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)