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.