Grappenhall

Bit of a lazy start today that turned into a rush. We didn’t need to be at Preston Brook tunnel until 11 o’clock so we were just sort of milling around and suddenly noticed the time getting away. It turned out that we locked down through Dutton Tunnel and cruised straight into the tunnel and away.

Just before Dutton Lock you pass Dutton Dry Dock, this is a pretty little dock in my opinion, the only real down side is lack of road access. You can see how bright a day it is from the above photos photos. Dutton lock had its maximum fall with the T&M canal overtopping the top gate. There was a boat ahead of us, but once in the tunnel I couldn’t workout how far so took it slowly. there was just one boat waiting at the far end.We carried straight on passing the old Midland Chandlers shop now empty. There is a massive housing development going on from behind here all the way to Delph lane where they are building a new bridge across the canal to another development on the other side, at the moment they have a temporary bridge across for moving plant.

Last time we came this way this old building was propped up, today there are a few more props, a real risk it will just fall into the canal one day.

It was an ideal time to meet this lot as there were taking a refreshing break all tied up under a large bridge, mush better than all over the canal like a couple we have met today .

Another sad sight but I expect its beyond redemption, it looks as if its been there some time and everything looks rotten on it. I don’t know who it is but its quite short.

We thought we had found a bit of shade to moor but then realised that I had driven the stern pin in quite close to a wasp nest, and they didn’t seem too impressed with the idea. Shut the back end up to keep them out then sat down for a cool drink, by then they had calmed down a bit and we pulled the boat forward a boats length to leave them in peace, quietly removing the mooring pin..

  

Today’s Journey

9¼ miles with one lock in 3¼ hours

Dutton Hollow

This was our mooring last night, tucked in under the trees for shade it was so nice I sat out on the

deck watching the TV, I was hoping that the sun was going to go down over the canal but it was just to the right.

We were away early today and passing the moored boats on the long term CRT moorings, I noticed one of them had this floating around, I suspect its tethered in some way so as not to whiz off down the cut.

Our first stop was the services at Anderton for water and dispose of recycling, mustn’t call it rubbish any more. CRT have built a nice compound for the bins, accessed with a BWB key, they even put a mesh roof on it to stop people throwing things into the compound, it works because there is rubbish on the roof where someone has tried to do just that.

Passing the Anderton Lift it’s good to see the top basin being put to good use, there is a fine growth if weed in the aqueduct leading to the two caissons.

We had a clear run through Barnton Tunnel and arrived at Saltersford Tunnel 5 minutes before the transit window closed. At the far end there were three boats wating to come the other way and we met another three in the next half kilometre, so that timing worked well, we are now moored at the site of the old breach, there is only one other boat here  and a few have been passed in both directions.

Today’s Journey   

 

7 miles with no locks in 3 hours

Marston

Away a little earlier this morning arriving at Big Lock just as a boat was leaving, going down, so we followed by ourselves. I don’t recall this sign last time we were this way but lots of offside vegetation has been cleared at the lock.

This boat was suffering a sever case of the droops, maybe its heat related or just old age.

It was very pleasant cruising for the next couple of hours as there are lots of trees both sides to give dappled shade. The domestic refuse site by the canal has completely closed down and they are building on adjacent land.

 

The still air and sunshine has given some lovely reflections like this bridge.

I stopped at Oakwood Marina to fill with diesel, I had been told it was £1 which sounded good, but it was actually £1-30 domestic, I should have filled at Chas Harding’s at £1-25. Soon we were passing our old marina at Park farm that looks to have major workgoing on and then to Orchard Marina that was dry for many years. The moorings outside are full but lots of space inside.

It looks as if a nice new Power Station called The Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant has been built beside the Tata Chemical works.
I don’t know how long this wide beam has been on the 48 hr moorings but its certainly caught CRT’s eye, I don’t think they are Christmas Cards hanging on it.

We carried on until a short way before the Lion Salt works where the shade from the trees by the mobile home park attracted our attention, it was even better when Diana spotted 4 mooring rings attached to the concrete edge.
Sitting in the shade the outside thermometer is still reading 33° C and its a couple of degrees cooler inside the boat.

