Grindley Brook

Today's Canal - Llangollen

Today we were promised an exceptionally warm day for the time of year - even being described in the media as a heat wave. Indeed we quickly found that fewer layers of clothing were needed - of course it was quite a 'busy' day with, as you can see for the statistics at the end of this blog.plenty of locks to be done.

However, we were now back into narrow lock territory having spent most of the time since leaving Foxton at the start of the season in wide locks. We had to adjust our technique - although the principles of large and small, wide and narrow locks are the same, very different approaches are needed. The main benefit of a narrow lock is that there is no need to keep the boat to one side - there is only one side to be at!

Setting off we immediately entered the Hurleston flight of four locks which, being very closer together, were quickly despatched. When we set off the sky was still rather cloudy but by the time we arrived at the top there were good patches of sunshine.

Looking back as we left was a great view - by the way, the top gate was deliberately left open as a boat was arriving to go down!

After passing Swanley Marina we were on territory new for Alchemy - we came this way on Take Five's final trip with us in June last year. Immediately we rose up the two Swanley Locks. Although later the lock keeper at Grindley Brook did say that it had not been especially busy, we did find a steady flow of boats on the way down and at most of the locks we found them set against us with another boat just disappearing ahead.

The tree-lined sections are beginning to be covered with fallen leaves both in the water and on the towpath although many of the trees are still quite green. It is often only when you look back from a distance that you can spot the distinctly autumnal tinge.

Looking to get a week newspaper we phoned ahead to the Village Stores at Wrenbury (we found them very helpful last year) and they promised to put one aside for us. In fact the shortest way is the footpath from  a bridge just before the obvious road crossing. We tied up and Mike set off - there and back including mooring was barely half an hour. The landmark to head for was the church.

In the churchyard Mike spotted this sign indicating a free school that was first endowed in 1605.

Different from the usual 'keep off the grass' sign!

In the graveyard there are these two plots - not sure about Chester but in most dioceses they break pretty much every rule going! Wonder if there is a story behind all this?

We had moored just before the first of the iconic Llangollen lift bridge - there will be quite a few more of these before we are done!

And then we were at Wrenbury Mill - quite a lot of the hire fleet is in port at this end of the season.

The afternoon continued very warm and pleasant - a gentle breeze kept everything feeling fresh as well.

Our target for today was to moor just before the Grindley Brook six locks but we had made good time so we opted to go up the flight tonight and moor at the top. The top three are formed as a staircase and, as is usual, a couple of lock keepers were in attendance to regulate the flow (boats can only go up or down at anyone time and without a 'policeman' on point duty boats waiting in one direction can be held up for a long while at busy times.

Below the flight is a disused railway bridge - the moorings are the other side and it is a blind bend so a lookout crew ahead is a good idea.

Even into the late afternoon there were plenty of onlookers, often keen to lend a had opening or shutting gates. We had a short wait below the staircase. At first Christine was told that two would be coming down before we could ascend but the crew of the second disappeared off to the cafe beside the locks so we did not have to wait for them. The lock keepers were clearly none too pleased as they were not informed about the change of plans!

Above the locks we moored in exactly the same spot as last year - Christine managed to check from our old blog photos!

13.0 Miles -19 Locks