Whatcroft Flash to Breach Site, Dutton

No rain came during the night and so far today we’ve not seen one drop, let alone any thunder and lightening. The sky has been grey all day and the air heavy and still full of moisture, really hope it rains soon.

As we rounded the next bend we could see where everyone had moored last night, the next flash north. It looks like work has started on what will be a marina here, a few piles have been driven in along the far bank and a large pile of them sits waiting. In time here will change, a new marina and crossings of HS2. Although I’m sure that once the new rail line is built and the disruption gone, canal users will just take the bridges as just another one, it’s just a shame that it will be another area with frequent trains. But that’s progress for you.

Yesterday Mick had been bitten on his arm and last night it had swollen up. I drew a line round it so we could see if it had gone down any over night, but this morning the line of course had worn off. So we pootled along to Broken Cross where Mick headed down the road on a bike to a chemists. He was told that he was dong the right thing, allergy tablets and cream. He returned stocked up with some more pills and a stronger batch too, just in case. The insect repellent was being used liberally at the stern today.

Through the chemical works which looked moody with grey skies behind them. We passed NB Earnest, a famous boat that has been to places with The Tuesday Night Club that other boats will never go, like going through the lock on the River Dee in Chester and navigating as far as possible on the Witham Drains. Another long line of moored boats brought us to the Lion Salt Works which are well worth a visit if you ever pass.

Next along the way was the Anderton Boat Lift, working again after a mishap a week or so ago. We ventured down the lift back in 2011 March on NB Winding Down. As we passed today we decided that a return visit was needed to fully explore the Weaver, along with the Llangollen and heading up to Chester and Ellesmere Port, but this will have to wait for another year as we’re booked into Liverpool in ten days time.

Up ahead we had two tunnels, Barnton and Saltersford. I was posted as look out at the bow, as the approach to Barnton Tunnel has some very tight bends, one under a bridge. One way travel only in these tunnels, so I had to check that the way was clear. There is a wiggle in the middle of the tunnel so looking at the right moment is important, we were clear so could proceed. I decided to stay at the bow which confused Tilly somewhat, she spent our passage through shouting out of the bathroom window at us, which echoed along the tunnel.

Being at the bow I could see that Oleanna was still smiling, such a happy boat.

Saltersford Tunnel has timed passages, heading north you can pass through anytime between on the hour to twenty past the hour. We’d just missed our window, so pulled in for a cuppa and counted down the minutes until we could go through. They still needed reminding that I was there ready to go off exploring, so I returned to the bathroom porthole and made my presence known. They just meowed back at me, how rude!

We hoped that we’d be able to moor at the breach site shortly before Preston Brook and luckily there was space for us. No view, but extra mooring rings have been added into the concrete edge since we were last here. There used to be space for four or five boats, now more like ten. The edge is low enough to be able to paint gunnels at too, but that will have to wait until we pass another time.

0 locks, 10.45 miles, 3 packets of pills, 1 arm still in tact, 8 expectant beaks, 0 people at home, 1 Earnest, 2 for the trip boat, 2 tunnels, 2 and 1 mysterons, 40 minute wait, 2 Black Prince boats, 1 mooring without the view, 1 mile to the Bridgewater, 0 rain too play in, 67838956465 rain now I’m inside!

Middlewich to Whatcroft Flash

As we were getting ready to set off we heard NB Halsall approaching. The coal boat had problems over the weekend and now mended was trying too catch up on it’s rounds. So I left Mick to untie Oleanna and headed down to the lock to see if I could help any. There was a chap helping who lived locally who had come to do the same, so I wasn’t needed after all.

A hire boat seemed to not be able to make up it’s mind it was going too and fro on the other side of the bridge hole at the junction. It wasn’t turning in towards Wardle Lock so I hadn’t stolen the lock from them. A chap from a boat behind us went down to see what was happening with them as I dropped Oleanna down. He came back saying that the hire boat were wanting water and to come up the lock, should he wait for them, or were they going to stop trying to do water, no-one knew, not even them! Their attempt to fit a hose onto the water point wasn’t going well with a lady just holding the hose against the tap. I wished the chap behind Good Luck as Mick started to turn Oleanna at the junction back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Another boat was coming through the next bridge and had only just seen Mick waiting for them. They were wanting to head up Wardle Lock, so as the lock was empty and the hire boat didn’t know what it was doing I suggested that they should go up, the chap from the boat behind us also suggest this as he didn’t really want to wait for the indecisive hire boat. Except the hire boat had just made up it’s mind to go for the lock! The photo above is shortly before the third boat entered the equation. Mick has just come out from under the bridge on the right and is turning towards the camera. The hire boat is at the water point just past the bridge, it’s stern is visible. The third boat then came from behind me wanting to turn right under the bridge, but Mick was in it’s way to swing out for the turn and they were in his way to get out of the way, along with the hire boat most probably reversing to try to turn right too. Mick managed to get past everyone and then we ran away, so no idea who got to the lock first, the poor man behind us!

