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

Goldstone

Last night we met up with old boating friends o eat at The Junction pub. It had turned so cool when we got back to the we lit the Dickinson.
Today was unusual for us as we didn’t set off until gone 1pm. The reason for this was that we had a chicken to kook in the slow cooker so its better to do it while the engine running than draining the batteries.
We slowly made our way past all the moored boats to the junction and then as many boats again the other side.
One of the highlights of this canal is this bridge with an old telegraph pole in it.

We called in and had coffee with Anne and Oli on their moorings at Shebdon before continuing north, hence our slow progress today, even so we spent a lot of time on tick over passed all the moored boats. We passed this boat with a rather unusual paint job.

A short way before The Wharf Tavern at Goldstone there is now a Glamping site with these pods.

Through the bridge and on the edge of the pub garden is a swan’s nest that looks as if its built on lawn clippings .

Today’s Journey

 

8 miles with no locks in 4 hours.

Norbury Junction

As we didn’t plan to go far today it was a late start so that the engine was running while the bread was baking. We have an electric bread make and it draws about 20 amps at 24 volts while in the baking stage. This fisherman gave a lovely silhouette photo fishing in the bridge hole.

It was a lovely sunny morning but along this stretch of canal we didn’t get to see much of it.

I don’t remember this old warehouse looking so smart when we have passed this way before , set at the back of the winding hole at High Onn Wharf.

We met several day boat out and all behaving in a very respectable way. It wasn’t long before we were approaching Cowley Tunnel, I am not sure if I have ever photo'd the approach from this direction, as you can see its a solid piece of rock. The rock is not very thick and the tunnel only 80 yards long, but it was obviously easier to bore a tunnel than blast out a cutting. The rock is so stable that the tunnel is completely unlined.

Back in the daylight and we were coming into Gnosall, please don’t ask me to pronounce it. This is a town that is proud of its canal and spends a lot of time keeping the area nice.

Moored in town was a fellow Cutweb Internet Boat Club member, we had never met before but she know we were coming and flagged us down, the result half an hour or more chatting on the towing path. Eventually we parted company and continued toward Norbury Junction, I always think of Wallace and Gromet with the smart gnome when I write that name.
We passed something you don’t see every day on the canals, this canal might be quite wide and straight but I wouldn’t fancy tacking this into the wind or shooting the bridges.

At Norbury Junction the first visitor mooring we came to was free so we slipped in there, it was then solid up through the bridge and to the long term moorings the far side. There are a few spaces now as some people have moved on, I expect they were having lunch at the pub.

Today’s Journey

6¼ miles with no locks in3 hours