Wrenbury to Middlewich

Sat 24^th June  Wrenbury to Hurleston

Last night the moorings in Wrenbury were full, with boats moored fender to fender. A number of boats went past us this morning in a convoy, attempting to share the lift bridge. However, very soon the first of the three Baddiley Locks appears, and there would have been an immediate lock queue.

We set off half an hour later, but still before 9am, and there were only two boats left on the moorings.

Very few boats left

There was only one boat, Ruby, waiting when we arrived at the first lock, and we followed them through the three Baddiley Locks, and the two Swanley locks. We overtook them when they paused for diesel at Swanley Marina. There were boats coming the other way as well, and we only had to fill one lock.

Baddiley Locks

Swanley Bridge Marina

We spotted fuel boats just after this, but they were waiting for more stock.

We had been concerned about the towpath being closed between Bridges 1 and 3, as we needed to leave the canal to catch a bus in the morning. When we looked, it was actually only bridge 2 that was impassable on foot. The notice was a bit too alarmist! We moored between bridges 2 and 1, and we could see the bus stop from our mooring. James went to explore, and found that there were two bridges. The old bridge is used as a layby for parking, but if you go up the steps there, you have to go back along the old road until it joins the main carriageway, and then cross the road. It is better to go under both bridges, and up a path onto the main road, which brings you out onto the correct side of the road for the bus to Nantwich.

Two bridges

Moored above Hurleston Locks

It was very hot and humid. We had a pasta salad on board. A duck decided to have a rest on our bow fender for a while.

There was a most unusual sky this evening.

New figurehead

Mackerel sky at Hurleston

6 miles, 5 locks, 1 lift bridge

Sun 25^th Jun  Hurleston and Nantwich

We caught the bus as planned, and it took us to the bus station in Nantwich. We arrived with time to spare, so we went in search of a coffee, and found a Costa open. Then back to Market Street Church, which is Baptist and URC combined. Good welcome, and the worship was guitar (pastor), flute, drums and a lady singer (pastor’s wife). Also, a very lovely song on video. The talk was about Job, and how he still praised and worshipped God, despite the situation he found himself in.

The worship band at Market Street Church

We had a meal in Guayoyo, a Venezuelan restaurant and went shopping in Morrisons. The store seemed very cramped. They didn’t have the mugs we were hoping for.

Something different for lunch

Back to another café for a coffee and an almond croissant. This was Charlie & Co, a doggy venue, with very happy and friendly staff. There were lots of dogs in there, and there were doggie meals on the menu.

Then back to the bus station for an easy return to the boat. Better than the climb up to the embankment that we have done in the past.

Evening sky at Hurleston

No boating today

Mon 26^th Jun  Hurleston to Sykes Hollow

We were up fairly early, but not early enough to be the first boat, as one passed us as we were getting ready. They were filling up with water as we arrived and went past to the sanitary station. We had two full cassettes to empty, and we discovered that the elsan point was out of order. Later we found out that it has been like this for about four years!! The toilet also had no flush, so we came away with two full unemptied cassettes. Thankfully we have four. Meanwhile the other boat had finished with the water point and was going down in lock 4, the top lock.

We followed on, with James going ahead to start the next lock filling each time. When we came to Lock 2, we saw that it wasn’t filling, and we realised that the boat in front had left up a paddle by accident. They had a crew of four.

Hurleston Top Lock (No 4)

We saw a CRT man checking all around the reservoir, presumably making sure there were no blockages or leaks.

Checking the reservoir

Hurleston Lock No 1

After lock 1, we turned left onto the Shroppie, and then turned right at Barbridge after the old transshipment warehouse site. We were now on the Middlewich branch. 

The site of the transhipment warehouse

Barbridge Junction

Information plaque

At Cholmondeston Lock (pronounced Chumston) we found two CRT volunteers, so we were locked through.  We paused at Venetian Marina to buy fuel, and finally empty our two cassettes.  We moved on a short way to Sykes Hollow, where there are picnic tables and barbecue stands. We had bought an instant BBQ in Morrisons, and made use of it. The canal was busy with boats both ways. We ran out of gas, and had to switch bottles. We phoned Venetian (out of stock), Aqueduct (Only have gas for our own moorers) and Big Lock Chandlery (out of stock).  Replacement cylinders are in short supply, but we should have a few weeks before we need some.

