Foxglove Narrowboat

Well the past week has come and gone, Roy has managed to catch up on some work and I have caught up on boaty jobs, what didn’t move got washed, polished, vacuumed, dusted, disinfected etc. etc. Wish kept out of the way just in case she was next on the list.

We were all ready to set out on our next few weeks out. This was going to be the most exciting part as we were heading for the Anderton Boat Lift.

Last night we stayed in a gorgeous mooring spot called Brambles Cutting. Only room for 2 boats and lots of picnic benches. After a morning travelling in the pouring rain we enjoyed a sunny afternoon, reading, sunbathing and baking. It was all very idyllic. One of those moments you just pinch yourself, it was just perfect.

Well the moment we had been waiting for had finally arrived. 1.45 pm we moored up in the holding area for the boat lift and at 2.15pm we were all aboard for the ride down to the Weaver. Going into the unknown can be quite scary sometimes especially when you are that high up. We had to remove the fenders at the back so the boat would fit in. The engineering that went into the boat lift was extraordinary and there was us, literally floating in mid-air.

As the lift started to descend it started to judder slightly for the first 20 seconds or so which we didn’t expect then it was a smooth drop down. As we were going down, the trip boat was on its way up. So strange, yet amazing to experience something like this. The canal & river trust guy said it was like Oblivion at Alton Towers, but a lot slower!!

As soon as we exited the big trap doors it was like being thrown onto the log flume at Alton Towers, I don’t know about the Oblivion. The gates opened, big clap of thunder, then the heavens opened and it got extremely windy and there was a bolt of lightning . Unbelievable timing!! We didn’t know if that was supposed to be part of the experience or not, or if they arranged the special effects display just for us but it was scary as we entered the River Weaver.

The storm didn’t last for that long and by the time we moored up at Northwich Quay the sun was shining yet again. We will get to do it all again in a few days but in reverse, not literally though.

Moored in a lovely spot, windows and side hatches open, sun shining in, glass of wine and Roy is cooking tea for tonight. Another one of those perfect moments and perhaps a miracle as Roy is cooking!!