At the three Middlewich Locks there were volunteers on, one for each lock. Considering we have done these locks numerous times, we’ve never done them with lock keepers. I was ready to go ahead and set the next chamber, come back etc, but no need. We’d arrived at a bit of a lull, no-one was coming up, so each chamber was set for us just before Oleanna arrived at it. Three jolly chaps all in radio contact and very efficient. I suggested to them that maybe there should be a volunteer to stand at the junction and act as a traffic warden, but apparently Wardle Lock is in a different area to the Middlewich Locks so that is why there was no volunteer on there.

The other very odd thing was the distinct lack of hire boats below the bottom lock. There was one which was part way through being fitted out, but that was all, every boat was out. We pulled up just after the hire base and filled with water. The pressure wasn’t so good so I had time to walk back through town to Kings Lock chandlers for some International Woodskin for our cratch and front doors as I think they could do with an extra coat or two. Sadly they didn’t have any, but Midland Chandlers at Preston Brook had, so a tin has been put aside for when we pass.

At Big Lock we joined with another boat going down and then stopped at the recycling centre canal side to dispose of rubbish and some engine oil. On we pootled and soon arrived at Bramble Cuttings. Two narrowboats and a day boat were moored up, not enough space for us. But the day boat looked like they were packing up and about to pull away leaving an Oleanna sized gap, which we tucked ourselves into quickly. This is only the second time we’ve managed to get a space here. Off side, picnic benches, and rings,it’s a lovely mooring. Trees, sideways trees, friendly cover, what more could I want. However there were three dogs on this idyllic mooring and the small amount of shade was about to disappear as the sun moved round.

So we moved onwards further north towards the flashes where there would be trees on the port side to shelter us from the heat of the sun. To our surprise there was no-one else moored up, so we picked a good bit of shade and settled down for the rest of the day. Lots to play with here, although the birdies could have sung a bit quieter for my liking. I spent the afternoon giving some attention to the boat hook and pole. They had greyed a bit after three months of sitting outside, so I sanded them back a bit and gave them a first coat of varnish. Quite pleased that I hadn’t left them any longer, just hope there will be a couple of days soon when I can get another two coats on them. As I sanded I could see the weather front coming over the sun went and the wind picked up. We are forecast to have rain and possible thunder storms early in the morning.

5 locks, 4.72 miles, 5 comings and goings, 3 boats all wanting to be under the same bridge, 1 left, 3 lockies, 0 hire boats, 0 woodskin, 1 full water tank, 2nd time at Bramble cuttings, 3 Woofers! 1 flash, 2 more boats, 1 hour sanding, 1st coat, 5 hours of being bedonkers.

Sykes Hollow to Long Lane Bridge, Middlewich

Hardly a cloud in the sky this morning, nice to not be putting waterproofs on again.

We pootled our way along to the Queueing Lock, Minshull Lock, where a boat was coming up. No boats were waiting. We used to pass through here on our shareboat and quite often on a Sunday morning there would be a two hour queue to get through.

Familiar buildings and moorings came thick and fast as this six mile pound was quite often where we’d stop on our first night out on NB Winding Down. Embankments overlooking the Weaver to the east, a couple had moored up and plonked themselves right in front of a great view. The old house that looks like it was once a gate house, the archway for carriages now a glazed entrance. The stables that have been converted into a house retaining the old doors. Then the house with shutters, displaying large window boxes full of colourful flowers.

On the right of us were fields where the grass was being cut for hay. Orderly lines of cuttings were being made rapidly by a farmer zooming around in his tractor. I suspect it was a perfect day for it.

At Stanthorne Lock a boat was just about to come up, so I lent a hand. On board was a couple and it was their first time on a hire boat. The lady said she’d been given differing advice from people on how to work the locks. She’d also had people trying to rush her through, everyone has a first time on a boat and needs to take their time to gain confidence. I suggested that if people were in that much of a rush we tend to just let them go past and do things at our pace.

