Bridge 28, Middlewich -> Rode Heath 8/7/2019

Engine hours start: 479.6 end: 486.7 = 7.1 hours

Miles:9 Locks:20  Lock miles:29

 

Early start (07:30) First couple of hours pretty quiet, a bit more traffic come 09:30 when we were 6 locks done and ready for a coffee. Andrew's back went first thing - in pain all day.

Traffic not nearly as heavy as the weekend but a number of convenient crossings between locks. Weather mostly sunny but after lunch cloudier and a bit steamy.

Wonderful display from house martins diving around us - extraordinary aerobatics.

Got the very last spot on rings at Rode Heath so felt vindicated for our early start!

A read and siesta before meal at the Broughton Arms - excellent quality and value (except not a proper New York style baked cheesebake as advertised).

Back to boat 19:45 - Andrew's back really struggling...

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.

Nantwich Basin -> Barbridge Inn 6/7/2019

Engine hours start: 473.6 end: 474.8 = 1.2 hours

Miles:3.5 Locks:0  Lock miles: 3.5

Arrived Friday pm - To Ebenezers and Enzos for apero and dinner. Alison then back to boat and Andrew to Oddfellows. Andrew recovering from a cold and Alison starting one.

While at Ebenezers, reading a CAMRA magazine, we discovered a beer festival at Bollington on the Macclesfield canal next weekend - much more suitable to aim for than flogging over to Bugsworth.

Saturday morning lazing and listening to heavy rain. Sandwich lunch then shopping while car available.

Cast off as skies brightened; muggy weather replaced by fresh northerly breeze. Not much traffic though herons  - one ignored and the other flew at us head on to veer across the canal.

Top mooring outside the Barbridge Inn on opposite side ready for spot of refreshment. Delicious meal: Andrew steak and bacon burger and proper Eton Mess : Alison chicken fillet with tarragon cream sauce and lemon posset.

Middlewich to Nantwich 18/4/2019

Engine hours start: 467.3 end: 473.6 = 6.3 hours

Miles:12 Locks:3  Lock miles: 15

Solo trip back to Nantwich ready for the start of the Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival. AJS due to arrive late tomorrow (Friday) after a gig!

Early start to try and avoid lock queues.

Very quiet for first 2-2.5 hours. Only passed one other boat.

Livened up after 11:00 with lots of boats moving. Volunteer lockkeeper at Cholmondeston said he had already helped 16 boats by 12:00ish. 

Lots of lockies working Hurleston bottom lock and they have a portaloo installed so are well provided for...

Back on mooring by 13:45. Lunch onboard then into town for some groceries and to pick up festival wristbands.

Tried the live music at the Oddfellows at 9pm but the band had a stupidly loud bass drum which was nearly giving me palpitations so gave up after the first pint and went back to the boat.

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The festival was great with lots of good music, beer and food!

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!

Middlewich to Anderton 15/4/2019

Engine hours start: 457.1 end: 461.1 = 4 hours
Miles:10 Locks:0 Lock miles: 10

Solo cruise for ADS from Middlewich to Anderton.

Up quite early to internal alarm clock.  Walked to Morrisons and was there by about 07:50! Did battle with self-service tills and only needed assistance twice... Used shore facilities before returning to boat for breakfast. Another boat arrived at the mooring last night.

Set off at 09:00. Stopped for coffee 11:00. Moored outside Anderton Marina 13:00 after winding at the Boat Lift.

Checked to see if there were any films on at Northwich Odeon that I wanted to see. Fishermens Friends caught my eye so I decided to book a ticket for tomorrow.

However in and amongst internet signal problems, I managed to book for 15:00 today... This meant I had to hotfoot it into town. Pleasant walk through the nature park to arrive at the car park near the Asda fuel station.

Got some sweets and a drink before heading for the screen. Very few people in: I was the first!

Enjoyable film with a good smattering of sea shanties in the soundtrack as might be expected.

Afterwards I had a little look round and found the Salty Dog Alehouse. Monday is real ale night so got two pints of a very nice locally brewed pale all for just £2 a pint!

After that wandered back to the boat then straight off to the services for a shower. Didn't bother lighting the fire as 14 degrees inside and I was warm from the hot shower.

Planning to have a sort out of the front starboard locker tomorrow morning then heading back into town for lunch etc. 

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.