A complete change in the weather - it was not a surprise as yesterday's forecast held out the hope of a bright sunny day, all day even though it would be markedly cooler.
As a result we were off in good time, pushing away from our overnight mooring not long after nine o'clock.
Just after Elton Moss bridge used to be the base for the eponymous well known narrowboat builders. They outgrew this site and are now to be found at Middlewich. A large modern house has been built at one end of the site and still advertises the company.
The sun was now reflecting brightly off the underside of leaves - making them look especially impressive!
Just before Wheelock - where the village is expending rapidly with extensive new housing - we were a little puzzled by this bridge as it has a very much closed off look at one end. Looking at the maps and aerial photos it appears to have been built as the service road entrance to a large water treatment works. However, we could not see any alternative so if not over here, where? Since this original road will shortly run through the new housing estate, no doubt there will be pressure for large heavy vehicles to go another way. (There is one to be seen on the Google view)
We pulled onto the wharf at Wheelock so that Mike could do a full service whilst Christine popped around the corner to the village shop for milk and a paper.
The Cheshire Locks comprise 31 locks that lift the canal from the Cheshire Plain to the northern end of the Harecastle Tunnel, start back in Middlewich. The close together locks from Wheelock to the summit are often called Heartbreak Hill and certainly involve plenty of work! There are few breaks to take breath. Whilst most of the locks were at one stage doubled to increase the capacity for traffic, most now only have one operational - as here right at the start.
After a few locks we passed a work boat on its way down - there was another a little later.
At Malkins Bank, the side arm was emptier than when we pictured it in 2015 when there was no spare room at all. This is the only evidence left visible from the canal of the very large brine pumping works that once occupied the land which is now a golf course. The company here had set out to produce ammonia soda but were eclipsed by Brunner Mond who built up the huge plant at Winningtpn, near Anderton, by licensing a more succesful process from Belgium.
We passed under the M6 and managed to take a photo just as transporter was just about to cross, but partly hidden by trees. As a result, if you look closely, it seems as if there are cars flying over just a few metres above ground!
Not only are some of the paired locks now left with just one operational, others have had one side filled in altogether, even if it is possible to see where the other one once was.
This boat is covered in solar panels, some large, some small. Just how much electricity can they generate? They should be about as self sufficient as it can be - perhaps they are aiming to be electric powered! Or are they one of the small number of adventurers who are giving it a go.
Other locks have no sign left where the second lock was.
But the two Pierpoint Lock probably never were doubled. Why?
Between the trees we had our first glimpse this trip of Mow Cop, a feature that can be seen over a substantial area, both here on the Trent and Mersey and also on the Macclesfield Canal.
At Thurlwood, the upper lock once had an experiment - a steel lock that was intended to be able to be adapted in the event of subsidence - a little north from here this was a particular problem as a consequence of the salt extraction. on our first canal trip on 1967 we passed through the steel lock -somewhere we have a 35mm slide (remember them?) showing it. See here for details. Built in 1958, it was finally removed in 1988. Today the lock site itself shows no reminder and the only real evidence is the second bridge below the locks.
Just above the lock we pulled onto the Rode Heath moorings for the night, giving Mike a short while to do a bit more to the wood window surrounds and other parts that are in need of some TLC.
6.4 Miles - 14 Locks
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