As I was working Oleanna down I could see the bow of a boat approach, a familiar design of a Carefree Cruising boat. No body came up to the lock, they were too busy tying up on the lock landing. They both appeared to see what was ahead of them at the lock side just as we were leaving. It was NB Otter the newest of the fleet, launched earlier this year, with we suspect the newest of it’s owners. Hopefully they had picked her up this morning and hadn’t taken since Saturday afternoon to get through one lock and a mile. But as we looked back at them taking their time, we did wonder!

We’d hoped that the visitor moorings before Wardle Lock would be in the shade as it was getting really quite hot, but when we arrived there was little shade to be had. It’s a nicer mooring here and closer to Tescos than dropping down to near Big Lock, so we pulled in. This afternoon we’ve stocked up the cupboards and hung washing out. A company has been found in Liverpool to service our life jackets, RCR membership has been renewed, measurements for various bits and bobs have been taken for Finesse and contact has been made with a chap who we hope will make our cratch and pram covers. Someone has asked the powers that be if I need a life jacket too. Well if I do, I want to be able to sit on the roof without a lead and jump on and off as I like. Or the life jacket’s hours will be numbered!

2 locks, 7.4 miles, 0 clouds, 1 hot day, 0 queues, 1st lady Doctor, 2 boxes oatcakes, 1 chicken jointed into 8 pieces for 5 meals, 1104mm by 705mm, 1 tin of woodskin needed, 4 hours in the brambles, 1 garden, 1 noisy woofer, windows 10 being uploaded, will the boat batteries last long enough? 1% charge on phone again!!

Sssshhhhh! to Cholmondeston Winding Hole

Another drizzly start to the day so we took our time to get going. My phone was reset last night and managed to admit that it had a full charge, so far so good. Only thing was it gave me one ! which is what it’s been doing every now and again. But this morning it behaved and the charge dropped in a manor that was expected, so maybe it was fixed. We decided that we would give it a bit more time for it to prove whether it worked or not. So a stop in Nantwich wasn’t needed.

We passed through the two Hack Green Locks passing boats coming up and being followed. Then we pootled onwards to Nantwich. To the West we could make out Mow Cop in the hazy distance. Mow Cop is often in view from the Macc where we’d spent last winter and the last few locks to the summit of the Trent and Mersey.

Under David’s Bridge and the canal skirts round modern housing on it’s way into Nantwich and sits high on an embankment above the town. A lot of boats we’d met recently were after a mooring here and often it is chocka, but today there was space for quite a few. The aqueduct looked splendid with a fairly recent coat of paint. However we didn’t stop until we’d reached Henhull Bridge where we had a bite to eat.

Our cruising for the next couple of weeks will be dictated by our booking into Liverpool and trying to meet up with Finesse to do a few snagging jobs on Oleanna whilst we are relatively close to Sheffield. Last week we put together a list of where we could meet them and get a van close to the boat. The first possible meeting would be tomorrow at Barbridge Junction but as a meeting hasn’t been arranged we decided that we’d be able to carry on a bit further today.

Passing the bottom of Hurleston Locks we could see crews working their way up and down the flight that marks the start of the Llangollen Canal. Originally we thought we’d be heading that way this year, but we stayed longer in London than originally planned so we’ve run out of time.

Day boats now seemed to surround us, weaving their way along the cut. At one bridge we had to go hard astern as one came zooming into view. You could see them bobbing up and down on our stern wave as they came through the bridge hole! At Barbridge we turned right onto the Middlewich Branch, closely followed by another day boat.

Here we now enter old waters familiar to us from our share boat days. NB Winding Down was based in Sandbach on the Trent and Mersey, so the Middlewich Branch was a frequent trip for us. At Cholmondeston Lock a hire boat of Canadians was coming up, two ladies were trying to drop their ground paddles in slow unison. A lady waiting to come up helped with the gates and paddles, although she wanted to wind her paddle up very slowly and after quite a pause. Anyhow we got to the bottom and slowly cruised through Venetian Marina. NB Halsall was moored up on the towpath, it had a gear box failure a couple of days ago and is waiting to be mended, they hope tomorrow. There now seems to be a hire fleet based here and all the pontoons have been replaced, they used to look very unsafe slippy wood, but are now concrete and steel.

