On to Nantwich

 

Our mooring overnight came complete with mooring rings, picnic bench and barbecue stand. The height of luxury. 

After setting off we realised that we had chosen the best place as, round the corner, there was a line of boats moored nose to tail. 

We stopped at Venetian Marina to top up with fuel (an arm and a leg job) before going through the lock which was being looked after by two lockies. 

Then a steady cruise along to Barbridge Junction where we purchased Polgara some 18 years ago. 

A look back at the bridge we just came through and we are now officially on the Shropshire Union Canal. 

The Olde Barbridge Inn. 

And a look at the place where we picked up the boat all those years ago. 

We are now approaching the Llangollen Canal and this is Hurleston Reservoir. Normally the reservoir is fed by water from Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen. However, because of a breach, water is being pumped into it from the Shroppie. The reason for doing so is because it is a major source of drinking water for South Cheshire. Obviously, this doesn't help the water levels in the canal. 

A temporarily redundant sign post to Llangollen.

Because a notice on the lock gate says: Canal Closed. A shame really because we had hoped to go that way this year. 

Instead we stopped in Nantwich and had a walk around the town. The captain is standing in front of the chimney of what used to be a Coach Manufactory. There's also a clock inside a see through cabinet but it wasn't working! 

Nantwich has many old buildings, too many to include in the blog. If ever you're along this way it's well worth a visit. 

And right in the middle of Nantwich, the River Weaver. We just can't get away from it. 

Low water levels

 Having said that we had escaped the lock closures, we woke up to boaters saying that the levels on the Middlewich Branch were very low and boats were running aground. 

Well, we set off and said farewell to the pleasant gardens opposite. 

But the levels are low. The grey line at the top is where the water should be. We managed to get past a boat that was having difficulty clearing one of the bridges. 

Once through the first lock things got a bit better. Just passing a rather nice property which may have been stables or maybe a replica. Not sure. 

Here we are looking across to Church Minshull. We have moored here before and walked down to the village. But not this time. 

Looking across to Aqueduct Marina. On the approach to the marina an unpowered boat was across the canal but there were half a dozen marina staff hauling on ropes and sorting things out. 

This was followed by towpath repairs at Minshull Lock where I had to drop the captain off way back down the towpath while I waited midstream for the dredger to stop work to allow me to pass. 

Here we are in the lock, all of them are fairly deep on this canal. 

What a day! Low water, drifting boat and canal dredging. Time to moor the boat for the night and dream about tomorrow. 

A quiet Sunday

 Having got out of the immediate danger of getting stuck because of lock closures, time for a more relaxed day today. 

We were picked up at 10 o'clock by our friends Matthew and Gail in time for the church service at St Peters, Elworthy. We had a great time there in a packed hall with many families. There was a good music group that led us through some modern worship songs that we hadn't heard before. All in all a wonderful time of worship. 

Following that, lunch at Kiki's Table in Sandbach. Excellent Mediterranean food. 

Afterwards, no rest for the wicked, Matthew and Gail offered to take us to Morrisons so that we could stock up again but without the half mile walk each way. 

The view opposite our mooring. 

Mad rush at Middlewich

 Saturday 18th 

Set off for a pleasant cruise, the intention being to get through the Big Lock, moor up, walk to Morrisons to get the shopping and then back to the boat for our usual steak supper. 

The first bit went as planned with a lovely cruise looking out over the Weaver Valley. The second bit was OK getting through the Big Lock. It was only after that that things started to take a dive. We found an ideal mooring in the shade and were just about to set off for the shops when a boater came along telling us all that the locks on Heartbreak Hill were closed because of low water and that they were talking about closing the Big Lock as well. 

The name Big sums up the problem. The Big Lock was draining more water out of the system than was being let down from above. The only way to cure the problem would be to shut the lock until levels improved. 

What to do? 

After looking online at the stoppages map we decided to move up through the next 4 locks and get ourselves on the Middlewich Branch, just in case. 

