A couple of canals visited and a bigger boat

Another good month of getting out and about which started with a few days on the boat. 

The Anchor is our local when on the boat. Its a nice walk  - about half an hour down the canal. We like to make it a round walk so have recently been heading off into the local lanes  and on this occasion we took in Loynton Moss nature reserve. It is quite rural and remote where we moor Percy and this nature reserve accentuates that very much. A lovely place to take a picnic and enjoy the history of the place and the nature than now ownes it fully.

You can't get much more authentic than the Anchor - I only wish I could have taken my old dad here he would have loved it 

Our long term boaty friend and neighbour Mandy who did a fantastic job of painting her boat over the summer 

We are being told 2025 was the hottest on record, it certainly was the sunniest with lovley clear skies overnight 

A took a day out to go a watch the planes we'd rather not use come and go at Manchester airport  - a good ride to and from also.

3rd June I was fishing with my good friend Graham - Longford fishery, my favourite of the ones I fish now. Little were we to know what lay ahead for one of us  - don't take anything for granted ! 2026 should be a year for friends  ( and fishing ) 

More lovely evenings on the bike as we drew towards the summer solstice 

Rachels birthday came and went and we tried a few different things and places 

Crich is where her dad used to meet us and he sadly passed away on Rachels birthday so we tend to migrate there with the family on her birthday or close to 

We were cycling towards Mid June next to the old canal bed that used to run from Froghall ( Caldon canal for my non canal readers) to Uttoxeter. Its a nice cycle ride, wer have done it from the cottage before but this time we drove with the bikes to Oakamore. There is still a plan to re water this section but the Caldon canal society seems very distant in many things. 

The old Station at Alton. We rode to Denstone where there is a nice farm shop and cafe. I think you can stay in the old building here as it is an Air B&B

The 10th June Rachel was getting her long service award from the NHS - should have been 40 years but due to their HR policies and part time ( Children ) working it was 30 years... very proud day 

The next day I was grass cutting again  - I was at the moorings earlier this week and they looked very drab and wet compared to this day 

Seems I swapped bikes and went out again for chips at Matlock bath  - enjoying the dry warm roads 

15th June we swapped the Shroppie for the English channel and a much bigger boat. We were off for a week to meet friends at a Euro camp near Angers in the Loire Valley. A great week of sun good food good wine and good friends.... all on the bike.

Leaving Pompy - Rachel worked there for a few years when I lived on the boat 

France would have been an option to live in returement if not for Brexit  - now we (I)  visit once or twice a year. 

Even managed to visit the odd canal and watch the trip boat go through the automatic lock 

We hadn't realised when we booked Rachels two sisters were over there at the same time in their caravan and motorhome so we met up for the day and had a lovely meal just by the side of this chateau 

The lodges were air conditioned and they needed it  - it was beautifully warm - a real treat of a holiday.  We went on my Honda 750, great bike for this type of trip. I've fitted electronic cruise control for a trip to Britanny next year . The trip home we did in the day with a kip on the ferry - a long day, I'm ok with it but it was hard work for the pillion.  

Back to the blood bikes after France  - the M6 between Stoke and Birmingham doesn't compare to the empty motorways in France 

The classic 350 got its first service from me. The joy of these bikes is the enjoyment of self servicing 

Towards the end of the month we were at Peak Wildlife park one day with youngest son and grandson

The next day we were with the other grandkids 

On the way home we took a walk along the Cromford canal ( a canal is never far from our thinking ) This is the beautifully restored Aqueduct cottage done by the friends of the Cromford canal. Well worth a visit 

Another blood bike shift - this time an evening and overnight one 

A reminder of how hot it was this summer - 29c at 8.20pm. The ice block was inside my jacket to keep me cool on the shift 

Did we get to Percy in July ....?