September Cruise - Day 14

A complete change from yesterday: we woke up to a lovely sunny morning, although it was quite cold.  We set off straight up the Adderley Locks, crossing with three boats on the way.  Two hot air balloons were making the most of the weather.

At Market Drayton, we filled with water then moved through the bridge to the moorings, and walked into town for a few bits of shopping.  Then we checked emails, as there was no signal at Adderley, and Norbury never has one either.

We set off again after lunch, and found ourselves as the middle boat of three going up the Tyrley Locks.  The boat ahead lifted a paddle each time they left a lock, and I did the same for the boat behind.

It always seems a long slow journey back to Norbury, partly because of the miles of moored boats on the way.  It's moderately interesting to look at them the first couple of times, but after that the novelty wears off.

We moored on the visitor moorings just short of the basin, leaving ourselves a couple of hundred yards to do tomorrow.  We then had a go at washing the outside of the boat, but whether we made it better or worse was a matter of some debate.  It began raining shortly afterwards anyway, so it won't have made much difference.

15 miles, 10 locks  (152 miles, 112 locks)

September Cruise - Day 13

I had to pick up a few things from Bill at the Nantwich Canal Centre first thing, so we reversed back to the water point to fill up while I was doing that.  At the same time, I asked if there was en engineer who could have a look at the still-leaking water pump.  It was becoming a real pain having the water turned off all the time, except when we really needed it.  Ian the engineer confirmed what we'd suspected, that we needed a new pump, so Adrian backed through the bridge and brought Debdale into the basin, where the work was carried out.

It all meant that we didn't get away until 10am, but at least it had stopped raining.  Below Hack Green Locks are two BW flats, full on new lock gates.  Both locks are getting new gates in November.

We started up the Audlem Locks, planning to stop after the first four for lunch.  At the third one, it began to rain again, and within minutes was really quite heavy.  The fourth lock was done in a downpour, and we were soaked by the time we moored up.  Soon afterwards, it cleared and the sun even put in an appearance.

After lunch, we made good progress up the locks, until a hire boat turned a lock in our faces.  The crew claimed not to have seen us, which must mean they either didn't look, or they're blind.  We moored for the night at the bottom of the Adderley locks, and there was a beautiful sunset followed by a dark starry night.

9 miles, 17 locks  (137 miles, 102 locks)

September Cruise - Day 12

It was a cool, misty start to the day.  Marbury Lock was the first of the day, and we appeared to be on our own.  As we approached the Wrenbury Lift Bridge, a boat pulled off the moorings and followed us through; they then operated the next bridge, so we were back in front.  But by the time we reached the top of the Baddiley Locks, there were two boats in front of us.  It was a while before we started meeting boats coming the other way.  It was a similar story at the Swanley Locks, but at least it gave us a chance to talk to plenty of other crews, particularly the two ladies on the boat in front.  By the time we reached Hurleston, we were in front because they'd stopped for fuel.

We were quickly down the locks, with just one boat coming up, and turned right towards Nantwich.  When we reached the town we moored in a space on the embankment, and went over to the Nantwich Canal Centre.  Adrian put some washing in, and we had an excellent lunch at the cafe.  While we were there, Bill Saner, the MD of the Canal Centre came over (my review of one of his boats will be in the next edition of Canal Boat) to talk about another story -- so we ended up having a look at the work that had been done on a boat badly damaged by a falling tree.

The rest of the afternoon was spent taking a walk into Nantwich, which turns out to be a very nice town with lots of interesting buildings.

Back at the boat, we sat in the cratch reading the paper and watching the boats go by.  It's clear that you have to be at Nantwich early to get a space!

10 miles, 10 locks (128 miles, 85 locks)

September Cruise - Day 11

Rain overnight, and it's been a very dull day all day, with the odd shower of light rain. At least it made the journey through the meres quite atmospheric.  Adrian went to Tesco for a paper, and we set off at 8.30.  It was nearly an hour before we passed a boat coming the other way, but after that there were dozens of them -- most of them hire boats.

I'm afraid I find this lock-free section fairly uninteresting, particularly the two long straights across the Whixall Moss reserve.  We made very steady progress, so decided to pop up the Whitchurch Arm for a lunch stop.  The arm isn't very long, and we winded and moored near the junction end.

