Chester

A much quieter night last night out in the middle of nowhere. This morning we were off a short time before eleven as we are in no rush with nowhere particular to go. The Beluga flew right over our heads again, but a couple of hours earlier than yesterday. As I still haven't seen a towpath closure notice from CRT with the hole in the towpath I sent them a photo before we set off. There has been hedge set along the back of the towing path, so not all paid for by CRT.

Coming back into Chester there is a foot bridge decorated similar to the on on the Coventry are, but not so ornate,

Next on the right is Taylor’s Boat Yard with a few wooden boats sitting lengthways on the side slip.

Through the basin and under the bridge to the bottom of Northgate locks and the lock started draining as we arrived, there was a Volockie on duty and he drew a paddle as we arrived but explained CRT had a boat in the middle chamber doing something so we would have to wait in the bottom one for a few minutes. The old steps are still in situ in the mouth of the lock. The only reason I can see them being there is for people to try to climb out of the canal after falling in. I can’t see why a boatman would want to use them considering how low it is to the water.

The feral pigeons were having a great time in the overspill weir at the end of the bottom chamber, they left well before the water reached that level.

The work boat moved up out of the locks and the middle chamber topped the gates into the lower one until the Volockie drew the paddles. This is something to watch for going down if another boat is following you as you can end up under a waterfall.

Once the middle and bottom locks made a level we were able to move up a chamber, at this point 2 boats arrived behind us, so as soon as the gates behind me closed they were able to drain and enter the bottom chamber. Sitting in the middle chamber the view was slightly different with ornamental fountains ahead . Something else to watch out for going down if you don’t want a wet neck

Once this equalised we were in the top chamber and just needed to fill that to leave. These locks are quite slow as one of the two paddles are constantly locked off. Even with the slow fill from one people get it wrong and flood the towing path. We just went through Cow Bridge and moored for the night in the same spot as we were in going down, I wonder if we will get a ticket for overstaying?

Today’s Journey

 

4 miles with 3 locks in 2¼ hours

Moston

Not the best nights sleep with the noise from the road and then a cruiser coming and turning round in the basin at quarter to midnight.
Yesterday evening I tried to book of passage along the Manchester Ship Canal (MCS) and onto the river Weaver, the first available date as the 29 May so we will have to kick around the area for the next 10 days.
This morning around 9-30 Mike arrived to do our Seaworth Certificate a requirement to travel the MSC and also to fill us in on all the procedures involved. Just as he was leaving another boat arrived and moored ahead of us and as they had moored on the waterpoint I told them we were about to leave so they could have our spot.

We chugged along the canal wondering where to stop for the night and decided on the moorings near the zoo, however we only got to bridge 135 when we saw barriers across the towing path, a chap in orange overalls sprang out of his car and asked us to stop while he got on his radio, and then his phone. He explained there was a large hole at the side of the canal and he needed to check if it was safe for us to continue, about 5 minutes later we got the all clear. We were expecting to find them digging a hole to run the pipeline under the canal from the non towing path side.

What we actually found was the towing path sinking, this is only a few yards short of bridge 134. I do wonder if anyone has informed CRT yet as I have seen a notice about it and no sign of CRT on site.

Since we have been moored up we have found out what the pipeline is for and details of how its going under the canal without disrupting boat traffic.

 

We carried on for about another 15 minutes and moored for the night. Just as we were tying up two things happened, it started to rain again and a Beluga again came almost over us, probably slightly lower than yesterday and a similar time around mid day.

Today’s Journey 5 miles with no locks in 2 hours

Ellesmere Port

First job this morning was a trip the M&S to pick up our two Sushi surprise bags for lunch today, these were £5 each reduced from £15 from “Too good to go”. We were back on the boat ready to set off at 10am from our mooring by Cow Bridge.

There were a couple of boats moored just through the bridge and we made our way down below the city walls .

Bit of a delay at the staircase locks as a boat was already in the middle chamber  and had drawn the top one down when we arrived. I was able to walk down and drain the chambers behind them as they came up. We had quite a crowd around us as we locked down and one chap was more than happy helping to push gates open and closed. The moorings below the locks were full so I good job we didn’t try going down there to moor yesterday .
This is the second Steam powered Narrowboat we have seen this trip.

It looks as if they are laying a new water main parallel to the canal and excavation work is going on at several points on the route.

This chap seemed quite pleased to have his photograph taken .

We passed the boat that we shared to locks with the other day down into Chester on its new moorings. Its quite a peaceful stretch of canal until you reach the motorways at the Ellesmere Port end. One thing I didn’t expect to see today was this Baluga, I thought all the Airbus parts construction in the UK had ended a few years back. This flew almost right over my head coming straight along the canal, this was the best shot I managed to get.

There was already two boats moored at the port so just enough room for us for the night. Tomorrow morning we have a survey to see if we are safe to go on the Ship Canal to the river Weaver but that wont be for a couple of days yet.

