The day began almost as warm as yesterday with quite a bit of sunshine. However, it turned cooler by late morning as the breeze picked up and was rather chilling. Later, the warmer feel returned.
We set off as usual and before long we came to the first of several lift bridges for today - most of them were hard work with the worst requiring 80 turns of the windlass. They are all hydraulic mechanisms and it seems that the efficiency varies as some only take under 30 turns!
As with yesterday, we aimed to make good progress but with no locks it was only the lift bridges that interrupted the gentle cruising. However, we did see this warning sign well in advance but even when we came close we could not work out the problem - at least we could see that it was not a supermarket trolley!
Morris Lift Bridge, just before Whixall Moss Junction, lies closed just into the water, As there is a strong flow - the canal is a water feeder to Hurleston Reservoir - it bubbles up at the downstream side.
The bridge is at the end of a long straight and can be seen for some while. Nevertheless, the large STOP sign still does not prevent some people from ramming the bridge - hopefully no-one has yet stopped it from working.
We encountered these signs on the towpath, We had thought that Men Working was in today's social climate so blatantly discriminatory that no-one would even consider using it - but obviously we are wrong!
The work is to repair the towpath edge - nothing happening today, of course. The technique being used - wooden stakes and plank - seems to be increasingly common but we wonder how long it will last compared with properly installed piling and armco. In several places it seems that they are replacing an earlier repair that was too short in length.
Earlier we also saw that banks like this are accompanied by No Mooring signs so presumably they are not over-strong. In any event, the workboats had to be moored a little further on using 'proper' bank edging!
Mid afternoon we passed one of the several meres around Ellesmere - this is the largest, adjoining the town itself so merits the name: The Mere.
The towpath here was a carpet of brown, red and yellow leaves.
We were aiming to reach Ellesmere soon after 3 so that we could do a little shopping at Tesco, close to the end of the short arm into the town. (As it was Sunday it would close at 4)
Just before arriving at Ellesmere we passed a fuel boat and pulled in alomngside - we suspect that we might inadvertently jumped the queue as another boat which was moored in front of the fuel boat pair also wanted diesel. At least he did not seem too upset. The fuel - as usual with the boats - was competitively priced. Today the base price was 74p. The boat has not been supplying diesel for more than a few weeks - it has taken them a while to obtain the necessary licence to trade in diesel. As another boat stopped whilst we were filling, also wanting diesel, it sems that he must be in the right place. In any event, moments after setting off again we passed the entrance to a marina where the base price was 89p!
At the junction we turned down the arm - there were penty of spaces towards the end, closest to the shop. Even taking nearly half an hour over the fuel we still had plenty of time to shop before it closed.
The former warehouse at the wharf basin is gradually becoming more decrepit - sad that no new use has been found that will justify its restoration.
We could have stayed put but we needed to visit the service block at the junction and also felt that making a litle more progress would make tomorrow's arrangements, when we are meeting up with Andrew, a little easier.
The former Toll Office and Canal Company Office atthe junction is very splendid indeed. The original companies were in many cases quite successful and the style of building was perhaps meant to reflect their confidence.
15.5 Miles - 0 Locks
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