Friday 18th July
Nantwich to Wrenbury
Rain in the night as forecast. One mouse on the floor where the carpet would have been. Another
mouse on the deck at the stern. No
Hugo. No sign of him from 5.30am onwards.
The wish was to leave at 8am and beat the lock queues into the
Llangollen.
This idea was soon abandoned as we sat down to await the
arrival of our feline. After calling
him several times, and watching the queues for the facilities block lengthen,
then shorten and lengthen again, we decided to try a cunning plan. Guessing that he was somewhere close by in
the long grass or hedge, James found a way into the field behind the hedge,
armed with a Tesco bag and a boat hook. He systematically walked along the
hedge, beating it occasionally, and shaking the bag, which Hugo hates. He didn’t speak, as he didn’t want Hugo to
realise it was him.
It worked! There was
a call from Hazel: “We have a cat!” as he ran onto the stern and down into the
cabin. We think he wasn’t very well, as
he hardly had any food for the next two days.
By this time, there was a queue for the sanitary station, so
we pressed on towards the Llangollen Canal, where we knew there was another at
the top of the first four locks.
We expected a queue at the locks, but there were two boats
coming down, and none waiting to go up, so it was easy. At the top we filled up the water tank from
a very slow tap. To begin with we couldn’t
see the rubbish bin anywhere, expecting a large wheelie bin with a red lid. Eventually we found a huge steel bin like a
tractor trailer, in a field through a gate.
Hurleston Locks
There is a flow on the Llangollen Canal, as water is led off
the River Dee and diverted into the canal above Llangollen town. It flows all
the way back for 46 miles into Hurleston Reservoir, which lies alongside these
first four locks. We could see the canal water flowing quite quickly down a
channel into the reservoir, just above the top lock.
Water flowing into
Hurleston Reservoir
The flow of water caused some interesting challenges at the
entrances to some of the locks, as there was a strong side stream from the
bypass weirs.
Baddiley Locks with a
strong side current
Knowing that rain was forecast for the next day, we pressed
on for a few miles and a few locks to Wrenbury, where it seemed as though we
took the last available mooring, between the two lift bridges. A lot of boats, almost fender to fender. On
the other side of the hedge was a motor home rally, with lots of camper vans.
Moored in a line at
Wrenbury
It was a very hot evening and we wandered along the towpath
to see who was there. A few boats we recognised but no one we knew. We went to the Dusty Miller for our evening
meal and had the most wonderful food and service. Unusual for a top location
such as this. The “Dusty hand crafted puff pie” was delicious. They also had Old Rosie cider on draught.
Last time we were in Wrenbury was in 2000. We were booked in for Soul
Survivor, Message 2000 in Manchester.
Our gearbox was giving us problems and we had to have it replaced (for
the second time) in Wrenbury. We went to the church on the Sunday morning, and
mentioned our plight to one of the ladies there, who turned out to be the
vicar’s wife, Debbie. Mark, the vicar was at another of his three churches that
morning. After the service, we were
back on the boat, when someone knocked. It was Mark, who had come to pray for
us, and to invite us for a meal. Such lovely hospitality. We met their children aged about four and
six.
We mentioned this story to the couple sitting next to us at the Dusty
Miller. They were locals, and knew Mark and Debbie, and told us that Mark had
had cancer and died two years after our last visit.
We booked a table at the Cotton Arms for Sunday lunch at
1230, before returning to the boat. It was very hot and humid.
Hugo stayed in the hedge
9 locks, 6 miles,
Saturday 19th July
Wrenbury
Thunder and lightening in the night, followed by heavy rain,
so we stayed in bed as long as possible. We would have caught up with emails
and blogs but there was no signal for internet, phone or TV. zzzzzzz
The rain eased off by early afternoon, and we wandered up
the road to the village and found the shop. We also noticed that the church
service times had changed from 10.30am to 9.15am. We returned to the boat via a
footpath that led from the churchyard down to the first lift bridge, through
the site of the proposed marina, now a field.
