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 21 May 2012

14th - 20th May. From Lough Key to Carrick. A trip to Bunnanadden in County Sligo.

On Monday James and Teresa came for the day. We had planned to go for a sail on Lough Key, but the wind was too strong to do so safely, so we rocked (quite a lot!) on the mooring. It was lovely to see them again after so long. On Tuesday we made our way back to the River Shannon and down to Carrick.
At Carrick we are on the finger moorings. It is reassuring that we now have a 'steaming' light, on top of the logbox, which we leave on at night, so that any night time craft can see us, as our stern is sticking out into the river. We stayed in Carrick for nearly a week, while Sally had a tooth out at the dentist, and then spent time recovering from this.
There is not a great deal of boat movement at night, but the Pleasure Steamer, Moon River, is quite busy with evening trips. She was out late on Saturday night, coming back past us at midnight. It sounded to be a great party!



On Sunday James collected us and we went to spend the day with him and Teresa at Spotfield, which is a wonderful secluded cottage in County Sligo.


It is a traditional Irish cottage with real character. James and Teresa make Meadow Miniatures jewellery here, using flowers they grow themselves.




The view from the back garden is stunning, looking across to the Ox Mountains.


They have their own bog for peat cutting. Here the peat has been cut, and is stacked until it is dry enough to be brought to the house for use as fuel.


We have been burning compressed peat all winter in The Puzzler, so are delighted to be able to use the real thing! It makes an extremely good fire.

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