There were lots of butterflies and other insects around, which was delightful. The ground was full of clover flowers. A passing boater complained that it hadn’t been mown.

Moored at Sykes Hollow

Marmalade Hoverfly on Yellow-wort

Meadow Brown butterfly

Flies

6 miles, 5 locks. Dep 0805, arr 1015 Venetian Marina. Dep 1050, arr 1105.

Tue 27^th Jun Sykes Hollow to Bridge 22

Leaving Sykes Hollow

We waited for some rain to pass before setting off. There were a lot of boats coming the other way, and we had to wait at bridges at least three times. At Minshull Lock we had to wait for a boat to come up in the lock before we could go down. We passed Aqueduct Marina, and then the lovely view over Church Minshull. There are several places where the canal crosses over little streams in deep wooded dells, which all go to join the Weaver in the valley below.

Aqueduct Marina

The view over Church Minshull

Dutch influence?

Converted stables for sale - £850k

Three swallows

We moored on our own before Bridge 22. There were cows in the fields on the other side of the hedge. We could hear trains occasionally, even in the small hours.

5 miles, 1 lock. Dep 1025, arr 1225.

Wed 28^th Jun  Bridge 22 to Middlewich Br 28/29

We were woken up by cows making a din, probably because it was their milking time. There were four other boats on the moorings, having arrived late yesterday. 

Late arrivals on the moorings

We set off before other boats were on the move, as we didn’t want to be in a lock queue. 

Fallen Tree

Looking back at the fallen tree

Yellow Loosestrife

When locks are isolated, and everyone departs at around 9am, there can be queues at the first lock, because everyone arrives at the same time. Stanthorne Lock is over 11ft deep, and the paddles on the bottom gates are restricted to avoid flooding the towpath under the bridge below, so it is slow to empty. After the lock is the site of the breach in 2018, where there are now some pleasant moorings with rings.

We arrived in Middlewich, and stopped just after bridge 28 where there are rings. We took our shopping trolley and visited Morrisons and Lidl, near each other at the top of the town. Morrisons didn’t have the hedgehog mugs we are looking for. We’ll find them one day. We walked back through the main town, and found somewhere for Hazel to have a pedicure. The two Indian restaurants were both closed for Eid al-Adha, an Islamic festival. As we had frozen food in the trolley, we avoided the temptation to eat in a pub, and went from there straight back to the boat, and we ate on board later.

Moored in Middlewich

2 miles, 1 lock. Dep 0755, arr 0855.

Next: Turn to the right onto the Trent and Mersey, and begin our ascent of the locks up to Stoke-on-Trent.

Ellesmere to Wrenbury

Mon 19^th June  Ellesmere

We spent the morning catching up on things and trying to find a glazier who could provide a replacement porthole glass. We found one in Shrewsbury, but it would take at least a week, and we would be gone. Hazel went shopping in Tesco.

Chris and Sally arrived on Kairos, and they moored by the warehouse, where we had been on Saturday night. We enjoyed a Chinese takeaway by their boat. HUGE spring rolls.

No boating today, and no pics.

Tue 20^th June  Ellesmere to Blake Mere

We went to the market, which only had five stalls operating. We bought some sausage rolls for later. Chris and Sally left for the water point, and we followed half an hour later. We said our farewells there, as they moored opposite, and we turned round and went to Blake Mere. There we found Lutra Lutra, with Steve on board, on a call. We moored behind Spirit. We devoured our sausage rolls and had a nap.

We went to visit Steve and Fiona, and found that Roger and Jo had just arrived, having spent last night in our apartment in Aylesbury. They brought our post.

Fiona had been on board Mole, having signwriting lessons from Alan, the guy James had met on Sunday evening.

There was heavy rain later.

In the Ellesmere Arm

Facilities

This used to be Telford's office

Ellesmere Tunnel

Heavy rain

0 locks, 1 mile. Dep 1100, arr 1200.