Today’s Journey

 

8¾ miles with 3 locks in 3¾ hours

Chester

This is one of the reasons I like boating, the view from the front doors this morning, its not so grand tonight, although you cant see it, it has hast started to rain really finely.

Pushed off just after ten and spotted a boat ahead at Tattenhall Marina, I think they may have come out of there. There are still just as many boats moored at Golden Nock plus a load on the hard, there are even 3 wide beams down there now.

We only met three boats as we traversed the length of them. By the bridge on the towing path there is a bike in a couple of bits. Is it nicked and the front wheel lose, or did someone lose their temper with it?

Can someone please remind me what it means if all the cows are laying down, every last one of them? Once clear of the moorings we soon caught up with the boat ahead and after a while managed to overtake them. I thought the walls of this bridge quite unusual being stepped, they are normally capped on a curve.It was the same both sides so not a repair job.

We arrived at Christleton Lock and it was against us, would this be the norm. We had just worked down and were leaving when the slow boat we overtook earlier arrived, so I back set for them. Do we wait at the next lock or carry on? I walked the flight and at the next lock a hire boat had just entered and were slowly filling the lock so we would be waiting anyway. Eventually the slow boat arrived and slipped in beside us and shared the rest of the way down. We did have one lock where a boat was just leaving and one where a boat arrived as we were locking down. I was surprised that there was a cricket match in progress as it was still drizzling, however that didn’t last long before the covers went on. 
Approaching the centre of Chester things look a bit different around the old tower and its now all built up. I am not sure when this landed but  it didn’t damage the bridge so no CRT closure.

They are demolishing the canal side building directly to where we are moored, unlike Atherstone there is no pontoons making an exclusion zone and to catch masonry that may fall into the canal.

Our locking partners passed us as we moored up, they are hoping to find a Volockie on the Northgate Staircase locks as they take the boat to its new moorings at Croughton.

Today’s Journey

7¾ miles with 5 locks in 4 hours

Tattenhall

Last night we ate in The Olde Barbridge Inn, well we were on their moorings. Its the first time I have had a steak in years and it was cooked nicely. We were the only boat on the moorings overnight, the hire boat leaving about half seven after they had finished their meal. It was a lovely quiet mooring overnight and we set off a little after 10 am. 
Just around the corner from the pub the CRT offside long-term moorings start, like many we have seen these are almost empty with only two boats at the Junction end. Don’t CRT want to let long term moorings anymore, maybe its not cost effective.

They have to maintain it, boats or no boats, just like the pontoons at Market Drayton.

Just beyond the next bridge this boat is moored almost in the bridge hole, the one ahead of it has trade plates so I am wondering if they have been parked by the marina.

Between here and the Calveley, where we stopped to top up with water and dispose of unwanted items, there are even more warehouses going up on the offside.

Of course the Bunbury Staircase locks were against us, they always are regardless of other boat movements, in this case we had to fill the top lock before proceeding. The painted sign on the end of the hire base is continuing to fade but still very visible. Its a shame they don’t list and maintain such features.

Once below the staircase locks the canal takes on a whole new identity, the long straight concrete lined embankments are gone and you are on a tree lined twisting canal. So much more pleasant for leisure use, but I am sure the working boats preferred the long level straights

Here our luck improved and there were two  boats making their way up in Tilstone lock, a bit slow as one top paddle was out. At Beeston stone lock we found the lock empty. it must have taken a good three quarters of an hour to make almost a level, to the point where Diana and I together could open a top gate. The at Iron Lock a boat had just started ascending so we entered as he left. At Whartons lock as we were about to leave to boats arrived below, so we were able to leave the gates for them. I was glad when we had done the last lock of the day, each requires about 50 turns of the windlass to raise the bottom paddles.
Since we were last this way the trees look to have really grown up around the Castle. This seems a favourite place for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and we always seem to encounter them when we come this way. The group we met were doing their bronze award. We carried on to moor a short way before Tattenhall Marina for the night.

Today’s Journey 8¼ miles with 6 locks in 5 hours

Barbridge

Thankfully the 30MPH+ winds died down before we went to bed and we had a very quiet night. This morning the sun was out although we did get a few un-forecast short showers this morning. Several boats going buy in each direction before we set off and we met quite a few. The black sheep in the middle of this flock stood out. (This blog will now probably get a FB ban saying that)

It wasn’t long before we were in Nantwich and the aqueduct is still looking quite smart, loads of mooring spots along the embankment.

Passing the canal Centre this is the most expensive diesel I have seen this trip.Bit annoying there was no one at the services and we didn’t need to stop, if we had needed water there would have been a queue. Just through HenHull bridge to the north of Nantwich CRT are repairing the wooden fencing and have a work boat moored on site.
The Hurleston Lock Flight going onto the Llangollen canal is closed, nothing on the stoppage list, so now anyone on that canal is trapped. We carried on in the odd short shower to moor at The Old Barbridge Inn for the night with a table booked for tonight.

