On to Murder Bridge No 177

 Today started off well with me waking up at 5 o'clock! I tried to get back to sleep but gave up in the end and made some tea for us both. 

Here's the captain bringing the boat along to Kings Lock after me telling her that we spent the night moored in a winding hole. The canal is very wide at that point and I would have moved the boat had anyone needed to turn round. Luckily none of that was required. 

Because the lock was against us I helped a single hander through before we took our turn. 

While waiting for the lock to fill I thought that a picture of the fish and chips shop would be an excellent reminder of the wonderful meal we had last night. 

All around Middlewich various bollards have been decorated with knitted cosies. Must have taken ages. 

I'm back on the boat as there was yet another boat waiting to come through and they were happy to work the gates for us. 

Immediately after the lock is the Wardle Canal the shortest canal on the system being only 154ft long. 

Not all narrowboats have roses and castles on the doors, this one has icons. 

And a nostalgic photo for us of what used to be Middlewich Boat Hire. We hired several times from them. 

We then went through 3 more locks and stopped to go to Morrisons for even more food for the pantry. Including, of course, steaks as it's Saturday. 

A cormorant, which you're lucky to see as it kept diving every time I went to take the picture. 

After that we only went on a little further, found a nice shady place and stopped for the afternoon and overnight. This is a really lovely part of this canal and an opportunity for the captain to watch Wimbledon all afternoon. 

Oh, and it's just past Bridge No 177 nicknamed "Murder Bridge". It was named after the unsolved October 1967 murder of a Middlewich solicitor whose body was found in a shallow grave nearby. 

No sleep tonight then! 

On to Middlewich

 Friday and an end to Heartbreak Hill. Only 6 locks in all today but 7 miles covered. But, it's still hot. 

All of the locks are deep along this section and leakage is a big problem. 

Passing this side arm we were reminded that last time we came past it was an active boatyard but there doesn't seem to be much going on this time round. 

Canalside cottages at Malkin's Bank. 

A Damsel Fly decided to hitch a lift with us. 

Even more works but this time I think they were making a new bridge over the canal. 

Now on the outskirts of Middlewich and passing one of the salt factories. 

Now the captain doesn't usually use steps like these on the outside of the lock walls. However, there are handrails which make all the difference. 

We arrived at Middlewich hot and running out of puff. Found a mooring with a tree, near the Fish and Chips shop but also near a busy road. 

Normally we wouldn't stop in such a place but to go on would mean working another 4 locks, something we didn't want to contemplate. 

So, fish and chips for supper accompanied by our style of music being played at the Kings Lock pub nearby. 

Heartbreak Hill part 2

 Thursday July 9th 

It's too hot! We managed 6 locks today and only covered about 2 miles overall. 

The captain started off working the locks and, as you can see, not a cloud in the sky. 

After a few locks we swopped over. People often ask who does the locks? Honestly, we share it. Sometimes I'll take the boat in and Brigid takes it out. It all depends on the lock and how we are feeling. 

And here she is driving up to the next lock. 

We're just about to go under the M6. We remember one year when the traffic was stationary and we smugly waved to the drivers as we sailed off at 4mph, faster than their 0mph. 

More repairs going on with single file traffic past the barges. 

With the temperature touching 30°C at midday we found a tree and gave up on going any further. 

Supper of sausage in cider out in the shade. Much better than boiling in the boat. 

Heartbreak Hill

 It's our wedding anniversary, July 8th. 🥳🎉🤗 

54 years of marital bliss. 🤞

We set off just after 10 heading back to the Trent and Mersey Canal. 

It's not often that we get this close to a heron. Usually, just as you get near they fly off. Not this time. 

Back on the T&M and the captain's in charge. (Isn't she always?) 

How idyllic, The Red Bull pub, canalside tables and a narrowboat working through a lock. But, nobody around to see it all. 

And down she goes. 

At the bottom of the lock is a vertical roller bar which, I guess, was to stop the towing rope biting into the brickwork. 

Once again we stopped at the services for water, toilet and refuse and then off again continuing down heartbreak hill. This is a nickname given to the 26 locks between Harecastle Tunnel and Wheelock. Many of the locks are close enough together for the crew (me) to walk between them. But it's almost the hottest day of the year! 

