Tuesday 24 March 2015 The Sun at Trevor

Yesterday I posted a picture of a pair of geese and asked if they were likely to breed, I was told its quite common pointing me to this web site where you will find this photograph.

Again a hard frost last night with everywhere white first thing this morning, we set off at our normal 10 am and caught up with a hire boat at New Martin bottom lock, we thought they would have been further as we had already met a boat so assumed the locks would be with them, but there must have been someone a short way ahead as both bottom and top were against them. The electricity company were busy installing new poles and overhead high voltage cables.

The weather was very changeable a bit of rain some sun shine and even a hail shower, so at times it was quite cool and others warm. There are a lot more boats about today, mostly hire boats but we have met a couple of private ones. We were again clocked by a CRT operative checking movements and licences.

With the changeable weather this group of trees were nicely light against the distant darker clouds on the hill side.

We rounded the bend under bridge 17W to find our path blocked, but almost immediately the tug driver waved us through and with the digger pulling him over we were directed to go round the off side, ¾ of us managed it before we were hard aground so the digger driver just slid the tug and flat forward so we could slide off sideways (with the aid of a shaft) into deeper water.

Looking across the valley we could see a large amount of steam venting into the sky, I then remembered there was a wood pulp works near Chirk which we would pass close by later.
Just as we approached Chirk Aqueduct it started to rain, I understand there are plans to put railings along the offside to stop people falling off, I am not sure how many have actually fallen off in the last 200 years but some people are just dafter these days. We had just started crossing when a boat emerged from the tunnel at the far side, so that was good timing and about ¾ of the way across a second boat came out of the tunnel and waited behind him, which was also handy, as when we reached the far side the tunnel was clear and we could go straight through. Passage across the aqueduct and through the tunnel in this direction is quite slow as you are pushing against the current in a very narrow channel. By the time we cleared the tunnel there was a boat waiting to come through, unfortunately for him, just as we came out another came in at the other end.

It wasn’t long before we were on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct with its straight drop on the off side. We had planned to moor in Trevor Basin for the night, but the hire company had other ideas and had completely filled the entrance to the basin with their hire boats, the visitor moorings are at the far end behind this blockade. It looks like a gap on the right but there is a boat on that side in the second row. This meant we had to turn very sharp left and up the feeder towards Llangollen, something we planed to do tomorrow. mooring on this are is difficult except at designated moorings as the canal is in a concrete channel. The first moorings are opposite The Sun at Trevor so that is where we have stopped. The only downside is that the A539 runs between the canal and the pub so its a bit noisy.

On a lot of busy visitor moorings you get gaps between the boats because for some reason a lot of people don’t like tying to a ring that is already in use, the result is you only get 5 boats where there is room for 6, an important issue on a busy canal like this in areas with limited moorings. Whoever installed these moorings thought about that problem and put two rings on each anchor point, so you don’t need to share rings.

Today’s Journey 12 miles, 2 locks, 2 tunnels, 2 Aqueducts and 1 junction in 5¼ hours.

Monday 23 March 2015 Whittington

Lovely mooring last night, laid in bed listening to an Owl before going to sleep. We woke to bright sun this morning but it didn’t last with the odd flurries of very light drizzle, cool breeze and occasional sunshine, still much better than forecast.

We pushed off at 10 30 am. and it wasn’t long before we passed two pairs of geese, if this pair do breed I wonder what their offspring look like. The other pair were true Canada Geese.

There must have been some good storms this winter around here looking at the damage done to this very large tree, there was another near it completely uprooted.

Then it was into Ellesmere Tunnel, only 87 yards long but quite slow going up stream. We were accompanied through by a party of ramblers. 

At the junction we turned hard right down to the town of Ellesmere to replenish supplies. There is now a Tesco Store located very conveniently at the end of the arm and I suspect like many other boaters we didn’t venture into the town. I do feel that Tesco and the planners have made a good compromise with the design of the store for its location, it could have looked a lot worse. Now we just need the warehouse on the opposite side of the basin restoring. One observation is that I think it was probably the quietest Tesco I have ever been in, so will it last?