Just a short distance to our chosen mooring for the day. Just after Cholmondeston Winding Hole there are benches and barbecue stands where we have moored before. With only one boat there we pulled in alongside one of the benches, leaving enough space behind us for another boat. Tilly has been out climbing the trees and searching for friends. I suspect she’ll be busy for hours.

3 locks, 8.47 miles, 1 straight on, 1 right, 3 day boats, 1 perfect mooring for snagging, 1 sunny day in disguise, 1 phone pretending to be mended, 2 ! ! 1 mooring made for a barbecue, 1 mooring made for cats.

Anchor Bridge to Hawksmore Bridge 72

Last night we enjoyed our pie that we’d bought in Brewood, half the size of a junction pie at Norbury. Then we joined other boaters at The Anchor for a couple of pints of 6X, the only beer they serve. Olive, the landlady was on hand, 83 but certainly doesn’t look it. Last time we managed to drink here she was on holiday and the pub was being looked after by friends or family, at last though we got to meet the legendry lady. Why legendary? She has been landlady for a very long time, at least the forty years that Mikron have been performing at the pub. She pulls your pint of beer with two pulls on the pump and then puts it to one side before topping up your glass from a plastic jug she keeps under the counter.

Everyone else seems to move before we do along here. Boats were coming from both ways as we had our morning tea and breakfast and once again we had to wait for a gap before we could pull out. A mile on and we were on Shebdon Embankment. The views from here must have been fantastic before all the trees grew so high. During WW2 the embankment was closed off at night with stop gates in case it was bombed, this would stop the seventeen mile pound from emptying very quickly. NB Susie Q in front of us had pulled over  and was trying to make her mind up whether to moor up for the day, we said that her chickens would love it there to which she agreed. Mental note made for next time we pass it would be a great place for a barbecue as the towpath is wide and green.

Long lines of moored boats kept us moving slowly onwards to Woodseaves Cutting. About a mile long the cutting has steep sides and is quite often closed due to trees falling across the cut. High Bridge welcomes you into the narrowest section and up ahead we could see a large bird flying between the trees. It wasn’t a heron as it was brown so possibly a bird of prey of some sort. Here you really don’t want to meet anyone coming the other way as passing could well be problematic and the offside paintwork of Oleanna wouldn’t have appreciated it.

Above Tyrley Locks we pulled in for some lunch and could warn a boat waiting to go through the cutting that we were being followed at a distance. After a rest we started down the locks a chap who’d just come up helped with the gates of the first lock. There was quite a strong cross wind, so we got into the rhythm of me going ahead to set the next lock, open it up and then come back to open and close the gates on the lock Mick had started to empty behind. This means that the boat can move straight from one lock to the next with purpose and not get caught by the wind.

The forth lock just needed topping up, so I opened up the paddles and opened the gate ready for Oleanna.  I could see a boat was rising in the bottom lock, so didn’t waste time in heading back to let Mick out of the chamber above. When I returned a lady from the other boat was waiting for us. I chatted to her and then she asked if I knew the flight. ‘No, I’ve only done it once before about seven years ago’. Well I was then reprimanded for not letting them have the lock as the pound below is rocky and you can’t moor in it. She pointed out signs on the bottom gates, saying to set the next lock before leaving this one and not to moor in the pound. I can’t say that there were no signs on the top gates, but I certainly hadn’t seen them. She then went to explain to Mick that her husband would have to stay in the lock and he wouldn’t be able to pull very far over due to the rocks. Have to say we weren’t expecting them to exit the lock and moor up, more to pass in the pound.  I apologised as I was now expecting both of our boats to ground on rocks as they traversed the pound, but this didn’t happen. I apologised to her husband too and he seemed a bit miffed too that he’d had to sit and wait in the lock. I don’t like getting things wrong, I’d not seen any signs, if I had I’d have emptied the lock for them. But I really don’t understand why they were miffed as we set the lock for them and nobody got stuck, they just had to sit and wait a while in the lock. I suspect the signs are more for single handers, or those who pull over to set the next lock ahead as you most probably can’t get off your boat. Oh well.

A short distance now to Market Drayton, which was going to be our destination for the day so that we could easily get a paper in the morning. But it was a bit early to stop so we cruised on through. We were now back onto slightly more familiar water, we’ve been to Market Drayton a few times, one day I’ll tell you all about it. We didn’t remember the pontoon moorings, which looked new on the offside after Betton Mill.

