Friday 13th July
It’s raining again and we have to be in Middlewich this morning. Great!
Saturday 14th July
Fortunately the trip to Middlewich was only a short one and we didn’t get too wet on the way. However, our walk to and from Tesco was a wee bit damp, as was the walk down the canal to the local boatyard and into town. We needed to know what time the boatyard opens in the morning and, because it runs a holiday hire outlet, they’re open at 8 am, which means we can buy a gas bottle and empty our cassette.
From the boatyard we have another four locks to pass through before we get to the nearest water point, after which we can find a mooring place and walk back to town.
This morning is a bit brighter, but the damn boat is a bit chilly, due to the heater refusing to work this morning. With the weather so damp and cool these days, the inside of the boat is a wee bit uncomfortable at 5.30 am and, unless we have the fire on all day, which is a bit daft on the days when it is sunny, then I have to run the heater for half an hour when I get up. The problem, I hope, is just a touch of damp in the electrics, in which case I just need to unplug it and give the plugs a clean up and spray with WD40. Oddly enough we have no trouble with it when the engine is running!
“”Why do supermarkets make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions, while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?””
Incidentally and in case you’re wondering, we’ll be on the Trent and Mersey Canal from today, heading for Anderton and on to The Bridgewater Canal.
Sunday 15th July
We left our moorings on the Middlewich Branch at 7.45 am and headed for the Wardle Canal and Lock. This is a very short stretch of about 100 yards, with a lock in the middle and leads onto the Trent and Mersey, where we turned left and pulled in at the boatyard for a gas bottle.
From there we carried on through another three locks and pulled in again, because I wanted to take a look at the Craft Fair that was being run at the school near Tesco’s. Sheila seemed to think that it didn’t start until 10.30. Oh, if only that were the case. So, since we were a little early, we had a cuppa first and then set off.
I have to say, that I was really flabbergasted, not to mention upset, when I discovered it didn’t start until 1.30 pm and, how stupid can you be, finished at 4.30 pm. What? Two and a half hours to wander round a school sports hall and a whole bunch of stalls, in only 2½ hours? What were the organisers thinking about?
Needless to say, we walked away in disgust, did some more shopping and cast of for the final lock and cruised until we found a mooring spot. Once again we see the lack of work carried out by BW, with the canal becoming narrower than is safe in places, due to spreading reed beds and weeds. How this organisation is going to survive as a charity, and how much they are going to expect in donations, goodness knows. But, it will be us boaters who suffer. I’m sure that it won’t be long before they demand a huge rise in licence fees and still they will say they don’t have enough money coming in.
Monday 16th July
Yesterdays trip, from our moorings near bridge 176 on the Trent and Mersey, to The Salt Barn pub at Marston, took us 2½ hours, most of which we were sandwiched between weeds on the towpath side, some as high as 7 ft, and reed beds on the opposite side, much of which was at least 6ft deep. This is not a pretty canal and is not one where you can suddenly decide to moor up, because it is so unattractive.
Even at Marston, where there are some mooring rings before the bridge by the pub, mooring up has been made very difficult because, with the sides of the canal lined with concrete blocks, and the towpath, which has been gravelled over, reaches right to the edge of the blocks. Therefore, when mooring up, not only do we have to use our pins, but we also have to break through the towpath, or look for holes that have already been made by previous boaters’ pins. We chose the latter.
Anyway, no sooner had we safely tied up, than along came the rain. I tell you, we have been so lucky in that regard, that I’m sure there is someone up there watching over us. It really is quite odd that, if it’s going to rain and hasn’t already done so by the time we decide to move on, it usually holds off until we’re moored up.
From the towpath to the pub there are two fence lined pathways. This is because, directly across the road from the pub, lie the old salt works. These have been awarded a Lottery Grant for renovation work, which will include a showcase of how the place functioned back in the 19th C. The bulk of the works lie on the road opposite, but there is also a derelict building on the pub side, and all of it is right beside the bride, making it hazardous walking to the bridge in order to gain access to the canal.
So, having discovered the pathway nearest to us, we then approached the pub from the rear and car park. On our last visit in 2009, we approached via the bridge and, on arriving at the pub, paid for our drinks and sat in the front bar, leaving by the front door an hour or so later. This time, by entering through the back, we were made aware of the size of the place. Unbeknown to us, there’s quite a large restaurant at the back and, alongside the front bar, there’s a pool room too.
Also on our earlier visit, we arrived just as the pub was changing hands to new owners, at which time they were selling beer at £1 a pint. Needless to say, I took advantage of their generosity. Yesterday we were greeted by the licensee with a friendly, “Hello, how are you both?”, even though he had never set eyes on us before. Of course, we replied in kind and I asked if he was the same person who had taken over three years ago. When he agreed that he was, I then reminded him of his £1 pint and asked if he had kept the tradition alive in the interim. Poor man, my question left him speechless!