Today’s Journey

 

7½ miles with one lock in 3½ hours

Middlewich

Last night was not the best choice of moorings, There was a regular rail passenger service crossing the canal behind us, but as expected that stopped about midnight only to be replaced with a freight service running almost as frequently and making twice the noise, add to the the aircraft making an approach to somewhere right above us at dawn onwards. Of course none of this was helped by us having the hatches and slide open because of the heat. When I got up for my early morning wee at 4am this is what I saw looking out of the engine room side hatch.

A little late setting off but tis time we passed a boat making ready to set off to Stanthorne Lock, even though we were ahead we still had to turn the lock and by the time we were down there were two waiting to come us as well as two coming down. We stopped to chat with fellow Cutweb members at bridge 30 for a little over an hour before making our way to Wardle Lock where we had to wait for a boat to come up. We turned left on to the Trent and Mersey canal  but came to a standstill at Middlewich Wharf as they were using one of the hire boats to tow a broken down boat from the top lock up to the yard. The three Middlewich locks were all against us, not helped by a paddle out  on the bottom lock. Once down we started looking for a mooring but all shady ones had gone so we tied up by the play park. As I was writing this the boat behind, nicely in the shade has just left, so we have dragged back a boats length.

Today’s Journey

3½ miles with 5 locks in 2½ hours

Clive Green

Well it happened again, Diana set off to walk to the lock, I dropped the bow rope off and before I got to the stern a boat came chugging down the cut, so I followed them down to the lock. At the lock a chap was repairing the rendering to the building beside it.

I am not sure how his work will stand up in this heat. By the time we had turned the lock and started going down a CRT work boat turned up below, surprisingly he was single handed, they usually have a lock wheeler with them. Just beyond the visitor moorings and BBQ area there are a couple of trees down on the offside with just room for a boat to pass through.

By the time we reached Minshull Lock the boat ahead was on its way down, there was a chap standing their wearing a life jacket who I assumed was ether CRT of a Volockie. Diana walked down and it seamed forever for the next boat to come up, the strange thing was Diana wasn't doing anything, eventually we entered the lock and the chap with the lifejacket suggested Diana hopped back onboard and he would work us down. It was then I found out from Diana he was from the Marina and was instructing the lady who had bought a boat on how a lock works. If I had known one of us would have stayed up top who was fully concentrating on our boat not a customer.Eventually we were out of the lock, CRT are repairing the piling along behind the lock moorings.
I can only assume (very dangerous) that this is a repair of a leak. a pile of clay against the edging.

By now things were really warming up and it was getting towards lunch time so after passing under the railway we pulled over and moored for the night.

Today’s Journey

 

7 Miles with 2 locks in 3 hours.

Cholmondeston Middlewich Branch

When we got up this morning we had bit of a list on as the pound had dropped, not sure if it was just leakage or if someone had replenished the pound between the Beeston Iron and Stone locks. We timed it quite well as it turned out two boats were coming up the Stone lock behind us. By the time we had drained Tilstone Lock one of the boats had caught us up. It was the pizza baked onboard boat but said he would wait for the following boat who he had been sharing with earlier. So we went up slowly alone, the top paddle is still out of action but I think CRT may be working on it. The boat sharing with the pizza boat was a hire boat with three couples all dressed as what they thought was typical French.

About half way between Beeston and Tilstone locks across the field is this hotel. it looks in a poorly state now.

Just above Tilstone Lock the boat we had been sharing with the day before yesterday was moored up so they slipped away and followed us to Bunbury Staircase lock. Here we waited beside the hire boats while one boat went up the locks and one came down. We had both only just entered the bottom chamber and closed the gates  when the two boats behind arrived, so once the boat ahead had gone we were mob handed to work the locks, there was even one waiting to go down when we left. We both stopped at Calveley Services to top up with water before going our separate ways, we turned left at Barbridge Junction and they carried on to Hurleston junction. This is a slightly better photograph of the thatched extension to a house, how they got planning consent I don’t have a clue as its the only thatch for miles around, so not in keeping with the property.

We decided to moor for the night at the visitor moorings just above Cholmondeston Lock. I must say all this passing traffic comes as bit of a surprise, probably had more boats go by than we have seen in a week.

Today’s Journey

 

5½ miles with 3 locks in 3½ hours

Tilstone

Had a ring round for diesel prices this morning and didn’t like what I heard so hoping to get to the T&M to fill up.

