Tarporley Wednesday 3 July 2019

Day : Wednesday
Date : 3 July 2019
Start : 1030
Finish : 1500 https://what3words.com/feasted.turkey.lance

We had a very nice meal in The Old Barbridge Inn last night, not cheep selecting from their specials board, but I am sorry to say the service has not improved and we had to go and find out what had happened to out deserts a little before 10 pm. Maybe next time we will just have a main and no pud.

This morning was much warmer, unlike last night when an extra blanket was needed on the bed. Well it did drop to 8 Deg. C. We set off at 1030 am back the way we had come to Barbridge junction but then carried straight on towards Chester. As we passed the junction I managed this photo of the old pub sign, I wonder why its being kept.

As we approached the A51 bridge we met a couple of boats, luckily the second one told me there was a third following so I could hold back and not meet in the bridge on the bend. Just beyond the bridge there is a major development going on and it looks as if they are laying a sewer about a Mt in diameter, there is already one new large industrial unit on site so I guess its the start the Cheshire Green Industrial Park.

The services at Calveley were packed, two boats filling with water and two waiting for them to move off. As we just had some rubbish to dump I poked the bows in between two boat on the long term mooring so Diana could hop off with it.
As we approached Banbury staircase locks I could see a boat had just entered the lock, there were two Volockies on duty and kept the top gates open for us to join them, we then shared all the locks as far as Beeston Iron Lock that they wanted to do alone, so we moored up for lunch.
After lunch we shared Beeston Iron lock and the next lock with. There was a steady flow of boats coming towards us so locks were ready and gates could be left open.
At Wharton's Lock there were dozens of youngsters doing their Duck of Edinburgh award, walking from the direction of Beeston Castle and checking in with someone at the lock side before continuing west along the towpath, there has been a steady stream passing us ever since we moored up.
Its good to see that The Shady Oak is open again and offering moorings to patrons, maybe we will check it out on our way back. We carried on for another mile of so before mooring for the afternoon in the now very pleasant sun shine.

Today's Journey

7 Miles 6 Locks in 4 hours