Floating about: Day 7

Another sunny morning, although there was a distinct nip in the air first thing.  We got a wash load going before we set off, and then untied at about 9am, straight through the first bridge.

Before the next bridge there’s a place where there used to be a shop selling gifts and flowers, but last time we came by there was a sign up saying it had changed hands and would be re-opening soon.  Today there was a new sign, which we might have to investigate further on the way back.

A tree, probably a sycamore I think, was absolutely loaded with propellers ready to go.

We had a short wait at Stanthorne Lock while a boat came up, and Adrian was telling them about shared ownership as they hire every year.  Then a boat arrived below.  We also had a short wait at Wardle Lock while the boat ahead went down.  I turned the corner at the junction while Adrian walked ahead, and at first it appeared we were fourth in the queue for the Middlewich three locks.  However,  it turned out that the bright green Bickerstaffe boat had broken down, and the ABC boat on the lock landing (which had been moored in front of us last night and left before us) had knocked their rudder out of the cup and were waiting for help.

A boat came up the top lock before we went down, and Adrian went and filled the middle one while we descended, so it was ready.

There was a boat coming up the bottom lock that we then swapped with.  At the bottom we tied up by the children’s park, had lunch, and then went to Lidl to get food for the next few days.  When we were about to set off again a boat came round the corner, so we joined them in Big Lock.

We continued to Bramble Cuttings, and this time moored up on the offside moorings.  There’s one other boat here so we’ve got to the opposite end leaving a space in the middle for any potential latecomers.  We’ve been sitting outside at a picnic table, watching the planes on approach to Manchester Airport.

7 miles, 6 locks.  (29 miles, 13 locks)

Greater Cheshire: Day 3

We didn’t have far to go today, but we’re still away at 8.30.  When we got to Wardle Lock there was a boat coming up, but there was also a boat in front of us.  The space above the lock is a bit tight when there are three boats trying to manoeuvre round each other — then another boat arrived behind us.  The first boat, an ABC hire boat went down the lock and turned right at the junction.  The boat behind was an Andersen hire boat which was supposed to be back at base at 9am — which was only a few minutes away, and they had not only Wardle Lock to do, but the three Middlewich ones as well.  We let them go ahead of us, which they were very grateful for.  They were two couples from the Netherlands and Germany, who’d done the Four Counties Ring in a week, and were annoyed they’d mistimed their last morning.  Eventually, it was our turn to go into Wardle Lock to go down.  The lock cottage still looks as though it could do with some work.

Wardle Lock makes up about half the length of the UK’s shortest canal, the Wardle Canal.  The rest of it does under a bridge to a junction with the Trent and Mersey, where we turned north.

The junction is really quite tight, especially with boats moored opposite.  Then there’s a bridge followed by Middlewich Wharf, where you really have to breathe in.

The hire boat in front were re-filling the locks for us, plus there were two volunteers on, so we sped down the three locks.  The hirers had returned their boat, not especially late, and were now off to Liverpool for a couple of days.  We went round the corner and moored by the park, so we could have a little look at Middlewich.  The church is quite impressive, but the main street doesn’t have a huge amount to recommend it, although the Alhambra, which presumably used to be a cinema, looks quite interesting.

We topped up with some fresh produce at the Tesco Express, then went back to the boat and went down Big Lock, which is wide.

We filled the tank at the water point below, then went across Croxton Aqueduct over the River Dane, which used to be wide enough for widebeam boats but was washed away in the 1930s and was rebuilt narrow.

We moored a mile or so further on, on rings on the towpath just before the offside Bramble Cuttings moorings.  We could have gone there as there was space, but this side we have the side hatch on the water side, and it’s a little more open.  We also have access to the towpath, so we’ve been for a walk to get our steps in.  Bramble Cuttings itself had filled up this afternoon, and there has been a flurry of boats going south.

3 miles, 5 locks.  (14 miles, 12 locks)