Hurleston, Llangollen Canal

Well a good nights sleep last night in the peace and quiet, I didn’t want to wake up this morning.
We were away about half ten with no boats passing going up but some coming down, so the first lock should be with us, wrong, a boat had left the far side or the bridge and was about ¾ of the way up So that was the first we had to turn and work alone.

There was a much better view of the castle today with the light in a better quarter.We visited it once, got lost going to it and then used all our cash paying a kings ransom to English Heritage to get in.  While I was waiting for the lock to fill I looked back and could see that BWB or CRT have used plastic interlocking piling here, I couldn’t see how much was plastic.

We we reached Chas Harding’s I could see two boats ahead waiting to enter the iron lock and one boat coming down about to leave. That’s when it went pear shaped. The boat leaving the lock stuck his bows and then stern in between the lock and lock moorings to pick up his crew and switched his engine off ending up across the lock mouth hard aground. After a while the two boats waiting managed to get him off the rocks and told him to go forward, that’s when they found his engine switch off. By the time this was sorted out and the two boats ahead had gone singerly up the lock and we had turned it yet again to go up a Chas Harding boat who under instruction had been down, winded, instructed how to moor up below the bridge  had walked up to be instructed how to do a lock, so our locking was somewhat slower than normal. When we finally arrived at Beeston Stone lock the boat ahead was waiting for us, even though there were two boats above waiting to come down. This is the lock with just one operational top paddle and took for ever to make a level. Looking back as we left you can see someone has had break failure coming into the lock.

We carried on partnering Nb.Easy Tiger for the rest of the wide locks. Approaching Bunbury staircase, we had to wait as a boat was going up ahead I got a good view of Anglo Welsh yard with the painting on the end of the building still very visible, I think it would be nice if it could be saved.

After leaving the stair case locks, the last of the wide locks this trip the view of the old stable buildings is also quite striking.

A brief stop at Calvary services to dump the rubbish and it was on to Hurleston Junction and hard right for the Llangollen canal. We timed it right, the bottom lock empty, a boat just coming out of the next lock up, a Volockie at the third who also set the top. The way it should work.Looking back at the bottom gates in I think it was the top lock it looks as if CRT have found a good use for some of their signs.

Diana went for a walk round Hurleston Reservoir and it looks to be well full.

We stopped at the top of the locks to fill with water and then passed these horses with rather attractive head apparel. Maybe its the Lone Rangers horse?

We slid into the first nice vacant mooring we came to well clear of trees between bridges 2 and 3.

Todays Journey

  8¼ miles 10 locks in 5½ hours.

Shady Oak Pub

Not a good nights sleep last night. Went to bed and found a pool of water round the loo. so spent most of the night wondering where that came from. This morning soon found it. The situation on the boat last night was unusual, the calorifier was cold as the engine has been off for a couple of days but the calorifier was still pressurised and a weep had developed on the top Essex Flange that I fitted, I suspected the high temperature rubber washers had gone hard, but they were OK and a quarter turn with the big spanner stopped it.

That sorted we were on our way. The large pipes along the towpath are for sewage as can be seen by this slightly humours sign.

The new development around the historic shot tower could have been worse, tying modern in with old is never easy and they do have an industrial look.

A little further up the offside cottage had a fine gnome display, I think the chap lives next door.

I will never work out what happens in these locks, the first we came to has one ground and one gate paddle, opening the ground paddle on the same side as the boat and the boat moves gently out. At the next lock with 2 ground paddles, open the one the same side as the boat as you would on the GU shoots you across the lock, opening both and you sort of sit in the middle, then the next, same procedure and the water flows under the boat, hits the far wall and pins you comfortably against the side. We had to turn all the locks bar two and close all gates.
We did meet one or two boats later but not many. There is a spot before the mile and a half of Golden Nook long term on line moorings where CRT load and unload their boats some one has built a shelter for some reason.

We chugged slowly passed Golden Nook and then Tattenhall Marina marina before mooring for the night on the 48hr moorings at The Shady Oak Pub.

Todays Journey 14¾ miles, 5 locks in 4¾ hours

Chester (Still)

Well we decided this morning we like it here so haven’t moved yet but will tomorrow.

We had a plan, call it plan A. To cruise from Alvecote to Northwich Dry Dock for blacking. When Cheshire locks closed that became Plan B, to cruise to Northwich via the Shropshire Union and Middlewich branch and Anderton Lift.
When the lift closed it became Plan C. Cruise Shropshire Union, Manchester Ship Canal and on the Weaver to the Dry Dock.
The Dock is now unavailable until almost October, to late for us so Plan D. Turn round at Chester, I am not planning what we will do after this.

We are moored in town opposite the Bingo Hall so yesterday we took a walk down the Northgate Staircase locks, on the way we passed where the towing lines have worn groves in the rock face.

Once down the locks we visited the locks that supposedly run drop boats down to the River Dee. I say supposedly as I have no idea when a boat last went down, the locks are chained and there are stop planks above Lock 3, this is what we found below the lock.

