Welsh waters: Day 3

We really liked the Baddiley moorings: quiet, dark, and we were on our own.  There was rain last night and it was pretty miserable-looking when we got up — but as it wasn’t actually raining we decided to do a short hop to Wrenbury.  It was just grey.

A boat passed just before we set off, so we knew we’d be behind them up Baddiley Locks.  The bottom lock had only one working top paddle, so it takes an age to fill; then there was a boat to come down, so by the time we were up the lock about half an hour must have elapsed.  Other boats were also coming down, some of them traders who’d been at the Whitchurch festival last weekend.

We carried on round the big bend at Wrenbury Heath, and pulled in at the first set of moorings, between Bridge 18 and the manual lift bridge.  Shortly after we arrived there was a brief shower, but there were also some sunny intervals.  We decided to go to the Berries community cafe for lunch, and of course by the time we got there, across the fields from Bridge 18, it was raining heavily.  We had very good toasted sandwiches, and the whole place is very friendly and nicely done.  We came back via the shop and the path through the churchyard to the lift bridge.  I needed more steps for the day, so carried on walking; I went over the lift bridge following a footpath, which then went into a field of maize.  I think technically the path is supposed to go up the side of the field, but it was very overgrown and the well-trodden route was a path between two rows of maize.  As the crop was wet, I was soaked by the time I came out the other side.

I crossed another field to a stile in a hedge.

This led to a track, which returned me to behind Wrenbury Mill and then the canal.  This afternoon has actually been relatively sunny, and there have been plenty of boats through the lift bridge.  I have put together another podcast, so I’m well ahead now, but there’s not enough signal to upload and schedule it.  Tomorrow’s forecast is even worse, particularly after lunch, so we’ll see what happens.

2 miles, 3 locks.  (13 miles, 9 locks)

Welsh waters: Day 2

We thought we might look out for the northern lights as we went to bed last night, but it was unexpectedly chucking it down, so no chance of seeing anything.  This morning was a beautiful one, still and sunny.  I had an interview to do at 9am for a future podcast, which should have been in person but ended up being over WhatsApp audio.  Once that was done, I walked round to Hurleston Locks, while Adrian brought the boat.

We were following a boat up, but also swapped with one above the bottom lock, and another below the top lock, where the pound is really very short.

Then we moved onto the water point to fill the tank and get some washing going.  The boat in front was Merlin, an Anglo Welsh hire boat, which happens to belong to Ian and Irene of Free Spirit.  They had also stopped for water, but then just sat there for some reason (maybe they were having breakfast or something) and then set off about 30 seconds before we did.  It has to be said that their steering requires a little more practice!

We stopped briefly at Swanley Bridge Marina to enquire about winter moorings (none left, as it happens).  We’re not sure what to do for the winter, whether to stay out on the cut, or have a base we can use.  There are arguments for both.  The first Swanley Lock is just round the corner, and a boat was coming out and Merlin about to go in.  Adrian then had to turn the lock for us, and again at the next one.  The Merlin people were looking for a village for lunch, and it seemed to be news to them that there were another three locks before Wrenbury.  We pulled in at the Baddiley moorings, between Bridges 12 and 13.

After lunch, we walked to the tiny St Michael’s church at Baddiley.  To get there, we went down to Bridge 13, which you have to cross.  I’m always surprised at how different bridges are when you see them from the land side; this one has barriers with a stile, and is overgrown.

Then we walked across the fields and found the church.  Part of it dates from 1308, which must be the bit at the back.

We walked across different fields on the way back, returning to Bridge 12.  This involved crossing a field of cows.

This afternoon’s promised rain hasn’t arrived, but tomorrow’s forecast is pretty bad.  But of course these days if we don’t like it, we can stay put!

