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.