Weaver: Vale Royal -> Northwich 31/7/2021

Start: 10:00 Vale Royal moorings

End: 13:15 Northwich

Miles: 8

Locks: 2

Lock miles: 10

Engine hours: 636.7 start / 640.1 end

Plans: Winsford to take Silver Propellor photos and top up water then back to Northwich. Worked like a charm. Weather dry - fresh breeze at times.

At Hunts Lock asked where we could lose our rubbish - skips on a pontoon off the old BW yard so that was a good job too.

Found a nice mooring opposite Northwich Marina.

Emptied the elsan before having lunch. Andrew, having noticed that the sink in the shower room was emptying very slowly, went to B&Q to find a plunger and flexible brush to clear it out. Bonus, was able to find tiles on sale individually to replace those that have popped off the wall. Meanwhile Alison took the finished books to a charity shop and hunted for replacements - also a nice skirt for Mum a semi-constant awareness of the need for more, bigger clothes.

18:00 Booked for a meal at Northwich's oldest pub - The Bowling Green. Thought at first oh no! No bitter, no pie, no wifi. But food and service super. Andrew had 2 pints of IPA and Alison had Symond's Yat cider. Both had belly pork - Andrew then, surprisingly, had cheesecake and Alison, fudge cake.

Weaver: Vale Royal Moorings 29-30/7/2021

Start: Vale Royal moorings

End: Vale Royal moorings

Miles: 0

Locks: 0

Lock miles: 0

Engine hours: 634.3 start / 636.7 end

29th - Walked to Winsford, left river at top of town to go to Morrisons : had coffee and cake and bought picnic things : headed back to boat. Informative information boards but really hard to imagine the leafy surroundings as intensively industrial only 100 or so years ago. That lily covered inlet? A shipbuilders dry dock in constant use. That angled line of masonry? The old line of the river before a new cut dug to reclaim land and build a new road. As it happened, we continued back to the boat and had our picnic there.

30th - Forecast for constant rain so works on bathroom planned. In fact, by the time the bodge completed, the sun was peeping through. 

When the rain failed to arrive, walked down to Northwich, visited the museum, had coffee at Bear then walked back on the other side of the river. Jungle in parts, lovely nature reserve in others. Burgers in pitta bread for dinner.

Engine run for 2.5 hours to recharge batteries and encourage fridge.

Weaver: Northwich -> Vale Royal 28/7/2021

Start: 10:15 Northwich

End: 12:00 Vale Royal moorings

Miles: 3

Locks: 2

Lock miles: 5

Engine hours: 632.2 start / 634.3 end

Lazy start: Brunch at Bear - Pancakes with maple syrup and bacon for Andrew and shrivaka (?) with poached eggs and feta for Alison (this was a rich tomato stew with pickled onions (very gentle pickle - must research recipe)). Very good coffee!

Round the corner to Asda for provisions and away we went, noting the length of moorings available (lots) opposite the marina and two day morrings just below Hunts Lock, also close to Northwich town centre.

Short wait at Hunts Lock while 3 boats came downstream. At Vale Royal locks, the heavens opened - Andrew got drenched while Alison hid inside!

Continuing up to the moorings, a heavy rain front visibly chased us up the river and overtook us just as we moored up! At least rings made mooring up quick… Literally 8 minutes later the sun was back out. Vale Royal moorings and their bench are ours alone!

Weaver: Anderton -> Northwich 27/7/2021

Start: 10:00 Anderton Marina

End: 11:30 Northwich

Miles: 2

Locks: Boat lift

Lock miles: 2

Engine hours: 631? start / 632.2 end

Woke to a greyer, slightly damp morning. Jobs - recycling, rubbish, elsan and showers (incredibly hot water!).

Onto the waiting pontoon with a 40ft trad Kingswood descending for their first time. At the bottom, we left the caisson first but let them past as they were heding to Winsford. We got a spot on the pontoon by the cinema in Northwich - handy for the post office (and the Salty Dog pub!).

5 pints later (total not each!) back to the boat for a snooze (Andrew) and shop explore (Alison). Then quiz night with Laura and Megan - mainly out of doors for mobile signal but soon turned video off to help things along. Got the quiz connection at clue 3! And a perfect score as well - Wow!

Then to bed - a quiet mooring spot, lovely - and secured by BW key. Only 24 hours so must move tomorrow.

Weaver: Middlewich -> Anderton 26/7/2021

Start: 08:50 Middlewich (Newton Brewery)

End: 15:15 Marston (nr Lion Salt Works) then 21:10 Anderton Marina

Miles: 7 + 1.5

Locks: 1

Lock miles: 8 + 1.5

Engine hours: 628.9 start / ??? end

A hot, mostly sunny day; cool breeze on the water. Andrew to hardware shop for supplies to mend the shower where tiles have popped away from the wall - which renders it unusable… Alison to shops for more milk and muffins etc plus a couple of charity shop books.

Lunch promptly at 12:00 then off, thinking to get to Anderton despite the fishing event happening there today. However a mile or so short, we happened upon a quiet and shady spot and called it a day.

Turned out we had moored up next to the boat that we had shared Big Lock with: a professional boat mover - he is nursing a boat with multiple mechnical problems and had come to a halt again - eventual destination is Yorkshire!

Supplemental log: Went for a walk vi the boat lift and saw lots of space near the services. So back to the boat and moved up as the sun set - mooring opposite Andeerton Marina just after 21:00.

Weaver: Church Minshull -> Middlewich 25/7/2021

Start: 08:50 Church Minshull

End: 12:50 Middlewich

Miles: 5.5

Locks: 4

Lock miles: 9.5

Engine hours: 622.9 start / 627.2 end

A beautiful day for boating, slight overcast and warm, gentle breeze.

Alison took over the tiller while Andrew got some steps in - eventually walked the whole distance. Queues at Stanthorne and Wardle locks but most boats were turning right instead of left at the junction. At the Middlewich town locks a bit of hokey cokey as we negotiated oncoming traffic.

Moorings below Big Lock were full so Alison needed to do a cheeky reverse to the Newton Brewery - in the shade, very welcome.

Later in the day, we met up with Ann & Dave Chamberlayne who, Andrew had noticed in their Facebook feed, were caravanning in the area.

Tea and muffins onboard followed by dinner at the Big Lock pub. On the balcony so plenty of entertainment! Exchanged news around the deaths of Andrew's father and Ann's mother just 6 week ago - then moved on to discussing music making in the pandemic - a really pleasant evening.

Weaver: Nantwich -> Church Minshull 24/7/2021

Start: 10:30 Nantwich Canal Centre End: 15:15 Church Minshull

Miles: 7.5

Locks: 2

Lock miles: 9.5

Engine hours: 618.0 start / 622.9 end

At long last, our two week break, the day after John Rodger Smith's (Andrew's Dad) funeral. Nuff said, the holiday is needed…

Queue at Cholmondeston as usual but lunchtime so no dramas.

Sykes Hollow a bit lively insect-wise so we continued to Church Minshull.

Weather mostly overcast, warm - hot when the sun came out.

Top mooring, fab view.