Cowley Peachey

Here I am Rune

Distance 5 miles

Total 1895 Locks 88 Tunnels

Running total mileage 2668.9 miles

I dunno, I take a few weeks out from narrow-boating to do some proper blue water sailing and look what I come back to. England leaving the EU, Prime Minister resigns, principal contender for Prime Minister throws his hand in (thank goodness!), next possible contender is voted out and we have a couple of women now left to sort the mess out!  Good job I wasn’t away for longer, who knows what may have happened.

During my break from narrow-boating I travelled up to Mallaig in Scotland to meet up with and old sailing friend who was having a bit of a European tour in his boat. The leg that I joined him for was from Mallaig across to North Uist (Loch Maddy) and then on to the archipelago of St Kilda. From there back to Kinlochbrevie just south of Cape Wrath before travelling around Cape Wrath to Stromness on the Orkneys. From there we went to Pierwall on Westray and on to Fair Isle. Final UK stop was at Lerwick on the Shetlands before crossing the North Sea to Bergen in Norway where my trip ended. Just for the wildlife that we saw it was all worthwhile as we saw a whole variety of sea birds, Gannets, Guillemots,Fulmars,Puffins shags etc. There was also the sea life that we came across, a couple of Minke Whales between Mallaig and Loch Maddy, a basking shark, a seal and a couple of dolphins/propoises between Loch Maddy and St Kilda and a pod of Orca (Killer Whales) who followed us out of Stromness. All in all a very satisfying trip.

Now we are back to the Inland Waterways which is equally satisfying but in a different way. Today’s trip was a gentle cruise from Harefield marina (where we had left the boat whilst we were away) down to Cowley Peachey through three locks. The weather was splendid and the trip went well. Over the next few days we will be passing though London, for better or worse, and heading off up the Lea and Stort Navigation, but for tomorrow the urgent task will be to re-stock the larder after our period away.