4 miles, 6 locks.  (11 miles, 6 locks) 

Welsh waters: Day 1

We are going to head up to Llangollen, as we haven’t been all the way to the end this year, and it’s one of the few places still left open to us!  But it looks as though we’ll take our time getting there.  We set off at about 9.30, and because of all the moored boats the first mile is all on tickover.  When we got to Hurleston Junction, we should really have gone up the locks — but took a diversion instead.  A few weeks ago, we ordered some new covers for the porthole bungs at the stern of the boat, as the currrent ones are disintegrating, from Nik at Venitian Marina.  We thought we’d collect them on the way back from the Bridgewater, but last week it turned out he was on holiday, due back today.  We left a message this morning, and then phoned again later, but only got voicemail.  So we thought we’d pop along and see if they were ready.  So we carried on to Barbridge Junction, took the right hand turn onto the Middlewich Arm, carried on the Bridge 4, and turned around at the winding hole.  Then I reversed to the moorings, and we tied up.  Then it rained really quite heavily for a couple of hours, during which time we had lunch.  When the sun came out, we walked along past the lock to the marina, and found the Cover & Canvas office all shut up.  So we walked back to the boat and set off again, retracing our steps.  Initially, it was quite pleasant.

Before we got to the junction it had started to rain again, though.  As I approached the junction, a boat sped across it on the main line, and the steerer looked behind him, and made some sort of gesture.  I took this to mean there was another boat behind him, so edged out of the junction very cautiously.  There was another boat, but it was a good way back — although coming out so slowly meant I had to use a blast of reverse to get round the corner.  Moments later it absolutely chucked it down.

All the way to Hurleston Junction it rained on and off, and when it was on it really went for it.  Our favourite spot was free on the northern moorings, so we tied up.  I thought we’d timed it right for a dry spell, but in fact some of the heaviest rain of the afternoon came on just as we were trying to moor.  There was no point in us both getting soaked, and I was already wet, so Adrian went back inside.  When I went in, I needed a change of clothes.

So we’re not quite even on the Llangollen Canal yet, but we will be tomorrow.

7 miles, 0 locks.

Floating about: Day 21

Another sunny start with the promise of rain later.  We headed into town this morning, as Adrian needed to pick up an order from M&S and a prescription from a pharmacy.  The food festival stalls were just getting going, but a lot weren’t yet open.  We did a bit of shopping for the next few days, and then lugged the rather heavy bags back to the boat.  There had been one of two very light showers, but nothing that actually made anything wet.  But then we wanted to get the bedding washed at the laundrette at the marina, and as we walked up there it threw it down — although further away there were blue skies.

The laundrette was quite busy, and I liked their special basket for mislaid socks.

Adrian went for a coffee in the cafe next door, while I returned to the boat to edit some more interviews and put together the next podcast.  At various times it rained really heavily, and then a little while later the sun would be out.  Miraculously, Adrian managed to walk back from the marina without getting wet.

This afternoon I have finished and scheduled an extra podcast episode which will be out on Friday, and then we went for a walk along the canal to complete our steps.  There will soon be a chicken put in the oven to roast.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (104 miles, 23 locks)

Floating about: Day 20

The weather forecast for today had been pretty bad, but we woke up to bright sunshine.  I had an interview to do for a podcast, and then we walked down to where the car was and headed up to Chester to see my dad.  He’d had a bit of a fall yesterday, so we wanted to check on him, and also took him out for lunch.  We went to the Okells garden centre cafe, where we met up with my sister and nieces, and had a very nice bubble and squeak.

My sister took my dad back to his flat, and was then going to buy school supplies, because it’s back to school next week.  We returned to Nantwich, put the car back in its place, and walked down the towpath to the boat.  At Bridge 93 I noticed a footpath sign I’d not noticed from the boat before, with finger posts in all directions.

The forecast had improved, but it was still supposed to be raining this afternoon, but we managed to get back with only the merest hint of rain in the air; it didn’t properly start raining until we were back at the boat.  As I keep saying, we need rain but even when it’s forecast it seldom seems to come to much.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (104 miles, 23 locks)

Floating about: Day 19

We had a really nice evening last night.  We’d walked up to our friends, Sheila and Bill, for a chat and ended up staying for a Chinese takeaway with them.  Of the many things we talked about, one was the problem with our hob, and Billy suggested a gas engineer in Nantwich to give us a second opinion.  We contacted him first thing this morning and he said he’d be free to come and have a look when we got to Nantwich.  We set off about 9, and did the couple of familiar miles down to the water point.  The fuel boat, Mountbatten, was just about to leave when we got there, so we were soon filling our tank.  Setting off again, we passed the fuel boat serving a customer, and scouted out the mooring situation.  There was nothing right by the aqueduct but plenty further round, so we decided to go and turn around at the winding hole and come back.  As we returned, we passed Mountbatten again.