Another three miles of Shropshire countryside all far greener than we’ve seen for a while. At Adderley Locks we decided to carry on down them to try to get a bit more ahead of where we should be. All bar one needed setting and that was only because a boat was coming up. I seemed to impress the chap coming up by pushing the bottom gates open whilst standing on them, I still won’t jump from one gate to the other, my legs aren’t long enough. To close them Mick pushes the off side gate with the boat hook which saves me having to walk round. The by washes can be furious on these locks and push you right over, coming down isn’t as bad as going up as there isn’t so much to hit on your way out of a lock.

Tilly has spent the evening searching for friends in the fields. According to a lady in the pub last night, if we didn’t feed Tilly she would hunt for food rather than find friends to play with, therefore the body count would be less. The downside to this is that I doubt we’d ever see her again as she’d have no reason to come home, cat love is more like cupboard love! I’d still love them, anyway who’d move the outside for me? It can’t be moved with me in it!

10 locks, 12.49 miles, 2 chickens left behind us, 1 long embankment, 1 ever so high High Bridge, 0 on coming boats, 2 narrow to pass, 1 reprimand, 2 inches! 1 building, 0 shells, 4 hours, 36 geeses, 4 noisy drinkers.

Turnover Bridge to Anchor Bridge 42

Boats were coming from everywhere this morning, we’d only had a trip boat come past last night after we’d moored. We had to hold back before we could push off, waiting for a suitable gap in what felt like the constant flow of boats.

Not far away we came to Cowley Tunnel, the Shroppie equivalent of Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey. Well not really, Harecastle is 2926yrds long where as Cowley is 81yrds! But they are both tunnels on canals heading northwards. We waited for a boat to come through so we didn’t have to pass them mid tunnel. Despite it’s lack in length, it’s construction straight through a piece of rock makes up for it.

Gnosall follows shortly afterwards with The Boat Inn sitting alongside the canal. We pulled in to fill with water, we’d been giving our not-so waterproof coats a wash with the aim of giving them a waterproof spray today whilst they were still damp. If this doesn’t repel water then we’re looking at new coats before winter.

Dredging works were going on between the next two bridges, we’d been warned about them by another boater by the water point. So we slowed down as we approached the dredger, two skip boats and a tug. A fresh skip had been brought to be filled and another was ready to be taken away. We trod water whilst we waited, a couple of hire boats joined in with the waiting too. As soon as the tug was moving off with the full skip the dredger started scooping out mud again. Half a dozen bucket loads and then he was told to stop by a colleague and we were waved on. Only problem was that we had to pass on the off side and very soon grounded. Backwards and forwards the throttle went to try to get us off, but with little space to be able to swing this took ages. Once we were clear the dredger grabbed a few more loads before the first hire boat came through.

The tug was depositing the full skip at the next bridge where a large digger was waiting to empty it into a field next to the canal. We trod water again waiting for a gap big enough to go through. As we were waved on another boat appeared on the other side of the bridge, they trod water as well until they decided to go for it. But just as they’d come through the bridge hole the tug decided to reposition itself, oh it was like three jack knifed lorries all together. Ropes were pulled, reverse engaged, hard over, until finally the approaching boat could pass. Then it was our turn, luckily this time it was on the towpath side so it was far easier.

Shortly before Norbury Junction we pulled in for a bite to eat and to let the hire boats return to base. In the past we have eaten at the Junction Pub here, but last time our Sunday lunch was a disappointment and we wanted to get a bit further today before stopping. The diesel price here was 59p, not bad, certainly the cheapest that a boat yard does.

The start of Grub Street Cutting has a famous canal landmark. Yes that double arched bridge with the telegraph pole in the middle. We slowed for photos to be taken and then entered the cutting.

More trees and high sides surrounded us. Towards the end of the cutting on the off side there are several boats moored and behind them in the woods is a caravan and various sheds. Under one structure is a rather wonderful electric blue car (Daimler DB18 convertible?), fairly sure that there used to be another red one here too but there was no sign of it today.

Not much further and we’d reached our destination for the day, the visitor moorings outside The Anchor Pub. We’ve once succeeded in having a pint here before, it’s not always open. The landlady opens up for her convenience not for the drinkers. The door was open when we arrived, just hope it’s still open this evening as we need to have a couple of pints to celebrate some news we’ve had today.

