Wheelock

We set off ay 9-30am with a view to eating at the Italian Restaurant in Wheelock, when we arrived at 5-30pm we found they close Mondays.
I do rather like the decoration they have added to the pipe bridge by the Tata chemical works.

At bridge 185 someone has mounted a door with a mirror in it on the edge of the bridge and it really plays tricks with your mind. You can see our reflection coming the other way and the shape of the bridge really lends its self to it.

Although we met a few boats, Big Lock in Middlewich was against us with a boat just leaving the top, however by the time we were in the lock a boat was waiting to come down so at least we had a bit of help and could leave the gates open. We stopped by the playground for Diana to nip to the shops and top up on a few things and also have lunch. We set off again just after a boat had come by hoping Middlewich locks would be with us. When we got there we found a Volockie on each of the locks so we had a good run up meeting a boat coming down after the second lock. There was also another Volockie working between Kings Lock and Wardle Lock, as they are all in radio contact he had Kings ready for us. on up to Rumps Lock and a boat was descending as we approached, things are going well. When we got to Booth Lane the lock was almost empty, but the pond above was very low, I was in the mud most of the way up to Both Lane middle where we waited for a boat to come down which eased things a bit, by the time we were in the middle lock there was another boat waiting above to come down, so help and the lock left open again, on to the top lock where a boat had just entered the lock so we waited for them to descend and again by the time we were ready to leave another had arrived above. From here it was a steady run to Wheelock, we wondered if we would get a mooring but there was a space straight after the service mooring. As the Barchetta was closed  and we have had several Indian meals recently we ate at the Cheshire Cheese who were doing 2 meals for £10 and 3 beers on the pump.

Today’s Journey

13¾ miles, 9 locks in 6¼ hours