Today was my last day of driving instead of cruising fo a couple of months at least.
Yesterday we stayed where we were because the weather was so awful, neither of us saw any point in getting soaked through. There were a few hardy, or foolish, folk who went past us. It wasn't just wet, it was windy and quite cold too, weeven lit the fire for a couple of hours.
We set off mid-morning for Audlem, me by car and Ray by boat. I met him at Hack Green locks to help him through there, then drove up to Audlem and walked back down to meet him below the bottom lock. Once we were turned round and facing back the way we had come we rang Barry to arrange to drop the car off.
After that we drove over, spent a pleasant afternoon chatting and drinking coffee, then Barry drove us back to Audlem.
Today's journey 5.3 miles and 2 locks
This year we have travelled 120.7 miles, 92 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 859.1 miles, 737 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Back in Nantwich
We got back to Nantwich in time for a late lunch today.
It was an advantage to go past Anglo-Welsh at Bunbury mid morning after the hirers had brought the boats back and before the new lot took them out. Pausing only to dump our bin bag at Calverley service we had a trouble free run back to Marsh Lane bridge. It was still very windy and there was one sharp shower but not too bad.
I did a quick supermarket trip to stock up before we leave the car at Barry's for the rest of the summer. We should get up to Audlem in the next couple of days depending on the weather, the forecast isn't very promising.
Today's journey 8.2 miles and 3 locks
So far this year we have travelled 115.4 miles, 90 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 853.8 miles, 735 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
It was an advantage to go past Anglo-Welsh at Bunbury mid morning after the hirers had brought the boats back and before the new lot took them out. Pausing only to dump our bin bag at Calverley service we had a trouble free run back to Marsh Lane bridge. It was still very windy and there was one sharp shower but not too bad.
I did a quick supermarket trip to stock up before we leave the car at Barry's for the rest of the summer. We should get up to Audlem in the next couple of days depending on the weather, the forecast isn't very promising.
Today's journey 8.2 miles and 3 locks
So far this year we have travelled 115.4 miles, 90 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 853.8 miles, 735 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Friday, 10 June 2011
Flaming June
Today we had intended to get close to Nantwich and to start with it looked as if it would be no problem. We cruised from Tattenhall up to Beeston Iron Lock enjoying the sunshine. when we were filling Beeston Stone Lock the sky darkened and I could see flashes of lightening in the distance. By the time the lock had filled the wind was getting stronger and the sky darker so we decided to moor up.
The threatened rain never materialised but the wind would have made cruising less than pleasant.
I think the cats summoned up the weather so they could have more time to play. The girls gave us a scare this evening by disappearing until nearly ten o'clock. They are normally good about coming back, something to do with supper being at eight. Just when were were begining to get really worried Gwyn appeared and so we headed in the direction she came from and eventually found Nimue about half a mile down the towpath.
Tomorrow we will make it to Nantwich.
Today's journey 3.9 miles and 3 locks
This year we have travelled 107.2 miles, 87 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 845.6 miles, 732 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
The threatened rain never materialised but the wind would have made cruising less than pleasant.
I think the cats summoned up the weather so they could have more time to play. The girls gave us a scare this evening by disappearing until nearly ten o'clock. They are normally good about coming back, something to do with supper being at eight. Just when were were begining to get really worried Gwyn appeared and so we headed in the direction she came from and eventually found Nimue about half a mile down the towpath.
Tomorrow we will make it to Nantwich.
Today's journey 3.9 miles and 3 locks
This year we have travelled 107.2 miles, 87 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 845.6 miles, 732 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Thursday, 9 June 2011
More of Chester
We decided to hop on the bus and go back into Chester this morning. Nothing very exciting, just a visit to the '3' shop to amend my phone contract, a bit of shopping and then completing our circuit of the city walls. Ray did buy me a very unseasonable present of a remnant of fur fabric, just about enough for me to make myself a jacket.
When we returned to the boat we decided to move on so we could let the cats have a bit of freedom. Easy going as there weren't any locks but slow because there are so many moored boats, I think that one stretch here is the longest continuous lenghts of moored boats we have encoutered anywhere.
We eventually moored up just short of Tattenhall Marina, a bit noisy because of the closeness of the railway but nice countryside apart from that. Lousy internet signal here so this probably won't show up until a lot later.
