Whixall Moss Junction Thursday 21 December 2017

The day started very dull but about 10 am. the sun decided to grace us with its presence for an hour or two. A boat went by just before we were ready to set off, had he been 5 minutes later we could have shared the lift bridges.

The ABC Yard at Whitchurch have all there boats at base moored 5 deep in one place, I was surprised the canal was that wide.

RCR were working at the yard fitting a new engine for someone, I wonder if that was covered in the Gold Cover agreement?

I walked ahead opening the lift bridges ready for Diana to come through, as I approached the third one here was a hire boater coming the other way and they already had it open, so there crew were able to board as the boat came through the bridge and I closed it after Diana had been through.

As we made our way along the straight heading to Roundthorn bridge we passed this chap making his way along the canal side road. He wasn't going to get much further as the road only leads to Roundthorn Bridge and that was blocked by an articulated lorry that failed to negotiate the 90° bend when exiting the bridge and ended up with his offside front wheel in the ditch. It should prove an interesting recovery.

I hopped off and went to Morris Lift Bridge, looking down the lane I could see a car approaching, so being Christmas I decided to wit and let them cross the bridge rather than them sitting waiting for us. The driver got as far as the property beside the canal and with no signals turned in, so I waited for nothing. At the junction we turned left down the Prees Branch, just another couple of lift bridges here to operate, the second, Starks Bridge is a new one and when they installed it they just back filled with loam right where you need to stand to operate it.

The bridge wont open fully as the chains that hold the hand rails bind on one of the uprights stopping everything just before its fully open, plenty of room for a boat to pass but all the strain is taken on the light hand rail chains.

We winded at the marina which is now the limit of navigation but you can see where the Branch use to carry on for several more miles.

We headed back along the Branch and rejoined the Llangollen canal mooring just after the junction. These are officially moorings reserved for the disable but as there are unlikely to be any disabled boaters about we have moored here, however if someone needs the mooring I am happy to move. Its quite obvious that some ignorant people think moorings shouldn't be reserved for disable people as the signs have been wrenched of the posts, I will be reporting this to CRT so hopefully they are replaced before the canal gets busy next year.

Today's Journey 7½Miles in 3½hours with no locks.

Whitchurch Wednesday 20 December 2017

OK I am British so lets start with the weather, yesterday morning when we set off it was +3°C when we moored up it had gone up to +6°C and by the time we went to bed it was +8.5°C now its sitting at +11°C.

When we looked out first thing it was foggy but the sun was doing its best, I took this shot just before 10am today.

We normally set off at 10 but this morning a CRT workboat came by at quarter to, so rather than sit on his tail we gave him about 40 minutes before we left, what we didn't know was he hadn't gone through Wrenbury Lift Bridge and was just dropping it as we arrived.

We often find that Frith Lift bridge is down now when we pass and this was true today. We could see the CRT chap had just wound it up and was setting off again, so we gave him a good blast on the horn and a wave so he carried on and left it up for us to close. We arrived just in time as the farmer on the off side was about to get someone to lower it for him to cross, he didn't look up the canal at all just straight across.

We did meet one boat today which would have helped the CRT chap setting all the locks for him, but he did draw the paddle on Quoisley lock for us. We finally passed him while he was having his lunch above Willeymoor Lock.

For some reason it started to rain just before lunch time, I think it was my fault as I had just polished my brass tiller arm for the first time in 8 years, I wont make that mistake again.

The three locks below Grindley Brook Staircase were all against us but the staircase its self had leaked off so had to be filled.

We stopped for water just above Grindley Brook staircase Locks before continuing on to the junction with the Whitchurch Arm to moor for the night.

Today's Journey 7¼ miles, 10 locks in 4½ hours

Wrenbury Tuesday 19 December 2017

Well today was a much better day weather wise, it did drop to freezing overnight but was bright and chilly this morning actually hitting double figures about 3pm.

