It had clearly rained overnight and it was a bit drizzly when we set off, but generally it’s been a much better day than forecast. We headed round the corner to Big Lock, which was already empty so we could go straight up. We then moored just along the canal and walked up to Lidl for some shopping. It’s a while since we’ve been near a big shop. Back at the boat we started a wash load of towels, and then just as we were about to set off again a boat came round the corner, meaning we were behind them going up the locks. It didn’t particularly matter though, as there were volunteer lockies on all three locks, so (apart from having to turn the bottom one) each was ready for us.
At the top of the locks is Middlewich Wharf, where there were fewer boats than the other day.
At Wardle Junction, we found not one but two boats in front of us, and there was another in front of all of us going up the first lock on the Middlewich Arm. I walked up to help, and then it was Adrian’s turn to make the tricky right-angle turn under the junction bridge.
When we got to Stanthorne Lock, there were still two boats waiting to go up. This lock is slow because there are limiters on the paddles at the bottom end, so it takes ages to empty. But there was a queue of boats to come down too, so there were plenty of people about to wind paddles and push gates.
We carried on another half an hour, mooring on the rings through Clive Green Bridge, with views over the Weaver Valley. Through the trees you can see the Top Flash, with Winsford up on the hill beyond. There was only one other boat here and they left while we were having lunch so we shuffled along a bit to the most open section.
4 miles, 6 locks. (57 miles, 18 locks)
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