At lock 54 the bottom gates are being replaced. 

Fortunately these are double locks so we could get through on the other side. 

Arrived at Rode Heath to find a house with a green (Irish) letterbox at the front. 

We couldn't stop where we had hoped but we found a bit of shade a little further on and settled for the night. 

Another glorious sunset. 

And still sitting outside at 10 o'clock. Can't be bad. 

Return to Hall Green

 

Started off the day by winding the boat. That is, turning it round. Above shows the side arm that we had to turn into before we could continue back along the canal. 

We stopped by the bridge with the awkward kink to go shopping. I love the sign in French, English and German to point out the shops 100mtrs away. Slightly out of date now but, nevertheless, there are shops nearby. 

The Macclesfield Canal is younger than the Trent and Mersey but has an older feel to it. The bridges are mostly made with stone and not bricks. And they're all slightly different. 

We stopped for a brief lunch just past the boatyard at Sherborne Wharf since the day was definitely getting hotter. Afterwards we moved on to Hall Green and tied up for the night. Nicely in the shade and closer to the locks that we will need to tackle tomorrow. 

Congleton

 Monday 6th July. 

Only 3 and a bit miles travelled today. 

We pottered along to Congleton and this is the waterside scene on the edge of the town. Once warehouses, now apartments. 

Just round the corner are a couple of bridges very close together with a nasty kink in the middle.

This first bridge is OK but why oh why did they have to put a kink in the middle of the next one? 

Still, we stopped a little further on at the embankment which has excellent views in both directions. 

In the 2nd picture can be seen the railway viaduct, a suitable distance away from the canal. 

In the afternoon we walked along the towpath up to Buglawton. On the way there we got a closeup view of one of the mileage posts. These were removed during the war to confuse the enemy, should they come this way. But they've all been lovingly restored and reinstated. Glad we did stop where we did as the towpath at Buglawton has been closed and where we moored has the better views.

Late night sun on the water. Delightful. 

Which way now?

 A day of decisions. 

People always ask us where we are going on the boat and we tell them that we get to a junction and decide left or right!? 

Initially we were thinking of going up the Macclesfield Canal and then on to Whaley Bridge. However, there hasn't been much rain lately and we're worried that we could get stuck if locks are closed. 

So, what to do? 

Well, let's get to the next junction and decide then. 

Our first priority was to get rid of the rubbish, recycling and food waste. Many of the old C&RT facilities have been closed. Fortunately there were new facilities at the nearby marina.

We are really in the heart of the potteries. 

Here's Middleport Pottery where the Great Pottery Throw Down was filmed. 

Last time we were in Stoke it was still in operation and we had a tour round the factory. 

The café and shop are still there and going strong by the looks of it. 

Some pictures of other potteries that haven't fared so well. 

And then there was Harecastle Tunnel. We only had to wait a little while before we entered the tunnel. During that time we had the safety talk and received various warnings about the lack of height in parts of the tunnel. 

It took about 3/4 of an hour to get through but, because we were 3rd in line, we couldn't go as fast as I would have liked. 

The water is really that colour and is due to the local ironstone strata. 

Right, decision time. We're at Hardings Wood Junction. Left or straight on? 

Well, if we were to go straight on we would be straight into a run of 12 locks. Which is all right in the morning but not at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. So we followed our original plan and turned onto the Macclesfield Canal. However, we'll probably only go up to the foot of Bosley Locks, turn round and continue up the Trent and Mersey. Perhaps when we get to the junction again we may decide on something different, who knows? 

We are now crossing over the T&M, waving to the boat we followed through the tunnel. 

Hall Green Lock, a very beautiful place. It's only a stop lock but it's a lovely place to stop for a moment or two. 

Our first real view of Mow Cop. Built by Randle Wilbraham in 1754 as a folly, it was designed to resemble medieval ruins. Wilbraham of nearby Rode Hall constructed the elaborate summerhouse and circular tower to look like medieval fortress ruins. 

A view of Ramsdell Hall as we sail past. 

We stopped by Bridge 85, Simpson Bridge, by ourselves, nice and quiet.