Old Rode Thursday 16 November 2018

A lazy start as we only had about 3 hours to do today. Before we left 2 boats had come by going the other way, one said the next to locks were with us. What he didn't know was a boat moored nearer the locks set off after he passed so they were against us again. Looking back at Wheelock bottom lock all the visitor moorings are now empty.

We met a third boat at Wheelock locks so that set one lock up for us, but the boat ahead had the benefit of the rest. At Maddocks Lock CRT contractors are foam injecting the nearside lock walls,This has already made a big difference to the water leaking through onto the towpath and making it a quagmire.

It was here that we caught up with the boat ahead and followed them as far as Hassall Green where they pulled over. Work is making good progress at the old Romping Donkey pub with a large house sized extension on the back.

The Trent and Mersey Canal Society had a good sized work party out today, there were enough of them to work on both Pierpoints top and bottom lock. They really have got a splendid day for it, much nicer than yesterday with warm sun and next to no wind. We only wanted to do about 3 hours today, that will leave us another three for tomorrow so we put the pins in by the Matthews Nurseries. I have just had the rings crack on the third mooring pin and I still see people tying ropes to the rings.

Today's Journey 12 locks 3 miles in 3 hours

Wednesday 14 November 2018 Wheelock

Earlier this week Neil and Karen from Chalkhill Blue recommended Big Lock on their blog so we thought we would give it a try and had a very enjoyable meal. I have never had Beef Cheek before but one of the TV chefs mentioned it last week, slow cooked and it was lovely. We walked back to the boat in the dry but had heavy rain overnight that woke us both up. Thankfully it had cleared up by this morning.

We set off at our normal 10am and went up through Big Lock where a CRT "chugger" had set up shop, we didn't go far before stopping, just by the kiddies playground to walk to Lidl.

Once back on the boat we were off again, The Middlewich three were against us but as we drew the bottom lock a boat coming down entered the middle one. Looking back down the canal Anderson Boats looks as if they have the whole fleet in.

We passed the boat in the first pound up, but the second one by the dry dock was quite low, any lower and we would have had to let water down.

Middlewich still have all their street poppies up from Remembrance day at the weekend. Kings Lock was almost full so the top gate must leak quite a bit. The Middlewich Swans have moved up to just below Rumps Lock, there were 30 of them here, last time we came down 2 ladies were feeding them. We had to wait for a hire boat to exit the lock before we could go up, so that was 2 boats on the move we saw today. The three Booth Lane locks were with us so not a bad run, we continued on to Wheelock and filled with water before mooring for the night just before the visitor moorings but well clear of the services. As the sun went down the sky coloured up nicely, lets

hope its a good omen for tomorrow.

Today's Journey 9 locks 6¾ miles in 4 hours.

Tuesday 13 November 2018 Middlewich

We didn't get back to the boat as early as we would have liked due to traffic conditions, the A14 was closed with major tail backs so we detoured round Papworth, likewise the M6 was blocked so we left it at junction 15 but still hit heavy traffic up near Middlewich, a car had left the road by junction 14 on the M6 closing a lane and before Bury St Edmunds the road was closed with a diversion. The end result was we slipped the lines at 1530 hrs and made our way to Middlewich meeting just one boat on the way. We decided it was to dark to tackle Big Lock so moored just after the winding hole at 1700hrs with a view to walking up the pub later.

Our plan this week is the Trent and Mersey Canal Society meeting on Friday at Red Bull where our friend John Pomfret is speaking then a short trip up the Mac.

Today's Journey 4¾ miles 1½ hours.

Home Moorings Sunday 28 October 2018

Our reason for getting back to Anderton yesterday was the fire work display that CRT were putting on on the river. It cost £6 per head to go into the visitor centre grounds to watch them and well worth the money. I wouldn't like to estimate how many people were there but they had to delay the start as people were still coming in at 8pm.

When we went to bed we didn't change the bedroom clock so this morning we got up at our usual time and were on the move at 9am new time.

It was a bright sunny morning as we made our way back to our home moorings but a bit on the cool side. Once moored up it was load the car up with stuff to bring home, by now there were some rather black clouds gathering but we completed the task in the dry and a little after 12 o'clock were on our way home.

Today's Journey 5 miles in 2¾ hours.

This trip we have done 112 miles

Anderton Saturday 27 October 2018

After seeing the forecast last night we left the stove alight all night, good move the grass was white this morning. We set off a little before 10am to arrive at Preston Brook Tunnel for 10-30am. A boat came out of the tunnel dead on 10-30am so he was ether very slow or a little late on entering. It took us just 13 minutes to cruise through slowly.
The sun was pleasant although the air was cold, just before Saltersford tunnel we bumped into Andrew Denny, well not literally but we did stop for a chat.
Arriving at the mouth of the tunnel we had quarter of an hours wait before we could make a passage, then onto Barnton tunnel, this one is not timed, if its clear through you go and it was. By now it was quite sunny and we carried on to the 24 hour moorings by Anderton lift where we found a space about 100 feet long, so no problem getting in and leaving a space for a little one. The boat behind us are also members of the Cutweb Internet Boat Club.
Since we have been moored here the wind has picked up quite a bit, lets hope it stays fine for tonight's fireworks.