0 locks, 6.63 miles, 2 coats washed and rewaterproofed, 1 full water tank, 2 many wooded cat heavens moved! 1 famous bridge, 1 payment going in the wrong direction, 1DB18, 2 batteries, yes 2 batteries waiting for us!!! 9 months waited, 3rd one wanted though! 1 bully Tilly grounded, 1 non-junction pie, 4 pints waiting, 2 years of being an amputee.

Hunting Bridge to Turnover Bridge 27

By the time we’d had our breakfast and were ready to push off today the long line of boats that we’d joined yesterday had just about disappeared. More boats came past including one going at quite a speed, this didn’t help him when he reached the bridge behind us as he gave it a mighty biff with his stern. We wondered if our later start would mean that there would be nowhere left for us to moor as we headed northwards under blue skies. But we must be in the lull for hire and shareboats in this area at this time of the week, as the canal seemed to be much quieter than we’ve been experiencing lately.

The Shropshire Union main line was the last narrow canal route to be built in England. Therefore it has next to no meanders, instead of clinging to contours Thomas Telford designed it with cuttings and embankments keeping it as direct a route as possible. The earth from the cuttings was used in the construction of the embankments. Large views across fields are broken up by the tree lined cuttings. At this time of year you feel like you are travelling through a tunnel made from trees with dappled sunlight creeping along the roof of your boat. Some of the trees must have been planted when the cuttings were made and then others self seeded themselves. Quite a few look precarious on the slopes and others have grown far too big and given up the challenge. We came across one such tree this morning, spanning the cut, passable in neutral.

There was a lot of space at Brewood which was handy as we wanted to pull in to pick up a few bits of food. A walk around the pretty village to Coopers for some veg and then down the side street to the butchers we found in 2014. Mick hasn’t had a pork pie in ages and a steak and kidney pie shouted out to be bought.

After lunch we pressed on over Stretton Aqueduct passing over the A5. Wonder how many times we’ve passed over Watling Street on our way from London, today will be the last time. The aqueduct has seen better days, a wire brush fertan and some black and white paint along with a lot of weeding and it could be quite a picture again. A mile or so further on was Wheaton Aston Lock, the only one for today. It needed filling as we were following NB Halsall, the coal boat that looks after the four counties ring. A lady started to chat with Mick. Fifty years ago she had come on a charabanc outing for a boat trip from Wheaton Aston, the chap at the helm took a fancy to her and she likewise. There was to be another outing on the boat, but this time it would mean staying over. The only way she was going to be on the trip was if he married her before hand, which is what happened. She and her grandson helped with the top gate of the lock and then returned to near the service block where her husband was waiting in a wheel chair, sadly the towpath looked a bit rough to get him any nearer to the lock.

Through the next bridge was Turner’s garage. This is a road side garage that has a hose down to the cut and is well known by boaters. No wonder at 56.9p a litre! The chap comes to clear the pump back to zero and set it going for you whilst you fill up. Keeping an eye on the pump is a little bit hard as it is way up high. He was a bit surprised that we filled up with the exact amount a boat four ahead of us had taken, but we did a different split. Whilst Mick paid Halsall went by, we normally like to support the coal boats, but at this price he’d not blame us.

More cuttings and embankments before we could stop. The really good views sadly are where the shelf is at it’s worst, so we carried on for a while longer. First place we tried would have been great, except Tilly would have terrorised the next door neighbours! So we pulled on a bit further and eventually stopped through the next bridge. It is the best roving bridge we’ve seen since the Macc, but still not a patch on those beauties.

They kept moving all the best bits today. A great canal for cats it certainly is, that’s if they stop the outside at the right time! My complaints about them moving the serious trees meant that I was allowed onto the roof with my harness on. But this was only torture as they moved men who had bags of fish, so I went back inside. Then eventually I was allowed out once they’d finished. Not as good as some bits had looked today, but there was a great fence that I could balance along all the way to the top of the bridge. This gave me a good vantage point for finding friends.

1 lock, 8.04 miles, 1 fallen tree, 2 pies, 2 nectarines, 2 pints milk, 1 loaf, 50 years, 111.1 litres, 1 bargain tank full, 11 lbs of fish, 2 tasty looking chickens, 150 ft of fence, 0 Easter chocolate left!