Today’s Journey

 

6½ miles with no locks in 2 hours

Hack Green

Last night we wandered down to the Shroppie Fly for dinner and a pint and found it most enjoyable, the pub is very dog friendly and the service was good. It was reasonably busy for a Tuesday night.
The weather forecast for today was not good even though last night was a clear sky, we still woke to rain in the form of very hard showers. We pushed off at 11 while it was fine. The first lock had leaked off a bit and then just through the bridge we met a boat coming up, the the pub lock was full, apart from the poor leak. The original plan was to get water in front of the pub, but as a boat was approaching the lock from below we thought it better to go down on the full lock. Mistake, he pulled in on the water point below the lock. Whilst in the lock the first of the heavy, squally showers hit us, I took cover in the trees, Diana stayed in the lock and went into the boat. Once it stopped we pulled out and sat on the lock moorings until the other boat had finished with water. Once full we had a good run down the next two locks with them both being full. Whoever does the garden beside the bottom lock is still growing things there.

We carried on with one minute bright warm sun and the next a short heavy shower with loads of wind. Overwater has a very smart camping/caravan site beside it. I wonder if anyone has ever compiled a list of canal side sites, people oft ask for them.

I can’t remember how many years this temporary fix on this section of collapsed offside bank has been like this, 5 or 6 maybe?

I have got to hand it to some people on how adventurous they are with their paint schemes I wouldn’t have the confidence to do that.

Just look at those clouds in the phot above, we carried on and arrived at Hack Green lock in the sunshine, but before we had looked down it was raining again. So Diana inside and me under the bridge. they only last a few minuets and are gone until the next one. As we approached the bottom lock I could see a boat heading towards the lock so we would be able to leave it open. What I didn’t expect was a steam whistle, it was Tixall who I haven't seen for years.

Just look at the difference in the sky in this photo. Once through the lock we only went a short way passed the winding hole to moor for the night.

Today’s Journey 3¾ miles with 6 locks in 2¾ hours

Audlem

Well winters back, down to 0.3°C according to my weather station last night and not that great this morning being heavily overcast. Just through the next bridge CRT are installing a coffer dam along the offside bank. They had a couple of blokes in the water and I approached on absolute tick over which is extra low while the engine is still cold. a recorded speed of 1.5 MPH on the iPad and still got shouted at to slow down.  

We passed a boat with all these bird boxes and insect havens on its cratch, I don’t know if it was a trader who sells them.

We arrived at Audlem Top Lock just as a boat was going down. While I was turning the lock Diana was stocking up on cakes from the lock cottage. As we were about to leave the first lock a boat came the other way, we did meet another at the 3rd lock and that was it. Turning all the way. CRT are doing more repairs down below lock 8. The towing path barriers have little gates in them, not sure of the reason.

Today’s Journey

 

2¼ miles with 11 locks in 2¾ hours

Adderley bottom Lock

Rain was forecast for this morning and they weren't wrong, so waking to rain no rush to get up. Thankfully the rain ended earlier than forecast so we were away at 11 am.
Leaving the moorings there are patches of dead grass on the towing path about every 20 Mts. I suspect the local angling club have been using weed killer of the fishing pegs.

The Rooks have been very hard at work in the tree tops on the off side, another good reason not to moor under trees.

Then it was into the cutting, there are signs of lots of fresh landslips, this must be another headache for CRT.

As usual the towing path is closed and again as usual people are ignoring the closure signs .

As we arrived at the top of the Tyrley Locks a boat was just coming out of the top lock with the news that others were following, so no locks to turn and a couple to leave the gates open. At lock two there is a picknick table also a litter bin and a small tin for cigarette ends. I don’t know who put them there or who looks after them .

For as long as I can remember this chap has been just down below the locks on the offside. Someone must love him as he always looks grand.

The moorings in Market Drayton were packed so we moored in the “No Mooring” area for a trip to Lidl. If anyone can explain the rational behind these restrictions I would love to know. If I arrive at 3pm today I can’t moor but if I arrive at 4pm. I can stay until 10am. Thursday. There is a small notice saying no mooring 10am to 4pm.

I don’t know if all the long term moorings on the Offside are CRT or private, all the pontoons have been overhauled and electricity laid on, but 75% are sitting empty.

Market Drayton is one of the few towns that welcomes boaters with a couple of nicely panted notices each end of the town.

We were going to moor above the Adderley locks but when I tried to get in not even our wheelbarrow wheel fenders would keep us off the shelf, so we had to follow a hire boat down the flight turning all the locks. Once down the flight we moored up immediately at a little after 5-30pm.

Today’s Journey 7¼ miles with 10 locks in 3½ hours