Rowton Monday 19 February 2018

We had rain over night and although it stopped early it remained overcast and drizzly until about 11 am. so we waited until then to set off.

I cilled the boat today and it is frightening how fast things develop, I can see why inexperienced boaters fail to save the situation.

We were going down in Tilstone Lock and as normal I hopped off on the offside, closed the gate that opened as I entered and then walked to the tail gate to draw my paddle. The paddles on these locks ate fitted with gearboxes with about an 8:1 ratio I would say, so it takes some time to lift them. I noticed Harnser drifting back so stopped opening my paddle and went back to pull her forward, just as she started to move she touched the cill, so I went straight back to the bottom gate and started closing the paddle telling Diana to do the same thing. We wound as fast as we could but even so Harnser was well down at the nose and the cill almost visible before we had the situation under control. Had we have had a welldeck we would at a minimum have had water in the boat, but as we are a tug it was just a matter of then opening the top paddles and floating off. Remember I knew exactly what was happening it wasn't a shock to me and I also knew what to do to rectify it but even so with a well deck and open front doors we would have suffered damage. The time it takes to lower those bottom paddles in an emergency feels like forever.

There is a row of Lime Kilns on the off side just above the winding hole between Bunbury and Calveley and this is the best view I have ever had of them.

All the lock except one were against us so at Bunbury Staircase both chambers were empty, so we only needed to fill the top one. Just below the bottom chamber bottom gates the pins are still in the wall that working boats would have made fast to if they had to turn the lock.

We carried on meeting one boat coming up, he had just entered the lock as we arrived so not much help to us as Diana did most of the work, but he must have been moored just below the lock as Beeston Iron Lock was against us.

We carried on past the mile of offside long term moorings at Golden Nook at a steady tick over, it seems to take for ever and moored for the night just before Faulkner's Bridge. On the offside there is a chap living on his boat who does Willow Weaving and we have seen this taking shape over the times we have come down here and yes it is still growing, he also has a nice looking wood oven.

Today's Journey 8½ Miles , 6 lock in 4½ Hours.

Calveley Sunday 18 February 2018

Last night we could hear the owls calling, this morning we could hear them again in the distance, but by 8am the bird scaring gun was going off a lot closer so by 9.30 we were off. Not as warm as yesterday but fine.

You may have read of a new hobby, Magnet Fishing in the canals, people are using strong magnets to see what they can pull up. It would be OK if they took their rubbish away with them and not leave it by bridges.

A lot more traffic about today and we met the first one in a bridge hole, only this time he stopped and waved me through.

Our first stop was by the fuel boat Halsall as we needed a pumpout. We found them getting ready to set off from the moorings at Nanney's Bridge, had we been any earlier and they would not have been onboard.

Diana walked ahead to set Minshull lock and as I approached I pulled up a sunken log straight into the prop stalling the engine, the end of the log was just below the water level and in the weedhatch so I sawed it off but still couldn't move the rest, so using the mooring hammer I tapped the prop round and released it. As I picked it up in reverse it was wedged between the top blade and the end of the hull and the blade going round in a forward direction released the pressure. I was unable to retrieve it through the weed hatch so it fell to the bottom. As luck would have it I had just bought a pair of long sleeved rubber gloves, They are a bit small for my hands but today they were a lifesaver.

Once that was off we were on our way and as we left the lock there was a boat coming the other way so we could leave the top gate open. We met more boats before Cholmondeston Lock and a moored boat pulled away ahead of us, but he stopped for call at Venation Marina so we carried on to the lock, again there was a boat heading down so we could leave the gate.

CRT are installing a new water point just beyond the lock moorings, they removed the one at Barbridge some time ago so there was no water point between Nantwich Calveley and Middlewich.

I wonder if anyone has lost a canoe recently along this stretch of canal as there is one laying on the towpath by the winding hole.

We only met one more boat before we got to Barbridge Junction where we turned right on the Shropshire Union canal, We are now on a broad canal, well it is from Ellesmere Port to Nantwich. The cheese factory is now open 7 days a week and also do Sunday lunch in their cafe, but we had already eaten.

Just beyond the Calveley services there are some 48hr mooring where we have moored for the night.

Today's Journey 10½ miles, 2 locks in 4¼ hours

Stanthorne Saturday 17 February 2018

We had quite a good run to the boat until we reached Middlewich and found the road between Middlewich and Northwich was closed with diversion signs. As we didn't know exactly where the road was closed, we go a lot less than half way to Northwich we ignored the diversions and found the road was closed less than half a mile from where we turn off, but we still had to divert back to Middlewich to get to where we wanted to be.

