Chester again: Day 1

It’s six months today since we moved on board.  Up to the end of yesterday, we’ve covered 864 miles and 575 locks.

This morning we had a few things to do in town, so headed off down the steps by the aqueduct.  Nantwich was pretty quiet as it was still early.  Among the jobs, was some food shopping.  We got back to the boat and set off at about 10.45, heading for the winding hole to the south.  It took about half an hour to get back to where we’d started, and a boat had already taken our space.  We then crossed the aqueduct.

There were two boats at the water point, so we didn’t bother waiting.  As we travelled north, we were gradually catching up with the boat ahead, who pulled over immediately before Barbridge Junction.  We turned through the bridge.

When we got to the winding hole beyond Bridge 4 we turned around again, and reversed to the end of the moorings; there aren’t many boats here at all.  After lunch we walked down to the marina to see if there was any news on the bungs we ordered for the portholes, but the place was closed; he’s also not returning calls.  This afternoon I have been doing some writing.

6 miles, 0 locks.

Welsh waters: Day 29

A beautiful autumnal morning, with mist over the fields and the water, and the sun breaking through.

We set off from Baddiley a little after 8.30 and were soon at the two Swanley Locks, where we met boats coming up at both of them.  Then we stopped at Swanley Bridge Marina for diesel; the price went up the other day to 95p basic, but that’s still reasonable — and there’s a pump on the canal frontage so it’s easy to get to.  It’s self service, then you just go into the office to pay.

The next stop was before Bridge 1, from where we walked up to our friends, Billy and Sheila, for a coffee and to pick up a parcel we had delivered there.  Back at the boat we had lunch, then headed for Hurleston Locks.  A boat had just come up and there were four volunteer lock keepers on duty.

With the locks being set ahead, we made rapid progress down, and exactly 20 minutes later we were leaving the bottom lock.

We carried on to Nantwich, which seemed really busy — so where there was a suitable space just past the aqueduct we grabbed it rather than going to turn around first.  We then tacked the job of getting the old headlight and horn off the cratch board, and installing the new LED one (which was the package we’d just picked up).  It doesn’t really have the look, but it will certainly light up tunnels.  We also walked up to the chandlery to get a new chimney, as the current one has massive holes in the inner skin, so is depositing tar on the roof.

6 miles, 6 locks.  (114 miles, 58 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 28

There was quite a bit of rain yesterday evening and some very heavy bursts overnight, but this morning was lovely — sunny, chilly, and still.  We seemed to be in no rush to get away, and it must have been well after 9 when we finally set off.  Through the next bridge, a fishing match was setting up, stretching right along to Marbury Lock.

As we descended the lock, a boat arrived to come up so we could leave the gates open.  At the lift bridge by the garden centre, a boat ahead of us lifted the bridge, and one coming the other way also came through.  They were then stopping for the cafe, so by the time we got to the electric lift bridge we were on our own.

There were seven hire boats at Wrenbury Mill, compared with zero last time we came past.

Much to our surprise, there was only one boat moored between the Mill and the next lift bridge, and then just a couple more beyond.  A little further out, we passed Sandra and Barry on AreAndAre.  At Baddiley Locks, there was a boat coming up the top lock and another waiting behind them.  The middle one needed filling, but there was a boat coming up the bottom one.  We carried on just a short way to the Baddiley moorings we used on the way up.

Last time we were here we walked to have a look at Baddiley Church.  This time we headed across the fields on the towpath side, to have a look at the village of Ravensmoor.  There’s not much there, but I did like this outside one house.

We came back via different paths to a different bridge.

5 miles, 4 locks.  (108 miles, 52 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 27

A change in the weather today: cloudy and a bit blustery, but a bit warmer.  We set off at about 8.15, but not before three ABC hire boats presumably due back at Whitchurch Marina.  It was just a shirt hop initially to the water point, where the washing machine went on.  The tap is nice and quick, so before long I walked down to set the staircase locks, while Adrian brought the boat.  Someone had already come up so I could just open the gate of the top lock, but the middle and bottom ones needed emptying.  Adrian was just in the top lock when a boat arrived below.

We had help from the crew of the boat below — well, kind of.  They were also setting the staircase up for themselves, and when I went off to get the first of the individual locks ready as we descended the bottom one of the staircase, they disappeared —  so that when I returned I was surprised to find it was Adrian who was opening the lock gates, having climbed up the ladder.

There was a boat coming up the middle of the individual locks, and another at the bottom one, so we were down remarkably quickly, then heading through the little tunnel.

Povey’s Lock was empty, and then as we approached Willeymoor Lock a boat that had clearly spent the night there set off right in front of us.  It wasn’t as if they’d already set the lock, because they hadn’t, and then it also transpired they then turned the lock on a boat which had just arrived below.  Adrian and the lady from that boat had a good chat about that, and various other things.

Once down Quoisley Lock we negotiated the blind bridge and then moored up before Bridge 24, just before Marbury where we stopped on the way up.  It was only about 11.15.  There are lots of single boat length spaces between the reeds here, where you can tuck in and feel all alone.  This afternoon we went for a walk along the towpath and bumped into fellow Braidbar owners, Carol and Rob whom we last met at Calcutt some time ago, so it was nice to have a quick catch up with them.  Not long after we got back there was a brief rain shower, but the main rain is forecast for this evening and tonight.

