Solace Day One - Snowmane

We got a good start at 9.45 for our journey to Tattaenhall Marina in Cheshire. We were there about 1ish and were on the boat, ready to leave the marina at 2.45pm. It took us longer than usual to load as there were no barrows to load our gear onto so a lot of carrying down the pontoon. We're only here for this season so we'll not complain but head out to see things that will bring back memories, good and bad of our journey 10 years ago to the very week.

Travelling along the Shropshire Union Canal, we soon came across Chas Harden's boatyard at Beaston Castle. He was out cleaning one of his boats and we had a few words as we passed. "Our" boat wasn't there but we hadn't gone far when we spotted her in a lock. Here is Snowmane coming out of the lock. This was the boat where, after a 31 year lay-off, we caught the boating bug and have been on the cut (boating term for canal) every year since and now spend 3 weeks afloat in our own share of Solace.

That holiday 10 years ago was very special. We had The Mate, his late wife, his dog (now passed away) and my late Mother. Fond memories of introducing them to a new way of life. The first of a lot of canal holidays for mum and Ash but the last for M before she had to go into care and died. 

Bittersweet.