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)

Floating about: Day 12

We were up and about early this morning, as we had a car booked at Enterprise at 8am.  This time we were given a small car (which we’d booked) rather than a big one, but it was a rather nice brand new Renault Clio Alpine.  We headed up to Braidbar, which took less than an hour, and where the water levels are well down and continuing to fall — which means there’s a delay in getting our boat into the paint dock as everything is sitting on the bottom.  There are more details on the Kingley Vale blog.

On the way back we diverted to a big Asda to get some food in while we had the car, and also buy some bulky stuff.  There was a car park close to where we were moored.  While Adrian put everything away, I took the car back.  We’d only had it for about 6 hours.  We then had a slightly late lunch, and headed off.  As we’ll now have less time in Lymm than we’d expected, we wanted to get a few miles under our belts.  When we got back to Preston Brook we filled with water and got some washing on, then headed for the junction.  We’re going over the railway here, then there’s the little junction bridge, and then the M56 (which we were on earlier) looming behind.

We turned left, where the canal seems to have new houses everywhere, and then the skyline is dominated by the tower of the Daresbury Research Centre.

We carried on to Moore, where we pulled in past the village stores, once it becomes countrified again.  We can hear the beat of the Creamfields festival.  I don’t recognise any of the names on the lineup!  The last time we moored here was March 2020 after we had aborted our efforts to get to Liverpool.  Lockdown was announced that evening.

7 miles, 0 locks.  (56 miles, 14 locks)

Floating about: Day 11

With Adrian not due back until this afternoon, I had quite a bit of the day to myself.  I went for a walk, and this time went to look at the Murdishaw Valley Park.  The road outside has a sign warning of migratory toads crossing the road in February and March.  As I walked through the park, this little chap was sitting on the path; I’m not sure if he’s migratory or not.

I found a path leading to some steps, which took me up and over the M56.

I then walked through Preston Brook, went back onto the towpath opposite Midland Chandlers, and back to the junction.  Then I walked up the mainline, down the path across the railway line, and back to the boat on the Runcorn Arm.  Then I baked a carrot cake for tomorrow, using up excess carrots.  When it was out of the oven and cooling, I went across to see our friends who live across the canal.  In the afternoon, I made a chilli for tonight’s dinner, then walked up to the station to meet Adrian’s train.

Back at the boat we immediately set off.  It was a lovely sunny afternoon, and there are lots of nice wooded sections along the arm, and some nice bridges and houses.

We also passed a very wide plastic boat going the other way.

As we approached Runcorn there were glimpses of Runcorn suspension bridge, which crosses the Ship Canal and the River Mersey.

We turned at the end of the canal and returned to the moorings by the theatre.  During the afternoon a CRT email arrived, saying that the closure of the Cheshire Locks on the Trent and Mersey is being extended to include the Middlewich Locks and Big Lock from next Thursday.  This means we’ll have to make sure we’re back up them before then, so we’ll be spending less time here on the Bridgewater than we had planned.

4 miles, 0 locks.  (49 miles, 14 locks)