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.


Saturday 16 November 2013

20th October - 12th November. Signwriting and autumn colours in Enniskillen.


Shannon loves to stand and look out while we are sailing. There are so many interesting smells!
We continue to move around the moorings in Enniskillen and were moored at the Regal Pass in Enniskillen when a heron came to visit us.
Having painted the scrolls first, I  then started the signwriting with the THE but had to abandon due to rain. At the second attempt, I used the tracing of the previous letters to speed up the masking, using frog tape for all the straight lines.


It needs a steady hand for this, with our homemade marl stick to help.
The first coat of ivory on the letters and scrolls is complete, and masking will be removed before painting the next two coats. The signwriting must never be perfect, or else it might look as though the letters were stick-on plastic ones.



A tranquil sunset at the Ardhowen Theatre mooring.


Even though it is now early November, the trees are hardly changing colour at Castle Coole at all. The weather has been so mild.

There are fewer craft about now but it is not often that both Broadmeadow and the Regal Pass moorings are devoid of boats.


Shannon has found a new place from which to watch the cooking. She is a great helper in the galley.

Back to the signwriting for the final shading! It is amazing how this brings the letters to life. The tracing above is to remind me where light and dark colours go, below each letter.



At last the signwriting is complete.
Two Carrickcraft hire boats went past quite fast in convoy, towards Enniskillen Bridge. This is the second pair within the week. Rumour has it that they are changing their base.
When we are moored at the Round "O", our best walk is through the woods and up to Portora Castle. Shannon never misses this puddle on the way!
At last there are some autumn colours to be seen near Portora Lock. The lock is in use at present as the water levels in Upper Lough Erne are controlled by the sluices here, under Portora Bridge.