Today's Journey 9 miles, 1 lock in 3¼ hours

Daresbury Friday 26 October 2018

Last night it rained quite a bit, so with that the planes going over it was bit of a broken night. This morning we waited until the rain stopped at about 10-30 am before setting off, by then there wasn't a drop of wind.

It wasn't long before we passed this length of burnt out hedgerow, it may have been vandalism or a case of someone dropping hot ash from the fire in the base of the hedge from a boat. If you do put your ash in the base of the hedge please take care.

At one point the sky turned very dark and we heard what sounded like a large clap of thunder but it was some time before the rain arrived with us and when it did it didn't last long.

The Bridgewater company have been improving some of the off side long term mooring in Grappenhall but it looks as if the work has finished now as we met these two barges, one towing the other near Pickering's Bridge.

The Bridgewater's method of cutting the towpath edge looks a lot more efficient than CRT's use of strimmers, but then again they don't have so many moored boats to contend with and belongings all over the towpath.

I saw this notice on a lamp post on the towpath and it set me wondering what is allowed on the Bridgewater Canal.

We carried on for a bit and then moored almost opposite the end of the Daresbury Science Park where hopefully the woodland will screen us from the noise of the A56.

Today's Journey 12 miles in 3¾ hours.

Dunham Massey Thursday 25 October 2018

Last night it was just a 15 minute walk up the Golf Club where the talk about the underground canals was taking place, when we arrived they were putting extra seats in the meeting room and by
7-30pm I estimated there were about 150 people in the room and they turned another 40+ away, so we were lucky to get in.
The talk was very interesting with some photos of the underground canals but it was mainly about mining in the area, at the end it covered what the restoration/conversation plans are for the Delph, which can be seen HERE. I am sure it will look very pretty.
This morning we took a walk round the Delph to see the ongoing works and I took several photographs that can be viewed HERE in my Dropbox. Behind the yellow digger there is a large square of concrete. When they where clearing the site they discovered a short tunnel in the brick wall. It is thought that the tunnel was to carry coal on a horse wagon straight to the corn mill that burnt 8 tons a day to drive the steam engine. As the tunnel is in the way of the new viewing platform they concreted it up and it will be hidden for ever.

We pushed off at 1050hrs heading back to Anderton the weather felt slightly warmer than yesterday but it kept trying to rain. As we crossed the swing aqueduct I was able to get a photograph of the vertical lift bridge that collapsed in 2016 closing the canal. In the background is the M60 high level crossing and in the foreground the Barton swing road bridge.The Manchester News has a video of it falling.

As I posted the other day there is a new Metro Bridge across the canal that will take the line to the Trafford centre. Although I didnt see anything about a navigation closure they did shut the towpath for a few days in September. The new bridge is about 2 metersfrom the A5181 road bridge and as the work effects the road they have a warning notice with the outline of a steam train.

A short halt was required to remove some polly and fishing line from the prop shaft. It also highlighted that I need to put a new seal on the weed hatch lid as this one has started leaking. Its surprising how a bit of rubbish round the shaft effects the performance of the prop. Once clear it was full speed ahead to our mooring for the night at Dunham Massey, There are just two mooring rings here if you know where to look for them. Here is a clue from Waterways Routes digital map.

Once moored I took the opportunity to put a new seal on the weed hatch lid. The closed cell foam that I have at the moment is not as good as what I have used in the past and is not giving very good service at all.

Today's Journey 12 miles in 3¾ hours

Worsley Wednesday 24 October 2018

Although we were in Lymm we decided not to eat out but to have an Indian takeaway from Lymm Indian, that way we also saw the semi finals of Bake Off.

This morning we were away at half ten heading for Worsley with no locks ahead of us. We could hear a load buzzing when we setoff, the cause was obvious as we passed under the bridge with a Tree Surgeon working behind or above the houses.

Just after that we passed an old friend, the boat, not the people. I am sure some of you will recognise her.

There are a lot more houses on the old Linotype Works now. The main building with the name on is still standing as are the two gable ends of the other building, it will be interesting to see how they incorporate them into the development.

One of the houses we passed was obviously getting into the mode for hallowing with these two looking out from the balcony keeping an eye on who would be trick of treating.

Near the Watch Tower Boat Club the canal had a large area of these plants growing which were still in flower, I expected them to be over by now.

We turned left at Waters Meeting heading towards Worsley on the Leigh Arm, last time we were this way they had just started laying the Metro track to the Trafford centre and I wondered if they would have a long navigation stoppage to put the bridge in to cross the canal, well it looks like they installed the bridge with no stoppage.

I have taken so many photos of the swing aqueduct I didn't bother with any today, but its looking very shabby and could do with a good coat of paint. When we arrived in Worsley I winded in the wide by the Delph but it seemed well sited up, not so much into the Delph but the main channel. There is a lot of work going on at the entrance to the old mine canals with a floating JCB dredging out the basin, maybe we will hear more about it tonight.