We were loaded up and ready to go by quarter past two, this included refilling the water system and putting everything back in the galley cupboard above the pump. We had a bit of a start as we first walked down the pontoon to the boat as a Kingfisher flew out from right under our feet.

We only met one boat all day and that was right in a bridge hole, the afternoon was quite pleasant but a little cool out of the sun. Passing Bramble Cuttings we could see the maintenance team trimming the grass.

As I drained the plumbing before we left the boat last and had to refill it before we set off today the potable water tank was well down so we stopped below Big Lock to fill up, while the tank was filling I walked up to set the lock. I must say well done CRT. it's the first time I have ever been able to open the bottom gate without drawing a paddle, the top end now seals!

We discussed where to moor for the night, maybe near the kiddies swings but then thought, Big Lock was empty, maybe the next three will be as well, wrong. We got there and they were all against us, but we are committed now unless I reverse back to the moorings, by now Diana had drawn the lock so it was on and up. Elton Moss Share Boats have taken over the off side moorings that use to be Middlewich Narrowboats, but no change at the dry dock or services.

At Middlewich Junction it was sharp right and up through Wardle Lock, it was half empty so by the time I arrived Diana had the gates open. It fills a lot slower than it did a few years back when there was quite a pull from the top paddles. We considered mooring below Stanthorne Lock but that would have required pins in the town path so we gave that a miss and I set Stanthorne Lock for Diana to come up, by now the sun was getting low lighting the clouds but it wasn't far to the 48hr visitor moorings where we called it a night at quarter to six.

Today's Journey 6¾ miles 6 locks in 3½ hours

Home Wednesday 3 January 2018

Well last night didn't go quite as planed, about half seven we went up to the pub only to find that the chef was feeling unwell and had gone home at seven, so no food. We went back to the boat for a think, no other pubs in the area but a couple of takeaways that offered delivery. I rang Eastern Spice who were happy to deliver to the pub for us at 9 o'clock so it was back to the pub for a beer and wait for the food. The barman did say we were quite welcome to eat it in the pub if we wanted to, but it was easier to take it back to the boat. For £18-50 for a set meal for two we were more than happy.

Being moored down below the pub I think we were well sheltered from storm Eleanor and I only recorded a maximum gust of 31mph. we were also well away from any trees.

This morning we made an early start for us heading back to the marina, the wind was still a bit gusty but nothing to cause problems.

Passing through Marston the retirement chalet village is expanding somewhat, looking at Google Maps there look to be well over a 100 chalets on sit already.

Crossing Wincham Brook there was moor water in it today than there was yesterday afternoon with the land around it flooded.

There wasn't a trace of steam today when we came through the Tata Chemical Works, but it looks as if some new pipes have been moled under the canal just to the south of the works, I don't think this is anything to do with Tata but probably one of the utility companies.

Back at the marina I had to make the decision of whether to sail straight down to out mooring or reverse down as normal, by now the wind had picked up again hitting over 30 mph. but it was coming almost straight up the pontoon, so I literally winded by the end of the pontoon, it took quite a bit of power to push the stern against the wind, but as I did the bows weathervaned round so we were almost in line with the pontoon, we had to pass a couple of boats where Diana had to lightly fend the bows off.

Once moored it was a case of taking things to the car which Diana did while I drained the fresh water system.

We had just over a fortnight onboard and in that time we covered 138 miles and passed through 58 locks.

Today's Journey 5¼ miles in 1¾ hours with no locks.

Our journey home from the marina was not quite so straightforward, as we drove south along the M6 there was a traffic announcement that a car had left the carriageway travelling north but it wasn't causing any hold-ups, so when we passed a notice saying queuing after junction we assumed it was rubbernecking causing a hold up on our side so carried on, wrong. It was a multi vehicle collision on our side completely closing our carriageway and for a time they closed the other carriageway as well as there was no oncoming traffic. When we finally passed the site of the collision there was a well smashed up car and the remains of another which was unidentifiable right against the crash barrier.

Anderton Tuesday 2 January 2018

It was a filthy evening yesterday with cloud and rain, however it cleared before we went to bed so we had a chance to look at the big moon, to me it looked very similar to the one I saw last year, ie. Sunday night. I tried to photograph it but my camera just isn't interested in that sort of shot.