Wed 21^st June  Blake Mere to Tilstock Park Lift Bridge 42

James had an early morning stroll in beautiful sunshine, and took some photos. Kingfishers heard but not seen. We went for coffee and a chat (and pancakes!) on boat Lutra Lutra, because we had not really had time to catch up with Steve and Fiona during the mission. As we left their boat, Roger and Jo appeared, and we said our farewells to them as well.

We set off, heading back down the Llangollen Canal, with the hope of reaching Hurleston by Saturday evening, so that we could catch a bus into Nantwich on Sunday for church and Morrisons.

We had a fairly uneventful journey, with plenty of boats on the move. At Morris Lift Bridge 45, we were third in a line of three, and a guy from the first boat raised the bridge and got back on his boat. Two boats came through the other way, and, as we were the last boat, we lowered the bridge.

We stopped before the next lift bridge 42, where there were rings, and a flat area where we could put out our chairs and a table. The field behind us was in Wales. We were entertained by various antics at the lift bridge as boats went through. Rain showers showing up on our Rain Alarm app seemed to miss us, so we managed to dry the washing.

Mist on the water

Moored at Blakemere behind Spirit

Reflections

Ferns

Bracken

Water's edge

Silhouette

A passenger for a moment - red admiral

Junction with the Prees Branch

Moored near Tilstock Park Lift Bridge

0 locks, 8 miles, 1 lift bridge. Dep 1150, arr 1440.

Thu 22^nd June  Tilstock Park Lift Bridge to Land of Canaan

We were ready to leave, when a boat arrived from behind us – Kindred Spirit. We agreed that they would raise the bridge, and we would lower it. This team work seemed to be successful, except that they were very slow, and we suspect that they were newish boaters. We followed them through Hassel’s No 2 Lift Bridge using the same system. Hassels’s No 1 is being kept open. They stopped at Whitchurch Marina for fuel, so we passed them, and dealt with New Mills Lift Bridge by ourselves.

We arrived at Grindley Brook, where we stopped at one of the water points, and connected our hose. There were no other boats around, except for one just leaving the locks, and another just starting down.

We went for a light meal at the café, while watching several boats going down the locks, including Kindred Spirit. No boats came up the whole time we were there. James went to buy some milk and ice creams from the garage shop. Hazel returned to the boat to start filling the water tank. We paused again near the top lock to empty a cassette and dispose of rubbish.

There were three volunteers to help us down the staircase, and then we were on our own for the three separate locks. We met one boat going up by lock 5.

We moved on from the visitor moorings at the bottom, to avoid the road noise, and we went through Bridge 26, before mooring on piling near a farm with the delightful name of Land of Canaan. There was beautiful bird song, and rabbits in the fields.

Following Kindred Spirit through the lift bridge

A fallen tree

Three trees in a row

We didn't need to open Hassal No 1

Hassal No 1 Lift Bridge

Grindley Brook Top Lock

Grindley Brook locks

Near the Land of Canaan

Neighbours in the field

5 miles 6 locks, 3 lift bridges. Dep 1005, arr 1145 .Grindley Brook. Dep 1300, arr 1400, Land of Canaan.

Fri 23^rd June  Land of Canaan to Wrenbury

The forecast was for rain from 11am onwards, so we set off early to avoid it. All the four locks were in our favour – they just needed topping up. We only met two other boats on the move. Hazel operated the lift bridge at Wrenbury, and there was only one car that was held up.

We moored just after the visitor moorings, where we found a space that wasn’t under trees. Our boat roof is very sticky with sap from our night at Blakemere, and James spent some time cleaning the starboard side. Opposite we noticed some Giant Hogweed growing, a toxic invasive species.

We went for a meal at the Dusty Miller, which enabled us to avoid cooking in the warm weather.

We had some rain later.

Willeymoor Lock before the crowds are about

Marbury Lock

Wrenbury Lift Bridge and the Dusty Miller

Giant Hogweed

Moored at Wrenbury

Meal at the Dusty Miller

5 miles, 4 locks, 1 lift bridge.  Dep 0730, arr 0945

Next: to the top of Hurleston Locks, where we can catch a bus, even on a Sunday,  into Nantwich for church and shopping. Then to the Middlewich branch next week.