We deliberately did not bring many stores with us, just what was left in the fridge plus the large order from our local butcher. As we had the car we drove into Nantwich to to an extensive re-stock which we could then deliver just metres from the boat. We also popped briefly to the butcher where Christine found Red Cheshire at the end of our last trip. We succumbed to a large piece as well as an almost equally large segment of White Cheshire. Oh, and also two pork pies.
By the time we had returned to the boat, unloaded and made ready, it was not far off midday. Christine walked around to the marina office to return the electricity meter card whilst Mike cast off and brought the boat to the exit onto the canal, where Christine re-boarded.
It was about half an hour to the top of Hurleston Locks where we moored for a lunch break - the White Cheshire and the pork pies are now a little reduced (well, lover half of a pork pie is no longer taking up space in the fridge!
There were two lock keepers assisting at the flight - with traffic somewhat quieter today than expected they were quite keen to help! They even had the top gate open and ready for us.
As a result of the help we only took just over 20 minutes to complete all four and then turn at the junction.
This time we headed northwards - we are sort-of-planning to head towards Chester. We have a number of constraints in the first half of this cruise as well as the fixed target of reaching the marina at Droitwich where we will leave the boat for the winter - hopefully we will still have a chance to visit before the start of the season. As a result we are not working to a very well-defined cruising schedule at the moment.
Just around the corner we could see works being undertaken at the base and side of the reservoir. It was unclear what was being done but it does involve creating a new set of steps.
The handsome chap(chappess?) was kind enough to stay still long enough to take one shot - but flew off before the repeat button could work. Just as well the first one was usable.
We followed a very slow boat from the junction (we had also followed them earlier but they went straight down the locks) Alas they pushed out from their lunch stop just as we were about to pass them. At times we had to coast as tickover was too fast!
When we were just about to arrive at Barbridge Junction there is a narrows, the old gauging toll point. As well as the slow boat another two boats were arriving from the other direction. The first decided to take the narrows at the same time as the slow boat! Whilst they made it, it would have been quicker if one had held back. But then the first boat decided that they wanted to pull in for the rubbish bins without taking a line ashore. The crew member who went to the bin store could not manage to unlock it and the steered could not keep his boat alongside . . . All in all, when the second boat came through and passed us we both exchanged raised eyebrows at the antics of the other two boats. The good news was that the slow boat turned onto the Middlewich Branch!
We continued north and soon passed under the busy A51 as it crosses from one one side of the canal to the other. In fact the truck in the photo was parked up but it is also possible to see that there is some construction work beginning on the site beside the canal - it is possible that a roundabout is being constructed or at least a good entrance as the site is signed as being made as an Employment Park. All around are industrial units - the largest business is Boughey - they are the UK's leading ambient grocery distribution and storage specialist as they say on their web site and this is their principal base.
We called very briefly at Calveley where there is a CaRT depot (looks as if it is currently making a number of new stop planks) as well as an elsan disposal point.
Before long we reached Bunbury staircase locks (two) where there was also a volunteer lock keeper on duty. The former stables do not seem to have much use at the present excepot to provide the volunteers with some shelter. At least it meant we could look inside and were surprised that it was just one long space.
Immediately below the locks is an Anglo Welsh hire base and they keep boats not out on hire lined up almost across the width of the canal. This makes it difficult for boats arriving at the bottom as they cannot see where to stop until they are right below the gates. Two arrived as we were descending. Surprisingly, the lock keeper did not suggest the Bunbury Shuffle - a bit more complex but it saves both time and water. This manoeuvre allows two boats one way and a single boat the other way to pass in the middle of the staircase.
As we left the locks we could see that a couple of hire boats had just set off. When we were close to Tilstone Lock we could see that they had both pulled alongside and that someone else was emptying and then filling the lock. Another hire boat was on its way up but the bottom gates are very leaky (worn away by boats rubbing against the edges to leave a gap that does not completely close even with the pressure of water from a deep lock. As a result both the boat up and the two going down were quite slow.
By the time we ourselves had descended it was getting a little chilly not to mention almost five o'clock so we looked for a possible mooring. We were not really expecting to find somewhere with a tv signal as the right direction was largely tree lined. However, a gap suddenly appeared and a quick stop and reverse took as back to where we could just managed a signal - but needed the dish in just the right place!
6.9 Miles - 7 Locks
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