Grappenhall

Today's Canal - Bridgewater

Initially we thought that we were in for a damp and somewhat dismal day but the early cloudy skies gradually cleared. As Mike walked back to Moore Village Shop, the sun through a small gap was catching the cooling towers of Fiddlers Ferry Power Station on the opposite bank of the River Mersey.

There was just the single copy of our paper - OK for us but anyone else on the same mission will be disappointed today! Hope it wasn't someone'a regular order.

Outside the shop there was this sign. Hoping that it might refer to some special variety of Cheaire Cheese, Mike asked what the sign meant. The cheerful lady in the shop said that it announced the arrival of the first local early potatoes. She said that as very little happens in Moore, we have to make something exciting of what we can - even new potatoes!

Mike walked a little further along the road and down a side turning, just to see what there was. Not a lot as it happens except that he could see a little closer a development site close to thew railway. We could see part of it from the canal and last night had wondered if it was some sort of outdoor race circuit for bikes, pedal or powered. There was no indication of what was being built at the lorry entrance to the site so in the end we are no wiser!

In the village the former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel has been converted into three homes - The Old Chapel, the Old School House and The Minister's House. The church was thriving at the start of the 20th century but gradually lost its congregation in the years to follow.

By the time we set off mid morning the sun was frequently shining and blue sky was much in evidence. We thought that it might remain rather cool but quickly the temperature rose.

The section through Walton Village is somewhat enclosed by trees and shrubs - most of the Bridgewater is more open. The wild rhododendrons, which we have noticed on previous passages this way, were in full bloom.

We passed under the road bridge at Stockton Heath but when Christine enquired from the crew of a boat that just returned to base about where she might buy some milk, we quickly looked for a mooring and backed up a short distance.

Whilst she walked down to the shops - not really very extensive but enough for today - Mike made more progress with the paintwork. As it is about patching up small chips and places where the paint has lifted (same issue as with the hull?) it takes time and at times a bit frustrating. Still, we are getting there.

Taking a break from brushes, Mike walked back under the bridge to take a look at Thorne Marine. They do several things here including a newish small fleet of hire boats. They are noted for their small but incredibly well stocked chandlery with all sorts of items that, unless they are just the item you are looking for, can seem wholly baffling! However, Mike spotted that they have the handcuff padlock keys - one of ours we recently discovered had lost the t-bar which makes it unusable. So he bought a replacement and then proceeded to make a hole in the handle so that it can fit on a keyring.

Time then for lunch and afterwards we moved on in search of a quiet overnight mooring spot. We pulled in just after Grappenhall. When we put the pins in it seemed just right but then Christine checked on the opening of Dunham Massey, a National Trust property a little further along the canal which she would like to visit. Alas, our plan to move up there slowly tomorrow and visit on Thursday was thwarted as they are closed on Thursdays and Fridays! In the end, as Mike wanted to do some more painting, we stayed put but will have to make a prompter start tomorrow, especially as we want to pick up a newspaper as we pass through Lymm.

4.8 Miles - 0 Locks

Moore

Today's Canals - Trent and Mersey, Bridgewater

Today was frequently rainy and at times very wet. The occasional bright spell came along to cheer us up this Bank Holiday Monday.

We did not make an early start!

By 10:15, with an eye on the timed entrance to Preston Brook Tunnel - on the hour for just ten minutes - we pootled along to the only lock left on this trip, the stop lock. our arrival there was heralded by the sight of the dry dock but alas, although it seem sin pretty good nick, there is s cant evidence of it being in use.

Although walkers had warned us of a queue ahead, they were actually below the lock, waiting for the 11 o'clock starting pistol. One boat was coming southwards and then we were able to drop down the 90 mm that is enough to ensure that the lock has to be used and to control the flow of water. Canal companies were always highly protective of their waters and feared that others might steal 'theirs'.

By the time we were through the lock the convoy had already started into the tunnel, perhaps a few minutes ahead of schedule but it is possible to see through to the other end of this tunnel. The timing is because it is not possible to pass inside.

Out the other end just over a quarter of an hour later - the boat at the front of the convoy was taking it rather gently. Actually, it is easier to steer a line away from the walls at a decent speed, dropping down to tick over makes it harder! We were immediately warned (by the sign in the foreground but facing away from the camera) that we were entering the Bridgewater Canal which has its own licences. A small number of years back, Peel Holdings withdrew from its long standing reciprocal licencing with CaRT and imposed a 7 days in any 30 limit on boats with a CaRT licence. As yet, the matter seems at in impasse although boats with a Bridgewater licence still enjoy the same benefits as before.

A short distance later we passed the former Gauge House (the names is next to the front door). We have not been able to find any reference to when it was last in use but we assume that it was important in collecting tolls as boats passed from one canal company to another.

At Preston Brook we passed sad and now closed up base of the former Claymoore Hire Company which shut for business earlier this year. Extra sad because it seems that they were well regarded.

Just beyond is one of the Midland Chandlers shops an there were several items we were looking for so it was fortunate that they were still doing their Crick Special 15% discount today!

