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!