We shoved off at 10am and had only just got through the first bridge when a Kingfisher dived into the canal beside the boat and almost immediately up and out with a fish, far to fast to even pick the camera up, let alone switch it on and get a photo. This was soon followed by a Little Grebe or Dab Chick coming out from under overhanging bushes.

As I suspected they have put a large valve on he outflow from the reservoir back into the canal, I am guessing its to make maintenance easier out in the open.

All the Hurleston flight was against us but a CRT boat that had been following moored below the locks and the steerer closed up the bottom lock for me, in turn I set the next one, by which time his helper had arrived. CRT have contractors by the locks drilling test bores, so it looks as if they may be getting serious about fixing things.

Just above the top lock Cheshire Cat have three boats moored on the services, two abreast, I guess they are there for winter maintenance.

We did meet one boat on the move but that's all so that put a few locks in our favour. We carried on until just before 2 pm when we moored for the night at Wrenbury on the 48 hr moorings.

Today's Journey 7¼ Miles, 9Locks in 3¾ hours

Barbridge Monday 18 December 2017

It turned quite cool again over night with a nice clear sky but not quite down to freezing. This morning we woke to a really murky day that never really lifted, maybe half an hour around 3-30 but that's all.

We pushed away about ten and just before Middlewich we passed where it looks as if CRT have repaired the towpath bank, they have constructed a small dam around a short section of bank and have a very large pump in there to try to keep it dry, there is also new concrete in evidence.

We pulled over for water below Big lock, then the lock gates opened and a boat started out, so a quick change of plan and into the vacant lock to carry on to the next water point, only there were already 2 boats there, however one had just finished and it wasn't long before the tank of the second one was overflowing.

Once full it was off up the Middlewich 3 locks to the junction of the Wardle Canal and then up Wardle Lock onto the Middlewich Branch.

This photograph shows what a mucky day it was, it was take just outside Middlewich at 12-30.

We didn't meet any boat at all on the Branch until we got to Barbridge Junction where Lee and Roberta who are now working the fuel boat Halsall were tide up doing some deliveries, so I took the opportunity to fill with diesel from them. Martin who ran Halsall for 4 years is moving to pastures new.

As we left the junction to turn left onto the Shropshire Union canal the weather was probably at its best but by the time we moored up opposite The Old Barbridge Inn the fog was returning once more.

Today's Journey 8 locks 12½ Miles in 6¼ hours

Bramble Cuttings Sunday 17 December 2017

We arrived at the moorings after a rather filthy drive up the M5 and M6 from my son's in Gloucestershire. There were a few hold ups due to road works but nothing major, it was just the mist and fog mixed with the road spray and at times heavy rain.

We arrived at the moorings a little after 2 pm and I am pleased to say that shortly after setting off the rain stopped and it was quite pleasant.

The first job back on the boat was to refill the potable water system, we always drain it this time of the year when we leave the boat and we recorded - 4°C inside while we were away this time. Its not a major job draining and refilling, but it has to be done before the heating can be put on, I think the boat was about 8°C when we arrived. One of the things I was dreading was finding the marina still frozen over, thankfully the ice had all gone.

We pushed off just before three and found a small amount of ice floating around just outside the marina but only bits. As we approached the new Oak Meadow marina the canal was covered in mist, just that one short bit.

We carried on and encounter some more very thin ice at the next flash. By now the weather was quite pleasant, it felt warmer than last trip. As we made our way along the canal with the light fading the pheasants that had already gone to roost in the trees over hanging the canal decided to make a move as we approached. After an hour we arrived at Bramble cuttings with no other boats in sight, so we decided to moor on the last stretch of moorings that the Broken Cross boat Club installed with a nice gravel walkway and wooden edging.