We can take our time leaving this morning, because we’re only going on to Anderton, which is only a mile away. We’re hoping to catch a bus into Northwich, just to see what the town is like, and to take advantage of our bus passes before this coalition decide to take them away from us. Who knows, with two State Pensions coming in, they will probably decide we’re far too affluent to be needing them.
After Anderton we’ll be heading for Preston Brook tunnel and The Bridgewater Canal.
Wednesday 18th July
I was so busy yesterday whilst sitting at our mooring at Marston that I completely forgot to update the blog. Still, due to the rain we didn’t do much worth reporting.
As for the rest of yesterday, now that’s a different story. The day started out fairly good weather-wise, so we decided to move on to Anderton, where the famous boat lift is situated. It was only a mile away and how wet can you get in a mile, even if it does rain?
On arriving at Anderton we took time for another cuppa and then, having studied our canal books, decided that since the bus from the nearest stop only runs every two hours or so, we would walk along the towpath and catch the bus from a different stop. What looked easy on paper, turned out to be far from it.
After much foot slogging and walking too far along the towpath, we eventually retraced our steps and, after another, uphill slog, arrived at the stop, only to find the bus arriving 10 minutes later than expected.
We arrived in Northwich at about 11 am and wandered around looking for a particular Art Shop, but even though we asked a couple of people, the place wasn’t that easy to find. It seems that this town is chock full of banks, building societies, estate agents and coffee shops, with very few food shops any where.
The reason for the Art Shop? I have decided to chance my arm with pastels. This came about when we were in a market some time back, where, on a whim, I purchased a CD by a chap called Colin Bradley that contained several demonstrations in this art form. I am now the proud owner of a set of pastel pencils, pastel blocks and proper paper for my efforts. All I need now is an instruction book on the subject which, when I have a strong enough signal, I shall be downloading from the Internet. Strange to say, I didn’t see any in the Art Shop or Smiths!
Today we intend to sit here until about 9 am and then take a walk back to the local chandlery, where we’ll purchase another pot of green paint, if they have any, after which we’ll move on about four miles, which will take us through two tunnels. Tomorrow we’ll go through the third tunnel at Preston Brook, which is seven miles from here and will take us onto the Bridgewater Canal.
Thursday 19th July
We are, as you all know, now cruising the Trent and Mersey.
After paying a visit to the local chandlery at Anderton and purchasing our paint and ordering a brass hooter, we set off for moorings that we had previously used, just past bridge 210. Alas, just like the Worcester and Birmingham last year, the whole area is overgrown with weeds and reeds. But, eventually, after cruising for about a half mile further, we managed to find a ‘suitable’ spot just before bridge 211.
Fortunately for us we were blessed with a really bright and sunny day and, after Wifey took Rusty for a walk, she returned and immediately started looking through the Nicholson’s Guide for this area. Would you believe it, bridge 211 has a footpath; albeit a badly overgrown one; that leads down to the River Weaver? It didn’t take us long to get our walking boots on, grab the dog and lead, and set off.
In fine weather the river is stunningly beautiful although, in this morning’s strong wind and dark, threatening clouds, it will probably be anything but. We sat by Dutton Lock and whiled away a few minutes on a bench and took a few photos, Sheila with her camera and me with my mobile. Just as we were about to leave, along came a couple of women, just out for a stroll, with whom we spent a very pleasant 15 minutes or so, talking about this and that.
The walk back to the boat, much of which was uphill, pooped me and was a wee bit too much for Rusty, but she soon galloped ahead when she realised we were close to home.
A good day was had by all but, if this wind continues, and especially if it is accompanied by rain, we won’t be going anywhere. Rain alone is just about acceptable. Rain, accompanied by a high wind, is most definitely not.
Friday 20th July
Yesterday was yet another washout, what a contrast to Wednesday, where we had bright sunshine all day and took that walk down to the Weaver.
We had to sit around until 11 am before the wind died down and, even then, a lengthy part of our trip involved the big brolly over our heads. It was raining for most of last night, which didn’t endear us to Rusty when she decided that she wanted to go out at 2 am, poor thing.
The six miles, one lock and Preston Brook tunnel, which links the Trent and Mersey with the Bridgewater canal took us just two hours to complete and we are now on the Bridgewater Canal at bridge 6. Today we’ll be heading for Lymm, where we’ll do a bit of shopping, stay overnight and move on a few more miles. The intention then will be to stay overnight elsewhere and return to Lymm for the weekend.
Saturday 21st July
Friday went well. No problems weather-wise and we arrived at Lymm safe and sound and dry.
The usual procedure followed, with a cuppa before shopping and back to chill out for the rest of the day.
Today we’re moving on, but we haven’t decided where to yet. That piece of info will be revealed in the next blog. Meanwhile I will post this one and add an old picture of Lymm.
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| Moorings at Lymm on the Bridgewater Canal |
Happy days from,
Dave, Sheila and Rusty
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