0 locks
Yesterday – Norbury Junction to Knighton, 4.5 miles 0 locks
18th-23^rd Feb – Moored Norbury Junction

Ha, a great long weekend with the family, I did so enjoy myself as always.. Here is Meg also enjoying the attention of two of my grandchildren Kiera and Niamh..

Notice Vic there reading NABO News!  This blog got a mention in that too thanks to Brian Holt’s letter.. I think it was Brian’s.. I don’t have the booklet now.  Anyway the mention was about the diesel split page that I set up last year.. and thanks to those who have let me know any updates..

It was Buddy’s birthday too at the weekend, and all the dogs were invited as well as my other two grandchildren Jessica and Molly….

Yep wrapped up pressies for the dogs.. not only did Buddy get some presents of packets of crisps, but he got plenty of them, so he forceably kindly had to share them around his friends…

No Problem looked suitably smart by the time we got back on Monday.. A very good job done.  I was pleased to have chosen Norbury Wharf to do the blacking of No Problems bottom.  They use a dry dock which meant she was in doors and they also use three coats of Bitumen paint… Are three coats better than two?  I dunno the answer to that, and it will remain to be seen.  For sure it has been much colder this winter and more ice to contend with hasn’t helped the last two coats that were applied two years ago..

So plans were made to cruise from Norbury to Chester, then onward to Ellesmere Port before returning down the Shroppie turning off near Middlewich and heading for the Anderton Lift for a visit to the River Weaver.. but all the best plans are made to be broken!

Norbury Wharf will complete the refit of the saloon here on No Problem.. there will be some major changes which I am very excited about.  It is something that I have wanted to do for some time.  I thought we would have to find another yard to do the fitout for us or wait until next winter because the only slot that Simon had was in mid June, and I really didn’t want to break into our summer cruising. 

So we left yesterday to moor at Knighton, planning to go to Chester and the River Weaver, but Simon emailed me last night and asked me to return to Norbury Junction so the boat could be measured up.. he had a slot in a few weeks time..

OK so the Weaver will wait.. we will go and see Chester and Ellesmere Port before returning for the fitout in mid March.

Two I-Spys at Norbury…

This is Jim’s Starcross, and how smart she looks too in her new livery.. very nice Jim!

And today one of Lucy and Meg’s friends also named Meg..

She was aboard Seyella, the narrowboat of our friends Geoff and Mags who we bumped into when we returned to Norbury Junction today.. Here is Geoff on the tiller going under the unusual High Bridge.. one of the most photographed bridges on the canal system..

We left Norbury again this morning and made for the top of Tyrley Locks arriving late afternoon with just enough time to take the K9s for a stroll before nightfall.. more tomorrow..