Today's Journey 3 miles in 1 hour

Park Farm Marina Tuesday 5 December 2017

The only other boat at Bramble Cuttings left a 8am this morning, we were away at 10 am. The Broken Cross Boat Club who maintain and improve these moorings have provided a picnic bench with wheel chair access, its a pity there are not more of these about. I don't expect it gets much use here as the site is not that wheelchair friendly at the moment, maybe they will make one of the moorings more disabled friendly.

We only did 3 miles today, a little over an hour, but in that time I saw at least 3 Kingfishers, I think this was the best photo I managed to take.

The Oakwood marina is really coming along now with a roof on the building and several pontoons installed.

Once back in the marina it was a case of draining the water system down and loading the car before setting off home. I like to leave the batteries as fully charged as I can when leaving the boat, although we have 2 small solar panels to maintain them while we are away, this was the charge reading just before I stopped the engine.

Today's Journey 3 miles in 1¼ hours

A map or the 11 day trip

Bramble Cuttings Monday 4 December 2017

It was a little brighter this morning when we set off just before 10 am but it wasn't long before the mac was on, only light drizzle and not much of it. We only met one boat all day and that was in the only narrow bit on a bend, blind where bridge 158 use to stand. what's more he is also a member of the Trent and Mersey canal Society and we had dinner with him on Friday night.

CRT were working at Rumps Lock installing a new Farm type wooden gate to stop vehicles driving up beside the lock, I am not sure if it will impede boaters walking up to operate the lock or not. There was a volunteer there who opened the bottom gates for us so we didn't have to walk down through their works site.

The Swans at Middlewich have some reason moved further out of town for some reason, so they are now using the bank between the canal and the main road, when they were closer to town there was a fence between them and the road, lets hope they have the sense not to go wandering in that direction.

When we came up last week there was a sunken boat opposite the winding hole, I see that has now been removed.

Middlewich Narrowboats was all closed up when we came passed and all the hire fleet has gone, as have most of the offside long term moorers. Passing the dry dock below the lock it has now been sealed off with fencing to stop unauthorised access.

We caught up with a boat going down the flight and they had just gone into Big Lock when we arrived so I was able to slide in beside them, below the lock we stopped for water before continuing on to moor for the night at Bramble cuttings.

Ether the canal is very high through here at the moment of this section of towpath near Croxton Flash has subsided even further.

Last time I posted that we moored here someone enquired about the mooring rings here and if that were part of a project to supply mooring rings all round the Cheshire Ring. I don't thinks so as the rings were installed by the Broken Cross Boat Club, this one in 1998 by the look of the inscription.

Today's Journey 7 miles 9 locks in 3¾ hours

Paddy’s Wood Sunday 3 December 2017

A bit better day today but it wasn't long before I had to put a coat on because of the fine rain. The moorings filled up last night and there were 8 boats here when we pushed off just after 10 am.

The pound below Thurlwood Top Lock was well down and we did wonder if we would need to let water down, I scraped out of the lock but once a boats length into the canal was clear of the bottom, so just made my way slowly down the middle of the channel to Thurlwood Bottom Lock without a problem. Below the lock in the next pound was fine.

As Diana brought Harnser out of Pierpoints Bottom Lock, I spotted a lady in the distance who indicated to me with a windlass that she was coming up, so we were able to leave the gates open and the rest of the locks should be with us, I warned her of the low pound ahead, her boat draws more water than ours, in turn she told me I had another low one near the bottom.

Some time in the past the bridges on this canal have been renumbered, but the old 141 and 143 still carry their original numbers. In the guide books and maps you will find them listed as 142 and 145, just to keep you on your toes.

As we were working down Hassall Green Top Lock a boater joined me to close the offside bottom gate. He was single handing delivering a boat that we had just passed and we agreed that we draw a paddle on one of each of the twined locks for him as we went down, so it would be full when he arrived. We actually managed better than that and in most cases could open top gate ready for him so when we got to Wheelock he was only just behind us.

Most Narrowboats have their hulls pained black, some carry this black up to the first guard rail or rubbing strake when others, like us take it right to the gunwale. This boat was all blue, including under the water line.