We woke this to the rain this morning, just as forecast so we didn't set off until 11 am. We were considering just going to the marina but the weather improved so that was postponed, I did have to put a mac on for a couple of showers but that's all.

Every time we pass this tree I think I must photograph that and today I did, but the light was all wrong. The branch starts off one way doubles back on its self, gets embedded into the trunk and then goes the other way.

The work at Oakwood marina is pushing on and I expect there will be boats in there this year. It looks as if they will probably get 3 to each pontoon.

Boaters have very mixed feelings about what are classed as pram hoods that are often fitted over the stern of a cruiser sterned boat, well someone here has found a novel use for one.

Coming through the Tata Chemical works there was plenty of steam about, I guess this was due to the high humidity and cool temperature, it was just rolling of their ponds and cooling towers.

We stopped at Anderton services did a bit of recycling both depositing and collecting from the rubbish bin as well as using the new upgraded facilities, loos and topping up with water. Then it was on passed Anderton Lift and through Barnton Tunnel to wind before returning to The Stanley Arms where we will eat tonight, it will be the first meal out this trip and they have their own moorings, this point is extra inviting as its raining again and its only a quick walk up the steps from the boat to the pub.

Today’s Journey 11 Miles no locks in 3¼ hours

Croxton Monday 1 January 2018

Well yesterday evenings rain cleared up before midnight so we were able to see the New Year in with a glass of Port and watch the fire works in the distance before creeping off to bed. Even then we could hear the bangs well after midnight.

This morning started quite well but soon turned dull and overcast. As we set off you could see rain on the canal ahead, but nothing falling on me or the towpath, thankfully it didn't last too long. Again we met a few boats and caught up with one at Stanthorne Lock.

The river Weaver was down quite a bit since we came by almost 2 weeks ago, its all within the banks now. I have my doubts they will ever make this stretch navigabile, its very bendy and subject to flooding at times of heavy rain.

As I said we caught up with a boat at Stanthorne Lock, it was a couple with their two young grand daughters and they were trying to draw the bottom paddles. Now I am all for getting young kids involved but this did worry me, as Grand dad went from side to side helping each one to wind the paddle a bit, at one point the smaller one had her hands above her head trying to pill the windlass, if something had have slipped I hate to think what would have happened. They apologised for holding us up which wasn't a problem. As we came into Middlewich John popped out for a chat and wish us happy New Year while the boat ahead dropped down Wardle Lock. When we arrived at the lock we found they had kindly drawn a paddle for us so the lock was just about full. We were able to thank them on the Trent and Mersey as they had moored outside Middlewich Narrowboats for dinner. Well there is plenty of room along there now the yard has closed down. The three Middlewich locks were against as was big Lock but that was almost full. While I waited for the lock I was buzzed by a Drone, no doubt someone's Christmas present.

Not long after leaving Big Lock it started to rain, on me this time so just passed bridge 176 we moored on the convenient mooring rings, We did consider going on to Bramble Cuttings, another couple of hundred yards, but here we are completely clear or trees etc. Since we have been here the wind has picked up again with some quite good gusts coming through every now and again to give us a little shake.

Today' Journey 7¾ miles, 6 Locks in 3¾ Hours.

I have just checked the statistics for 2017 and we covered 1400 miles and did 1043 locks, spending 184 nights on board.

Church Minshull Sunday 31 December 2017

It got a little bit breezy overnight, checking the weather station this morning indicated that we had had gusts just under 35 mph. but this morning was much quieter.

We set off at 1020 and started meeting boats almost immediately. We didn't need water but the water point at Hurleston is the last one before the other side on Middlewich so we topped up while we had the chance. I walked forward and checked the locks, the top one was empty and the second full, a boat had also just entered the bottom lock, so by filling the top we were able to meet them just below the second, saving us both some work.

At the top lock we saw our first daffodil of the season and the last this year.

When we came up the flight they were carrying out soil test drillings along side the canal, today they had packed up and gone, just a bit of mud in the grass beside the roadway. In the bottom lock, the one that causes most of the problems there are signs where they have drilled holes through the side walls to see what is happening behind them.

When we were clear of the locks we turned left on the Shropshire Union Canal where we made our way to Barbridge Junction to join the Middlewich Branch. Again we met several boats, but both locks were against us as we were following another boat, however it did mean we didn't have to close up behind us.

At Sykes Hollow Moorings a short section has been reserved as a disabled mooring, plastic mesh has been let into the grass so that wheelchairs don't sink in and one of the picnic tables has been modified so that a wheelchair used can pull in close.

