Engine hours start: 523.7 end: 530.4 = 6.7 hours
Miles:11.5 Locks:3 Lock miles: 14.5
Off at 09:30. Generally fine, though now always convinced it would remain so. Queues for locks the main feature of the day.
Paused for lunch and water pump window shopping at Aqueduct Marina. A wide variety of skippers encountered , included the Novice Snail for the couple of miles. Everyone starts somewhere, I guess.
The following day, we used the launderette at the Basin - very impressed - in order to have some clean clothes for a family gathering in Gloucester at the weekend.
On the way to Gloucester, stopped at Midland Chandlers at Penkridge to get a new water pump and accumulator tank. Managed to accidently pick up two accumulator tanks (but only paid for one). The following week Andrew stopped off to return the surplus one and the chap was so impressed that he gave us a 10% discount voucher!
Logs and pictures of trips on the UK canals on Narrowboat "Mind Like Water"
Showing posts with label Middlewich Branch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middlewich Branch. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 July 2019
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Barbridge Inn -> Bridge 28, Middlewich 7/7/2019
Engine hours start: 474.8 end: 479.6 = 4.8 hours
Miles:9 Locks:3 Lock miles: 12
Sunnystart today, clouds bubbling up. Toasting in sunshine. Met a hotel boat pair at end of Barbridge moorings.
Through Cholmondeston lock by 11am and sun back out - temperature rising beuatifully.
Sandwich lunch on the move, no faurther delay at locks and moored in outskirts of Middlewich just after 2pm for fiesta.
Important to use local businesses so down Kings Lock for a pint or 2 and coffee & walnut cake to go for pudding - a fine follow up to chicken wings and salad on board.
An early night with a long day scheduled tomorrow - aiming for Rode Heath to get well beyond the M6.
Miles:9 Locks:3 Lock miles: 12
Sunnystart today, clouds bubbling up. Toasting in sunshine. Met a hotel boat pair at end of Barbridge moorings.
Through Cholmondeston lock by 11am and sun back out - temperature rising beuatifully.
Sandwich lunch on the move, no faurther delay at locks and moored in outskirts of Middlewich just after 2pm for fiesta.
Important to use local businesses so down Kings Lock for a pint or 2 and coffee & walnut cake to go for pudding - a fine follow up to chicken wings and salad on board.
An early night with a long day scheduled tomorrow - aiming for Rode Heath to get well beyond the M6.
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Anderton to Middlewich branch by Bridge 28
Engine hours start: 461.0 end: 467.3 = 6.3 hours
Miles:10 Locks:5 Lock miles: 15
Start of solo cruise back towards Nantwich ready for the Jazz and Blues festival
Bright start. Up around 08:00. Several boats already past. Breakfasted on porridge BBE end 2017! Tasted alright...
Aiming for Middlewich branch visitor moorings today. Set off about 08:50.
Trouble free journey to Big Lock at Middlewich apart from getting stuck behind a very slow and erratically steered hireboat at one of the new marinas near Billinge Green Flash.
Straight into Big Lock sharing with another boat. Then ran into queue for the Middlewich 3 locks. Boat in front had been waiting for an hour. Turned engine off and had lunch. Only took about 30 mins to move up to first lock. Single handed the first two and then got help from a volunteer lockkeeper for the final one.
Short wait at Wardle Lock as chap had lock waiting for a boat coming down. Single handed through with no problem. Moored just beyond Bridge 28. A warm afternoon.
Later walked down for a couple of pints in the Kings Lock and took fish and chips home from the Kings Lock chippy!
Miles:10 Locks:5 Lock miles: 15
Start of solo cruise back towards Nantwich ready for the Jazz and Blues festival
Bright start. Up around 08:00. Several boats already past. Breakfasted on porridge BBE end 2017! Tasted alright...
Aiming for Middlewich branch visitor moorings today. Set off about 08:50.
Trouble free journey to Big Lock at Middlewich apart from getting stuck behind a very slow and erratically steered hireboat at one of the new marinas near Billinge Green Flash.