After shopping and eating lunch we winded at the end of the arm, I am not sure how easy this would be if there were boats moored right to the very end, retraced our steps to the junction and stopped yet again at the old dry dock/maintenance yard to fill with water, here we had a choice of 4 taps. The maintenance yard is a listed structure and still used by the canal and Rivers Trust, they also ret out the dry dock to boaters for DIY blacking and painting. The large white fenders are in the mouth of the dry dock.

There is a notice at the water point suggesting you catch a bus into Llangollen, maybe CRT don’t want us boaters going up there, we no longer stay overnight as they now charge for mooring.

We had just finished filling with water and pushed off when the working boat Mountbatten came round the corner. She now trades on the Llangollen and should do quite well when the boat yards up here sell diesel at 95+p and they sell it for 72 p/lt.

This must be the most photographed parking meter in the country, I can’t even think where to go to buy one, maybe he worked for the company that was replacing them and got it that way.

We decided not to go down the Montgomery Canal this time, we have been down several times and you have to give CRT at least 48 hrs notice to go down. as they only allow 12 boats a day. We carried straight on past the Maestermyn hire base to moor for the night with only sheep and lambs for company just before bridge 7W, another SUCS 48 hr mooring.

As you are able to read this blog tonight I must say that the 3 mobile internet coverage has improved since last time we were this way.

Today’s Journey 7¾ Miles, 2 Junctions, 1 arm in 3½ hours.

Sunday 22 march 2015 Cole Mere

We had had two boats pass us by 7 am this morning and the first was going much faster than he should have been. If we had been moored on pins they would certainly have come out. At 7 am everywhere was still white with last nights frost. After this early call we were away at 9 30 am. Second in a queue of 4 to go up Grindley Brook after a single boat came down. i managed to go aground in the middle of the staircase so Diana had to let a drop more water down so I could get over the cill. As the boat came up I let a bit more water down from the top so we left it at the right level. We encountered the first manual lift bridge that we had to operate just before the Junction with the Whitchurch Arm, moored just before the bridge was nb. Muleless. If you are travelling south its very difficult to turn into the arm, due to the acute angle, so you have to go another 500 yard to the winding hole and turn round to approach from the opposite direction. 

The lift bridges used to be opened by hauling on a chain attached to the top arm like you do for some on the Oxford Canal, but now they are all fitted with a hydraulic ram and a hand operated rotary pump the same as on the hydraulic lock paddles.

At Whixall Moss Junction we turned left down the Prees Arm, we have never bothered to come down here before. The arm now ends at Whixall Marina, but it never did get as far as Prees, only to  Quina Brook. The arm is still in water running off to the top left of the photo.

The house on the junction has a very bright flower display each side of the front gate, I am not sure how they got them into bloom so early.

We winded in the marina and retraced or steps through the two lift bridges and back to the junction where we carried on up the Llangollen canal. The only point of real interest was at Hampton Bank where just before the bridge the bottom got hold of me and held the stern in. I stopped and moved out only to see a boat about to enter Hampton Bank Bridge. So I held my position and waved him through on the wrong side. The only problem was a hire boat following who I signalled to stop, which he did. The boat coming the other way passed me fine but he was then unable to steer round the bend, same problem I had and ended up tangled with the hire boat. We carried on a bit further to the 48 hr moorings at Cole Mere just before bridge 55.

Here opposite the moorings someone has put up a notice saying “Private Mooring please don’t moor opposite” which is where the rings are for the 48 hour moorings. Not a problem now as there is loads of space, but I could see problems in the summer.

Today’s Journey 13¾ Miles, 6 locks including a staircase of 3, 8 lift bridges, 2 junctions in just over 6½ hours

Saturday 21 March 2015 Grindley Brook

Set off a few minutes passed 10 to give the boat ahead a good start in bright sunshine, however the wind was a bit chilly. As we approached Platt’s Bridge it looked like new, once we had passed under it we could see why, the photo is the up stream side. Just passed the bridge is Swanley Marina, it wasn’t here last time we came this way. There were lots of cars around so maybe several boaters are planning to go out for the weekend.