We tied up on the embankment and I sent Mike the gas man our location.  He arrived about an hour later, first checking that our regulator was working properly, and that our pressure was correct.  Then he took all four jets out of the hob burners and gave them a thorough clean.  Lo and behold, every one now works properly again — in fact it’s probably the best it’s ever been.  So if you’re in the Nantwich area and need any gas work done, or a BSS carried out, we can recommend Mike Bickley of MTB Boat Safety Solutions.  I then cancelled the new hob that had been ordered.

This afternoon, we waited for a sharp shower to pass over, then walked into Nantwich where there’s the annual food festival on.  It was much bigger than we expected, in three different parts of town.  We could have spent a fortune — but didn’t.

As well as stalls on some of the streets, there are two big marquees, there’s live music, and another tent for cookery demonstrations.  It goes on all weekend.

3 miles, 0 locks.  (104 miles, 23 locks)

Floating about: Day 18

There was rain forecast from about 11, so we thought we’d try to get where we were going before it started.  Consequently, we got some washing going about 8.15, and set off around 8.30 — under blue skies and sunshine.  As we approached Minshull Lock a boat was just going in.  Adrian got off at the bridge and walked up, then turned the lock for us.

Above the lock, Bridge 7 has such a big crack in the parapet you can see daylight through it.  It looks as though something has hit it, and I don’t remember it being this bad last time we came this way.

At the railway bridge, we again coincided with a train.  This one was a Chester to London Euston.

We pulled in at the chandlery at Venitian Marina, mostly for yet another gas bottle, but also a small top up of diesel.  When we changed gas bottles about three weeks ago, I thought the new one didn’t feel heavy enough; when we replaced the empty one about two weeks ago, shuffling the bottles around also suggested the one we were then using was surprisingly empty.  It ran out a couple of days ago, after only three weeks, whereas the previous one had lasted three months.  Ruth at the chandlery suspects it had a faulty valve, and has probably been gently leaking since we bought it in May (and possibly before then too, I suppose).  She’s going to stick a label on it, so it can be checked before it’s refilled.  Once all that was sorted out, Adrian walked round to the lock, where a boat was just coming out.  I signalled to them that we would be coming in, so we could swap.

There were two boats waiting at the top.  One was an Andersen hire boat, so Adrian asked them where they were going back to — given that they’re at the bottom of the now-closed Middlewich Locks.  The hirers said they hadn’t been told anything.  The other one was  Cheshire Cat hire boat, who asked how far they’d be able to go before hitting closures; they’ll be able to go as far as Middlewich Junction, where they’ll have to turn around.  We also noticed that some of the Black Prince boats from Acton Bridge are now at Venitian.

We carried on to Barbridge Junction and turned left.  Our usual spot on the northern Hurleston Junction moorings was taken  and there was another boat at the other end, so we came through the bridge to the southern moorings instead.  It’s nice here, but being a bit more shielded from the junction means the entertainment value is much less!  Since we got here, Adrian has been doing some charity admin, and I’ve been doing some interviews for a future podcast on the water shortages.  There have been a few showers but nothing very significant, but it has been very windy again.

6 miles, 2 locks.  (101 miles, 23 locks)

Floating about: Day 17

A sunny start, but accompanied by a very brisk wind.  We set off at about 9 — but not before a boat moored beyond the bridge behind us had come past.  It meant that when we reached Stanthorne Lock it needed turning before we could go up.

As we were leaving the lock I spotted a boat coming, so we could leave the gate open for him.  As we approached the railway bridge, an Edinburgh to London Euston service went over.

People nearly always take a photo of the house in the converted stables, but this time I decided to take one of the house next door, which is equally attractive.

We continued to moor on the rings after Bridge 14, after about two hours of boating.  We hadn’t been there long when the rain started — and carried on for a couple of hours.  It’s difficult to complain though, bearing in mind how much water the canals need.  But after lunch the sun came back out, so we walked back to the new farm shop, to see what it was like.  You go through the towpath gate, then through the farmhouse garden, then across the farm yard.  The lady told us it’s only been open a week, so they’re still finding their feet, and the range of stuff they offer will be expanded.  We made do with a couple of Snugbury’s ice creams.

