Nr Welsh Frankton to Chirk Bank - 2 locks, 5 miles, 5 hours

Well it has certainly been an eventful day!!

We set off at approx 8:15, the sun was shining and there was no sign of rain for a change!

As we approached the first lock of the day our hearts sunk, there was a long line of boats and we could see the fluorescent yellow of workmans jackets as well as a crane near the lock, we had not had any alert from waterscape to problems on the Llangollen but it didn't look good.  

Relief they were working on the landing stage for the lock, but the actual lock was fine, there was just a long queue about 7 boats in front of us.  There was also a strong cross wind which was causing havoc!!!!

As we tried to pull in a bit further down the boat in front of us was all over the place, we were keen to help but were having enough trouble getting By The Way secure on the bank.  Eventually we sorted ourselves out and then helped them, it was a hire boat that they had only just picked up and bless them they had been given minimal instruction.

We slowly made our way up the tow path towards the lock.  The boat in the queue in front of us went, but he went far too soon, the cross wind caught him and he ended up pinned to the opposite bank, unfortunately there was no way any of us could get to him to be able to help him.  He tried to get off the bank at least 6 times and every time ended up pinned back on the bank.  Eventually he managed to reverse enough that the boat was diagonally across the canal, the guy I had been chatting to at the lock got on and walked to the front of the boat and used a pole to push the front forward, finally he made it into the lock.

Sorry I have no pictures to share of this, 1: didn't take the camera with me to the lock. 2: it would have seemed a bit cruel to photograph someone else's misfortune.

We progressed through the lock without incident and then through the next lock - no queue at this one - unsurprisingly.  We passed a golf course, a couple of the greens were very close to the canal, I wonder how many times some one over shoots this green and ends up with a water penalty.

We were travelling along without further incident when we came to a bridge on a sharp bend, so Rodney sounded the horn in case anything was coming the other way, luckily there wasn't but George over stretched on the back looking to see why the horn had been sounded, next thing splash!! Yes for the second time since we left in July he was in the canal.  Luckily I saw him go in and quickly pulled him out by his harness, the water here is much cleaner than in Uxbridge - thank goodness!

We are now moored just round the corner from the Poachers Pocket where we may well be having tea tonight.

(EH 378)

Ellesmere to Nr Welsh Frankton - 5.5 miles, 3 hours

Well we survived the storm, we were luck and really only had heavy rain.

We set off at just after 8:30, with a bit if rain, which stayed with us for just over an hour.

This is a really pretty stretch of canal with no locks or lift bridges.

We passed the junction of the Montgomery canal, which is undergoing significant restoration.

If the weather is still holding we may take a trip down the Montgomery on the way back.

The sun came out and we could see the Welsh hills in the distance.

We have moored in another quiet secluded place.  However, there are a lot of people in a hurry this week...........guessing it is because it is half term, I have had to get my stroppy head on and moan at a couple of them as they are not slowing down passed moored boats.........very bad etiquette!!!!!!!

We had the scotch egg last night, not as good as we remember, but the Pork Pie was excellent and the pork and black pudding sausages were fab........we bought some more today :-))

Ellesmere

The Deli was still there, they had one scotch egg left, will find out later if they are still as good as we remember.

Given the weather forecast we decided to stay put today.  We took the opportunity to do a walk which Mike had given us, taking in the Mere's and the canal, 7.25 miles.

The first part of the walk was relatively nice and dry.

As we got about a third of the way in, the heavens opened, typically at this point we were in open countryside :-).

We managed to follow the route without too many problems, despite my best efforts, was reading the wrong route at one point!!

We had a real mixture of weather rain, sun and wind - even a rainbow.

We walked passed Blake Mere, and George had a little paddle, which was great at getting some of the mud off his legs.

Really spookily as we got back to boat, we were just about to get back on board when a boat came passed and a voice shouted "Tracy?", it was a guy called Mark that I worked with from Sheffield, once again what a small world :-)), wasn't poised with the camera so not a good photo, but will do better when we pass them again.

The rain has now really set in, so I think we will have a cosy afternoon on board, and listen to the football, I am a gluten for punishment!!

OMG we won, beat the Toon 2-1 and moved off the bottom of table - yeaaaaahhhhhhhhhh - Ha'Way The Lads!!!!!!!!!!

Platts Lane to Ellesmere Tunnel - 1 lift bridge, 6.75 miles, 3 1/2 hours

It was a bit grey this morning when we set off and little bit of drizzle was falling, the forecast had said dry.........so it was almost right :-)

As we passed the nature reserve near Bettisfield we crossed the English - Welsh border.