Leaving the arm, there's no right turn towards Grindley Brook, so I took the boat along to the winding hole, while Adrian stood by to lift the bridge.  We arrived at the top of the Grindley Brook locks at 2pm, and had to wait for three boats to come up.  Once we were going down, progress was quick, and there was another boat following us down.  At the bottom of the staircase, there were three boats waiting, and there were boats at each of the three individual locks.

While I waited at the bottom lock, Adrian went to the nearby petrol station to get some coal, and my sister and family arrived for another visit.  They had a ride down the lock and through the railway bridge (which is almost long enough to be a tunnel), which little Rachel was very excited by.  We moored up at the visitor moorings, and had a couple of hours family time, during which Rachel fed the ducks, waved at boats, and said "door" for the first time.

Once the family had gone, we decided to do another hour, and went down three more locks, mooring for the night on the Shropshire Union Canal Society moorings just above Marbury locks.  We're all on our own -- a first for this holiday.

16 miles, 9 locks.  (118 miles, 75 locks)

September Cruise - Day 10

The Navigation Inn was excellent.  Very friendly atmosphere, a lovely bar with a roaring fire, and fantastic food.  We'd have no hesitation in recommending it.

We woke this morning to another fantastic day.  There was frost on the roof of the boat, a clear blue sky (with the moon still visible), and mist rising off the water.  We wanted to be at the foot of the Frankton Locks in good time, so because of the speed limits we set off just after 8am.  It was very cold, yet very sunny, and the canal looked spectacular.  It's so quiet, it feels like a secret waterway.  We were soon at the Aston Locks, which were in our favour, largely because we were the last boat down them.  We met the only moving boat we saw on the canal today at one of the widest parts.  Above Graham Palmer Lock, the level was very low.  We made a quick stop at the services on the Weston branch for water and to dump rubbish, then went to the waiting area for the Frankton Locks.  The only other boat due to go up was already there.  I went to find the relief lock keeper to let him know we'd arrived.  The other boat set off up the locks at 11.30, and we followed.  There's a stall selling eggs and veg at one of the individual locks, so we bought a red cabbage.  Between the two locks is a beautiful cottage on the off side.

At the staircase locks, we talked to a couple who were on their first hire boat holiday and had stopped to see locks in action before tackling them themselves.  They only picked up their boat yesterday, but already seemed to have caught the bug.

We thoroughly enjoyed our excursion down the Monty.  It's beautiful, secluded, and has plenty of interest.  It will be even better when there's further to go -- although I hope it retains something of its secret status.  The Shropshire Union Canal Society is currently running a fundraising campaign for the restoration.  A barrow of boulders costs £5 -- surely something all boaters could afford to donate.

At the top of the locks, we stopped on the visitor moorings for lunch, and were entertained by a Black Prince boat trying to wind in the junction, and getting wedged across the corner several times.  We then continued to Ellesmere, planning to stock up at Tesco for the rest of the week.  We moored just outside the arm, on the junction.

After shopping, we decided to stay put, and sat in the cratch, reading and watching the comings and goings.  It was sunny and warm; perfect.

9 miles, 8 locks.  (102 miles, 66 locks)

September Cruise - Day 9

There was absolutely no need for us to make an early start today.  Even so, we set off at 8.30, on a fantastically sunny morning.  We were soon approaching the two New Marton locks; the first was in our favour, and a boat was just coming up the second.

Shortly after 10am, we were moored on the lock waiting area at Frankton.  I chatted to the relief lock keeper, David, who's been doing the job only since April.  He's worked for BW for years at the Ponty aqueduct, but until he was asked to cover for the full-time lockie at Frankton, had never ever seen a lock!

Three boats were due to go down onto the Montgomery Canal, but the other two hadn't arrived by the time we set off.  Four boats were coming up, and they were all waiting.  The lock opening hours are 12 noon to 2pm, but we got underway at 11.30, and were at the bottom of the four locks (two are a staircase) by midday.  We made a brief stop to dump the rubbish at the service point at the Weston branch, then continued down the shallow Graham Palmer Lock, before making a lunch stop at the Perry Aqueduct.

The Monty is beautiful, particularly on a lovely sunny day.  There are speed limits of 3mph above Aston Locks and 2mph below them.  We saw loads of butterflies and dragon flies, thousands of water boatmen, and big fish jumping out the water.  The water is shallow, and at times the channel is narrow; at one point, a winding hole looked like a much better prospect than the channel itself.  I was glad I had a map, so I knew I had to go under the bridge.

