We're here, we've each steered, and neither crashed - yet

No flight delays, no issues, and with a sleeping pill I slept 4 or 5 hours. John took a pill, too, i think, but didn't sleep nearly as long. Arrived in Manchester


and whipped through customs in nothing flat. Called the car rental where we had a confirmation, and were told their "system" was down and they couldn't rent us a car. Sent us to Budget. Here, Budget and Avis are Budget/Avis. They had never heard of the cut-rate bozos I planned on using. So, the low quote was not good. We did get a car, and only at a little more than twice the amount we had planned. Oh well, at least we got one! It's more comfortable than what we were going to get, too. I brought my own GPS with the UK downloaded, so we were good to go.

I drove today since John didn't sleep last night. No matter who drives, the passenger spends most of the time jerking around, gasping and uttering little shrieks when you get too close to the left. And it is a little weird. Or a lot weird. Didn't hit anything today except one curb, and NO ONE HONKED at me, so all is well. We only drove a couple of hours today. We stopped in Oswestry to get a wifi dongle (which doesn't work right now-you still have to be able to have coverage, so maybe tomorrow somewhere) then went to the supermarket to get some things for the boat. Interesting to go to the grocery store somewhere different. I still can't believe Brits eat some of the things they do. Potato chips (or crisps) shouldn't be meat or shrimp flavored. That's just wrong.

Anyway, diet cokes, TP, beer, and a few groceries in hand, we were on our way to Mastermyn marina. This is the same marina and section on the canal that Dan Brown, The Narrowboat Lad, just filmed and has on youtube.

We put our things on board (our boats name is Megan)



then we had a very good boating lesson. A small trial run, and we were let loose with a boat. I hope they know what they're doing. WooHoo, we are off!







After about an hour or so, we moored for the night, and unpacked our stuff. We are getting in each other's way, but not too surprised. Figured out the cooker, and had cottage pie for our first dinner on board.


Showered, and ready to have a full day tomorrow, and our first lock.


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