First half down

27 October - The journey home

So home we go It’s all a bit of a blur as most will understand, out of Manchester without a hitch and 7 hrs to Dubai, flying into there in the dark adds another dimension to the impression of the place, roads to who knows where with almost no traffic. An hour on the ground and back on a smaller plane (777) and not as comfortable, and another 7 hrs to Singapore. We arrived at 8am and our transport was waiting, we were driven to the Park Regis and booked in. A shower and a nap got us to 4pm and we went down to the bar for a drink and at 5.30 dinner, A Chinese set menu and a bottle of Oyster Bay Sav (do you remember that one Janet) and the best service from our waitress Connie made this a 12/10, no kidding it was FAB.That done and no photos because the phone got left in the room we went upstairs for another sleep tours to do tomorrow. 

Good night folks. 
TOTAL - lots of miles, halfway across the world

Nearly there

23 October - to Canal street

Up and about around 9 and Vicki took off to get our last dinner supplies and do a quick tour around Central Sheffield, Town hall and Cathedral

Sheffield Cathedral http://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/

We set off after lunch for our final cruise to return Musn Grumble to her home in Canal Street. On the way we pass Martyn & Charlotte's new wide beam still sitting very high. Martyn is at Canal Street to meet us and we catch up with him for awhile.

Our flags are looking a little worse for weather

 

MUSN Grumble passing OLIN WATA and she is home

 

Musn Grumble Home after 6 months

We spent the rest of the afternoon finishing packing and just enjoying our last night aboard and both agreed we thoroughly enjoyed this trip and agreed if someone came to the door and gave us some money and said would you like to do that again we would not hesitate.

Photo's blurred have nothing to do with wine

 

Our last bottle of Champagne which Pete was given for his birthday from Jan & Alistair and we thought we would save for our last night as boaters. Cheers

Thank you Martyn and Charlotte for the use of Musn Grumble we have got absolutely nothing to Grumble about.

TOTAL - 1 mile, 1 load wash, 1 explore of Sheffield and last of our booze

24 October - Sheffield to Manchester

Up and about on a cold grey day, our last morning on Grumble, Breakfast and last minute tidy and packing and a talk with Martyn until Nick and Dianne arrived to take us to the airport in Manchester.

We had all day, well at least until the rugby at 4pm. We stopped for lunch at Lady Bowers Inn in the Peak Forest but as we parked, the Subaru released a cloud of steam,We had lunch and let it cool and put water in and carried on but were soon back and on the phone to the RAC who turned up and found a split in the top radiator hose, temp repairs did not work so it was off on a tow truck. 

Thanks to RAC for dropping us at Bamford Train station we were on our way to Manchester again, unfortunately missed the train by 1 minute and had to wait an hour for the next one. We tuned the laptop to the Rugby but only saw 20 mins of the 2nd half before we lost signal and the train arrived. We got the final score on Facebook so all was not lost. We knew the ABs could do it without us. Shall be home to watch the final in NZ.

The train went to Manchester Piccadilly and then we changed to a airport train, thanks to our conductor who made sure we were on the right platform for the connection and so we are at the airport, 4 hrs late but we are there. Alias though the room at the Hilton was not ready????? so we had 2 rounds of FREE drinks while they sorted that, then the TVs in the rooms were off line so after room service it was bed time. A big bed and a large space makes a huge change after Grumble but we slept well.

Our view this morning is nothing compared to some of our mornings

A repack of the big cases and the Aussie v Argentina game are the planned for today. We fly out in the morning for Singapore

TOTAL - 1 car towed, 1 burst hose pipe, 2 trains rides, 1 shuttle pick up and 1 lunch at Lady Bower Inn and bonus goodbye to our Dianne & Nick

Last few days not moving

21 October - Victoria Quays

Up very slowly and breakfast. Did a load of washing and moved into the basin for water and a pump out, also brought 1 bottle of gas to leave the gas locker full, we then moved back to the moorings.

Victoria Quays https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Quays

We went to the The Quays 1819 for lunch and got custom made burgers, (toasted buns and raw onion) 9/10 if only they had beetroot they would have got 10/10. http://www.sheffieldboats.co.uk/quays1819cafebar

Back on the boat and watched the news for the 1st time in a week

TOTAL - 1 swing bridge (twice) 300m

22 October - Victoria Quays

Up and about after a good nights sleep, it's quiet here for the centre of a large city. After a quick breakfast we walked down the tow path to see Martyn and Charlotte's new widebeam go into the water for the 1st time. We were to late as the yard had a crane on site and was loading boats on to trucks for delivery and had done the up and in ones first, so the shell was in the water at 6am. 11 tons of ballast in the form of pavers arrives for installation on Saturday, damn we will miss the working bee.

 We wish Martyn and Charlotte lots of fun fitting her out, very jealous

Back to the boat for serious bag packing and weeding out the stuff that's not coming home and another load of washing done after pushing up the battery's.
A walk into town at rush hour to see what we have not been missing and a drink in the seediest pub we have walked into on the whole trip, nothing you could put your finger on but we both were keen to walk out after 1 drink, save the best for last. A walk up a hill and we found a Tokyoy Chinese restaurant and had dinner 6/10 nice but nothing special. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186364-d1738931-Reviews-Tokyou-Sheffield_South_Yorkshire_England.html
Back on the boat at 8 some TV and bed

TOTAL - 1 load washing, half packing and 1 Chinese dinner

Ickles Lock to Victoria Quays

20 October - Our journey nearing an end

Awake this morning to the sounds of trains and the nearby scrap steel yard, this is Rotherham after all. Breakfast and a 9.30 start at Holmes lock where we meet Derek, the CRT lock keeper, who will take us up the Tinsley flight which is the last locks on our journey.

What a beautiful morning for a few locks

Up we went, all very straight forward - most were preset and ready to use. All are padlocked because the little darlings let out water if left unlocked.

Lock 6 was bombed in the war https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Canal

Thanks Derek for the help on the Tinsley Flight and taking our photo

 We reached the top by 12 and celebrated with a cold bottle of fizz - 13 locks in 2 and half hours. 

We had lunch on the lock landing and a quiet cruise to Victoria Quays the spot we started on 28 April. http://wakaroa2015.blogspot.co.nz/2015_04_01_archive.html   

Since then we have done 821.4 hours and 1177 locks and 1549 miles.

  We had a pleasant cruise on down to Victoria Quays pass Musn Grumbles home which looks like they may have acquired some more guests

All that is left now is to do last of the cleaning and pack our gear to hand back on Saturday morning so we have a couple of days here to let us do that.

TOTAL - 5 miles, 13 locks, 3 small aqueducts and 1 major