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.