Waverton Monday 24 October 2016

There had been several boat by before we set off all going down hill but for some reason Beeston Iron lock was half full. This lock requires a bit of care, although it was built for broad beam boats you can no longer get two full length Narrowboats in side by side as the walls have distorted. CRT have put several notices up warning boaters about this.

The chamber is made of iron and over the years steel bar has been screwed on to re enforce the joints, this are ideal for catching any protruding steel work on the hull like the base plate, anodes and rubbing strakes. Also as the couldn’t cut recesses into the sides there are no ladders so if the boat is lowered without you you can’t get on,likewise if your sat in an empty lock you cant get out.
Even the upper cill is iron with a concrete pad set on top of it. As we entered the lock a hire boat arrived below which was well crewed and the operated the bottom gates and paddles for us, although a hire boat they were obviously well experienced with one member walking up to the next lock to get that set ready as well.

The geese were in good form this morning we had heard them flying over last night, but this morning we got to see them and what a sight coming over in banks. Below the lock we could see the deer on the hill. These hills hold some large fuel tanks that were in use in the second World War and built by the RAF They have not been used for some years now, but even today there are lots of oil pipelines running through the area and probably the site which still are in use. We only went as far as the 48 hour moorings above Wharton’s lock from where we walked up to Beeston castle, it took us much longer than expected as although the footpaths are all well marked there is no indication which way to go when you hit the road below the castle, we went right and we should have gone left as you can see from the map below which involved walking all the way round the perimeter of the castle site. We came back the shorter route. The castle is now managed by English Heritage so it cost us £6 each to get in. Once in you can climb all the way up to the Inner Keep which gives some spectacular views over the Cheshire plains.

    The Inner Keep is separate from the outer Keep by a large  ravine which would have made it difficult for anyone to invade the castle provided they couldn’t starve them out. The old drawbridge has been replaced by quite a steep concrete bridge.

As we made our way down again the entrances to some of the oil bunkers were quite obvious and as we walked down the foot path and under the railway bridge we were to see several oil pipeline signs.
Once back on the boat it was lunchtime with several boats going by but all heading in the same direction as ourselves, things did look up as just as we finished lunch a boat came up the lock so it was turned ready for us.

The next point of interest was Golden Nook Farm long term moorings, I think they are probably a bit longer now than last time we were this way, I measured them on Google maps as being 1½ miles end to end, and all at tickover. The photo was taken around the mid point and as you can see they run right out of view. By now we were looking for somewhere to moor for the night so when we saw a nice bit of campsheding/piling about 100 feet long that was us for the night, the nearest village is Waverton which is just a few fields away.

Today’s Journey    6¾ miles, 2 locks in 2¾ hours

Beeston Iron Lock Sunday 23 October 2016

Last night was mainly fine and moon light but we did have a couple of showers of rain early this morning, it also turned quite cool almost dropping to freezing at one point

Several boats on the move this morning so we waited till a lull before setting off at 1030 am. even then there was a boat in sight behind us who I am sure felt we nipped out in front of him. At Minshull Lock we caught up with the boat ahead, they had just entered the lock as we arrived and as we entered the boat following pulled in. It was a bit more congested at Cholmondeston lock with a boat turning round in the marina as well, but we were son on our way again heading to Barbridge Junction. This is the limit of navigation for boats travelling on a Bridgewater canal licence, they can also go up the Trent and Mersey as far as Harecastle Tunnel. Likewise boats with a CRT licence can travel for 7 days on the Bridgewater canal.

Through the junction we turned right towards Chester, we are now on a waterway with broad locks, so wide beam boats could travel up as far as Nantwich. The first broad lock we came to is actually a staircase of two and we arrived just as 2 boats had entered the bottom chamber and drawn the middle paddles a few seconds earlier and we could have been going down as they came up. There are some fin buildings by the lock which were being used for boat fitting last time we were this way. I don’t know if that is still the case. The cill in the bottom chamber could do with some TLC and is well knocked about. This is what it should look like, a photo taken a lock further down. Also staircase locks have to be worked in a special sequence so as not to flood them, when you enter the top one going town the second has to be empty and the water from the top one fills it. If its already full due to a boat coming up if you don’t empty it you can overflow it onto the towpath, to help prevent this there are large overflow slots in the side of the lock. Following this we did a couple more locks before mooring for the night above Beeston Iron lock, as we arrived there were deer on the hills above but by the time I had the camera out they were gone. In case you are wondering why its called Beeston Iron Lock its because the chamber is actually a large iron trough not brick or stone like many other locks.