Service points are rare on the Bridgewater so we felt it important to divert a very short distance along the Runcorn Arm to the water and elsan point outside the Preston Brook Marina. (Well, better a pic of the entrance than the service point!)

Once filled and emptied we reversed about 100 m to that entrance in order to turn around. There is a small mooring area at a former warehouse and then a short aqueduct over the main railway line.

We returned to the junction at Waters Meeting but then turned left towards Manchester. There had been a rally at Lymm over thew weekend we think. In any event there was a real flurry of boats, mostly smaller cruisers of uncertain vintage, all seeking to head towards Runcorn around the blind bend. They did seem to be running a race as slowing down was not part of their agenda!

As soon as we could we pulled and moored for a slightly late lunch. The sun gradually came out and at least one of us felt quite soporific. There is little doubt that this is fake photo but their was a witness . . .

It was really pleasant as set off once more - we were hoping to find a newspaper at the Post Office and Village shop in Moore, just metres from the canal. Alas, it closes early on a Bank Holiday. We moored for the night at a rural spot just around the corner. This gave time to do a little more at the paint restoration but as Mike waited for the first coat of primer to dry dark clouds gathered. Rain arrived and blighted the rest of the day.

6.1 Miles - 1 Lock

Dutton

Today's Canal - Trent and Mersey

The mooring we opted for last night is only a short distance from the parish church in Barnton. In the early part of the 19th century, the village was quite small, perhaps 200 residents. Anglicans shared premises with the local Methodist chapel. But the arrival of the canal sparked off a period of rapid growth together with the development of various large chemical production plants, including the famous Brunner-Mond company, along the river.

By the middle of the century there was a move to build a new parish church for the village, helped by the various church building initiatives nationally. Christ Church was eventually opened in 1842, helped considerably by the generosity of Rev Richard Greenall, same of a wealthy brewer in Warrington.

Ten years later it was recorded that typically there would be 60 at Morning Prayer and 120 at Evensong each Sunday. Within twenty years the graveyard was full and more land had to be obtained. We noticed that many of the gravestones near to the church have extensive inscriptions - far more than we would expect today. Some tell significant parts of a family history.

Towards the end of the century, a vicar was appointed who ended up staying there until his death at the age of 87. His lack of energy in later years contributed to a marked decline in the fortunes of the parish. However, the next incumbent brought many people back to church, helped by the increase in population from 860 in 1842 to over 2500 by the turn of the century. Those who did not arrive early for Evensong had to be turned away. A choir of 30 voices sang from the gallery at the back of the church. As a result of this demand, the church was extended. (see the parish website for more details)

The 150 anniversary was marked with the addition of a stained glass window that includes images of the Anderton Lift as well as the nearby chemical works.

In only took us a few minutes to walk up the hill and we were warmly welcomed as we entered. There was a congregation of just under 30 - the vicar has been there for a year and half.

After the service we were encouraged to join with coffee - this entailed walking to the church hall closer to the village centre. We enjoyed several interesting conversations.

By the time we returned to the boat it was lunch time but Christine spotted that the fuel boat Halsall was moored just behind us so she arranged for them to pull alongside so that we could fill up with diesel. We still had just over half a tank but the stretch ahead of us is not well served with places to taken on fuel so it was safer to start with a full tank!

We timed the end of lunch so that we would arrive at Saltersford Tunnel on the hour, the start of the twenty minute window for northbound boats.

Shortly after emerging from Barnton Tunnel (which is not timed) we had a couple of minutes to wait whilst another boat set off in front of us - they had had to wait on the moorings. Although both tunnels, together with another a little further north, are quite crooked, it is just possible to see through Barnton, hence it is not timed but Saltersford has a significant kink in the middle with a few other deviations along the way!

The boat ahead took it very slowly through the tunnels - they seemed somewhat concerned by the changes in direction but eventually we emerged from both and sunshine had once more returned.

We were only aiming to look for a space at the Dutton Moorings, built in 2012 as part of the repairs to a major breach which saw a large amount of water and soil dumped onto the fields well below the level of the canal.

One of the reasons for stopping here is that it is a good firm edge and Mike wanted to do a but more maintenance - mainly putting the first top coat onto the front well deck. It will need another coat with some non-slip added but, due to a mis-delivery, what we had ordered did not arrive before we left home. At least it will look a bit more respectable - deck area had become rather worn.

Whilst Mike was still finishing off his tasks - and starting on preparing the roast dinner - Christine took a walk back along thew towpath with great views over the river valley below and the famous Dutton Viaduct in the distance.

The spring flowers have not entirely disappeared and there are still plenty to brighten up the landscape.

4.3 Miles - 0 Locks

Barnton

Today's Navigations - River Weaver, Trent and Mersey Canal

The first half of today was bright and sunny but a moderate breeze across the water kept things fairly cool. Despite neither of us sleeping as well as we might have liked last night and two early mugs of tea each, we did not set off until our usual time of 9:30.

The mooring looked as beautiful today as it felt yesterday evening.

After a short distance we passed a new Park Home estate - the last eight plots are currently being marketed although the web site does not seem to indicate prices. Some owners go to great lengths to disguise the fact that these are all park homes.

