Cholmondeston

Today's Canals  - Shropshire Union, Middlewich Branch

The weather today was not as good as was forecast. OK, so we knew there would be some rain but it arrived in the morning several hours ahead of schedule! There was a chilly breeze and the skies were generally very grey.

Our plan was to not go too far today but the idea that it would be a rest day was soon overtaken by the need to go shopping (at least for milk and potatoes) as well as some maintenance.

We began by digging out the items needed for painting - they have been well stowed in the least accessible corners of the boat! The fore well deck floor has had several places where the paint as 'bubbled up' from the underlying steel. Since we did not see the hull when it was out of water we cannot be sure that the behaviour here was the same but it does sound similar. We have yet to source suitable paint except that we did pick up a tin of grey primer before we set off from Droitwich. Whenever we do the final coat, it will still need preparation so that is what we did today. We removed the loose bits of original paint and gave it a good sanding.

It will need painting and sanding several times to return the surface to a smooth level layer but we did manage two coats of primer during the day. At least we have made start. \all we now have to do is to find some suitable paint for the top coat. One of the complications is that the paintwork used colours taken from the full RAL range rather than the limited set of ready mixed paints usually available from chandlers.

When we finally set off just after 11 we travelled barely a mile to moor on the Nantwich Aqueduct - we were lucky to find a free slot just before Telford's iron bridge. We passed nb Stanton, originally built in 1936 to work the Grand Union. It was later converted to have a full length cabin but has now been restored to its former purpose and occasionally is used to deliver coal to the fuel boats.

We decided, in a change of plan from yesterday, that we really did need to walk into town. We have visited Nantwich several times and always found it a pleasant place but the walk from the canal to the shops is just a but further than comfortable!

As we walked along Welsh Row, Christine spotted this large and splendid bloom  (peony?)in the garden of one of the cottages.

After picking up a pork pie and some white Cheshire cheese from Clemows, a well-known butcher in the town centre, we called at the parish church. We took a good look here several years ago when they were in the middle of a substantial fund raising campaign for various improvements.

The Easter decoration, a simple but spectacular, white ribbon, makes an immediate impact.

One of the improvement that has been made is to the main doorway - which now incorporates toilets within the modified entrance. A large wall hanging that was made in the 1970's for the Silver Jubilee, has now been given a stronger position.

The church has a number of important features. One which always amuses visitors is the set of misericords in the choir.

We then walked to Morrisosn - the primary reason we waked into town! The streets have many old and interesting buildings. One which we have not really noticed before is Sweet Briar Hall. It is thought that it originates from the 15th century.

After completing our shopping we had to walk all the way back to the boat with Mike laden down with a heavy rucksack (bag of potatoes, melon, milk etc) as well as a full shopping bag. However he received scant sympathy!

On the way we suddenly saw Kath and Anna whose life as liveaboards is frequently recorded in videos under the title of The Narrowboat Experience. They have just been up the Llangollen during which they have completely re-painted their boat in a new set of colours.

By the time we made it back to the boat it was definitely time for lunch - well it was almost 1:20! Once that was over we still did not go very far (as we were untying, Mark and Andy walked by having moored just a little further back) We went just along the embankment to the service  block. For once there were no other boats using the facilities - in the past we have had to join a queue on both sides of the canal!

Finally, finally - we could start today's cruise. Before long we passed the bottom of the Hurleston Locks, the start of the Llangollen Canal. We saw that the volunteer lock keepers have now been provided with a small hut for shelter - it must have been very welcome today.

There were occasional bursts of sunshine but the showers and chilly wind dominated. The bridges northwards from Nantwich Wharf (now marina) have more width for boats - this is because the Chester Canal, the first part of the Shropshire Union to be built, can be used by much wider boats.

Compare the size with this bridge from the Middlewich Branch which we joined later at Barbridge Junction.

The May blossom is now out in force with some long stretches of characteristic white. We saw one woman from a boat moored near Hurleston collecting the flowers in a bag. We had not heard before of them being used but we later discovered that it can be used to make May Blossom Wine or brewed as a tonic tea, supposedly good for the heart.

We continued a,long the Middlewich Branch until just above Cholmondeston Lock. There were already quite a few boats moored on the 48hr moorings but we just managed to slot in.

Mike still had one more maintenance task - one of the bolts on the rear hatch had broken and we picked up a replacement from the chandlery at Natntwich. Although nominally the same size, why is it that nothing, even a simple bolt, is directly 'plug compatible'.As a result more tools had to be retrieved from our stores to drill out new screw holes!