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. 

Off to Lymm

 I woke up rather early and saw that the canal was covered in a layer of mist. 

Needless to say, I went straight back to bed and got up later at a more reasonable time. 

Our first challenge of the day was the Preston Brook Tunnel, or so I thought! I'd forgotten all about the stop lock just before the tunnel. Here we are at 2 minutes to 11 just starting to go through. Not a problem under normal circumstances but the entry time for the tunnel was on the hour untill 10 minutes after. 

Just by the skin of our teeth we managed to enter before the curfew. 

Once through and the sign informs us that we are now on the Bridgewater Canal. Our C&RT licence allows us to stay on the Bridgewater for 7 days only. 

Suddenly the canal is much wider and we pass some modern apartments.

Ahead is the M56. 

And off to the left the canal off to Runcorn which, in the old days, once locked down to the Mersey. This is now a dead end. 

An imposing landmark, the Norton Water Tower. It's quite amazing that I found out the name of the tower using Google Lens. Sometimes AI really is a blessing. 

We had a brief stop at Moore to pick up some milk and a homemade pie from the canalside shop. 

Noticed the heavy-duty crane behind the narrowboat which is there to lift heavy timbers to act as a stop lock to block off the canal if there is a breach. As happened New Years Day 2025 which is why we will have to turn round after Lymm. The breach has still not been repaired. 

Canalside des res in Warrington. 

Followed by the M6. Oh dear, civilisation rearing its head again. 

Moored up in Lymm and this is our view over the old town. 

Went for a walk along the canal and by the bridge a little passageway leading to some quaint houses. 

We walked up to Oughtrington to sus out the Elsan facilities and to find out if we could turn the boat around once there. All looked ok but it wasn't easy to see where to stop from the canal side so we were glad to locate everything before driving up there. And, yes, we would be able to turn there. 

Back to the boat, supper onboard and then to bed. 

A day late again

 By Sunday I had managed to get the blog up to date. However, I seem to have slipped behind again. 

A last look at our overnight mooring as we set off towards Preston Brook. We managed to cover 5 miles today (Monday) which included 2 tunnels. We only stopped when we did because just round the corner was a third tunnel which we thought we would leave for tomorrow. 

But, we're getting ahead of ourselves. 

Here's the entrance to the Anderton Lift. Obviously closed off for the time being until funds can be raised for the necessary repairs. 

We worked our way through Barnton Tunnel, no problems there although it does have a twist or two and is one-way only. 

This means you have to give way if someone is already coming through. 

The second tunnel, Saltersford Tunnel, operates on an hourly cycle, our way on the hour with a 15 mins window, the other end on the half hour. 

We had to wait before we could enter but this gave me time to top-up the greaser. For those of you who don't know, the greaser forces grease into the hole that houses the propeller shaft. It effectively bungs up the gap between the inside and the outside of the boat and stops water flooding in. 

Not such a bad place to have to wait for the tunnel. 

At Bartington Wharf we passed all the Black Prince hireboats getting ready to go out again. 

Lovely views over the Weaver Valley and somewhere down there is the Weaver Navigation which we tackled 10 years ago when the lift was working. 

And here we are for the night. 

But, before that, how about a nice walk? 

And then back to the boat to cook roast chicken, our planned Sunday lunch before we went out instead. 

PS blog still not up-to-date since the WiFi signal in Lymm isn't that good. I'll have to wait until things improve.