We were away about our normal 10 am and very little to report this morning other than very large banks of Floating Pennywort slowly drifting down the canal with the flow. One of the boat at Golden Nook has a fine collection of kiddies windmills on his roof.

I guess they are bird deterrents as we didn’t see loads of birds on any of the boats it’s hard to say. I rather liked the boat name of one of the ones along here .

As well as the Pennywort the Giant Hogweed is doing very well along here as well.

We stopped at the Shady Oak and Diana nipped in and bought a pizza for lunch, one with salad was fine for the two of us. After lunch we continued up Whartons Lock, at the top of the lock an elderly lady who was with her son had felt unwell, sat on the bench and looked semi conscious, we gave her some water and an ice pack, her son said after they had sat a few minutes they would walk back to the car at The Shady Oak. We weren't happy with this so I took the boat to the next winding hole and returned to pick them up. Diana had staid with them and kept the lock ready for my return. By this time with two of us helping she was able to walk and had told Diana she was almost 93 years old. The garden bench on the tug deck cam in very handy and we soon had both of them sitting on it and headed back to the pub, I may her stay sitting while her son fetched the car, she was much more lucid by now, we then helped her from the boat into his car and wished them well.
This just left us facing the wrong way and a long run to wind, so I reversed to the winding hole about half way to the lock winded and joined the boat I had just met to do the lock for the third time today. I was quite surprised the number of boats coming down the locks this time of day and both us and the boat who went ahead up the Iron Lock met a couple of boats at each lock. The pound between Iron and stone locks is getting quite low and we decided to moor for the night just above Beeston Stone Lock.

 

Today’s Journey

10¾ miles with 5 locks (1 three times) in  5¾ hours

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Rowton

Last night we ate at The Green House Tapas bar which worked out quite expensive as we ended up having 6 dishes between us, but ERNIE paid for it  this month. It was quite a short walk there from where we were moored. On the way I noticed this hook attached to the wall on the towpath by the road bridge. For strapping maybe ?

The noise from the Telford Warehouse quietened down about 9-30 ish. when the large group drinking outside dispersed and the sound from the disco wasn’t to intrusive and were still playing when we went to bed.
We woke this morning to a dull day but it soon picked up, we set off about 10, just a touch too late as the Volockies were setting the flight for a boat coming down, if we had been a few minutes earlier we would have been in the bottom chamber before they started to drop the middle one. As it was we crossed with the boat coming down in the middle.

There was quite a spray of water coming from the gates as we sat in the middle chamber.

Once clear of the locks we carried on through town, it looks as if they they completed demolition of the old cinema since we were here a few weeks ago.

A nice view of the water tower leaving the lock. We moored outside The Bridge Inn to visit Aldi just over the bridge, shopping done we decided to have lunch before setting off. Just as we were about to cast off a hire boat came up the canal so we had someone to share with. Turned out he was an ex Narrowboat owner who sold up about 12 years ago but was taking his visiting daughter out for a week on a hire boat. We carried on together until the water point at Christleton where he stopped and we carried on. Just like the section between Chester and the Port, the off side vegetation needs some serious management. I was steering completely blind here just below Tarvin lock.

We carried on alone and moored for the night right beside a nice looking caravan/camper site at Rowton, hopefully well away from any 5am football celebrations of sorrow drownings.

Today’s Journey

 

3½ miles with 8 locks in 2¾ hours

Chester basin

It was quite overcast and breezy when we set off this morning, a couple of boats had been by before we set off but other than that very quiet. Spotted this birds nest as we passed a boat on the long term moorings, I suspect that would be worth a bit on eBay.good excuse not to move your boat, add a couple of Quail eggs for good measure.

The towpath is still officially closed at the site of the sink hole but the barriers have been put to one side and people are ignoring the signage.

There is quite a bit of oil/diesel on the water in the area which I have reported to CRT, I can guess where its come from.

This is the bridge coming into Chester just before Davies boat yard with the cut out shapes.

I am not sure why this access ramp is all fenced off and overgrown, it even has a cast sign in the enclosed area.

As we approached the basin we saw our first boat on the move since we set off, he pulled away from the visitor moorings, so we pulled in. I was surprised to see that even now there are a couple of spaces still available.

Today’s Journey 5½ miles with no locks in 2 hours.