At some point we crossed back but no one seemed to feel the need to mark that point!!

As you get towards Ellesmere there are some really pretty Meres, the first one is Cole Mere, you can't see the Mere that well, but this little lodge is sandwiched between the Mere and the canal.  Is it just me or does it have the potential to be in a horror movie!!! (No offence to the owner I am sure it is lovely inside)

The next Mere is Blake Mere.

We have moored just after the short Ellesmere tunnel, about 1/2 mile outside Ellesmere itself.  This afternoon we are off to see if the lovely deli with the best scotch eggs ever is still open, it is 6 years since we last came through here and I hope they are as good as we remember them to be (my mouth is watering just thinking about it!)

(EH 371.3)

Grindley Brook to Platts Lane (Friday). 6 locks, 4 lift bridges, 5 miles, 4.5 hours

We awoke to the forecast heavy rain, but by 9:30 it had stopped and by 10:00 the sun was trying to shine.

We set off and immediately met a guy from the Canal and River Trust who was a volunteer assisting the lock keeper, it was really good to have his help and the locks on this stretch have run offs and due to the heavy run they were running at a pace, so he was able to get the next lock open, whilst I closed the one we had left, which made it much easier for Rod driving into the locks.

We were the first boat through that day, so the bored lock keeper didn't really understand why he had been sent a volunteer to help him!!! 

We then stopped at the top to fill up with water.  This has been a good test for us in preparation of any really cold snaps, as we hadn't filled up for a week.  So we know if we get frozen in we can last a week before we gave to come and beg one of you for a shower!!!

The lift bridges are really hard work you seem to be turning the handle for ever, hopefully there won't be as many tomorrow, fingers crossed.

We moored up at Platt's lane and just after 3:30 we had visitors, Nic, Steph and Magaret had come to see us.  It was great to see them all and we gad a good catch up, this was the first time they had seen the boat.

Nic very kindly gave Rod a lift back to the van, so no need to bike in the dark and the rain for which he was very grateful -:).

(EH 366.6)

Grindley Brook (Tuesday to Thursday)

Rod had to work an extra day this week, so we spent 3 days at the bottom of Gridley locks.

Tuesday I rode back for the van.  It was another rainy morning with not much sign of it letting up, so I decided to just brave it and be on my way!!  It wasn't a good start as I turned the wrong way onto the A41 and cycled about 1 1/2 miles towards Chester when I should have been going towards Whitchurch - doh!!  I got absolutely soaked and just as I got back to the boat, the sun came out and stayed out for the next 3 hours............

Wednesday I took a trip into Chester, to visit Trailfinders and start to investigate our trip to Hong Kong etc, the girl in there was excellent really knew her stuff.

Whilst I was in Chester I took the chance to have a walk around part of the historic wall, picture below is from the wall looking down on the town centre.

Thursday was a really nice day, so as Rod had gone to Nottingham leaving at 5:30 in the morning, I did a bit of boat DIY, touching up some of the paint on the sides that had been scuffed going into locks and took George for a nice walk.  The lock keeper on the Grindley staircase locks, was particularly bored as there had not been much traffic, so we had a bit of a natter and I said I would see him on our way up tomorrow, heavy rain tomorrow, he said.... (I am rapidly learning not to take that much notice of the weather forecast beyond the current day!)

Wrenbury to Grindley Brook (Monday) 4 locks, 1 lift bridges, 6 miles, 3 1/2 hours.

Sunday we ere joined by Mike, Liz and Mikes Mum and Dad (Jim and May).  We had lunch at the Dusty Miller.  The food was really nice, had a lovely roast with all the trimmings.

It would have been rude not to have a desert, Mikes was especially nice.

Not average chocolate brownie.

On Monday the heavens had opened again and forecast was initially of rain all day, so we gad resigned ourselves to not moving. However, we were lucky and just after 12:00 it brightened up, so we decided to go for it.

It pretty much stayed dry all afternoon and we were able to get to the bottom of the locks at Grindley Brook.

Llangollen Bridge 4 to Wrenbury - 5 locks, 2 lift bridges, 4.5 miles, 3 hours 20 mins

Another early start as the forecast was showing rain from lunch time.

This section of the canal is very rural, but there was some "gold" to be found along the way, which of course we had to stop and collect some.

We arrived into Wrenbury just after 11.30.  

