These are the adventures of Andy and Sally Rawnsley on their narrowboat "The Puzzler". We have been living on the boat for over nine years now and are still loving it. Our Ulster born Shih Tzu, Shannon, has grown up, and has taken over the boat! After three wonderful years in Ireland, we transported The Puzzler to The Netherlands, and spent a year there. In 2015 we went southwards, to reach the north of France by June. After glorious weather throughout the summer, we arrived in Roanne in late October, and enjoyed our winter in this friendly port. We cruised extensively in France in 2016, 2017 and 2018, returning to Roanne each winter.


Monday 25 April 2011

Shannon-Erne Waterway 21st - 25th April


We sailed back across Lough Garadice, past Haughton's Shore Mooring and on down the Woodford River. Even here the markers keep us away from the shallows.



A wind farm on a nearby hill.
We decided that Ballyconnell was too towny for us for a night mooring, but we look forward to shopping here at a later date. At Ballyconnell lock a small cruiser came up the lock, then we went down with a locaboat from Ballimamore. This hire company have a fleet of penichettes.

Below Corraquil lock many large attractive stones have been used in the construction of the lock mooring. We had thought we might moor in the inlet below this lock, but it was too full.


We carried on and found a super mooring in a sheep field. On this side of the waterway, we are now in Northern Ireland, as the waterway forms the boundary.


"What are you doing in my field?"





Playmates for Catkin? Probably not!


Pleasant though it was at this mooring, there was nowhere for Catkin to walk. We were also being thrown about by passing boats, several of which were putting up a breaking wash and so helping to destroy the river banks. Some were hire boats, but certainly not all of them.




We moved on about half a mile to Aghalane, passing under The Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge.





Aghalane is a recognised mooring, but is under repair and so officially out of use, while landscaping is going on.



We winded and moored just beyond the slipway, with good bow access into the field.


For those of you who think that life is just one long holiday on the boat, here is some essential maintenance going on! Andy has removed and sanded the front doors, and Sally is now varnishing them. This seemed a peaceful place to be without front doors overnight.


We later read that this area was the site of several murders, during the troubles. It is also very near to the Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge, which commemorates the end of the troubles.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Sally
    It was good to meet you on Lough Erne during our recent holiday. We really enjoyed the chat and information on the UK canal network.
    Many thanks again for the arnica and also for the phone call about the canal walks programme. We enjoyed the first one last night and look forward to the next. Hope the weather stays good for your journey to Belleek. Take care and we will talk to you soon.

    J&G

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