Fire works and bonfires are now part of the next few weekends.
With exited and scared children enjoying the fun of halloween and fireworks.
We have watched many firework displays from our boat and at Great Haywood you can have a spectacular view of Shugborough Hall Extravaganza.
I am sure the canal moorings going up towards the lock will have a similar view this year.
Happy Cruising

Another summer comes at a close and the joys of Autumn are upon us.
The lovely warm days and cooler evenings with beautiful changes of colour in the countryside.
We are now restarting the heating and lighting the stoves, this is a gentle reminder that although we would like to stop up all of the draughts we all need to beware of the hidden dangers of carbon monoxide.
This invisible gas can and does kill boaters every year.
Please check your battery in the CO monitor and resist the urge to block up the ventilation.
Happy boating

What a wonderful cruise I had with friends during July.
We had two weeks cruising to the Black Country Museum and return to Stratford on Avon
This is my first trip on the southern Stratford it is a very restful canal, if you excuse the very narrow bridges.
If you have not traveled on this section it is one canal I will be adding to my favourites list.
This journey is one of contrasts, if a little energetic, you can take some relief on the Birmingham sections.

Here we are at the end of July and I like many am planning my summer cruise.
This is the time when I actually get to see the canals in their rich summer colours, I enjoy the spotting of wild flowers and always hope to spot something I have not seen before.
So whilst I am packing I include the Wild flower, butterfly & insect identification books most years I am lucky and identify something.
I will be travelling up the South Stratford to Birmingham a section which is new to me and reading my Pearson's guide it sounds as if I will not be disappointed.

Anyone attending the Crick boat show will know how busy this event can be with ever more people wishing to move to a life afloat.
The canals are a continuing place to go for peace for our busy minds and exercise for our often sedentary bodies.
The appeal seems to be growing again as we search for an escape for the pot holed congested roads and the constant mental pressures of our land based lives.
I was very pleased to meet many people searching to take their first steps on the boating ladder doing extensive research before investing in a boat.

Here comes the sun!
But oh dear, it has been followed by every season in a day.
As we go into May we enjoy longer cruising days and a cascade of colours including my favourite the numerous tones of green.
This is a lovely time to enjoy the quiet canals as the temperature begins to warm and we start to shead our winter woolies.
I always look forward to my spring cruise it is one of the magical times to be on the cut.

What a very strange winter we have experienced, now with Easter fast receding we are still in the grip of yet further storms.
This is bank holiday Monday and our cruisers have experienced everything from horizontal snow and gale force winds to sunshine and showers.
With April in view the clocks have sprung forward and boating days have lengthened so we can all look forward to experiencing the real beauty of the spring buds bursting and life renewing, which is such a boost after the long grey autumn and winter.

March has seen all of our boats starting the cruising season.
This winter has seen the most storms of recent years.
Although the season has been mild battening down the hatches has taken on a true meaning to us all.
A few boats had ice to contend with but this was quickly followed by a thaw and did not cause much of a problem.
Ownashare are now busy preparing for the show season which starts at Nantwich on the 19th March.
I hope to talk to many potential new owners their.

Our shared boat is now in the final stages of a kitchen refit and we are all waiting to start the season cooking in a lovely new space.
The previous galley boasted a cooker that worked on gas 9 only a fridge that had seen better days and a job that you could not fit more than two pans on or it melted the control knobs!
Well I will post pictures when it is finished.

January is a very quiet cruising month and some owners say this is one of the very best months to enjoy the scenery and peace of the waterways.
My own shared boat is undergoing a major refurbishment on her galley and all of her owners are really looking forward to enjoying this during 2016.
But for now it is preparing for our trips for the this year from our new base at Stratford on Avon this is always exciting to be cruising new waters I will update you on our adventures later in the year.