We moored for the night on the visitor moorings overlooking Church Minshull and the Weaver Flashes, you never know we may even see fireworks at midnight from here.

Actually we moored just in time again, we had no soon secured the ropes and put the fenders down and it started raining again.

Today's Journey 7.35 Miles, 6 locks in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Swanley Saturday 30 December 2017

Well guess what, it rained again last night but had cleared up before we set off, it was also a good deal warmer but over the course of the day the wind picked up. This resulted in my cap sailing away as we passed the entrance to Swanley Marina.

Before we set off this morning I had to do a bit of maintenance on the stove. It wouldn't come up to temperature last night so this morning after breakfast I shut it down and cleaned the burn, I can't remember when I did it last, before diesel became low sulphur it was a regular requirement.

We didn't see much about this morning and the only interaction we had with anyone was when the chap with his barrow had to wait for us at Frith Lift Bridge, but he didn't seam bothered by the short wait. We were to see him again in his truck at Wrenbury lift bridge, where Diana waited for him before closing the road to lift the bridge. Once through the bridge we were to meet several boats, one we knew and we met them at a bridge hole. Having met three boats we were quite surprised to find Baddiley Locks against us as we hadn't seen a boat ahead of us at all.

We actually pulled over for lunch between Baddiley and Swanley Locks as we decided that with the wind it would be impossible to eat soup on the move. As it turned out we pulled in behind the boat we had been following and as they were away before us the Swanley locks were also against us.

As I said my cap blew off passing the marina entrance but luckily it landed like a boat and I had recently waterproofed it so it floated against the towpath where Diana was able to rescue it for me. We carried on through the bridge to moor for the night a short way before Platt's Bridge, It was well dark when we felt the boat move and thought a boat had just slid past, but actually it was the surge from one coming through Platt's bridge with his tunnel light on, he has moored for the night between us and the bridge. I was quite surprised to feel the surge so early.

Today's Journey 7¾ Miles, 6 Locks in 3¾ hours

Quoisley Friday 29 December 2017

Well we went to bed in bright star light and about -2° and woke up to heavy rain this morning. Even though we had about 3.5mm of rain fall a lot or the grass and tow path was still white. The rain stopped around 9am but left a very murky morning when we set off at 10.30 am. We stopped to fill with water just above Grindley Brook, thankfully our hose wasn't frozen, I had forgotten to bring it in last night, then down to the service block to dump the rubbish before tackling the locks, I hire boat pulled in behind us, a Norwegian couple out for a fortnight who thought the weather was fine.

The middle lock of the staircase was empty so I needed to bring that up to level as well as filling the top chamber. The area around the locks was like a skating rink with rain on top of ice, the walk boards across the gates were no better, so great care was taken. The Norwegian lady assisted by operating the gates on one side for me. The next three locks and the tow path between them was no better.

When we woke up the temperature was just +2° and by now it had dropped to +1.5° but the murk slowly lifted and the sun came out making it quite pleasant. We carried on down to below Quoisley Lock and round the bend to moor for the night, by the time we stopped conditions on the ground had improved a lot but it had started to rain again and the wind had picked up.

Again we are on one of the 48hr Visitor moorings, there are loads of these on this canal, a majority of them provided by The Shropshire Union Canal Society. Its good that people give up their time to make life more enjoyable for others.

Today's Journey 4¼ miles, 9 Locks in 3¼ Hours

Whixall Thursday 28 December 2017

Well bit of a surprise this morning the arm was iced over, only very thinly but opening the rear doors and the sun beamed in. By 10 the ice had cleared as we went to the end of the arm to wind and then leave heading on down the canal.

There was quite a bit of traffic about today and it was good to meet someone who reads my blog, even if it was at Hampton Bank Bridge. Turning left at Whixall Moss Junction not only was the land to the right of us flooded it was also frozen.

We stopped at the new 48 hr moorings by Roundthorn Bridge, it seems these were installed by the Small Task Team Volunteers. They must be a busy group because this was their 100th job and CRT have only been in existence for 6 years, so that is a project every 3 weeks.

The reason we stopped was when we came this way last week a lorry was stuck on the bridge and we wanted to see where he came to grief, he only just lost his off side front wheel from the tarmac.

We carried on in the sun shine towards Whixall, we needed to do a bit longer day today following yesterdays short day to bring the batteries back up. As we passed the Anglo Welch yard I noticed this boat on the hard, what caught my eye was the shape of the rudder, is this to try to reduce the risk of cilling when going down in locks I wonder?