Straight into Big Lock sharing with another boat. Then ran into queue for the Middlewich 3 locks. Boat in front had been waiting for an hour. Turned engine off and had lunch. Only took about 30 mins to move up to first lock. Single handed the first two and then got help from a volunteer lockkeeper for the final one.
Short wait at Wardle Lock as chap had lock waiting for a boat coming down. Single handed through with no problem. Moored just beyond Bridge 28. A warm afternoon.
Later walked down for a couple of pints in the Kings Lock and took fish and chips home from the Kings Lock chippy!
Sunday, 14 April 2019
Nantwich to Middlewich 14/4/2019
Engine hours start: 450.0 end: 457.1 = 7 hours
Miles:13.5 Locks:8 Lock miles: 21.5
Start of a short trip in first week of Easter break for ADS. AJS present for first day's cruising.
We had spent the previous day at the IWA branch AGM held at Wappenshall Wharf followed by a walk to Berwick Tunnel. We did a car shuffle to leave Alison's at Middlewich ready for the next day.
Sunday started bright and sunny with a chilly wind. By 10:45 the sky had clouded and the wind was brisk - layers piling on.
Spoke to the Findlays on NB Muddy Puddle at their Barbridge mooring.
Bacon butties at 12:30pm just past Aqueduct Marina.
Cold breeze all day and sun increasingly absent. As soon as moored up below Middlewich Big Lock, we got the fire lit.
Dinner at the Big Lock pub before AJS returned home having fetched car from street parking on arrival.
Miles:13.5 Locks:8 Lock miles: 21.5
Start of a short trip in first week of Easter break for ADS. AJS present for first day's cruising.
We had spent the previous day at the IWA branch AGM held at Wappenshall Wharf followed by a walk to Berwick Tunnel. We did a car shuffle to leave Alison's at Middlewich ready for the next day.
Sunday started bright and sunny with a chilly wind. By 10:45 the sky had clouded and the wind was brisk - layers piling on.
Spoke to the Findlays on NB Muddy Puddle at their Barbridge mooring.
Bacon butties at 12:30pm just past Aqueduct Marina.
Cold breeze all day and sun increasingly absent. As soon as moored up below Middlewich Big Lock, we got the fire lit.
Dinner at the Big Lock pub before AJS returned home having fetched car from street parking on arrival.
Monday, 7 May 2018
Middlewich Branch and Shropshire Union (Monday 7/5/2018) Bridge 16 Middlewich Branch to Nantwich Basin
Engine hours start: 364 end: 370 = 6 hours
Miles:8 Locks:2 Lock miles: 10
Glorious weather. The branch is unnervingly quiet due to the breach.
Minshull Lock being worked in our favour as we approached - likewise Cholmondeston - so through with little delay - probably because we were not in any hurry!
Paused for lunch after Hurleston Junction and returned to base mooring with no fuss at all.
Miles:8 Locks:2 Lock miles: 10
Glorious weather. The branch is unnervingly quiet due to the breach.
Minshull Lock being worked in our favour as we approached - likewise Cholmondeston - so through with little delay - probably because we were not in any hurry!
Paused for lunch after Hurleston Junction and returned to base mooring with no fuss at all.
Sunday, 6 May 2018
Middlewich Branch (Sunday 6/5/2018) - Move to near Bridge 16 and walk into Middlewich
Engine hours start: 363? end: 364? = 1 hour
Miles:2 Locks:0 Lock miles: 2
Moved up from Church Minshull to the winding hole near Bridge 16. Turned then reversed a little way up the arm to avoid being passed twice by every winding boat. Good call as gave us a nice peaceful mooring.
Walked up the towpath to try and see the breach but the towpath is blocked by a large plywood fence.
Found a path round the breach into Middlewich where we had a very nice Sunday lunch at the White Bear. Very hot weather so a couple of pints were very welcome!
Wandered back to the boat for a quiet evening.
Miles:2 Locks:0 Lock miles: 2
Moved up from Church Minshull to the winding hole near Bridge 16. Turned then reversed a little way up the arm to avoid being passed twice by every winding boat. Good call as gave us a nice peaceful mooring.
Walked up the towpath to try and see the breach but the towpath is blocked by a large plywood fence.