Tomorrow we should get quite close to Nantwich.
Today's journey 5.2 miles
This year we have travelled 103.3 miles, 84 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 841.7 miles, 729 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
When we returned to the boat we decided to move on so we could let the cats have a bit of freedom. Easy going as there weren't any locks but slow because there are so many moored boats, I think that one stretch here is the longest continuous lenghts of moored boats we have encoutered anywhere.
We eventually moored up just short of Tattenhall Marina, a bit noisy because of the closeness of the railway but nice countryside apart from that. Lousy internet signal here so this probably won't show up until a lot later.
Tomorrow we should get quite close to Nantwich.
Today's journey 5.2 miles
This year we have travelled 103.3 miles, 84 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 841.7 miles, 729 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Need more moorings!
We continued our journey back to Chester stopping enroute to look at the old dry dock which nestles between the Shropshire Union and the branch which take you down through three locks onto the River Dee at Tower Wharf. The branch to the Dee is rarely used these days. Thomas Telford's warehouse there is now a pub/restuarant.
Our plans for the day were thwarted by being unable to find a spot to moor in Chester so we had to carry on up the five locks that take you from the centre of Chester up to Christleton where we moored by The Old Trooper. At least we had the company of a couple of chaps from Edinburgh who were on holiday for three of the locks which meant less work for me.
Having a pub within staggering distance was too great a temptation so we decided to go for a beer and a bite to eat. Unfortunately, as it is a Harvester, the range of bitter was limited and the only one on the hand pump was off!! So a bottle of red was indulged in instead, the food was remarkably good with the only disapointment being the baby new potatoes. I know obesity is a problem in this country but if they were the babies I would hate to see the parents! Ray did comment that he has eaten smaller jacket spuds!
We will decide in the morning whether to get on the bus back into Chester or just to carry on our journey.
Today's journey 3.6 miles and 8 locks
This year we have travelled 98.1 miles, 84 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 836.5 miles, 729 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
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| The dry dock at Tower Wharf |
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| The branch down the the River Dee |
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| Thomas Telford's Wharehouse |
Our plans for the day were thwarted by being unable to find a spot to moor in Chester so we had to carry on up the five locks that take you from the centre of Chester up to Christleton where we moored by The Old Trooper. At least we had the company of a couple of chaps from Edinburgh who were on holiday for three of the locks which meant less work for me.
Having a pub within staggering distance was too great a temptation so we decided to go for a beer and a bite to eat. Unfortunately, as it is a Harvester, the range of bitter was limited and the only one on the hand pump was off!! So a bottle of red was indulged in instead, the food was remarkably good with the only disapointment being the baby new potatoes. I know obesity is a problem in this country but if they were the babies I would hate to see the parents! Ray did comment that he has eaten smaller jacket spuds!
We will decide in the morning whether to get on the bus back into Chester or just to carry on our journey.
Today's journey 3.6 miles and 8 locks
This year we have travelled 98.1 miles, 84 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 836.5 miles, 729 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
There and Back Again (apologies to Tolkein)
Okay, so the title wasn't original but that is what we did yesterday.
We left our moorings late morning, got about 300 yards and had to stop because the weed filter was clogged and so the engine started to overheat. If I haven't mentioned it before our engine takes water from the canal to circulate round the engine to cool it then spits it back out into the canal, in the circuit is a weed filter, need I say more? The filter was block with grass cutting, water plants and mud, lovely!! Ray managed to clear it, mostly, but the water flow still wasn't as good as we normally expect. We managed the mile and a half, past the landscape of oil storage depots and refineries, up to the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port, where we turned round and moored for a spot of lunch.
We didn't visit the museum as we were there only a few weeks ago at Easter. It is good to see so many old boats that have been 'rescued' but sad to see the state of some of them. At Easter there were also a lot of working boats visiting. It does give me and excuse to put some of my photos on here.
After lunch Ray had another look at the weed filter and removed a two foot length of canal weed that was partially blocking the pipe.
Then it was time to head back towards Chester, the weather was "changeable", sunshine one minute, then rain and even hailstones at one point. We moored for the night about half a mile before the Northgate Locks. Tomorrow I have to go into Chester again to change my mobile phone contract which I couldn't do until after Monday. We may complete our walk round the city walls if the weather is good. Depending on what we decide to do, we may overnight in Chester or we may start heading back towards Nantwich.