Of course this section of the river is tidal for about another ¼ mile upstream where there is a weir. As you can see some boats still use the tidal section.

Today we walked the city walls passed the old castlewhich looks very unloved and past the weir which has a half tide gate at one end that can be opened to allow boats to pass through the weir when there is not enough depth over the top of the weir, however at the moment that also has a barrage across it and doesn't look as if its been used for years.
This map shows the locks, river and weir

Today we also visited the Grosvenor Museum which is a real rabbit warren of rooms including the old3 story house with floors that slope and twist all over the place.
Eating out last night was Ephesus Grill where we have eaten on previous visits, the charcoal grill is built into the restaurant so you can watch things being cooked, thankfully they have a very good extractor system and tonight was The Yard where we have never been before but was very good with quite a small menu unlike most Mediterranean restaurants.

Chester

We had just finished breakfast when Diana noticed the hire boat that had passed earlier had stopped for water at the next bridge, marked on the map with W.   So we chugged by and waited in the lock for them, they didn’t realise we were waiting so dropped onto the 48 hr moorings for one of the kids to have a shower, Diana walked back and they joined us all the way into Chester.
One of the unusual things about this stretch of canal are the old lock access ladders right in the mouth of the lock so you could climb off the bows of a barge to work the lock.

The water tower doesn’t stand out so much as you approach Chester as the trees have grown up. but looking back the birds were making good use of the aerials.

In Chester its self there are some large pipes running along the towpath taking up a few moorings, I don’t know if they are water or sewage.

There were 3 or 4 mooring spots free between Bridges 123E and 123D so we carried on to the winding hole before mooing, the fist spot was too short right in front of the Lock Keepers Inn and the next too shallow, we were still a good two foot from the edge so it was up nearer Bridge 123D and this just left space for the next boat down the locks to moor.

Today’s Journey

2¼ Miles 5 locks in 2 hours

Christleton, Chester

Well last night no phone, no TV and the internet like the good old dial up days, I was surprised the Blog went, but that was before the rain, things went down hill from there. Only heard a couple of trains overnight so that was good. Also saw the brightest shooting star I have ever seen.
This morning a passing boater asked if we wanted to join them but we weren’t ready to set off. Beeston Stone Lock is very slow as only one top paddle is working.
We set off at 9-30 to just chug down to the lock and wait until a boat was coming up or another come down. What we didn’t expect was to see a boat almost ready to exit the top gates, so not long to wait. He told me he was stuck for 4 hours at Chemistry lock while CRT removed a narrow rubber fender from the top paddle which was stopping it closing, as he left I noticed he had all his rubber fenders down in a lock. Beeston iron lock was a few inches off so we were soon down and on our way, we met lots of boats which eased our trip greatly. I took this shot of Beeston Castle, for all those in East Anglia look at that green colour everywhere, not like my lawn.

One of the offside moorings has the roof of his shed completely covered with glass bottles and he has started constructing bottle walls.

We also passed these interesting looking ducks, one with a fine top knot.

When we use to pass through Rugeley I use to photograph a shed that was slowly falling over a bit like this one, I think its only thanks to the wall its still standing.

Then the rain started and stopped and started so the brolly was put to good use again. We decided to moor a short way passed the Cheshire Cat. The moorings outside the pub are a bit confusing with 48hr mooring signs and no moorings signs which appear to be on the 48 hr section, some of which have been covered up.

Today’s Journey

9¼ miles 3 locks in 3¾ hours

Beeston Stone Lock

The locks were reasonably busy again this morning so we set off at our normal 10 o’clock to a some what breezy morning but it was much calmer once down below the locks. Thankfully the geese didn’t come visiting until this morning.

This field of cows seamed to be enjoying the morning sunshine just lying about.

We carried on meeting the odd boat, there were a lot more vacant moorings in Nantwich than I expected and we met a few boaters that we knew. Just before Barbridge this chap was walking one dog and swimming the other, it pulled it to the side as we passed.

It looks as if CRT have had to get back pumping in to keep the Hurlestone flight operational and in water. I couldn’t tell if they were running or not.

The two boats we were following both pulled in at Barbridge which left us on our own to go past Barbridge Junction towards Chester. We pulled over at the Calveley services to top up with water, not the fastest tap on the system so we were here some time. Just as we left the forecast rain arrived so we wimped out and pulled onto the 48hr moorings just through the bridge until it stopped. Just as we untied a hire boat  came through the bridge so we followed them down to Bunbury staircase and locked down together carrying through Tilstone lock and mooring above Beeston Stone lock for the night. Not the best mooring as its very close to the railway line, maybe 100 Mt.

Todays Journey

10½ miles, 3 locks in 5 hours

If you would like to see the entire trip so far please click HERE for a Google map.

Hack Green

We set off at ten past ten, mistake, I should have sat tight until lunchtime. It was a frustrating trip down the 12 locks. We eventually arrived at the bottom lock where the garden on the offside is still going, the notices request you don’t take the vegetables.

