Getting Ready for setting 'sail'

We came back last night from a couple of days taking stuff down to Leo and doing a few odd jobs.  She now looks pretty well ready to go:

Helen was busy cleaning, while Ian changed the antifreeze, did some water plumbing, made cupboard doors and drawers fit properly, put some tape around the weed hatch to seal it better as well as checking that everything is working as it should.  We were very pleased that our solar panel has kept the batteries properly charged all winter.  The engine started first time too.  The warm and wet winter has led to a bit of mildew but we've given the boat a good airing for a couple of days and she now smells drier and fresher.  The bed is made, clothes are onboard, all we need is some food and then we are ready to go.

While we were there we were very pleased to see Paul and Gail (nb Georgiana) who introduced us to this marina and we shared locks with them coming up the Grand Union to Stoke Bruerne last August.

Already there are problems with meeting David and Victoria.  Holme Lock on the Trent is out of action and there are problems too at Blackburn on the Leeds and Liverpool.  So they may be coming South to meet us via the Rochdale Canal.  We now plan to meet them at Etruria, which for non-canal people is better known as Stoke on Trent.  Assuming no other snags we shall reach Etruria via the Leicester branch of the Grand Union and the River Soar, then turning left on the Trent near Nottingham to join the Trent and Mersey.  We aim to set off sometime next week after a final trip down to Leo and driving back to leave the car at home.

Watch the blog to keep track of our progress.