At the Aston Locks, the towpath was busy with people and families walking and cycling.  Two boys out with their grandmother helped at the top lock, and two girls with their father and grandfather assisted at the second.  Three of the four of them said they'd never before seen a lock being used.  There aren't many boats on this canal.  There are boats on permanent moorings at the bottom end of the canal, but we've seen very few visitors; in fact, assuming the two other expected boats followed us down Frankton Locks, we've calculated that there can be only nine visiting boats here tonight.  It's a complete contrast to the Llangollen, where there are boats everywhere (and, I suspect, has the highest proportion of hire boats anywhere on the system).

We continued to the end of the current navigation, winded, and returned to the service point at Maesbury Marsh to fill up with water.  There's good pressure at the tap, so it didn't take long.  Then, at about 4.30, we went through Bridge 79 and moored for the night. We went for a walk round the village and visited the Canal Central shop and cafe.  We plan to eat tonight at The Navigation Inn, beside Bridge 79.  The former canal company building, Sycamore House, is just beyond.  It's been a fantastic day's boating.

11 miles, 10 locks.  (93 miles, 58 locks)

September Cruise - Day 8

Trevor basin proved to be a very quiet mooring, once I'd been out at 10pm to ask the Black Prince boat behind to turn off its engine.

Heavy rain overnight, and it was still raining in the morning although it cleared up later.  Brian and Mike left after breakfast, picking up their car from Anglo Welsh.  We set off at 8.30, straight over the aqueduct.  At Whitehouse Tunnel, we arrived at one end at about the same time a boat arrived at the other.  They turned off their tunnel light to indicate that we should come through.  It turned out to be a very unusual boat -- wheel steered from a position at the front.

By 10am, we were moored up at the north portal of Chirk tunnel.  The towpath there is very soft and muddy, so we were pleased to find a couple of rings to moor to.  We walked into Chirk, past the very sweet smelling Cadbury factory, to stock up for the next few days.

Next we make the one mile walk across the fields to Chirk Castle, where we walked round the fantastic gardens with fantastic views, had lunch in the cafe, and looked round the castle.

Setting off again, we had to wait for one boat to come through Chirk tunnel, then we headed through.  At the other end, the Shroppie fly boat Saturn was just coming off the aqueduct, being towed by another boat.

We moored up at New Marton -- another early finish.  Mid Wales Narrowboats, which seems to be the same as Maestermyn Cruisers and Welsh Lady Narrowboats, had clearly released a load of boats this afternoon, as a whole procession came past.  The water pump is still leaking, but turning the water and the pump off makes it stop, so we'll just turn them on when we need them, and let Norbury Wharf sort it out on Friday.

7 miles, 0 locks.  (82 miles, 48 locks)

Hillmorton Update

You may remember my post about Hillmorton, in which I mentioned that Badsey's Cafe Bistro declined to serve us, as last orders were at 2pm, and we were a few seconds late.

The owner has now posted a comment in reply.  I'll leave you to make up your own mind about it.

September Cruise - Day 7

Today was supposed to be a non-traveling day, being tourists in Llangollen.  But the discovery of a damp patch on the carpet, which we traced to a leaking water pump, meant a change of plan.  Norbury Wharf arranged for Anglo Welsh at Trevor to have a look, but they had to do it today as tomorrow is changeover day for the hire boats.  However, we managed to fit in a couple of touristy things first.

We walked up to Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee, where the water is diverted into the canal.  As it's world Heritage Week for the aqueduct area, the Meter House was open.  This is where the water is controlled, and was fascinating.  Under the floor is a huge pipe which narrows and then widens again, in order to draw water from the river.  16 million gallons a day is taken for the canal.

Brian and Mike decided to go into Llangollen and walk down to Trevor, while we set off on the boat.  Once there, we had a pump out and got some diesel, and an engineer had a look at the water pump.  He replaced a seal and tightened things up;  we'll keep monitoring it to see whether it's worked.

We moored through the bridge in the basin, and went for a walk down below the aqueduct to view it from river level.  We had to wait ages for a boat to go across!

The weather swung wildly between heavy rain and warm sunshine.  In the evening, we went to the Telford Inn for steak pie.

4 miles, 0 locks.  (75 miles, 48 locks)