We just passed The Whixall branch under the lift bridge and moored for the night, the same moorings we were on, on our way up.

Today's Journey 12½ miles, no locks in 4¾ hours.

Ellesmere Town Arm Wednesday 27 December 2017

Again last night was wind and rain, no snow unlike some places, the temperature dropped to 2° during the night and only got up to 5°C today, but at least its been sunny.

A boat came by about 9an and we set off at half ten. New Marton top lock is only a couple of hundred meters from where we were moored but by the time we arrived the top gates had leaked so much it had filled its self up, New Marton bottom wasn't much better and only down a foot so its a good job they are down for repair next week.

In the past we have had Kingfishers just flit along ahead of us, today it was a Buzzard who went forward a few yards and waited for us then off again.

I intended to get a photograph of Mr Badgers front door last time we were this way but failed, but managed it today, not well lit but the sun was round the other side.

The towpath changes side many times on this canal , but this is the only turnover bridge I can recall seeing, its Polletts bridge or W6 and is just west of Maestermyn Cruisers.

We met a few boats on our way to Ellesmere where we have moored down the Town Arm. As we passed Ellesmere Dry Dock I noticed the bedding from a chap who is living under the covered area by the water taps. He wasn't about as we passed but there looked to be an unopened Christmas present on his bed and a robin hopping around picking up crumbs.Today’s Journey 7½ Miles, 2 Locks in 2¾ hours

New Marton Locks Tuesday 26 December 2017

By this morning the weather was much better, the sun was soon with us and stayed out all day but it was several degrees cooler than yesterday, but dry.

We set off a little after 10 am, just as I was letting go a canoe came down the canal so I let him by before pushing off. We had a clean run down the 500mt. narrow section, meeting the canonist coming back as we approached the end, so I pulled hard against the towpath and he slid by.

The towpath between Llangollen and Trevor is in very good condition being hard surface and smooth all the way, this is probably due to money from Sustrans, the cycling organisation.

As we approached Trevor we spotted this mill on the banks of the Dee at Plas-yn-Pentre, you would never see it in the summer time due to the leaves on the trees. This is by far the best time of the year to see the countryside along this canal.

When we entered Trevor Basin we turned left away from the aqueduct for the first time, we have never been down to the end of the basin before. First it was down between the rows of moored boats.

At the very far end Jones The Boats have taken over the west branch with their 2 trip boats, but the east branch is open to visitor mooring. There is loads of room to wind (turn round) at the junction of the 2 branches.

I had quite a bit of trouble getting under Scotch Hall Bridge, it was like having the prop in porridge. Scotch Hall Bridge is quite ornate with a gate from the road which in now in mid air, Its a good job they put railings on it, talking of air, the arch of the bridge is also quite low.

We were soon on our way across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct with no wait for boats coming the other way. This was the view as we crossed, unlike two days ago when it was too windy to hold the camera.

We stopped at the water point on top up our water tank before tackling the lift bridge, Diana raised it while I brought Harnser through and then lowered it again, we had just set off and another boat turned up behind us, if we had seen him coming we would have left the bridge open for him.

As we passed the Chirk moorings by the old post Office the people living on the off side have a fine collection or painted chimney pots.

We pushed on to the 48 hr visitor moorings just above the New Marton Locks for the night.

Today's Journey 10¾ in 4¼ hrs with no locks.

Llandyn Monday 25 December 2017

First things first, Merry Christmas. My son was the first to wish us Merry Christmas wit a text at half past midnight, don't you just love your kids.

When I shut up shop last night there was not a breath of wind, by the time I was ready to get into bed it was gusting 35 MPH.

This morning was fine but overcast, we made a move just before 10-30 just up to the basin to wind and dump the rubbish. While we were doing this we bumped into an old friend Ray and his little dog Bones. He is moored in the Basin for a couple of weeks before moving off down stream again. We use to moor at Floods Ferry together on the Middle Level and our paths cross every now and then.

I slid nicely backwards out of the mooring slot, turned through 90° and the wind picked up full sideways on in the direction I wanted the bows to do, so a bit more power was required to get round. While we were doing this a Canal Time boat had winded in the basin entrance and was also heading down stream so that ensured the narrows were clear for us to pass through.

Just over an hour later we were back on last nights mooring spot, but facing the other way. We hadn't been moored up long and it started to rain, still we are not moving again until tomorrow even if it does mean sitting here with the engine running to charge the batteries.

Today's Journey 2¼ miles in just under 1½ hours with no locks.