On Thursday 25th September 16 members of the Windmill Hill Friday Bingo Club enjoyed a very full day cruising on a canal boat to Agden Lock at Warrington.

The weather turned out to be kind as we all assembled at the Preston Brook marina at 9.30 to board the Ada and New Horizons, two canal boats provided by the Canal Boat Adventure Project, and after a short delay to change helmsman we finally pushed off at 10.30am.

There followed a very relaxing outward trip of nearly 4 hours to our lunch time destination of the Brown Owl pub and restaurant. There was great hilarity and some feminine hi-jinks from the ladies doing a Titanic impression on the bow of the Ada. Nobody in trousers escaped their attention and when a couple of young labourers resembled a barechested coke advert it made their day.

The New Horizons passengers seemed to be much more sedate and less rowdy maybe because they had the most experienced canal boat sailors aboard, but they also enjoyed plenty of time in the sun, lounging on the bow deck.

We arrived at the Brown Owl at 2.15pm very late for our meal which was ordered for 1pm, but the pub rose to the occasion and everyone enjoyed a very good meal, which we also invited the helmsmen to join us for.

Time was getting on and we had to try and get back before dark, because canal boats are not allowed to travel after dark under threat of having their boat license withdrawn.

The Ada was suffering from a slight engine malfunction so New Horizons forged on ahead and the Ada limped to Stockton Heath where we had to park up because it was too dark to travel on.

Pete the Boat Manager who lives at Stockton Heath met the Ada and took Mike back to Preston Brook to pick up the mini-bus, and just as they got there New Horizons pulled in to the marina. Mike drove the bus back to pick up the Ada passengers and dropped them all off at Windmill Hill at around 9pm

On reflection it turned out to be a very full day, but people enjoyed the trip and especially the meal, however all agreed that if we did it again, then we would start from Stockton Heath which is only a 2 hour ride from Agden Wharf.

But all in all a very enjoyable day was had by all.