We have been waiting for the arrival of our first grandchild and Madison was born at 12.20am on the 23rd October 2010 weighing 8lb 2oz.

Today we travelled down Whilton Locks and by luck we paired up with boat that had been hired by a Youth Club.

It was great to have a crew of ten doing the lock work.

We are currently moored on the Leceister Arm and today was spent bottling the homemade wine.

Also starting off the sloe and crab apple wines.

As we travelled from Rugby we see Al and Del from Derwent 6.

So last night was a homemade wine and sponge cake evening.
Sorry about the poor photo.

Hawkesbury Junction and lock as we near the end of our journey for today.

On our travels today we saw one of the last remaining telegraph poles used for the early telegraph cables.

The poles and cables followed the path of the canal.

The last couple of days Hilary has visited her parents in Worcester and last night we met Wendy and Rob for a drink at Atherstone.

The locks were bathed in sunshine as we left this morning.

You see some strange things on the towpath!!!

This tight spot is at Handsacre where the canal is cut in the rock face.

Yesterday we moored at Great Haywood on the boundary of the Shugborough Estate the home of Lord Lichfield.

Pictured is the pack horse bridge which is between Great and Little Haywood.

Yesterday we left Stone with Diane and Peter on Plan B after carrying out work on both boats.

Hurray I have managed to finish painting the gunnels today just as the rain started to fall again.

Last night was the first meeting of the H.S.B.C. (Heartwood Supporters Boating Club) at the Crown and Anchor in Stone.

Penny and Mick sadly could not attend.

Another member of the Heartwood family,Easy All moored at Aston Marina near Stone.

Yesterday Penny and Mick returned to reality as Mick prepares for a new job.

Yesterday Penny,Mick,Cassie and myself went foraging.

So last night I made the main course for tea and Penny made the crumble using the blackberries we picked.

Yesterday Intrepid and The Maisibert ( the twins) reached Stone after passing Festival Park where it all began.

Yesterday we met up with Penny and Mick from Intrepid as they have had to cancel their attempt to travel around the U.K. on jet ski's due to the bad weather.

Last night was drinks and a meal in Congleton and today was to cruise to Kidsgrove passing Ramsdell Hall.

Yesterday Ray returned to Braintree, the day did not start well as Cassie fell in as she went out in the morning and then

fell off the boat as we cruised and swam to a field of sheep.

Just to top the day as we filled with water the hose came out of the filler and water sprayed the saloon area.

Hilary and Ray locking as we travel up Bosley Locks heading for Macclesfield.

Dont let the sun fool you as we are moored and it is pouring with rain and the wind is blowing.

This is the view from the aquaduct as we travel over the Trent and Mersea.

Yesterday we turned on to the Macclesfield Canal which turns over the Trent and Mersea via a aquaduct.

On our way down the Shropshire Union Canal Ray managed to catch the deer at Beeston which graze on a WW2 bunker area.

After having trouble at the staircase locks in Chester as the previous boat had drained the middle pound we went for sunday lunch at the Mill Hotel.

Afterwards we gave Ray a quick trip around the wall before heading on our way.

Ray seems to have brought this funny yellow round thing with him.
I think it could be called sun.