3 miles, 9 locks.  (103 miles, 48 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 26

Another beautiful sunny morning, with some mist rising off the water first thing.  We got under way before 9, almost straight away crossing the border into Wales for a bit.  Even the tree-lined section along by the mosses seemed bright today.

The sun was splitting the sky as we turned left at Prees Junction, to stay on the mainline.

There was a boat ahead at the lift bridge but they lowered it as we approached, possibly for cars, so Arian jumped off and raised it.  A little further along there’s a house with a commanding view of the canal.

Just before the next lift bridge we passed the historic butty, Saturn, being towed back to Ellesmere.

The bridge itself was up, with a crew member of an Andersen hire boat standing there — and their boat tied up beyond, with their fellow crew producing coffee and biscuits on a nearby picnic table.  The boat had passed us before we set off, so I think they had lifted the bridge, let two more boats go through, then Saturn and its motor the other way, then us.

At the next lift bridge, the two boats ahead of us had gone through, but then lowered it — so once again Adrian went and did the honours.  This time it was him standing there while a boat then came through the other way, then one behind us.

We met Sanity Again at the bridge before Whitchurch Marina, then by the time we got to the final lift bridge of the day, the boats ahead had all stopped and Adrian did the winding again.

We moored on the rings above Grindley Brook locks.  This afternoon we went for a wander down the locks, and bought a slice of very nice carrot cake from the cafe, to bring back to the boat.

9 miles, 0 locks.  (100 miles, 39 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 25

An absolutely stunning morning, very still and with beautiful sunshine.  First thing, I walked back to Frankton Locks to get a message passed on to someone — and on the way back our mooring just looked lovely.

We set off at about 9.30, planning to get to Ellesmere while there should be plenty of space.  The sheep in the field beyond the next bridge had taken a liking to a trailer that had been left there.

There were quite a few boats about.  At the winding hole just before Ellesmere, a long hire boat seemed to having trouble getting round, so the boat in front of us and us had to wait for a bit.  We turned into the arm, went to the end to turn around, and moored in a very similar place to where we were last time.  Adrian then headed off to the laundrette; with two sets of bedding to do (having had guests on board) it seemed worth getting them both washed and dried together.  Meanwhile I made two visits to Tesco, the first being to top up dwindling supplies of logs.  While I worked out which size bag was the best value, I realised there was a cat sat on top of them in the sunshine.

The logs were all in the lobby area.  Then a woman came out of the shop with her shopping, picked up the cat, and walked out.

With no particular need to be in Ellesmere for the rest of the day, we decided to move on.  First we went out of the arm and across to the water point, to top up the tank and put a load of general washing on.  Of course there suddenly seemed to be boats in all direction.  We had lunch while the tank filled, then reversed back into the junction, turned, and headed onwards.  In Ellesmere Tunnel, Adrian had a torch at the front and I also had one at the stern, as the headlight is now so dim.  Fortunately there was nothing coming.  Blake Mere looked particularly nice in the sunshine, but there are a lot of things you can’t do there.

We carried on a bit further and moored at Hampton Bank, where we stopped on the way up.

7 miles, 0 locks.  (91 miles, 39 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 24

A bit cloudy and dull this morning to start and Adrian had a call to do before we set off, so we didn’t get going until about 9.30.  As we approached Chirk Tunnel I could see there was no-one coming so we could head straight in.  After I while, I realised the headlight didn’t seem to be working (although the nav lights were).  Adrian went to fiddle with the wiring but that didn’t fix it, so he shone the torch out the front.  It was enough for an arriving boat to see us and wait, although not without ramming the bank first.  The tunnel took just 6 minutes to come through, compared with the 17 minutes going the other way.  Once out of the tunnel we headed across the aqueduct which was also clear, and which was also much quicker.

Back in England, we got through Chirk Bank without meeting boats on the narrow bits.  Out the other side, I always quite like this house by Bridge 16.

Before the New Marton Locks, there’s an area of marsh land, which always looks quite desolate.

Having hardly seen any boats all morning, we found them all waiting at the locks.  We were told we were sixth in the queue to go down, and everyone also seemed to want the water point.  Eventually we moved onto the water point while we waited, and I calculated we probably had enough time to get the wash part of the washing machine cycle done — so on it went.  The whole water point queue was somewhat disrupted by boats coming up also waiting for the taps (and usually getting one pretty quickly).  After some time we were able to move to the actual lock landing, through the bridge, and still had enough time to make and eat some sandwiches for lunch.  There were also lots of boats waiting to come up, so the lock side was crowded with helpers and gongoozlers.

That photo of the boat coming up was taken a full hour and half after the one of the marsh land.  It appeared that one of the top paddles wasn’t working properly, so each uphill boat took an age.  The crew of this one were American, and were keen to stress they were from Massachusetts, ‘a blue state’!  Then it was our turn to go down.