The Calor Gas decided to run out, so James changed the
bottles over. The camping gas appeared
to be running out also when we had our barbecue before Nantwich, and we had
decided to change it at the shop in Wrenbury, as we don’t see suppliers very
often.
Later James went for a walk across the lift bridge, over
farmland, mostly green fields. He
didn’t have a map, there was no signal for Google maps, and the little yellow
footpath arrows seemed to peter out. He ended up in a huge field with no
obvious way out except back the same way. He did see some buzzards and a hare
standing on its hind legs.
Wrenbury Church Lift
Bridge
No boating today
Sunday 20th July
We set an alarm to ensure we got up in time for church, and
had croissants for breakfast. We walked up the path to the church, with
shopping trolley and camping gas canister in hand.
We had a great welcome at the church, and met Debbie once
again. Their new vicar has only been in
post for a few months, and her name is Alison. She spoke with great clarity
about Jacob’s ladder. I am sure she will work really well with the people of
Wrenbury.
Debbie in St
Margaret’s Church in Wrenbury
Mark’s memorial
We went to the shop to buy milk and replace the gas, only to
find that our gas bottle was still mostly full, although the valve is faulty.
We decided to keep it until it ran out.
As the service was earlier than we had expected, we decided
to cancel our table reservation at the Cotton Arms, and move on. We had the lift bridge to negotiate, and
Calor gas to replace at the boatyard.
We reversed in to the boatyard and purchased the Calor gas.
James put the canister back in place, and Hazel took the CRT key and went to
open the lift bridge. As she stepped off the stern, she missed her footing and
ended up in the water! Someone brought a stepladder for her to climb out. She
has a badly bruised arm, a twisted ankle and cut knees.
While she was in the shower and changing, James seized an
opportunity and took the boat through the bridge when it was open for someone
else.
We cruised slowly along through pleasant countryside,
noticing that there are lots of good moorings along this stretch, many with
rings, supplied by the Shropshire Union Canal Society. We went through Marbury
Lock, and then bought some local produce at Quoisley Lock. A main road runs alongside the canal at this
point, and while we were at the lock, a car came off the road and hit a tree
with a loud bang and a big cloud of smoke. Another boat was level with him and
they asked if he was OK. He said he was, and drove off again!
We went one lock further on, and stopped for the day. We had
a good meal in the Willeymoor Lock Tavern, a converted lock cottage. Everywhere
you looked in the pub, there were displays of ornamental teapots.
Teapots in Willeymoor
Lock Tavern
3 locks, 4 miles, 1 lift bridge, 1 dunking. 2hr35
Monday 21st July
Willeymoor to Whitchurch
A lovely sunny morning, with two kingfishers going up and
down. Also evidence of a mouse on the
floor. Hugo seems to be feeling better. It may be that the heat affected him on
Friday, as he has so much fur, and it was extremely hot and humid. He is now
eating properly again.
The first lock (Povey’s Lock) was empty for us, and in a
mile we were at the first of the Grindley Brook locks. This was also in our
favour.
Grindley Brook lock 6
As we reached the top of the lock, James checked round the
corner, and the next lock was empty. By the time we left the lock two minutes
later, the next one was being filled by the crew of a boat coming down. Two
children with windlasses, who hadn’t learned to check first. They also left the windlasses on the
spindle, which can be dangerous. Hey
Ho, school holidays are here!
After the three single locks, there is a staircase of three.
We had heard horrendous tales of queues of boats waiting half a day to get up
or down. We had no such problems – the locks were set for us and there was
no-one else waiting.
Grindley Brook
staircase locks
Remarkably, we found some people having breakfast in the
café, and it turned out to be Stephen and Anne Waters from Byfleet Methodist
Church, plus two friends. We had to carry on up the flight of locks, so we
moored at the first opportunity and walked back for a chat.
Stephen and Anne
Waters
After using all the facilities there, we continued, and
found ourselves following a very slow boat for the mile to Whitchurch. There
are three lift bridges on this stretch, and a junction into the Whitchurch arm.