Although we gave the boat moored in front a good start we were still in a queue at the first lock, but it was a boat just out for the weekend who had just left Swanley Marina so that answered my earlier question, at least one we out for the weekend. We did meet a few boats today, 7 in all and a couple in the right places. This is a lot considering in the past two weeks we have only seen one on most days.
One of the boats we met was waiting to go into the Baddiley No 2 lock, as he left and passed us the steerer called out “I’ve just read your blog” I didn’t get his name but this is the back of him. While working through Baddiley lock we noticed this track worn into the grass, from the way its worn it looks as if something goes round the end of the stop plank hut with some speed and quite often. The soil has tiny little holes in it like toe nails, it is obviously a regular occurrence from how well its worn and goes all the length of the bywash.

When we got to Wrenbury Church lift bridge the boat we were following had it open, this was another spot where we met a boat and they also came through while the lady ahead had it open. I offered to drop Diana off and pick the other boats crew up but they insisted we carried on. We were able to repay the favour at Wrenbury Lift Bridge, where Diana manage to hold up about 6 cars, one hooting because the boat behind was coming through quite slowly. As soon as Diana had the barrier open they were streaming over, no regard for the red flashing lights.
Just before the bridge is Alvechurch Boats and of course they still have most of their fleet in, I don’t know if this officially a winding hole, the guide books show it as one and if you did want to turn there before the bridge there is still room but looks a bit intimidating.

The boat that we shared bridges with winded at Thomason’s Winding hole ready to return to the marina tomorrow. This winding hole wasn’t there last time we came this way and is not in our guide books, but its about a mile west of Wrenbury Lift bridge.

The sheep had obviously eaten all the greenery from the top of these roots and were about to eat the roots themselves, I think that this shows if given the choice the sheep like the green bits best.

At Willymoor lock the bywash seemed to be flowing faster than the others, I know it must had the same amount of water but it enters the canal with more force. Beside the lock is the pub, The Willymoor Lock Tavern and the only access to it other than water is the footbridge across the tail of the lock and the bywash.

Just one more lock, Poveys Lock and we were calling it a day. Here we met two boat and as the lock, like most of the others was against us we waited while the first boat came down. On this canal it pays at some locks not to wait at the lock moorings, if you do there is a good chance the boat exiting the lock will hit you as the bywash sweeps them across. this is one such lock and he didn’t hit me because I was below the moorings, as you can see from the photo above Willymoor is another.
We finally stopped for the night on the 48 hr moorings below the Grindley Brook flight, we are saving these for tomorrow.

Today’s Journey 11 miles, 9 locks, 2 lift bridges in 5¾ hours.

NOTE
Blogs may get a bit sporadic over the next  few days as the Llangollen Canal is not the best place for an internet signal, so you may miss a day or two and then get a bunch together.

Friday 20 March 2015 Hurleston

Woke to a lovely sunny for the eclipse, only 1 small cloud in the sky and that passed the sun about 9-30 so we got a chance to see what it looked like as we didn’t have viewer. Once the excitement was over we walked into Audlem to visit the butchers Oxtail & Trotters to buy a pork joint and sausages.

back to the boat we noticed that in Audlem they are so proud of their dog poo's they have some go round and paint them orange.

Audlem Lock 12 is another lock where a wooden pole has been fitted to help guide boats into the lock. If you look at the angle of the brickwork on the left you can see why its needed.

We stopped outside the Shroppie Fly to fill with water where Judith & John introduced them selves to me as blog readers. While the water tank filled we also filled the next lock and made it ready for our departure, as we locked down we saw a boat locking up in the next lock which they left open for us, however they moored before reaching our lock.

There is a good lock free run to Coole Pilate and then the Hack Green locks adjacent to the not so Secret Bunker

I do wonder how much longer the visitor moorings will be open on the Nantwich embankment now there are new houses nearby, some time ago the adjacent moorings were closed because they overlook the houses. At the end of the embankment is the famous Nantwich Aqueduct which is due for a make over later this year. 

Spring is really on the way and this poor duck was suffering the attention of 3 drakes, earlier it had been 5, I was surprised that the poor thing hadn’t been drowned.

In Nantwich we were greeted by another couple who read this blog, Christine & Gerald on their new boat.

We pushed on to Hurleston Junction where we turned sharp left to the Hurleston lock flight and the Llangollen Canal.