We spent a lovely afternoon in Nantwich, I have never been anywhere with as many coffee shops - heaven - the weather was beautiful so we were able to sit outside, at a lovely coffesh Enzo's - really lovely lattes :-).

We found  a great butchers, a proper fish mongers and a couple of excellent independent wine merchants.  The fish monger filleted a wild seabass for me the fillets are massive in comparison to the ones you get at the supermarket!  One of the wine merchants was named after Mr B.

As we drove back the heavens well and truly opened it was torrential as we drove into Wrenbury the road was flooded in a couple of places and the drains were struggling to cope, we had fountains shooting up through the manhole covers.

When we eventually got back to the boat, we were just putting the shopping away when there was a tap on the boat, we were really surprised to see Marion, the lady from Ducks Landing that used to moor next to us in Yelvertoft - another small world moment!!! They are also now permanently cruising and were moored about 500 yards in front of us.

The second surprise of the day came, when in the middle of cooking tea, there was another tap on the boat, this time it was Mike. (More to follow later on why).

(EH 356.6)

Nr Barbridge to Llangollen Bridge 5 - 4 locks, 5 miles, 5 hours

We set off nice and early as rain was forecast from lunchtime onwards.

We turned onto the Llangollen canal.

As we were preparing to enter the flight of locks at the start of the Llangollen proof positive that Rodney doesn't listen to anything I say, but pretends he does :-)

Me - Rod you need to pull over as we have to lift the fenders for this lock

Rod - yes (accompanied by a nod of the head)

5 mins later the boat is still sitting in the middle of the canal

Me - Rod did you actually hear what I said?

Rod - No

What more can I say!!!

Anyway the reason that we needed to lift the fenders was because the bottom lock of the flight is really narrow, the woman on the boat in front of us (who was giving instruction to the couple with her) said it is the narrowest lock on the network, not sure if that is true, but it was a pretty tight squeeze.

As we progressed up the flight George was really pleased to see 3 dogs, he initially thought one was Kayla. 

We made it to the top of the flight without further incident.  It is certainly nice to be back on narrow locks, the gates are so much lighter than the double locks we have been through recently.

We have moored up in a lovely rural spot, the forecasters were not wrong the heavens have opened on and off through the afternoon and evening, still at least that meant we got the log burner going and George promptly sat himself down next to it.

(EH 353.3)

Chester to Barbridge Monday-Thursday

Sunday we visited the Vet and then Mike and Liz, George is on Steroids again - he will turn into a Great Dane at this rate!!!  We had a lovely meal and the boys chopped wood, so we are now fully stocked up again, thanks to Mike.

Monday we turned round to head back the way we had come turning at bridge no 133.

We were almost back into Chester when we saw the boat that we had travelled through the tidal locks at Brentford with back in the middle of July, what a small world.

As we travelled through the locks at Chester we seemed to be the only boat on the move, could this be because no one else was stupid enough to move in the pouring rain?!  Still no queues at any of the locks and as long as you have your waterproofs on you are fine, Mr B did cheat at one point as he sheltered under a dual carriage way bridge while I got the lock ready.  

What a difference a day makes Tuesday was beautiful.

We stopped at Beeston stone lock and drove into Nantwich to stock up on provisions.  

The steroids and ear drops have been working their magic and on Wednesday the scruffy mut ( that is a term of affection afforded to George by my brother) was off to be stripped.  

Before

After

Thursday morning we got up really early to move a couple of hours before Rod started work.

Which got us to just outside of Barbridge.  I spent another couple of hours sorting out our winter route but we have a plan - yippee!!!  I then took George for a really long walk, after which he was knackered, so decided to fall a sleep on the bench on the front of the boat, about 30 mins later he did a Sarah - rolled over and fell off, he is ok.

We set off nice an early this morning and we should be onto the Llangollen by mid morning. 

Tiverton to Chester (Friday & Saturday) - 12miles, 8 locks 6 hours & 50mins

Friday 

We left Tiverton on Friday morning reasonably early.  The two days at Tiverton had been really enjoyable some great walking along the Sand Stone trail, George and I managed to walk to Beeston Castle.

The plan for Friday was to get nearer Chester, Rod was of Go-Karting in Milton Keynes on Friday night which was approx a 3 hour drive each way.  We attempted to moor at least 4 times each time the canal by the bank was too shallow and we couldn't get the boat in.

  Eventually we managed to find moorings at a village called Christleton, looked nothing from the canal but when I walked George it was really pretty and quite quaint.  

