This was a different sort of canal trip for us, not an out and back journey, nor a circular cruise, this was from A to B, from Crick in Northamptonshire to the boat’s base at Overwater in Cheshire. Narrowboat Oakmere had been on display at the Crick Boat Show and we had the task of bringing her home. Instead of the usual idle meandering, there was almost a sense of purpose. We would be delighted to do it again.

The waterways are a grumpy old gits paradise, there is always something or someone to moan about and if all else fails you can moan about the weather. This was ‘mixed’ for the first few days – gales, sunshine and occasional hailstorms but at the beginning of the second week everything turned for the good. This image of a near perfect June evening was taken from the Shugborough estate at Great Haywood looking towards the river Trent and the canal. Oakmere is moored with others, in the distance, beneath the trees.

The standard meeting place is the lock where brief alliances are formed  and stories exchanged – the beloved is in her element finding time for animals and humans alike.  I am happier just grinning as I sink into the depths of the lock, cursing the crew for talking too much and taking too long to open the gates;-)

One man, his dog, his boat and a pint of beer at Great Haywood Junction, he seems to have found all that he requires from life:

These are more postcards from the journey as Oakmere makes its slow journey north to Overwater:

And finally, a strange but true golfing tale. While progressing in a southerly direction on the Staffs and Worcester Canal (Saturday 6th June about 11:30) there was a large clatter as a golfball bounced into the Oakmere’s rear cabin. First instincts were to look for some junior culprits hiding behind a hedge but then I noticed the familiar layout of a driving range through the towpath hedge (3 Hammers Golf Complex). Given the height of the protective fence, I would guess this was a severely hooked pitching wedge resulting in a “boat in one” – the rear hatch on Oakmere may be bigger than a golf hole but bear in mind it was moving at the time. Not so much Golf in the Wild as Golf on the Water.