We hadn’t been back at the boat long when there was another sharp shower, but it didn’t last long.  It’s meant to carry on being showery for a few days, but it would be nice if we could lose the strong breeze.

5 miles, 1 lock.  (95 miles, 21 locks)

Floating about: Day 16

We’d decided to have a non-moving day today, so we’re in no rush to get up.  It was still quite sunny though.  We needed shopping, so walked to Morrison’s.  It’s a bit further from this part of the canal to the shops, but still only about 15 minutes walk.  We went via the next bridge, which has a fence and a sort of style arrangement at the top of the steps, which we’ve not seen before.

I’ve also been doing some planning for future podcast episodes, and setting up interviews.  In the afternoon I walked down to the junction and along to King’s Lock, to see the start of the section that’s been closed for several weeks.  The water was very low, with all the permanently moored boats out of the water.

We’ve also been having a problem with the gas hob not burning properly, and Paul from Floating Holidays down at Middlewich Wharf, who’s gas registered, came to have a look.  It seems it’s just that the hob is over 20 years old, and various bits are corroded.  We’ve ordered a new one, but it might be a week before it arrives.

0 miles, 0 locks.   (90 miles, 20 locks)

Floating about: Day 15

Sunny again this morning, and we set off at 8.30.  We stopped again shortly afterwards at the service block, where we filled the water tank and got some washing on, leaving there on the dot of 9.  The next section is quite familiar now, going through Marbury woods, along Marston New Cut, and past the Lion Salt Works.  As we weaved our way through the boats at Wincham Wharf, I was just thinking that I’d never seen a train go over the railway bridge, when one did: Manchester Piccadilly to Chester.

The chemical works looks even more industrial in this direction, probably because so many pipes are visible.

As we approached Oakwood Marina, one of their day boats had just set off and come through the bridge.  Then for some reason it veered across the canal right in front of us and hit the bank.  It took him a few moments to sort himself out from being across the canal, and we snuck round him.  The tea room at the marina was busy, and so was their camping field, which borders the next, larger, flash.

Bramble Cuttings had the full complement of three boats moored, so we couldn’t have stopped there even if we’d wanted to.  As we approached Croxton Aqueduct, a boat looked as if it was getting ready to set off, and asked if we were going up Big Lock and could he come with us?  We were, and he did.

A hire boat had just come down, and said the pound above was very low and they’d been told to stay in the middle.  We’d originally planned to stop by the park, have lunch, and get some shopping.  But having seen how low the pound was we thought it might be better to go up the next locks as well.  It was a real struggle to get through the bridge hole on the corner, and the Andersen hire boats were on a bit of a tilt.  A small boat had come out of the bottom lock of the Middlewich three, so we couldn’t go in.  The problem was that the pound above was about two feet down.

When the lock was full I gingerly took the boat forward, but couldn’t get over the cill.  I reversed back into the lock and Adrian went to run some more water down.  I waited until the level had gone up by a couple of courses of bricks, and could then get out.  Of course running water hadn’t done the pound above any favours, so that one was also taken very carefully.  Even above the locks, the hire boats (from the somewhat ironically names Floating Holidays) were aground at the edges.

Adrian had walked up to the junction, where a boat had just come down Wardle Lock.  It meant he could just open the gates and I could go straight in.  He also took a little video of me making the sharp turn under the junction bridge.

We moored a couple of bridges along the Middlewich Arm.  It was nearly 2pm, so lunch was a bit late.  We chose a spot with a bit of shade.  However, we were pleased we made the decision to return to the land of reasonable water sooner rather than later.  Big Lock and the Middlewich Locks are due to close on Thursday, but the water situation is only likely to have got worse by then.

The antibiotics I’m on have a side effect of making you susceptible to sunburn — so I’ve been liberally applying sun screen.  However, my hands have still got really burned and are quite painful.  This afternoon a few Andersen hire boats have been past, one of whom came into the side of us when he inexplicably slammed the boat into reverse, and then went on to hit the next boat along too.  I popped out to make sure they were ok, and gave them a few pointers.  With a whole load of boats coming up Wardle Lock, the level here is now a bit lower than it was, but hopefully some of them will be going up Stanthorne Lock as well this afternoon to send come water down.