Newbridge Swing Bridge looks lower in the photo than it is - we had at least 400 mm clearance. There is no obvious way of opening the bridge so we assumed that boats the have a greater air draft need to book passage ahead of time so that CaRT staff can open up the control box to let them through. We suspect that this does not happen very often as there are no signs about it all.
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Salt Union, Winsford Rock Salt Mine, is a land,mark for some distance along the river. Over half of the rock alt produced in the UK comes from here, mainly for gritting roads in winter. The rock in which the salt is embedded also helps to add grit to the mix.

The mine currently goes down to 200 m below the surface. The rock salt is mined, unlike the more extensive brine pumping that is used elsewhere in Cheshire, especially near Middlewich where table salt s produced. As mining techniques can be designed to leave support pillars, this is much less destructive of the surrounding landscape whereas elsewhere there is a long history of subsidence, creating the many 'flashes' for which the area is well known. The company maintains considerable stocks so that it can respond to sudden demands from highway authorities when there is a particularly bad winter storm.

Just before Winsford we passed 'the last winding hole' - we knew that we would be able to turn at the end of the navigation but this one is for full length narrowboats

Another stockpile - this one showing a technique of low cost covering for he mountains which the company has developed.

Just after the Red Lion pub, which is often used to highlight the point to turn around, there are two road bridges and we were able to wind under the second one. Just beyond is a large flash. A new set of moorings has recently been created closer to the entrance but we heeded disaster warnings from the lock keepers and, with a little disappointment, did not venture further. Our confusion was added to when we could see a narrowboat moored there. Still, safer rather than sorry.

Yet another swan family - this parent was keeping its two cygnets safe by giving them a lift!

We passed the overnight mooring where we had been asked to check in with the Vale Royal lock keeper and, good as their word, the lock was ready and a  gate open for us as we arrived and went straight in.

Looking back to our 2011 blog, combined with a vague memory, we realised that back then the larger lock was being used whilst the smaller one, used today, was under repair. The keeper said that the other one was last used four years ago.

Down through Hunts Lock where a very high level railway bridge dominates the skyline. We had been under the main electrified line (which goes through Hartford where Mike caught a train at the end of the last trip) and this one is only a local line through Northwich.

We passed the entrance to Yarwoods Boatyard - there seemed to be a coffee break for a small group, perhaps they are volunteers for something. Yarwoods was once a very thriving and well known small ship and boat builder, coastal ships, barges for larger waterways and a good number of narrowboats. However, it failed to find new markets when demand changed in the 1960's and closed in 1966. The basin appears to be home to a number of restored old working narrowboats.

Mike dropped off Christine close to Waitrose (as suggested by one of the lock keepers) whilst he continued to the Town Bridge where he tied up at the service block. Our water tank was well down and our elsan rather full!

Apparently the new pontoons outside the cinema require a unique key for access, not the standard Watermate key. Fortunately we were not planning on stopping here.

We continued a the short distance to the lift area (startled by the sounds of a shooting range close to the river) and pulled in for lunch on the visitor moorings (we could not hear the guns at this point). After lunch we thought that it would be a good idea to pull down to the lift waiting area and book in for a passage. Christine returned pleased that we had done that as she was given a 16:15 slot. A trip boat,. full of visitors (the lift is a popular destination for coach trips)

With some time to go, Mike made the quiche for tonight and then started on the planned maintenance to the door between our bedroom cabin and the bathroom. Last autumn, this door started to refuse to close - either the frame or the door had changed size! Boats are prone to expansion and contraction as the temperature changes but even so he door would only close occasionally.

We had a number of possible plans of action but the first thing was to remove the door so that we could work on it on the river bank. No sooner had Mike lifted it off and assembled the necessary tools when a member of CaRT staff arrived to say that we could now go up in the next passage! So we had quickly to pack away the door and tools!

As a result of a rather hurried casting off and turn into the lift entrance we did not manage many new photos.

At the top boats can only turn right out onto the Trent and Mersey - it is too tight to turn immediately left. As both we and the boat that also came up at the same time were planning to go left we had to go right and then immediately wind in the large space outside the Visitor Centre.

Once we had managed to do this we continued northwards along the canal, but only aiming to go the short distance to Barnton so that we can walk up to the church in the morning. Fortunately there was still plenty of room on he visitor moorings at the access bridge with a good towpath for re-starting the work on the door.

The plan was first to plane off a narrow strip from the hinge side of the door. As this photo shows, this door, offset from the centreline, is an irregular shape so modifications have to be planned very carefully. We removed just a few millimetres and then re-formed the slots for the hinges.

Re-hanging the door was not as easy as it should have been because we had to improvise with paperback books to raise the door to the right level before screwing the hinges in place! Doing maintenance on a boat is never straightforward. So we were somewhat surprised when the door closed first time and we could put the other modifications to the door frame on hold for now -
they would have been a bit more complex to do anyway.

Late afternoon, Christine walked along to the road bridge where there is a better view down to the river and across to where there was once a large chemical factory. (see here) Now closed, the site is being developed for, guess what?, yet more tacky boxes!

10.3 Miles - 2 Locks