Oil change

After breakfast we moved Densie up through Great Hayward Lock to the AngloWelsh boatyard where we had booked an engine service. This takes an hour or two and consisted this time of a change of both the engine and gearbox oil.  The former is required every 250 hours running, whilst the later is once a year or so.

Denise driving Densie onto Sandon Lock

We left the boatyard at 11am and continued north on the Trent&Mersey Canal to Hoo Mill Lock where we were fourth in a queue waiting to go through.  Then onto Weston Lock , through the village of Weston where I had 5 sightings of kingfishers, and the 9ft 11in Sandon Lock.  We moored soon afterwards at 15:15 at the little village of Burston.

Out again - taking Densie to the paintshop

After a very busy Summer moving house we are out on Densie again.  We have booked her into Trent Valley Marine at Aston Marina near Stone, Staffordshire to be repainted top to bottom.  There is a fortnight free before she is due there so we we have the opportunity for a short and gentle cruise before the winter.

Waiting at Colwich Lock

Moored near Great Hayward

We left our moorings at Kings Bromley at 10am for the last time after being based there for the past 9 years.  A short spell of rain didnt delay us and travelling north west up the Trent & Mersey we reached Rugeley at lunch time.  After eating and shopping we continued on our way through Colwich Lock to the pleasant moorings in the countryside near Great Harwood  with views towards Shugborough Hall.