We had a wait at the bottom of the flight while a boat came down the last lock, this had the advantage of putting all four in our favour.  This flight is quite renowned for being narrow and there are signs at the bottom telling you to lift your fenders before entering the lock. No sooner where we in the flight and it started to drizzle, this was very heavy drizzle that soaks things thoroughly. Even though the locks were in our favour with the short pounds between them Diana still had to draw paddles to get the bottom gates open.

Looking back from the top of the flight you could see how the weather had deteriorated from this mornings bright sunshine.

The Llangollen canal brings water down from the River Dee at Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen down to Hurleston reservoir which takes its feed just above the locks, leaving very little to flow down the lock by washers, this results in the pounds between the locks running a bit low and I bounced across one. We carried on for about another half mile to moor on the first SUCS moorings that we came to.

 

Note to self.
New water pump fitted
Seaflo SFDP2-033-035-41 12.5 LTM/3.3GPM 24Volts 2.0 Amps 35psi 2.4bar

 

Today’s Journey 9¼ miles, 10 Locks, 1 Junction and 2 canals in 4¾ hours

Thursday 19 March 2015 Audlem

last night we wandered over to the Talbot for a glass of Mild, pasta with salad, and what a salad finished off with LMP.

I woke this morning and looked up at the bulls eye (circular domed glass let into the roof to let light in) in the cabin roof to see it glowing bright blue, so crawled out for a look out of the porthole and it was thick fog. By 8 am it was bright sunshine and by 9 misty.
I needed to visit the Post Office before we left Market Drayton, this use to be a modern building with the sorting office, but it has now moved into the old Corbet Arms Hotel on the High Street. There is a plaque on the outside saying that Thomas Telford stayed there whilst inspecting the canal.
By the time we had returned to the boat just before 11 am. the sun was trying to get through again. As you have seen from previous blogs there are still several old warehouses and wharfs along this canal, another was just the other side of the bridge from last nights moorings. Although you can’t see it there is a covered wharf just through the bridge.

An hour later we were at the top of the 5 Adderley Locks, needles to say they would all be against us, but Diana walks ahead setting the top gate and I drop the boat and close the bottom gates, so we make reasonable progress. Just before the bridge at the top of the locks is a winding hole and beside it stands Lime Kiln Cottage, nothing special that I know of, it just looked nice with the reflection. I just wish I could naturally hold the camera straight.

Below the locks we stopped for lunch, while we were eating a lady knocked on the door and asked if she was walking in the right direction for Audlem as she was meeting a boat. This was good news as maybe they would  leave the locks in our favour. Sure enough just as we finished lunch a boat moored up ahead of us.

The next flight of locks are only about half a mile away but are not laid out so evenly with 2 locks a quarter of a mile gap and then another 9 then another gap where we plan to moor tonight as can be seen on this screen shot from Waterway Routes 

Good old Brock has been hard at work in the bank, lets be very thankful that its a bank in a cutting and not an embankment or we could be looking at a lose of water like on the Llangollen a few years back. 

I thought the Fens was the only place on the waterways where the electric and telegraph poles lent over a a funny angle, but it seams its also true on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Some of the by washes on these locks are quite vicious, and a couple come out at right angles right below the tail of the lock like here on the right. On this one British Waterways have installed wooden fendering on the opposite side, left, to protect the brickwork from boats gouging into it as they enter the lock and get their bows pushed across. In other cases the bywash is carried slightly down stream of the lock, here it can draw the bows or the stern over into the rocky shallows if you stop in the mouth of the lock to close the bottom gates which is what I do. That is one good thing about this flight, some of the lock beams have sacrificial blocks of wood nailed to them that you can push on with the cabin shaft to close the gates. It would be great in the SUCS could bolt some blocks to the steel lock beams. For those you have to leave the boat and climb up to close them.

The Shropshire Union Canal Society do a lot of good work along the canal, installing moorings, most of the mooring rings along here and on the Llangollen Canal are installed by them, the also install benches some of which are paid for as a memorial to a canal loved one, they also put in picnic tables like these below for the public to use beside the locks. A real go ahead society in my opinion. As you can see the weather really picked up this afternoon and the day ended with a tribute to red Nose Day.

Today’s Journey 5¾ miles, 16 locks in 3¾ hours.