10 miles, 5 locks.  (90 miles, 20 locks)

Floating about: Day 14

Lymm on a Saturday evening turned out to be much noisier than the Creamfields festival!  One of the nearby pubs had live music, but at least it didn’t go on too late.  This morning we were up and away by 8.30.  By the time we got to Grappenhall it had really warmed up and the fleece had to come off.  At Stockton heath, there are some really nice Victorian terraces alongside the canal.

There are much grander houses at Higher Walton.

Walton New Bridge is very distinctive, not least for being made of concrete.

At Moore, there’s a church (which looks as if it might still be a church), but the building next door is now a house.  It’s called the Old School House.  The one next to that appears to be called The Minister’s House.

Before long, the Daresbury Research Lab tower comes into view.

We’d left at 8.30 in the hopes we’d get to Preston Brook Tunnel without too long to wait.  CanalPlan reckoned that Lymm to the northern end would take 3 hours and 15 minutes, but Waterway Routes is more pessimistic, putting it at just under four hours.  We’d allowed 4, because of all the moored boats we’d have to pass.  But as we got closer, it was clear we’d made much better progress.  By the time we were passing the junction with the Runcorn Arm, I was sure we’d be able to go straight into the tunnel.

Entry to the tunnel going south is from half past the hour for ten minutes, and it was just gone half past when we got there — just three hours after setting off.  At the far end, there were a couple of boats waiting, one coming out of the lock, and two more waiting to come through the lock.

All the waiting boats meant we had a swift passage through the lock, which never takes long anyway as the rise is only about 4 inches.  We’d been planning to stop at Dutton, but as we’d made such good progress, and as the water level looked a good few inches lower than it was last week, we decided to carry on to Anderton.

At the permanent towpath-side moorings between bridges 209 and 208, there was a boat coming the other way.  As there’s very little room I waited, and as he came past I ended up a little aground on the towpath side.  I had just extricated myself when I spotted another one coming.  If only the first boat had said there was another behind.  Entry to Salterford Tunnel is from half past each hour for 20 minutes, and we got there at a time we could go straight through too.

Barnton Tunnel isn’t timed, but you can’t see if there’s anything coming until the last moment because of the angle of approach.

Adrian was at the bow and could hear talking, so thought there was a boat coming.  Fortunately I was going very slowly, so could back up and wait.  We’d not long passed  boat which had come through, and I’d asked him if there was anything behind, but just got a blank look.  Maybe people just aren’t aware of what’s going on just behind them.  Before long, the other boat appeared.

We went through, fortunately didn’t meet anything at the blind bridge that comes next, and moored in what’s become our usual spot at Anderton.  We walked a big bag of rubbish down to the skip (as there are no rubbish facilities on the Bridgewater) and had a ice cream from the visitor centre on the way back.

17 miles, 1 lock.  (80 miles, 15 locks)

Floating about: Day 13

Fortunately the music from Creamfields had a relatively early finish, although it was also marked by fireworks.  This morning was dull and still, and we set off at 8.45.  There are some lovely wooded sections through Walton.

At Stockton Heath, there was a huge widebeam moored outside Thorne Marine.

A bit further on there were a couple of Bridgewater work boats moored on the offside.

After a couple of hours we reached Lymm, our planned destination.  It’s a popular spot but at it wasn’t yet 11 o’clock there were plenty of free moorings.  We decided we’d turn around, to save time tomorrow, so headed through the bridge, past the house where Sooty used to live.

We turned at the very first winding hole, after Lymm Cruising Club; if we’d had more time, we’d have gone further and had a look at the breach site, but we want to make sure we’re back at Middlewich in good time, and seeing our friends here was also more important.  Back at the village centre we picked a spot and moored up.  Of course the rings (as always) were poorly spaced.  Since then, the moorings have completely filled up.

We went for a little walk around the busy village centre, which is really pretty.

After lunch, we walked up to see our friends who live about 20 minutes walk away.  The route goes through a park which has a lovely wild flower strip along the path.

We had a lovely afternoon, including having a slice of birthday cake, as our friends’ daughter is 8 today.  It was gone 6 before we left, making the short walk back to the boat.

7 miles, 0 locks.  (63 miles, 14 locks)