The lock emptied really quickly, and we were soon on our way to the second lock — Adrian bringing the boat and me walking.  A boat was coming up so we could go straight in, and there was a queue of five or so boats below.  We carried on past Whittington Wharf where all their hire boats were out, and past Frankton Junction where the locks had closed for the day.  We moored at the Val Hill moorings we like.  We then investigated the tunnel light, which is an old car headlamp.  By swapping some wires around, I manned to get one bulb working, but it’s pretty dim.  Fortunately it’s only Ellesmere Tunnel that’s on the horizon in the near future.

9 miles, 2 locks.  (84 miles, 39 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 23

The Corn Mill in Llangollen did us a really good dinner last night, and it was an opportunity for John and Mark to see the town.  The River Dee was a raging torrent.

This morning we woke to another stunning day.  After breakfast, I popped out to do a quick recording for a future podcast, and then we all walked into town again to see it in the light.  We’d also got another load of washing in while we were plugged in to electric, as yesterday’s had all dried thanks to  combination of sunshine and the fire being alight.  Our route into town took us down the towpath opposite the basin.

It was nearly 10am when we slipped away from our pontoon, not far behind another boat.  The first narrow section happens almost immediately, and is overlooked by a castellated house.

We followed the other boat through the next narrow section, then at the next one a boat coming the other way was in the passing place.  It’s much quicker going this way as you’re not fighting against the flow.  There were a few boats heading the other way, one of which was met at a bridge hole.  The steerer of that boat mentioned how busy the canal was — and when we got to Trevor we could see what he meant.  We had to pause under the bridge before the basin, as the boat ahead was reversing to get alongside the bank.

It turned out he was the fourth boat waiting to get across the aqueduct, with three coming the other way.  We pulled alongside him, and the day boat behind us also found a spot to wait.  The first boat that arrived from the other end surprised everyone by going into the arm rather than turning towards Llangollen.

The third boat to arrive was the Anglo Welsh trip boat who wanted to turn, so wanted us out of the way.  It meant we were part of a long convoy going over the Ponty.

We moored up on the offside and made bacon sandwiches for lunch before returning John and Mark to their car in the little car park by Fron basin.  They (and Bowie) had been perfect boat guests and it was so lovely to see them; they appeared to enjoy themselves too, and the scenery and weather could not have been better.

We set off again, with Adrian walking round to the lift bridge.  The disabled trip boat was just coming through, so he only had to close it.

A little further on, some guys were taking down a diseased tree.  We were asked to wait while a huge branch was cut off and crashed into the water.  It was only when we were allowed past that we could see the guy way up on an elaborate cherry picker.

By Bridge 27 there’s a parking area, and a woman was sat there on a deck chair reading a magazine.  She was on the corner and could see both ways, and indicated to me that there was a boat coming.  As I went past, I said that if she could do the same at every blind bridge, it would be very useful!  At Whitehouses Tunnel, a boat was coming the other way and we had to wait a little while.

The tunnel took only 3 minutes going in this direction, as opposed to 10 when we went through the other day.  We stopped on the visitor moorings just past the entrance to Chirk Marina.  The spots that are not under oak trees were already taken, so we may get the odd acorn pinging off the roof.  The important thing is that the signal is reasonable, as Adrian has a few calls to make.

7 miles, 0 locks.  (75 miles, 37 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 22

Another beautiful sunny morning, although the chill in the air really made it feel like autumn.  The fire had stayed in though, and came back to life surprisingly easily.  We were all up fairly early, and got under way a bit before 9, straight round the corner and onto the aqueduct.  We could hardly have had a better day for it, and it was the perfect introduction to boating for John and Mark.

We turned under the bridge at Trevor, onto the slow few miles to Llangollen.  The scenery is fantastic, even if the canal is shallow in places.  We followed a boat through the first narrow section, and met boats coming the other way in generally reasonably convenient places.  The second narrow section has rocky cliffs rising up one side.

The arrival into Llangollen is always a bit special.  We waited for the boat ahead to reverse into a space, then turned and reversed into one ourselves.  Once tied up, we plugged in the electricity, got the washing machine going, and ran the hosepipe over the roof to fill up the rather empty tank.

After lunch, we walked up the feeder canal to horseshoe falls, where water from the River Dee is taken into the canal (and ends up at Hurleston Reservoir).

As we got back, we paid for our mooring for the night at the shop at the wharf.  The horse drawn boat was just arriving back.

This evening, we’re going for dinner at The Cornmill.

5 miles, 0 locks.  (68 miles, 37 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 21

After yesterday’s deluge (some of the rain gauge readings I saw said there had been as much as two inches of rain in places), the morning was bright and sunny.  We were expecting guests, so pottered around this morning getting things ready.  I also walked over the aqueduct again and did some more recordings.  There’s a path on the Trevor side that goes down to the River Dee, and you can walk right underneath the aqueduct.

Our friends, John and Mark, had left home a bit later than expected, and it’s a long drive, so their arrival was also a bit later than anticipated.  It meant we decided not to go anywhere by boat today, but instead we took them for a walk over the aqueduct, and showed them the sights of the area.  Bowie the dog didn’t seem overly impressed with the aqueduct.

We’ll head off to Llangollen in the morning.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (63 miles, 37 locks)