Barlaston

 

Guess what, it rained again last night, all night and our back end was under trees so it was drip, drip, drip even in the lightest drizzle. We ended up with 13mm so not as much as the time before. I always assumed this was an old branch now used as a spill but actually its the other way round and water comes into the canal through it.

This morning we were away at about 9 AM to make the tunnel for 9-30 AM, when we arrived we were forth in the queue and 2 following, there were only 2 boats coming through the tunnel travelling north and we were on our way a few minutes after 9-30, the boat behind us didn't even come against the bank and the last boat in our convoy still hadn’t arrived. The passage was a mixture of fast and slow, we started at a good pace and then had a session at tick over followed by a more moderate pace. These are the best couple of pictures I have managed in a tunnel to date, set on night photograph with flash.

The white squiggle is the boat ahead's stern light. There are some quite interesting mineral deposits on the tunnel roof as well,

if I can persuade Diana to take it through next time I could concentrate on a few shots. There is definitely a lot of water finding its way into the canal at the moment. 

I thought these little laser cut steel direction posts were quite good and quite vandal proof as well I would have thought.

A little way south of the tunnel there’s an area with a whole fleet of trailers, each loaded with a single steel structure as they are quite large.

When we came the other way last week I posted a photo of some chaps using a chipper. They have completely cleared an area between the fence and the towpath, I wonder why?

  As we approached Stoke Top Lock I could see a Volockie filling the lock, as usual I put Diana ashore, but the Volockie insisted she got back onboard while he worked the lock (it’s the rules) and there was a second Volockie at the next lock as well. I decided not to argue and all went smoothly, Volockie No.2 had the second lock ready as I left the first so that was fine. We only met 3 boats all day before finally mooring for the night at Barlaston just past two interesting boats moored back to back, a steamboat and a tug

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Today's Journey 

13 miles, 6 locks in 5.25 hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

 

 

 

Hardings Wood

 

Well we haven’t got wet today; it looked a close thing at times. Last night we moored up snuggled against a nice straight bank with a pair of fenders down, we hardly noticed the boats passing, however over night the pound dropped slightly and the early risers made sure we were awake as the boat banged against the heard ledge down near the base plate, so we were up a bit earlier than normal. We had a good run up the flight even with the locks against us. A share boat called Empire was ahead and in the twined locks set the other one for us, we in turn closed up for them as they left with their crew ahead setting the next ones. We then turned the lock for the single hander following us and he closed up for us. When we got to a single lock we all just mucked in. I thing we only met 3 boats all the way to Red Bull services. We stopped at the services to fill with water and dump rubbish before doing another couple of locks before mooring for the night. The Red Bull pub has an interesting growth coming from one of its chimney.

As we passed through the last lock of the day I spotted what I think is a moss growing on the concrete wall below the lock.

 This leaves us just one lock to do before we reach Harecastle tunnel in the morning. Once moored up we took a walk to the tunnel entrance, the bridge over Hardings Wood Junction give quite a good view of where the Kidsgrove Working Mans Club use to stand, soon to be Lidl.

At the tunnel it was easy to see all the way through the tunnel past the rescue boat to the very far end. (white dot just below weeds)

 Makes me wonder why these canoeists who were rescued (I am not sure they needed rescuing) didn’t just exit the South end and contact their land team.
One of the boats moored here has a rather interesting "weak link" in the chain holding the front fender.

 

 

 

 

Today's Journey 

3 miles, 11 locks in 3.5 hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

 

 

 

Rode Heath

 

Yesterday afternoon we were humming and harring what to do about dinner, should we have an Indian Takeaway or even eat in at the Indian restaurant, we would get wet if it rained, should we eat in the Italian restaurant, Barchetta, or should we just eat on board. In the end Barchetta won the day and we were pleased with their Covid precautions. NHS scan at the door, sanitizer at the entrance, clear notices and clear screens between some of the closer tables. We felt quite at ease.

Just for the record yesterdays rainfall came to 15 mm, its not doing too bad at the moment as its poring our there. We set off and caught up with a single hander at the second lock but we passed him in the third.  The flight was very busy queuing at each one, when we did pull a head like at paired locks we set the other lock for the single hander, likewise when he caught us up at a single lock he would close up for us, so efficiency was quite high. There are some interesting boats moored in the arm at Malkin’s Bank, at least one tar boat.

The day started fine but by Malkin’s bank the rain had set in and that was it for the day.

We carried on hoping to moor at Rode Heath but again all the moorings were taken, there was a gap at the far end and I dropped back through the bridge to it, but as we suspected it was a touch to shore, it did however mean that I got to notice these tiny ferns growing downwards under the bridge.

We carried on a couple of hundred yards and moored in exactly the same spot as when we came the other way.