Once clear of the locks it was plane sailing passing some very nice bridge access steps near the marina, I wonder if the marina paid for them so that their moorers have easy access to the towpath.

We had planned to go to Nantwich for the night but as we had already done 4 hours I decided the Hack Green moorings would do, there were a couple of spaces and we dropped on at the end for a peaceful afternoon. When we arrived there was a boat moored by the centre line right in the middle of the lock moorings, but there was no traffic, then within an hour it was like the M25, boats everywhere and not going anywhere fast, queues of 3 and 4 waiting for the lock and at gone five they are still coming by.

Todays Journey

12 locks, 4¼ miles in 4 hours

If you would like to see the entire trip so far please click HERE for a Google map.

Audlem lock 2

Well no rooks this morning but on the down side I didn’t hear any owls.
Boats were going by before we were up this morning which isn’t difficulty. I started the engine and went out to set off just as a boat came up the lock, only to find one coming down level with my stern, so we followed them, it worked out OK as at lock 2 we met boats for the rest of the flight.
Looking ahead from above lock 2 I thought I have never noticed that aerial there before, and for good reason as it turned out to be a tall crane in Market Drayton.

We had a good run down the flight meeting people in all the right places, its good to see that Mr Wooden Top has a new fishing rod, last time we were this way someone had pinched it.

We moored in Market Drayton just beyond Betton Road Bridge to do a bit of shopping and have lunch, While we were sat on the front deck I heard a pip pip from a car on the bridge, it was friends of ours, fellow boaters Jerry and Muriel, so we all had a good old natter. We said goodbye to Market Drayton and they said goodbye to us, see you again soon.

We made our way to Adderley locks where we had another good run. The choice now was moor below the locks or carry on to the Audlem flight. As dinner was still cooking in the slow cooker we pushed on to the locks, buying some cakes from the old top lock cottage before dropping down 2 locks to moor for the night.

Todays Journey

7 miles 12 locks in 4¼ hours.

Our journey so far to Chester can be seen on Google maps HERE

Tyrley Wharf

Before we left this morning I walked back and photographed the banner about the laundry, it may be useful to someone.

Last night we moored just in front of the Coffee boat and the Hippy boat, both waterway traders, this morning they were both open for business.

We pushed of at quarter to ten, we had already had several boats go by and it wasn’t long before I met the first day hire boat from Norbury Wharf we met another couple a little later, all well behaved as were the ones we saw yesterday.
If you come along this canal you have to take this photograph.

I was wondering if anyone knew what this brick building was for, there doesn’t appear to be any other infrastructure near it to need a building, its about half a mile south of The Anchor pub.A little further North around Soudley it looks as if the farmer may have been dredging the canal. I wonder it its for more long term offside moorings.

We had planned to stop at the Goldstone visitor moorings but they were all full and the towpath beyond the official moorings are not the best for mooring, so we pushed on.
It looks as if Rothen are carrying out remedial work at the land slip in Woodseves Cutting, we met two boats in the cutting, luckily in the wider part.

As we went through the cutting we had a Kingfisher hopping ahead of us I got a half reasonable shot of it sitting and a couple just after it had taken off.

 

When we reached the Tyrler Locks there was only one boat on the visitor moorings and another topping up with water who indicated they were coming back to the moorings when their tanks were full, so there was plenty of room for us to tuck in for the night.

Todays Journey

12.5 miles no locks in 4½ hours.

You can see all our journey to date HERE on Google Maps

Gnosall

We left a little before 10 after a dry night. We had a couple of boats come past in the dark and by this morning all the visitor moorings were full. Needles to say just as I undid the front rope a boat pushed off at the other end of the moorings towards us so I waited until they were passed.
Just through the bridge before you get to Countrywide Cruisers the offside bank has been cleaned up and a lot of the boats gone, but there is still one SSSI moored there.

Crossing the aqueduct and passing Industrial Narrowboats yard there are a lot of boats from Canal and River Services moored opposite as well as some out of the water in the yard. I thought they were based at Weston on the T&M, have they moved?
We only had one lock today at Wheaton Aston and that was in much better condition than we last passed through it. As you can see there is plenty of water coming down the bywash.

We stopped below the lock to fill with water, the hose started off with really good pressure but then died away a bit, but not too bad, it was also an opportunity to dump the rubbish. We stopped again just through the bridge to at Turners to fill with diesel, its the cheapest I have seen for several months at £1-15.9 domestic rate. We hadn’t gone far when I spotted a Peehen with her single chick on the off side, not something you see every day on the canals.

We met a steady flow of boats but not a busy as yesterday.Its nice to see that Gnosall tunnel still has the old black and white sign, a lot less garish than the new blue ones.

Our plan was to moor for the night in Gnosall and go for a meal, thankfully there were still a couple of empty mooring slots between the pubs, but not for long.

We had a passenger for a short time, other than being a butterfly I don’t have a clue.

 

Todays Journey

8.5 miles, 1 lock in 4¼ hour

To see the whole journey so far click HERE for a Google map.