I moor my narrowboat near Failsworth on the Rochdale Canal and lucky enough to have a mooring by my house, writes John Walker.
But I am packing it in and will tell you why, it is that though I arrange holiday dates with the boat last year not one of the three I was able to complete.
There was the early drought so with the Rochdale having so many leaking locks most of it was closed for months, so stuck.
Then came the rain and with it the floods that also closed the canal so I was stuck again, just managing one trip the whole year.
Last month on the 5th Lock 82 was closed with a loose cill. On the 17th L23 was closed with a broken paddle and on the 21st Lock 16 was closed also with a broken paddle.
And now the first stoppage of the season—the Rochdale!
So the boat, most regrettably, is being sold. For I’m not able to travel far so cannot moor it elsewhere.