It was very complicated there, with boats coming out, going in, carrying on,
and coming the other way.
Whitchurch Arm
Another boat coming towards us turned round in a winding
hole, and ended up between us and the slow boat. James walked ahead and
operated the third lift bridge, as we were the last boat.
One of the people on the slow boat saw our logos and
introduced himself as Miles Harvey, a director of Premier Christian Radio.
We went another half mile and stopped for lunch (and for the
day) at a pleasant spot between bridges 35 and 37.
Then around the corner towards us came Mistol, with
Rob and Tricia, so they stopped to have lunch with us before moving on again. It was great to see them once more. We
parted company at Great Haywood on 4th July. Since then they have
been to Llangollen via Stone and Middlewich, and have also done the Leek and
Caldon canals while we have been going up the Shroppie. They do longer days
than we do.
Rob and Tricia on
Mistol
Evening meal al fresco, with a wide towpath, and shady
trees.
Buzzards in the trees and kingfishers in the bushes.
7 locks, 5 miles, 3 lift bridges, 1 mouse, 2hr40
Tuesday 22nd July
Hot weather forecast, so we emerged early and set off before
Hugo had thought of going ashore, hoping to get to Ellesmere before the
temperatures rose too high.
There seem to be buzzards everywhere. There were two last
night, and today we passed a tree in which there were four. Also very common
today were horseflies. James was doing a little slapping dance at the tiller,
while Hazel was wielding our black and yellow zapper, which made a loud crack
when she was successful.
There were two more lift bridges, which seem to need many
turns of the windlass. Perhaps it was the hot weather. Then came the Prees
branch, which goes a mile south to Whixall Marina and a nature reserve. This is
one of the little bits we have never done. We will tick it off on the way back.
Whixall Moss Roving
Bridge
Prees Branch
Just after the junction, we came across Amy Em moored up.
Margaret was attending to something on the roof. There were handy bollards nearby, so we tied up and said hello.
Rex was out walking through Whixall Moss with Cassie, their dog. He was soon
back, and we had tea on board Gabriel.
Rex and Margaret
More than two hours later, after catching up with the news,
we were on our way again. We had discovered that although Gospel Belle
and Trinity were somewhere up ahead, Peter and Lin had gone to Devon for
a few days, and Henry and Lin had gone to Sussex.
It was so hot that we felt a need for shade, and we found a
mooring soon after bridge 51, where we paused for lunch under a spreading oak
tree.
A mile later we were passing Cole Mere, and we spotted Kairos
moored up, with the side doors open. We pulled alongside, hoping to see
Jonathan and his new wife Barbara, who we have never met. However, they had
been and gone, and the boat was being looked after by Bill and Julie, who live there
in a wooden chalet style bungalow in the woods, overlooking the lake. A
stunning location, as the estate agents would say.
We passed the lovely Blake Mere, where there is a huge sign
saying you are not allowed to do anything – there is a list. Then the Ellesmere
Tunnel which is so short it did not require our tunnel light.
Finally we turned into the Ellesmere Arm and found a
mooring, and visited the shops. We managed to obtain a piece of plastic from a
sign writing shop, which we could use for the fuel gauge, which keeps coming
away as it is only held on with a sticky gasket. We posted a card to Stan and
Mary for their Diamond Wedding. 60
years married is quite something. Congratulations you two if you read this.
James chatted to the guy on Sam Hardy, who we have
seen several times on our journey, but always in passing. His name is Pete, and
he comes from Stafford Boat Club, and he gave me information about RCR. He knows Joe and Mags Lockwood, and Graham
and Brenda Thick.
Pizza on board. Hugo
was chased on board by a German Shepherd, who came right onto the boat and only
stopped at the top of the steps down into the galley. The owner said absolutely
nothing. It is quite extraordinary that the word “Sorry” is so hard for some
people.
Ellesmere
We had text messages from Henry and Peter, sent on Sunday,
only just received. They have not gone away yet, so we should see them before
they go, probably at Chirk.
11
miles, 2 lift bridges, I tunnel, 4hr20
