Paintwork tidying

After debating whether to stay put at Crow’s Nest Bridge and do some paintwork, or move on up the canal a bit, I decided that we could do both. So we pulled pins on a fine but chilly morning.

Looking out over Tattenhall Marina from the towpath bridge

Someone’s off on their holidays…


Moorings outside the Shady Oak at Bridge 109

We only had one lock to deal with today, Wharton’s, and we were joined by another boat that was leaving the moorings near the Shady Oak as we passed.

Wharton’s Lock


We pulled in above the lock and had lunch, after which I got stuck in with the sander, rubbing out the scrapes and scratches inflicted on the gunnel through the last six month’s cruising.

With the weather being so fine I managed to get two coats of red primer on the bare bits by evening, too!

“Dad, you’ve missed a bit!”


As soon as the dew had burned off this morning I got the first of two coats of matt black on finishing it off late afternoon.

That’s one side done then. The towpath changes sides at Calverley, so I’ll be able to get at the opposite gunnel in the next couple of days.

Locks 1, miles 2¾