 

Today's Journey 

4.6 miles, 14 locks in 4.75 hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

 

 

 

Wheelock

 

When we went to bed last night it was a clear moon light sky, it didn’t last and the rain woke us during the night, this morning it was still raining. We had bit of a late start as first I had to ring the AA about the car insurance, that took quite a time but by the time I had finished it had stopped raining. We had a walk up to Lidl to buy some food etc. bit of a roundabout route as they have locked all the gates to the kiddies playing field and we would normally walk across there. It was almost mid day when we set off, third in the queue for Middlewich bottom lock and 5 boats behind us. Some of the following boaters walked up to assist with the locks so that helped us on our way, we would end up queuing at all of the locks today but everyone mucked in. By the time we reached Kings Lock it was actually quite sunny and warm, but it didn't last and since we went to bed last night we have had 12 mm of rain. To say Middlewich Junction was busy would be an understatement.

When we were here a year ago there was a footbridge across the canal here leading to the demolished works, now its gone.

It was about here that the rain started and it hasn’t stopped. Its not so bad when there are no locks to do as you can just stand and let the water run off which is what happened above Booth Lane Top Lock. For those of you that have done this canal you will know where the allotments are just south of Rookery Railway Bridges, well on the field adjacent to the allotments there are a heard of piebald horses who thought it only good manners to walk over to see us pass.

We carried on to Wheelock where we found the first mooring after the water point vacant, only problem is its under trees so every time there is a breeze you get a heavy shower on the roof.

 

Today's Journey 

7.5 miles, 8 locks in 4.75 hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Middlewich

 

Looking at the weather station this morning I see we had 38.5mm of rain in 24 hours yesterday, thankfully this morning the sun was out, the breeze had dropped and the world was all-good.

We set off heading towards the Anderton Boat lift where we planned to wind and return. On the way we stopped at the Anderton services to fill with water this is quite a good tap with good pressure, We arrived at the lift in bright warm sunshine so we decided to carry on for a bit, what I had forgotten was the next winding hole was a mile and a half and between Barnton and Saltersford tunnels. I have tried many times to get a good photograph of this bridge, this is my best effort to date. 

We were lucky at Barnton as there was no one coming the other way, so straight through, well not straight because its a bit twisty. We winded just before Saltesford Tunnel and nosed back into Barnton Tunnel again. Just through Barnton Tunnel is where old wooden Narrowboats come back to life, its not a fast process and these boats have been here longer I have been coming this way.

Between here and the lift a house has set out pray stones, inviting you to put out your own prayer. 

Back at the lift the water flow over the spill weir down to the weaver was as fast as I have ever seen. Back at Wincham we could see Wincham Brook was more than full of water from the recent rains.

Passing Orchard Marina in the sun as opposed to driving rain I could see there are a couple inlets, so maybe they are going to have workshops etc.

Just to give you all a smile, I have seen ventilation mushrooms in chrome, highly polished brass, painted red with spots like toadstools but I have never seen them with eyes and legs like spiders.

Repair work is taking place on the railway bridge so the towpath is closed off, the strange thing is the barriers are miles from any access or exit from the towpath and where the access is there is no large “Closed Towpath” signs, so you could walk a mile and then come up against a dead end from ether the north or the south. I can’t find anything about it on the C&RT web site.

Now the excitement of the day first I rescued a drowning plastic, road works sign, I had seen the poor thing floundering 2 days ago when we passed. Just ahead on the corner I could see the orange netting on the towpath so I knew this was its rightful home. As I  rounded the bend I could see their work flat completely blocking the canal, so now after rescuing a sign I have to rescue a work boat, pull it back to the side and re-moor it, thankfully the stake, not a mooring pin like us leisure boaters use was still attached to the rope. 

My little club hammer made little impact trying to drive it fully home. The River Dane looked brown and angry as it surged under the Croxton Aqueduct. That will make things interesting for boats on the River Weaver at Northwich where it hits the main river at 90°.

Ahead of us was just Big Lock before our mooring for the night, we were able to share this with a Black Prince hire boat heading to Chester and as they had a crew of 8 they should make good progress through the locks ahead of them

 

Today's Journey 

20.3 miles, 1 locks in 6.75 hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

 

 

 

Wincham Bend

I woke to the sound of the rain in during the night and it hasn’t stopped since, the rain gauge has recorded 23mm in the past 24 hours at the moment and still raining. Diana set the bread maker going this morning and timed each part of the program, after the final kneading at the start of the final rise she took the paddle out, it was a good move as part way through the bake it started kneading again, but without the paddle it was just the shaft turning. A little after 11AM the rain eased so we set off, it didn’t ease for long, I am a great lover of umbrellas, we did meet a few hardy souls coming the other way and of course the hire boat who just have to keep going to get back on time. We only did two and a half hours before calling it a day at Wincham bend where we were surprised to find no one moored on the rings.

A few things have changed since we were last this way. The Lodge at Whatcroft Bridge has lost a large tree into the canal; a lot of the brush is still lying on the towpath.

The Floating Pennywort is growing and there are now large drifts of it growing into the canal, the edge of Whatcroft Flash is thick with it all the way round its circumference.
Oakwood Marina and Park Farm Marina now have a lot more boats moored in them, several of them being wide beamed.

A little further on at Orchard marina, one of the reasons we came this far has massive amounts of mud piled on the offside bank. The marina basin has been dredged and piled so no pontoons, just a hole with no water.

