Voyages of Gabriel: Audlem to Blake Mere

Sun 28^th May Audlem to Coole Pilate

We visited the Methodist Church, where there was a combined service with the Anglicans and Baptists to celebrate Pentecost. The worship was organ-led with hymns and songs from Singing the Faith. Robin, the minister, was very welcoming. Roger prayed with a widowed lady, and James had a good chat with an enthusiastic man from the Baptist Church. They don’t have a minister, and only have a congregation of 10. It is very difficult these days for village churches.

We went to the Shroppie Fly for lunch – a very limited menu due to the music festival. We looked round the Mill, and bought a few things from the Co-op before going down the last four locks. We paused by the Shroppie Fly to fill the water tank and empty cassettes. There were lots of people eating and drinking, and we had to walk through them, carrying full toilet cassettes. We discovered some trading boats below the next lock, blocking access to the water point. It was too late to visit them by then. Thankfully we didn’t need the water.

After the bottom lock, there were very few mooring spaces. It is pleasant here, with views over lakes and water meadows.

We passed Overwater Marina, where our friends Tim and Hilary live. We met them earlier this year at Norton Junction.

We found mooring space at Coole Pilate, where there are rings, picnic tables, barbecue stands and a wide grassy area, all provided by the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Audlem Methodist

Lock 12 Audlem

Need to take cassettes through these people

Water meadow views below Audlem locks

Mooring space at Coole Pilate

Sunset

4 locks, 2 miles. Dep 1500, arr 1650.

Mon 29^th May Coole Pilate to Bridge 3 / 4 Llangollen

We presented Roger and Jo with a card for their anniversary, plus two of our large Wedgwood mugs, which we know they like. We are trying to replace them with some bone china mugs we have seen in Morrisons.

We set off at a leisurely time, and several boats had been past already. When we arrived at Hack Green Locks, there was a lock queue of four boats in front of us. Two boats came up while we were there, but the people in front of us did not seem very experienced and did things in the wrong order. However, they said they had been to Llangollen several times.

We cruised through Nantwich without stopping, and found our friends in front once more for the Hurleston Locks. There were two volunteers on duty, and it was continually busy, with three boats coming down, and several going up. Roger and Jo were following us up.

We stopped on rings with a pleasant view, after bridge 3. Roger and Jo went past, hoping to get to Marbury to celebrate their anniversary. We heard later that they only got as far as Wrenbury, and had a meal in the Dusty Miller.

It was very warm, and there was some lovely bird song.

Canada and Greylag family

Hack Green Locks queue

Between the two locks at Hack Green

Rope rub marks

Nantwich Aqueduct

Nantwich Basin

Tree from horror film

Swan family

Hurleston Locks

Hurleston Lock 1

Passing boats in Hurleston Locks

First mooring on Llangollen Canal

Sunset

6 locks, 7 miles. Dep 1035, arr 1520.

Tue 30^th May Bridge 3 / 4 to Grindley Brook

After a peaceful night, we started fairly early, as we were behind the rest, who were already in Wrenbury. We had two Swanley Locks, and three more at Baddiley. We noticed the flow on the canal, making progress slower than normal. At some of the locks there was a strong bywash, with a lot of water coming down.

At Wrenbury we came to the first lift bridge, operated with a windlass. When we first came here in 2000, it was operated by pulling it up or down, like the ones on the Oxford Canal. Thankfully, this time there was another boat coming through, and they held the bridge open for us. The second lift bridge was across a busy road, and was mechanically operated using a key. We noticed that there were very few hire boats left in the ABC depot by the bridge. They must all be out.

When we arrived at Marbury Lock, we met a pleasant couple, John and Jane, on a boat called Two Jays. John said there were three boats going up together in front, and one was a solo boater, and the others were helping him. We figured we knew who that was! If they all left Wrenbury together, they would have caused their own lock queue at the first lock.

They were spaced out a bit more for the other three locks – Quoisley, Willeymoor and Povey’s. At Willeymoor there was a good crowd of gongoozlers enjoying the sunshine. We found our team moored up at the foot of Grindley Brook locks.

We went for a meal at the Horse and Groom, as several people had said it was excellent, with the best fish and chips anywhere. Our expectations were therefore high, and we were a little disappointed. James’s fish was not colossal, as we had been led to believe, and the mushy peas had vinegar in, which was odd. Hazel’s Moroccan pulled lamb was not at all spicy, and the place had no chilli sauce to offer. Apart from these details, we had a very pleasant meal.

We sat out on the towpath with the others for a while afterwards.

Strong flows on the bywash

Swanley No 2 Lock

Wrenbury

Wrenbury Church Lift Bridge

Wrenbury Lift Bridge

Marbury Lock

Willeymoor Lock

Povey's Lock

Catching up with the others at Grindley Brook

Meal at the Horse and Groom

Moored below Grindley Brook

9 locks, 11 miles, 2 lift bridges. Dep 0830, arr 1420.

Wed 31^st May Grindley Brook to Blake Mere

We had six locks to contend with at Grindley Brook. The first three were single locks, and the last three formed a staircase. Roger and Simon had problems with the middle lock of the staircase, as the bottom gates of 3 were leaking badly, lowering the level between 3 and 2. They had to let more water in to clear the cill. We all used the facilities at the top, where there were at least four water points, with good pressure. Thankfully, we met nothing coming down, although one or two boats started to move down while we were on the water points.

We were away first, going a mile to the lift bridge at Whitchurch. We met a local here, who said we could moor for Aldi two bridges further on, instead of turning to go into the Whitchurch Arm. We followed his advice, and found some piling just after Bridge 32. We took our shopping trolley and walked to Aldi, along a very narrow pavement with heavy lorries rushing past. The Aldo store was excellent – nice and roomy, clean and modern, with trolleys without wobbly wheels.

We then went for breakfast in McDonalds across a road, and found the rest of the team in there. They were going to Aldi next.

The route back to the boat was not easy with a trolley, encountering ribbed brickwork under the bridge, raised kerbs, and a narrow pavement with heavy lorries going past.

Back on the boat, we set off once more, ahead of the pack this time. Hassells No 2 lift bridge was already up, with a notice to say, “please leave it up”. It was unclear whether this arrangement is temporary or permanent. There is no footpath across it.

As there were no more locks, Hazel was able to put her feet up most of the time and avoid swollen legs. There were two more swing bridges.

We enjoyed some lovely countryside, and we crossed Whixall Moss, a rare peat bog habitat. We saw a large buzzard in a tree, but it didn’t wait to have its picture taken.

We arrived at Blake Mere, our chosen destination, and found just two other boats there. We moored near an ideal barbecue spot on the edge of the mere. The others were 30 to 45 minutes behind us, and there was room for all three boats. Simon on Dizzy Duck had stopped in Whitchurch.

We had a lovely barbecue in the evening sun.