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.


Tuesday 17 July 2012

5th - 10th July 2012. On up the Barrow Line through Monasterevin and Rathangan to Lowtown. East on The Grand canal to Stacumney.


We carried on up the Barrow Line and crossed The River Barrow at Monasterevin again. It looked really calm, and was at the lowest level we have seen it here.


Half a top paddle at lock 22 is enough to let plenty of water into the lock, for a start anyway!



Oh look. Here comes another weedcutter!

Rathangan is a pleasant town, close to the canal. The garage is very handy here for diesel, so we took advantage of this.


Mooring can be tricky on this canal, but we needed a good TV signal for Wimbledon!
On Friday it was up lock 19 on The Old Barrow Line. This lock was originally built in 1783. We pulled in above the lock to wait for the rain to ease. Yes, that is a weedcutter in front of us!


The rain did not ease, so we pulled forward to rest against the weed collector, near the entrance to the Milltown feeder.

The start of the Milltown Feeder looked very attractive. The lockkeeper thought we should be able to navigate it, so we decided to give it a try.

However, two corners later, we conceded defeat! The water was already too shallow for comfort, so The Puzzler had to back out.


Once back on The Grand Canal, we set off towards Dublin. This wooded section of the canal is lovely.


We spent Tuesday night by the ruin of Stacumney, in preparation for an early start in the morning.

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