Just entering the first lock. A slow fill because of only one ground paddle in operation. 

Now waiting to enter Wardle Lock. Maureen Shaw lived in Wardle Lock Cottage for many years. She was an ex-working boatwoman and delighted in looking after Wardle Lock. In fact many regular boaters called it “Maureen’s Lock”. 

We went through the lock and stopped a couple of bridges along glad to be away from closures for the time being. Now we will have to keep an eye on the C&RT stoppages page to see if we will need to make a dash back to the marina should water levels affect the Leicester Branch and threaten closure of the Watford Gap Locks. 

Mind you, it's very hard to dash at 4 miles per hour! 

Opposite Oakwood Marina

 Another day of motoring along. Two tunnels today which we managed to catch just at the right time. The first, Saltersford Tunnel, we arrived on the half hour and the second, Barnton Tunnel, we cleared without anyone coming through the other way. 

A farewell wave to the volunteers on the C&RT table at the Anderton Boat Lift. Stopped at the facilities to do all the necessaries and then on to Marston.

Two views of the Lion Salt Works, now a museum, which we visited on a prior trip this way. 

Details on the bridge at Northwich, the formula being that for brine. 

We motored through the industrial part of Northwich and stopped just before Oakwood Marina. 

Nice and quiet (moored in the nettles!) 

PS very late post again because of poor WiFi. 

Acton Bridge

 Well today we covered 9 or 10 miles, one tunnel and one stop lock. It is a return journey for us so it was a good opportunity to motor on and recharge the batteries once again. We need to charge the batteries every day which we can do by either motoring for 3 or 4 hours or running the generator, which is rather noisy. At present the fridge is working overtime and taking a lot of energy to do so. It doesn't like the hot weather! 

Came round a bend to find this Colossus coming towards us. Time for a cool head and knowing where to steer. Not a problem for either of us. 

Dora, the Dinky Café Boat. It looks very inviting.

And she is moored right opposite the Daresbury Science Park. Lots of people walking around with lanyards round their necks all looking very scientific. 

It looks as if Daresbury itself is expanding with development West of the canal. 

A new bridge to cross from West to East. 

New houses on the East side. 

Which will meet up with the houses already on the hill. 

A look across to the railway viaduct across fields that may soon be covered with houses. Who knows! 

Through Preston Brook Tunnel and a look at all the boats at Dutton Dry Dock. 

We motored a bit further on and stopped near Acton Bridge. Right out in the countryside, sitting outside until late in the evening. Even had supper outside. 

We were commenting that this is the first holiday that we have had so many meals outside.

Can't be bad! 

Grappenhall

 Wednesday 15th July. 

You will recall that yesterday we had a walk along the canal to sus out the facilities further along, well, it was a nice walk but unnecessary. Talking to the boater behind us I told him what we were planning to do and he said: 'You know there's an Elsan disposal place in the pub carpark opposite? Not many people know that!' Well I didn't. It's not on the paper or digital map. 

We had a walk around Lymm and here's the ancient cross and stocks. 

In the centre of the old town is this lake formed when the river was dammed. It's a lovely village with many old houses around the centre. 

Needless to say, we did some shopping and then cast off only to move to the other side of the canal to attend to the loo. Luckily, when nosing around the pub carpark, I asked a chap who was sweeping away where the Elsan point was. He pointed us to an unmarked door, opened it with a flourish and there it was. No wonder people don't know where it is. 

We then set off for the winding hole about 200yds the other side of the bridge. 

A look at the house just after the bridge.

And here on the right even more houses going up. 

We pottered all of 3 miles down to Grappenhall and, as you can see, found ourselves a nice shady spot. 

In the old part of the village the street is still cobbled. 

We tried to get into the church but it was locked. Fortunately, as we were walking out a lady came in to 'lock the church.' She couldn't understand why it was locked and she let us have a brief look round. One of the windows contains glass from the 13th century. 

Next to the church, the pub. Where else would it be? 

Another warm evening on board.