Today's journey 9.2 miles.
This year we have travelled 94.5 miles, 76 locks and 13 lift bridges.
Since Ray retired we have travelled 832.9 miles, 721 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
We left our moorings late morning, got about 300 yards and had to stop because the weed filter was clogged and so the engine started to overheat. If I haven't mentioned it before our engine takes water from the canal to circulate round the engine to cool it then spits it back out into the canal, in the circuit is a weed filter, need I say more? The filter was block with grass cutting, water plants and mud, lovely!! Ray managed to clear it, mostly, but the water flow still wasn't as good as we normally expect. We managed the mile and a half, past the landscape of oil storage depots and refineries, up to the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port, where we turned round and moored for a spot of lunch.
We didn't visit the museum as we were there only a few weeks ago at Easter. It is good to see so many old boats that have been 'rescued' but sad to see the state of some of them. At Easter there were also a lot of working boats visiting. It does give me and excuse to put some of my photos on here.
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| Gifford moored at Ellesmere Port |
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| Unidentified Narrowboat negotiating Whitby Locks |
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| Mossdale, in need of repair? |
After lunch Ray had another look at the weed filter and removed a two foot length of canal weed that was partially blocking the pipe.
Then it was time to head back towards Chester, the weather was "changeable", sunshine one minute, then rain and even hailstones at one point. We moored for the night about half a mile before the Northgate Locks. Tomorrow I have to go into Chester again to change my mobile phone contract which I couldn't do until after Monday. We may complete our walk round the city walls if the weather is good. Depending on what we decide to do, we may overnight in Chester or we may start heading back towards Nantwich.
Today's journey 9.2 miles.
This year we have travelled 94.5 miles, 76 locks and 13 lift bridges.
Since Ray retired we have travelled 832.9 miles, 721 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Heading for Ellesmere Port
We have spent some time in Chester enjoying the sunshine (and showers). We walked most of the way round the city walls, we would have probably done the full circuit but my knee was aching and we were both getting hungry! The cats were feeling a bit "stir-crazy" as we had to keep them in so after a pleasant couple of days in Chester sightseeing and shopping it was time to carry on with our journey northwards towards Ellesmere Port today.
We made good time down through the Northgate staircase locks, they are a bit slow to fill and empty as they each only have one paddle. I was surprised how rural a lot of the canal is, I have done the journey by road and I remember it as a lot more urban. I think that the canal is screened from a lot of the housing and industry. We stopped a little short of Ellesmere Port on the Shropshire Union Canal Society moorings so that we could let the cats have their freedom. They celebrated by catching several voles, two of which they brought on board to play with, still alive!! I was not impressed. We managed to "persuade" them to recapture them and take them back outside.
We indulged in an excellent dinner of 'Lamb and Black' (Welsh lamb stuffed with black pudding) and a nice bottle of red wine. Tomorrow is a day for doing the washing and some more of the painting on the outside of Morgana so we will be here another night. Then it will be down to Ellesmere Port for water, turn round and start heading back.
Today's journey 7.3 miles and 3 locks
This year we have travelled 85.3 miles, 76 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 823.7 miles, 721 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
We made good time down through the Northgate staircase locks, they are a bit slow to fill and empty as they each only have one paddle. I was surprised how rural a lot of the canal is, I have done the journey by road and I remember it as a lot more urban. I think that the canal is screened from a lot of the housing and industry. We stopped a little short of Ellesmere Port on the Shropshire Union Canal Society moorings so that we could let the cats have their freedom. They celebrated by catching several voles, two of which they brought on board to play with, still alive!! I was not impressed. We managed to "persuade" them to recapture them and take them back outside.
We indulged in an excellent dinner of 'Lamb and Black' (Welsh lamb stuffed with black pudding) and a nice bottle of red wine. Tomorrow is a day for doing the washing and some more of the painting on the outside of Morgana so we will be here another night. Then it will be down to Ellesmere Port for water, turn round and start heading back.
Today's journey 7.3 miles and 3 locks
This year we have travelled 85.3 miles, 76 locks and 13 lift bridges
Since Ray retired we have travelled 823.7 miles, 721 locks, 55 swing bridges, 17 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.
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