Rod went off to his Karting the team he was in finished 5th out of 12, the wooden spoon went to the Mclaren team, seems it is not  just formula 1 that they are not doing very well in!!  He got back at 1:45 a.m. - he must be mad!

Whilst Rod was Karting I spent several hours trying to work out our winter route, there are lots of closures for repairs from Nov-Feb, it was a nightmare but we have a plan, now!

Saturday

We headed in to Chester, the locks are all double ones now and pretty deep, which means the gates are flipping heavy!  Luckily we arrived at the first one just after another boat so we travelled all the locks to Chester with them.

As you come into Chester the canal runs alongside the City wall.

The last set off locks was a staircase of 3, luckily they give you instructions and it was much easier with two of us working the paddles.

By the time we had finished we had two guys on the bridge in front videoing us, a group of about 10 people watching from the middle bridge - no pressure! - I did think we should start charging appearance fees.

 We travelled through Chester and moored up near a golf course.  

Rod suggested that we could go to football as our old home town team Cambridge Utd, were playing Chester City.  So we walked into Chester to watch the match.  Now I appreciate that I support a team that only has 1 point and is manly holding up the rest of the Premiership, so I have nothing to crow about, but you have to admire all those fans that had travelled all the way from Canbridge, it was not the greatest of games. The most excitement was a penalty miss by Cambridge, which as Rod pointed out the guy wouldn't have scored if the goal had been twice as wide, final score 0-0, think I will stick to Premier league football, until next year when I will no doubt be watching Championship football.

We walked back to the boat quickly changed and walked into the City Centre, where we had a fabulous meal at Piccolinos.

Sunday we are off to see Mike and Liz via the vets at Warrington, poor George has an  ear infection.

(EH 339.1)

Barbridge to Tiverton - 6 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours 20 mins

Left Barbridge just before 8:00 and immediately passed the junction for the Middlewich arm of the Shropshire Union, with the A51 running alongside.

As travelled on we arrived at the first set of locks which were a staircase of 2 locks.

We then arrived at the locks at Beeston the second was a very unusual lock made of iron, this was as a result of the soil around the lock site being predemoniantly sand and the first lock built in the traditional style collapsed twice.

To the right you could see the remains of Beeston Castle.

We had a close shave at the last lock George got a little over confident and tried to get onto the back of the boat as it came into the lock, then changed his mind and teetered on the edge, luckily his balance was good enough to stop him falling in!!! 

Rod cycled back and I did a bit of paint touch up on the front, following a couple of scrapes coming down the Audlem flight.  

We are going cycling in Delamere Forest this afternoon, as long as the rain holds off :-))

(EH 332.3)

Audlem to Barbridge - 8.5 miles, 2 locks, 4.5 hours

We had a lie in this morning and watched Strictly.

Having travelled down the 20 locks yesterday the countryside and terrain around the canal has certainly changed, we have left behind the narrow tree lined route carved through the rock into more open countryside.

As we travelled towards Nantwich the canal seemed to tower over the nearby villages particularly as we crossed this rather pretty aqueduct.

We travelled beyond Nantwich as the moorings we were hoping to stop on were full.  Along the tow path in Nantwich there were several wooden carvings, have to confess I couldn't actually work out what they were meant to be, let me know if you can see what it is supposed to be.

The Llangollen canal shoots off just past Nantwich, we are thinking that we will travel this once we have  been to Chester.  Just round the bend is the Middlewich branch, I have driven past this on numerous occasions on the way to Chester, thinking wouldn't it be nice to be on the boat now!

(EH 329)

Market Drayton to Audlem - 6.5 miles, 20 locks, 4.5 hours.

We woke to a beautiful morning and miraculously hangover free!!

We had a big day of locks to get through today.  With a flight of 5 at Adderley and then 15 at Audlem.

We were lucky that we had help for the 15 at Audlem, as John, Annita and Sarah joined us.

We soon had a system going at the locks, certainly made my life much easier and as there was very little traffic, we were able to get the lock in front set up ready for Rod to sail straight into.

Sarah did a particularly good job of looking after George.

How many girls does it take to open a lock gate?  In our defence some of the are very heavy and we had already done loads!

Still can't believe what beautiful weather we had for October.

We moored just after the bottom lock, apparently near a secret nuclear bunker - some one needs to explain the word secret!!

We then downloaded Strictly which we watched this morning, for those at the party on Saturday night I really think Ant and Rod should enter next year, would bring a whole new dimension to the show!!