Church Minshull Monday 13 March 2017

Lovely quiet mooring last night and woke to a smashing morning, As we planned to visit Nantwich, we haven't been for years we set off a bit earlier than normal around half nine. It took a little over half an hour for us to reach the aqueduct and the 48 hour moorings adjacent to it were free, so a bonus. We didn't spend long in town but the buildings we passed are very interesting, maybe next time we will make a day of it as a planned stopping place.
The aqueduct has just had £200,000 spent on it, details HERE but its still held together with a couple of lumps of wood.

We stopped at the serviced at Nantwich Basin to dump the rubbish and fill with water, Diana also picked up a couple of books to read, we will drop these off at another services for someone else to read. Many years ago a wooden horse was constructed at the back of the towpath, he is wearing very well.

We were a bit surprised to see that the pub sign is still standing on the site of The Jolly Tar and Barbridge Junction, the pub closed down in 2013 and was demolished/burnt down last year. The site is now waiting for redevelopment.

I made the turn into the Middlewich Branch much better than when I came out. There is a house right on the junction that supports a good collection of chimney pots.

As we made our way down the Branch the sky started to darken but thankfully stayed dry. Just above Cholmondeston Lock SUMBA are busy laying the hedge, they have also planted fruit trees and bushes at different locations along the Branch.

As we approached Church Minshull lock the lock and cottage looked quite nice reflecting in the still water.

Not far below the lock is Aqueduct Marina, I was planning to wind there so was going slowly, this was lucky as a boat came straight out or the marina, not looking in ether direction and smashed headlong straight into the bank opposite, a fisherman pushed his bow round for him and as we passed he didn't say a word.
The reason I winded is that I needed to do something about the rust in the right hand cabin side and the tow path is on the left, so I winded in the marina entrance and then went backwards to the visitor 48hr moorings where I was able to attack it with the grinder until it packed in working so then a sander, treated the rust and got some primer on it. Hopefully I will get a bit of colour on tomrrow.
Today’s Journey 

8.25 miles, 1 Junction, 2 canals, 2 locks in 3.5 hours.