The dry dock and workshops have been demolished, I think that dry dock was probably quite unique with its built in boat lift, there is a new building going up behind where the workshops were , I am guessing that will be the service block, so there will be no boat repairs or surveys on site, just moorings. The house is now divided from the grounds of the marina by a high solid brick wall.Down to opposite The Broken Cross pub, these were just foundations and scaffolding last year, now it’s a long terrace of houses and a pair of semis called Bridge View I think they did very well to get 19 properties on that plot of land.

There is a lot of work going on at Tata Chemicals with a new large hard standing area laid to the south east of the site entrance on the offside of the canal. In the site its self there were two diggers on a large pile of rubble, higher than the perimeter fence, I must look at some older photos to see if they have demolished something or whether it’s imported.

New cladding has been put along the pipe and cable gantries, they could even be new gantries and of course being a cold, damp day the building was engulfed in steam. A little further along the canal last year they blasted and painted the bridges carrying pipes across the canal, they have now faced the bridges with some kind of perforated metal and attached these metal silhouettes to it. They photo in the pouring rain doesn’t do it justice.

It was not far passed here where we moored for the night.

 

Today's Journey 

7.25 miles, 0 locks in hours 2.5 .

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Middlewich

Lovely quiet mooring last night, but we woke to an overcast and chilly day. A few boats went past before we plodded off at our normal time. When we arrived at Booth Pane Top or Fish pools lock we were forth in the queue and another boat turned up behind us. We were told that we were all following a hire boat who was going extra slow because he had got into an argument with the boat behind them. The hire boat had spent all afternoon and night moored at the water point in Wheelock and it seems they didn’t like the following boat telling them it wasn't the done thing, so a slow run down to Middlewich.

On the long term moorings just above Booth Lane Top Lock there is an old wooden ice breaker called Shackleton, she is now in a very sorry state with her back end being supported by a gantry.

Just above Booth lane middle lock there is a new care home, I thought was going to be affordable flats while it was being built, I suspect the high earth works is to act as a sound barrier against the construction work ongoing next door.

The moorings below the lock are now fenced off with a wooden rail fence and there are three white posts for mooring a bit further down.

By now we were meeting a few boats coming up so that added interest to the wait. We met one couple from New Zealand who had hired a boat for 13 weeks; they even had a little dog with them, We pulled over below Rumps Lock for a bit of dinner before continuing into the town. There are a few swans back in residence, we counted 15 of them, may be numbers will increase over the winter months.

We stopped at Middlewich Narrowboats for a quick chat, when they first took over the wharf they used one of my photos of Harnser in the dry dock. We then took a walk down to the dock to talk to Stephen who is now based there, it’s a world different to when we were in there in 2017 its been totally re-clad, walls, roof the lot, new door as well as the yard being made secure. When we were in there we had people pop in at night. We decided to carry on just a little further mooring between Big Lock and the winding hole, its good to see that the Big Lock pub is open for business again, not only that but the temporary foot bridge has been installed since we were here last year. Until it was installed people were crossing the canal using the top gates carrying children etc.

 

Today's Journey 

6.6 miles, 9 locks in hours 4.25.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

  

Paddy's Wood

 

Well over the past 24 hours we had about 15mm of rain, I don’t know how much more fell while we were in the tunnel. The last of the rain was just before we got up this morning. The first boat passed us in the early hours this morning, somewhere between 2 and 6 AM moving very slowly and gently, I didn’t feel it pass just the very slow stroke of the engine. Today the weather has been much improved with some nice sunshine from time to time. We had reasonable luck with the locks with the first half and the last one being with us. The pound between the Thurlwell locks was down by about a foot but didn’t cause a problem. 

I was going to count how many of the twinned locks were out of action but it many have been easier counting the operational ones.

At the Romping Donkey, Hassall Green, it looks as if the conversion of the pub into a private dwelling is finally completed and there are now two and a bit houses on the land as well.

From just before Chell’s Aqueduct for some way along the towpath a new high fence is being erected with screening shrubs being planted on the towpath side.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the large development down Roughwood lane that we photographed in 2018. It is definitely more than a stock fence. The farm opposite has been tidied up a lot in the past 12 months, normally the cows are up to their knees in mud, but today they were all inside and a new concrete apron and slurry pit have been put in. When we got to Malkin's Bank we caught up to another boat and before long a second one, there were a couple of boats coming up but it didn’t really help much. As time was getting away we pulled over just below Saw Pit Lock for lunch, with the locks so close together if rushes things to eat on the move. Although several boats came by while we were eating the Wheelock locks were still against us, but a boat did come up in the bottom as we made or way down. Much to our surprise there were moorings available at Wheelock but we only stopped for water, good job there are two taps as a hire boat had been locked up and left on one of them. Our plan for the night was to move down to Paddy’s Wood for the night in hopefully the peace and quiet.

 

Today's Journey 

5.5 miles, 12 locks 4 in hours.

  Map courtesy of Waterway Routes https://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent  those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked for spam before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.