Welsh waters: Day 4

With heavy rain forecast from around 11, we got ourselves under way in good time, with Wrenbury church clock just striking 8.30.  Adrian walked down and wound up the first bridge.

He then walked on to the electric lift bridge by the mill, but waited a bit before raising it so I was a bit closer.  At that time of day we held up a few cars.

When the bridge goes down, the people waiting on the mill side always seem to be first off the mark to get across.  Adrian said the car coming the other way had actually been there first, but had to wait the longest.  We were expecting to have to raise the bridge by the garden centre, but it was already up.  We suspect they lift it during closed hours, as it’s excellent security.  And it appears it’s their land on the towpath side, so it’s only them and customers who need to use it.  They had some attractive displays by the bridge today.

Along the next stretch it rained a bit, but not heavily.  This was horse fly central last time we came this way, but now we’re later in the year there fortunately wasn’t one to be seen.  We’d passed a few boats coming the other way so suspected Marbury Lock would be empty.  It had a little water in it, but not much.  The main interest was a chicken on the lock side.

Presumably it had got out of the lock cottage garden.  It seemed to take a liking to Adrian, even following him across the top lock gate when he went over to wind the offside paddle.  We carried on past the Marbury moorings we used last time as they’re under pine trees, and we thought the forecast heavy rain might bring a load of pine cones down.  We instead stopped the other side of Bridge 24 in a nice open spot; it was only 10am.

We had a couple of hours of rain, but not particularly heavy.  Lunch was chicken soup made by Adrian, and then the sun came out for a bit.  We’ve not been idle though: I have made a chilli, half of which will go in the freezer, I’ve made use of the excellent signal here to upload and schedule another podcast, and I’ve cleared a semi-blockage in the bathroom basin drain.  Adrian has been through some of his clothes and had been doing charity stuff.  There have been sharp showers in between the sunny spells.

3 miles, 1 lock.  (16 miles, 10 locks)