Otherton Marina to Hunting Bridge 7, Shropshire Union

A few boats were moving this morning despite the rain, one came past shortly before we pushed off, but luckily winded in the marina entrance so we wouldn’t be following them up the locks. We put our only just dry coats on and pushed off, knowing that we’d be getting wet today. The drizzle was dampening, nothing like yesterdays downpour, but it didn’t stop raining virtually all day!

With all five locks to the summit in our favour and a couple of boats coming down it felt like autumn, no queues anywhere. The first lock was frothy as always, then the stretch alongside the noisy M6. A couple of boats were moored between locks a bit higher up both had brollies over their hatches, a suitable day to change the oil.

At Gailey we stopped for a photo opportunity as this is the first time Oleanna has passed the round tower, it is a must photo. We then pulled into the water point to give our parched tank a refill. The other day a couple were refilling their tank and they were taking the last bit very carefully, stopping the tap and letting air out, then starting it again so that the stainless steel tank didn’t boom when it was full. They had been told by their boat builder not to let it bang as this would loosen connections from the tank. We’d not heard this before, maybe their tank doesn’t have an overflow like ours. I like the boom as it means you can be doing other things, as soon as you hear it there is a second or two before the overflow comes into action. Lillian did little burps, if you wanted to fill her right to the top standing on the starboard side gunnel would release more air.

It was still raining, we were wet so on we went. Shortly after the visitor moorings above the lock is a chemical works. Here there are signs telling you No Stopping or Mooring for 200m ‘even if an alarm sounds’! If the alarm sounded I think we’d put our foot down to get out of the area as quickly as possible, not moor up for the day. Every bridge you pass under reminds you No Mooring. On the off side there are some serious ground works going on, a development of industrial units is being built.

As we progressed along the danger zone Mick started to stare ahead……. ‘Uh Oh!’ Coming through the trees on the off side like a dinosaur, the toothed bucket of a JCB dipped into the canal scooping up water and returning out of view. Was someone watching for on coming boats? Were we about to be dragged by the bucket into the development? Luckily there was a group of chaps working hard watching what the digger was doing pouring the water into a large drain of some sort. We passed in one piece, but wondered if C&RT knew a great big digger was helping itself to their water let alone what damage those teeth could do to the canal.

Spotting a length of armco we decided to pull in for some lunch just as the rain got very heavy. Our coats were hung in the shower to drip away whilst we had a bowl of soup to warm us up. The rain carried on being quite heavy, so the inclination to put wet coats and shoes back on wasn’t strong. Instead Mick watched todays stage of the Tour de France live whilst Tilly was allowed outside. No stopping her, she went straight through the hedge and disappeared for a couple of hours before returning looking like she’d been for a swim.

The rain seemed to be easing so we decided to push off, we hadn’t reached our destination for the day and with the reduced number of boats moving today we’d be able to push on and get through the narrows before Autherley Junction without too much bother. For about a third of a mile the canal narrows through a rock cutting only wide enough for one boat, there are passing places should you meet someone coming the other way. But today, as on every occasion we’ve been this way we were alone, on a sunny July day though I suspect it would have been different.

A short distance and we had reached Autherley Junction where we turned right onto the Shropshire Union canal. We’ve never turned from this direction before, we’ve always been heading north. The turn was tight being more than 90 degrees and took a bit of doing. Once turned under the bridge there is a stop lock which needed resetting, but as it’s not even a foot deep this didn’t take long. We were now heading north again. We’ve not been on the Shroppie since late 2014 and then we didn’t head far before turning round. North of High Offley we haven’t cruised since our shareboat days, so we are looking forward to it. Apparently it is a great canal for me too! Lots of countryside to explore, just hope they stop moving the outside so that I can make the most of it!

Mick carried on valiantly in the rain to get us to somewhere that we could moor for the night. The Shroppie has a shelf along much of it’s length which means that where you want to moor may not be possible as you can’t get into the side. Mick tried one place but the shelf kept us out by at least 3ft, but managed to pull in behind a long line of boats on a 48hr mooring. Showers all round and a warming curry, we even put the heating.

6 locks, 12.9 miles, 1 extremely wet day, 1 frothy lock, 1 full water tank, 1 digger, 0 stopping, 3 hour dry off, 2 hours getting wet, 1 stage watched live, 1 wet coal boat, 1 boat in the narrows, 1 sharp right, 2 showers, 4 pairs soaking wet socks, 2 pairs soaking wet shoes, 2 dripping coats.