Today’s Journey  8¼ miles, 2 canals, 1 junction and 6 locks  in 3¾ hours

Church Minshull Saturday 22 October 2016

We set off at 1020 hrs with a steady run to Middlewich Big Lock, although we had met a few boats by the time we arrived it had already been turned and a boat coming down. Before they were down there were another two waiting above so we had a bit of help from one of them.
We stopped to do a bit of shopping at the Tesco Express and a visit to the Chemist for more Beecham’s powders. I am sure when I was a kid they dissolved, now its just a poor suspension. I was rather take by this sign when we moored, I wonder if it has the desired affect. After shopping we moved on a few yards to the old Middlewich Wharf to fill with water, such a shame some use can’t be found for the site. Then on to the bottom lock tucking in just after the Anderson boats. While Diana was dropping the lock another boat came up behind so I pushed out to give him room to tie up, in return he helped Di with the lock which was handy as the next pound was just about dry, no wonder the last boat took a long time crossing it. Between them they let water down to bring the level up. We met another boat at the top lock so that added a bit more water to the flight. Diana walked ahead while I slowly made my way up past Middlewich Narrowboats where in places there is just room for one boat. Just as I arrived at the junction with the Wardle canal a boat had just turned in ahead of me, but Diana told me there was nothing coming down so as he went into Wardle lock I went under the bridge to wait my turn I have been lead to believe that the Wardle canal is the shortest in the country.

Above Wardle Lock CRT had an old working boat moored on the towpath side, I don’t think I have seen a CRT one so well loaded before.

A little further on we passed another iconic vessel, the Elizabeth moored on the off side. I had the pleasure of being invited aboard this fine vessel one Christmas in Stoke Bruerne  about 20 years ago. By now the weather was just grand with no wind and bright sunshine as we chugged along to our planned mooring for the night by Bridge 11 at Church Minshull. The rest of the trip was not quite straight forward at about bridge 14 we caught up with 3 other boats, I turned out the front one was trying to tow the second and the third was stuck behind them, once they cleared the bridge and moored boats the pulled over to let us both pass which was very good of them. The boat towing was shorter and lighter than the one he was trying to tow, so things weren't going that well for them. As we came in to moor just through bridge 11 I luckily spotted wasps entering and leaving their nest in the towpath, right where I was about to moor.

Our reason for mooring here was to investigate access to The Badger Pub without walking along the busy lane from bridge 14. It turned out to be much simpler than we thought it would be, we expected footpaths but there is a metalled road from bridge 11 all the way to Old Hoolgrave Farm and then another road known as Eachus Lane. This comes out almost opposite the pub. The only trick bit is that the farm is private and although the roads both run into farm walkers cant so you have to follow the footpath across the meadow to the right of the farm gate shown in red on the map below. The walk took us exactly 15 minutes.

Today’s Journey  7 miles 6 locks, 1 junction 3 canals in 4 hours

Croxton Aqueduct Friday 21 October 2016

When I looked out this morning I couldn’t see the other side of the canal, it was all covered in a blanket of thick mist. I still was feeling bad so it was some time before I crawled out of bed, even for me.

We finally set of at quarter past eleven on a clear sunny day without a breath of wind. Just before Wincham Wharf we passed this little boat, i can’t ever remember it not being here and wonder if it a full length one shortened as a work boat or was it built like this for some reason.

The Tata plant was steaming well as we came through,

I had intended to post a photograph of this boat before, I don’t know if he has the same number of panels on the other side as this. There are even panels inside some of the windows and on the front of the cabin facing into the cratch.

There is a new marina planed for this section of the Trent and Mersey canal on one of the flashes to be called Oakfield Marina, today it was home for rather a lot of geese.You may have read that I fancy mooring at Bramble Cuttings, we today wasn’t going to be that day, they had a work camp there this weekend so it was a bit full, so we carried on to moor just before Croxton Aqueduct, it seems that this is the third aqueduct on this spot and is now only wide enough for Narrow Beam craft. Once moored we went for a short walk to get my back moving again and found some nice apple trees growing on the old landfill site, this now not only has walks but picnic tables, however the notices tell you to keep on the path and no naked lights, so leave the BBQ at home.

