Chester again: Day 7

Finally a still day, with no wind at all to speak of.  We got away pretty promptly, at 8.15, and were soon passing the lead shot tower.

The first lock, Hoole Lane, has one ground paddle and one gate paddle for some reason, and the gate paddle makes a big jet of water.

The rest of the locks were randomly mostly empty or completely full, with little rhyme or reason as to why.  When we had done all five out of the city we stopped at the Christleton water point, and did the usual filling and washing routine.  Steve from AmyJo came by while we were there, so it was nice to see him and Smudge the dog.  The next section had a lot of floating islands of pennywort.  We again saw the anti-weed boat, but it’s clearly a losing battle.  One bridge hole was completely filled with it, and a bit clump ended up on the bow.  Rather than push it along, I stopped, reversed a bit, and managed to leave it behind.

A kingfisher whizzed along the side of the boat and settled in a bush — and then stayed there as we went past.  He’s there if you look for him.

The long line of moored boats at Golden Nook took 45 minutes to pass.  There are a dozens more, in various states of repair, on the land.

A diesel pump on the back of a tractor was also in action along the moorings, with boats being filled.  It all takes so long, you rather lose the will to live. Y the end of the line — so the name of the final boat seems strangely appropriate.

We’d got another clump of pennywort on the bow, so once the moorings were passed I again manoeuvred to get it off.  The good thing was the sun was now out, and the views of Beeston Castle and Peckforton Castle were great.

The sun still has some warmth in it, too.

We moored just past The Shady.  Later in the afternoon, a familiar but now very shiny boat came past.  What A Lark has been repainted and looks very smart.  We had a quick chat with Lisa and David, and then I grabbed a windlass and walked up to Wharton’s Lock to lend a hand, and have a few more minutes of conversation.

9 miles, 5 locks.  (31 miles, 16 locks)