The next low pound was the one between Saw Pit Lock and Wheelock Top lock, a passer by told us how 4 boats had been stuck in there this morning, although it was down we got through OK. Wheelock was the only lock I didn't set for the chap behind, I didn't want to take any more water out of the pound.

It was a toss up whether to moor at Wheelock or carry on, by now the weather had cleared so we went on to moor at Paddy's Wood, not sure why its called that as there is no wood.

Today's Journey 5 miles, 14 Locks in 3½ hours

Rode Heath Saturday 2 December 2017

We had a good night last night at The Red Bull pub with the Trent and Mersey canal Society. They laid on a good Christmas meal with loads of fresh veg, we even managed to win a prize in one of the quiz rounds, mind you, we came last in the other round. Not quite a bottle of Prosecco but a Prosecco Candle.

The highlight of the evening was when the chap with a bald head managed to smash the glass globe on one of the wall lights cutting his head in the process, I wont mention names. It was one like this.

Looking out from the boat yesterday evening this was our view.

How different it all was this morning with a grey, damp, dull day with fine drizzle that gets in everywhere. First job was to fill with water, the tap was just behind us and then off down the Cheshire Locks.

At one time after the locks were paired there was a connection between the two lock so that emptying one the water could be used to fill the other. On the derelict lock at Church Top Lock you can still see the remains of the paddle gear with just the end of the rod visible.

As I was getting ready to go into lock 50 while Diana was setting Lock 51 Martin from the coal and diesel boat Halsall turned up on his bike to set the adjoining lock, so we waited in our lock to let him get ahead, he even had 51 all set ready for him, but he didn't get very far as the pound below 51 was dry, so while he let water down through 51, Diana let water down behind us through lock 50. It wasn't long before we were both on our way again.

For the first time I have managed to get a reasonable shot of Snap's Aqueduct, its just a shame that the weather was not better, but maybe its the poor light that shows the curved walls off better.

We had planned to moor for the night at Rode Heath and when we arrived there was Halsall selling someone diesel.

We went by and moored for the night while Martin and Brian carried on down to Wheelock. He is actually  in Middlewich.

Today’s Journey 2½ miles 9 locks in 2¼ hours

Red Bull Friday 1 December 2017

Not so cold last night so no ice to take even more blacking off today. We set off at twenty to eleven as we didn't have far to go, just to the visitor moorings at Red Bull services. It was bit of a coincidence actually as the journey was 1.17 mile and it took us 1hr 17 minutes.

A quick shot from the top of the aqueduct looking north down the Cheshire Locks on the Trent and Mersey canal, the sky is not quite so bright today.

We were delayed slightly as we left the end of the aqueduct on the right angle bend, there was a CRT tug there waiting for a boat coming the other way to pass all the moored boats so we had to tuck well over to allow him to get round the bend and cross the aqueduct before we could follow the CRT tug back to the Trent and Mersey canal at Hardings Wood Junction. We both turned north and down the Cheshire Locks, only he had the locks filled ready for him from the boat coming up.

There is a finger post on the junction that was erected to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the restoration. I still think that was the best Logo that The IWA ever had.

The piling along this section of the Trent and Mersey Canal has rotted all the way along the water line, I wonder if it will all collapse in one go, or if the underwater section is the bit doing the work holding the bank up.

We stopped just north of the aqueduct as there were a couple of spare mooring rings on the towpath but we could only use the stern one, nothing at the bow. Rather than drive a pin in I walked down and checked out the visitor moorings by the CRT Red Bull offices and found a good 80 foot of space, so that will do us. Wandered back up to Harnser and we dropped down through Red Bull lock to moor for the night with a ring at each end.

You will see from the map that we have done the 270° ring again first crossing the Trent and Mersey and then ducking under the link to the Macclesfield canal.

Today's journey 1.17 miles, 3 locks in 1hr 17 minutes.