Today’s Journey  7½ miles in 2¾ hours.

Marston T & M Thursday 20 October

Last night before we went to bed I took a few night time photographs, this is my favourite looking across to the marina, the blue lights of the Indian Restaurant, Bombay Quay and the moon poking through the wisby clouds.   I have had a bad back since we got home after our last trip, but its getting a lot easier, then last night I went down with a stinking cold, cough, and sore throat, so every time I coughed it not only heart the throat but also the back, so this morning we were very slow getting going. The worst thing is sitting about, fine while I am sitting but when I try to get up I have seized up. Anyway enough feeling sorry for me so after a leisurely breakfast and some Beechams Powders we went for a walk along the River Dane, getting back just in time for lunch. Then about 1-30 we set off towards the lift, hoping to get the 3 pm transit. We were lucky as there was only one other boat booked to come up. About 2-30 the lower lift attendant came to see us and tell us to motor in and get tied up. They were still waiting for the other boat, a hire boat who had only come down on the 1-40 pm transit as was going straight back up. I thought I best include a photo of the lift.

The other boat arrived about twenty to three but it was still after three before we went up as they had to wait for the CRT trip boat to come in at the top. Looking up river from the lift the trees are looking splendid in their autumn colours.

Once at the top we went out first as we were on the right and inline with the bridge, also we were turning right whereas the hire boat would be winding to be in Manchester tomorrow.

We carried on along the Trent and Mersey for a bit before mooring on some rings in the middle of nowhere overlooking Upper Marston.

Today’s Journey  

2½miles, I lift, 2 waterways in 2½hrs

Northwich Wednesday 19 October 2016

Nice peaceful mooring and we woke to bright sunshine. We were away at 1045 am just after nb. Mynytho came down stream, the boat we had travelled with yesterday. We made our way upstream, remembering to remove the chimney and weather station before Newbridge swing bridge that has a clearance of under 2Mt. The Salt Union winding tower was nicely light as we passed but not much activity.

Just passed here there is a huge mountain of what I assume is road salt ready for the winter, it may look like a small bank but its probably 40 to 50 feet tall.

We then met three men (and a boy) in a rowing boat, they kindly informed me that a couple of weed cutters were operating round the next bend. These were removing Floating Penneywort, if they had done it a month ago there wouldn’t have been a quarter of the amount to remove. The weed cutting boats are propelled by caterpillar tracks with like paddle plates on them, they not only float but can drive up the banks.

   As we approached the end of CTR controlled waters we came across a fishing match, some were OK but most were the most miserable we have encounter all year.

Arriving at the basin we found it deserted so we stopped by the water point which had much better pressure than yesterdays and filled the tank. If you use these moorings in the wet take great care, they are clad with decking timber and like an ice rink. Once full we headed back down stream through the fishing match. Its just as well we didn’t want to stop for lunch at the Red Lion as there were three fishermen set up on their moorings.

This bridge has obviously suffered a lot of subsidence over its life time, more so on one edge than the other.

We continued on, without doubt this river has the worst infestation of Floating Pennywort that we have ever come across, I don’t know how many months it will take to remove it.

We stopped where we were moored last night for lunch and to fit a new radio aerial, it was no better than the old one, so we still have a poor radio reception. As we left I rang Vale Royal lock so they could get the lock ready for us, that had had two go down today but non come up.

At one time there were distance markers before every lock, but I have only seen two that are not damaged. One at Hunts and one at Dutton. I guess they are 200 yards from the lock.

I found the lock ladders in Hunts lock quite interesting as well when compared to the modern access ladders installed beside them. I take it the big hole is for your foot and the small ones hand grips.

We moored for the night in Northwich opposite the marina and went for a short walk looking for places to eat, we found two Indian restaurants and a grill bar, but there were 10 estate agents, I am not sure what that tells you. In the end we settled for the new Indian Restaurant beside Waitrose and it was very good.

Today’s Journey  8½ miles, 2 locks in 3½ hours