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 11 April 2016

Early April 2016. Final week of Bridge. Last supper in Roanne! We leave the port with Debbie and Toad on 9th April.

We have had an enjoyable last week at the Bridge club, playing rather better than we did in March!
We were given a lovely farewell speech and a present of some Champagne.


We like this view of The Puzzler from the other side of the port.
Our daughter, Debbie, arrived for a visit and we all went to Rook for a splendid curry with Pete and Jan. Our last supper in Roanne! Jill, Graham, LizAnne and John were there too, so we had a great evening.
Walking round Roanne, we met the town cow, which gives milk on demand! Apparently once your bottle of milk is full, it moos to let you know!

Toad drew one ticket in our sweepstake for the Grand National, but his horse did not win. He was most upset! Find Toad Rawnsley on facebook!


On Saturday we found time to play table tennis on the concrete tables in the park.


Debbie tested Dad with some sneaky shots, but he eventually beat her.


However, she now had her eye in, and beat Mum.


We are ready for departure at last.
Looking back to our mooring for the last five months, we have many happy memories of our time here, beside Frédéric on Willusty. Il a été le meilleur ami de Shannon!
Having left our mooring, we did a detour around the port, to a cacophony of boat horns and bon voyages. It really made us look forward to our return in November.
This is hopefully the last time that we see Matilda Rose! Perhaps I should rephrase that, and say that we will be delighted when she finds a nice new owner! Look for her on Apollo Duck.

We also had a farewell committee at the lock, as Cassandra, Mary and Brian joined us there.


Out of Roanne lock and off to the rest of France for seven months.

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