Once winded we filled with water and moored back just clear of the water point, the road is quite noise from here but hopefully it will ease off a but overnight.

Today's Journey 16 miles in 4½ hours

Lymm Tuesday 23 October 2018

Today's plan was to start a little later at twenty past ten to arrive at Preston Brook Tunnel for the 11 o'clock passage which worked well, there was probably about 30mm drop on Dutton Lock and I could open the gates without drawing a paddle. This just left us a 5 minute wait before entering the tunnel.

We found the Bridgewater surprisingly busy and probably saw over 15 boats on the move. The weather was decidedly chilly today compared with what we have had but four ours latter saw us mooring for the night in Lymm. There were just 3 boats here when we arrived, one a day boat left shortly after we got here but now there are 8 of us moored here, almost as many as you find in the summer.

Today's Journey 12½ miles, 1 lock in 4 hours

Dutton Breach Monday 22 October 2018

Last night two things happened, one we have a change of plan after seeing there is a talk in Worsley on Wednesday evening about the underground canals that served the mines there, so we are now on our way to The Bridgewater canal for about 4 days.

The second thing that happened was at about 9-30pm we moved about 200 yards towards Big Lock, the reason being what sounded like an air compressor cutting in for about 2 minutes in every 10, we guessed it would carry on like that all night so hence the move in the dark.

This morning we were away at 10am. down through Big Lock which was against us and heading towards Anderton. On the way we met a very attractive inspection launch, the Lady Hatherton dating from 1898 and still looking splendid.

We stopped outside our marina while I did an oil and filter change before having a bit to eat. The reason for the location is if anything goes wrong I have the car available, not always possible with our cruising pattern. We were soon on our way again stopping at Anderton to fill with water and dump rubbish, both things are scarce on the Bridgewater canal. After filing with water we past another boat with a difference, not so old but steam powered, The Emily Anne.

We had to wait at Barnton Tunnel as a boat had just entered at the other end, its quite difficult to spot boats that far back but he gave a good blast on his horn and had twin headlamps.

Once he was clear we made our way through followed by a hire boat, I had just cleared the far end when I met another boat so was able to warn them that the tunnel was occupied. We arrived at the mouth of Saltersford Tunnel dead on 3pm. so sailed straight through. We have seen several Kingfishers today, ie more than 6, two I photographed, one on some railings who just sat and watched us and the boat behind pass and one that landed on a moored boat ahead of us.

We carried on to the site of the old Dutton Breach where we moored for the night. I had one job left to do following the oil change today and that was top up the batteries, something that I do on every oil change.

Today's Journey 14½ miles, 1 lock in 5½ hours.

Middlewich Sunday 21 October 2018

Again it was a lovely morning, a bit chilly as we had no heating on overnight but soon warmed up. We headed off down towards Wheelock Locks meeting a boat on the way who said the right hand one was ready, but when we arrived an oncoming boat had just turned it, The pond we were on was rather low considering only 2 boats had been up and the lock above had been on weir all night.
We arrived at the services to fill with water only to find a boat moored there, however he untied and drew back when we arrived. It was a share boat and they only started out yesterday and after a few miles discovered the toilet wouldn't work, so were all relying on the CRT toilet facilities. While we were filling with water a chap removed the macerator toilet and removed the blockage, I think the previous users may be getting a bill.

There were quite a few hire boats about and I managed 2 emergency stops without hitting anything due to boats going straight across the cut in front of me.

Since we came past a few days ago someone has pumped out the old wooden Icebreaker a short way above Booth Lane Top Lock so things are looking more hopeful for her.

We stopped just below Booth Lane bottom lock for a bit of lunch, there was a very convenient CRT working boat to lay against.

While we were eating lunch I heard a rumble going along the road, I shot out with the camera knowing what it would be, across Gailey's rear deck and legged it down the towpath, not a pretty sight to get the best picture I could.

I may have mentioned it before but this is the only place I have seen illuminated speed restriction sighs, as they only apply to the traffic passing them I would have thought their headlights would have been sufficient for drivers to see them, but maybe the council had a few quid laying about.

The weather had been deteriorating for the past hour or more and now we had drizzle, not only that the wind had picked up to over 20 MPH and the drizzle turned to rain.

At Rumps lock the local swans went for a quick fly round, taking off from the canal, doing one big circuit and landing back where they started.

On our way up last week we counted of 20 swans in this stretch of canal and they get regularly fed with corn which is probably a big attraction.

I was rather taken by this fish or no fishing sign at Kings lock.

We carried on down the Middlewich 3 and through bridge 172, it was here that I spotted an apple tree on the offside full of bright red apples, I soon had the bows tucked in and Diana was collecting a bowl full.

As soon as she had finished we slid to the towpath side and moored up for the night. We hadn't been here long when we heard another familiar sound, the beat of a semi diesel engine you can see here being started HERE. It was Narrowboat Swan, so yet again I dashed out with the camera for the final photo of the day.

Today's Journey 7 miles, 10 locks in 4½ hours