Greater Cheshire: Day 2

We really liked our shady mooring, and the Cobb barbecue did indeed come out last night.  The towpath was wide enough to get the chairs out too.  This morning we wanted to get going at a reasonable time, so we’d do our moving in the cooler part of the day.  We left our mooring at 8.30, with Adrian walking along to set Cholmondeston Lock (pronounced Chumston, apparently).  It’s a deep one, going down 11ft.

Below the lock is Venetian Marina, which is open to the canal.

At Minshull Lock, a boat had just come out so it was ready for us, and there was a chap to help from a boat approaching below.

The canal travels on long embankments, with far reaching views over the Weaver valley, which look much better in real life.

There’s a Jacobean style house alongside one bridge, and then there are converted stables, which were for sale last time we came along here — although we’ve realised that we’ve never done the Middlewich Branch in this direction before.

Lots of the route is very pretty, emphasised no doubt by it being so sunny today.  There are big skies, and pretty bridges.

The West Coast Mainline crosses the canal on a very angled bridge.

When we got to Stanthorne Lock we found ourselves third in the queue to go down.  Adrian went to help, which was just as well as the first boat was a single hander.  The lock is slow because the paddles are limited, after the breach here a few years ago was blamed on someone opening all the paddles.  Before it was our turn, we had two more boats behind us.  While we waited, the Emirates A380 went over, heading for Manchester Airport.

The crew from the hire boat behind were all very chatty, and came up to the lock for a look and to talk — but didn’t bring a windlass between them.

We stopped shortly after the lock, at the aqueducts.  There are some rings here but not many, so we are on a ring at the stern while the bow is on mooring stakes which don’t really go in very well.  It’s hot again, although there’s a cooler breeze today, so maybe another barbecue is called for, once the Wimbledon men’s final is done.

8 miles, 3 locks.  (11 miles, 7 locks)