Found a path round the breach into Middlewich where we had a very nice Sunday lunch at the White Bear. Very hot weather so a couple of pints were very welcome!
Wandered back to the boat for a quiet evening.
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Shropshire Union & Middlewich Branch (5/5/2018) - Norbury Canal Festival
Engine hours start: 357.5 end: 363.0 = 5.5 hour
Miles:6.5 Locks:2 Lock miles: 8.5
Travelled to boat on Friday evening.
Up promptly to visit the Norbury Junction Canal Festival. Went to deliver copies of Shroppie Fly Paper magazine to the IWA branch members staffing our stand.
Had a look round the various stalls and traders. Andrew got a nice leather coin holder and we got fudge and ice-cream. Chatted to the folk on the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust stand: in a similar situation to Stroudwater with a length in water at Newport and only half a mile separating them from the network. But no Heritage Lottery Fund money so stuck - but hopeful...
Then back to Nantwich and away. Late lunch at Barbridge Inn - very busy as the weather so suddenly glorious.
In afternoon, along Middlewich branch to moorings above Church Minshull - fave view.
Cooler evening a relief. Neighbours relaxing over booze - noisy but cheerful.
Miles:6.5 Locks:2 Lock miles: 8.5
Travelled to boat on Friday evening.
Up promptly to visit the Norbury Junction Canal Festival. Went to deliver copies of Shroppie Fly Paper magazine to the IWA branch members staffing our stand.
Had a look round the various stalls and traders. Andrew got a nice leather coin holder and we got fudge and ice-cream. Chatted to the folk on the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust stand: in a similar situation to Stroudwater with a length in water at Newport and only half a mile separating them from the network. But no Heritage Lottery Fund money so stuck - but hopeful...
Then back to Nantwich and away. Late lunch at Barbridge Inn - very busy as the weather so suddenly glorious.
In afternoon, along Middlewich branch to moorings above Church Minshull - fave view.
Cooler evening a relief. Neighbours relaxing over booze - noisy but cheerful.
Thursday, 10 August 2017
Weaver Navigation & Chester (Thursday 10/8/2017) - Church Minshull to Cheshire Cat, Christleton
Engine hours start: 312.2 end: 320.5 = 8.3 hours
Miles:16 Locks:4 Lock miles 20
Fitful sun and cool breeze to start, hoping to have some fair weather at last. Have run out of socks for one thing!
Straight up Cholmondeston Lock - first time ever no queue - 6 boats waiting in the other direction though! Bought two extra mooring pins at Venetian Marina chandlery while passing.
Easy through Barbridge Junction and used services at Calveley. Increasingly sunny come lunchtime. Teamed up with Grumpy Git (who wasn't really) at Bunbury until Beeston Iron Lock.
Managed a text-book Bunbury Shuffle with Alison driving the boat and accomplishing a flawless wiggle! Andrew was in charge of the operation as neither of the other two boats involved had done it before so just asked to be told what to do!
Did some laundry on the move. Didn't dry very quickly as still a fairly cool breeze. But weather improved to become a nice afternoon as we went past Shady Oak and then onwards to moor outside the Cheshire Cat at Christleton about 16:30.
Miles:16 Locks:4 Lock miles 20
Fitful sun and cool breeze to start, hoping to have some fair weather at last. Have run out of socks for one thing!
Straight up Cholmondeston Lock - first time ever no queue - 6 boats waiting in the other direction though! Bought two extra mooring pins at Venetian Marina chandlery while passing.
Easy through Barbridge Junction and used services at Calveley. Increasingly sunny come lunchtime. Teamed up with Grumpy Git (who wasn't really) at Bunbury until Beeston Iron Lock.
Managed a text-book Bunbury Shuffle with Alison driving the boat and accomplishing a flawless wiggle! Andrew was in charge of the operation as neither of the other two boats involved had done it before so just asked to be told what to do!
Did some laundry on the move. Didn't dry very quickly as still a fairly cool breeze. But weather improved to become a nice afternoon as we went past Shady Oak and then onwards to moor outside the Cheshire Cat at Christleton about 16:30.
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