Go West, young man…

…A quote referring to American expansion in the 19th C, an opportunity for fame and fortune for those prepared to grasp it.
I don’t really know why I’ve used it here. We’re not actually going west yet, more sort of south-west, and I’m unlikely to be considered young any longer. And if there ever was fame and fortune to be found in Wales, I’m sure it’s long been plundered.

Anyway, we’re now on the Llangollen Canal, which does head generally westward, over the border to the town for which it is named.

We left our moorings on the edge of Nantwich at around 11:00, heading over the aqueduct, and pulling onto the smart new(ish) wharf for Nantwich Canal Centre.

Nantwich Aqueduct

That way is Wales

Canal Centre service wharf
For diesel etc you used to have to go down into the basin, either in or out in reverse depending on which way you’re going. This is a lot handier.

With fuel, both solid and liquid, topped up, we shuffled along and did the same to the water tank, then set off towards Hurleston.

I mentioned yesterday that the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal was built narrow, and the older Chester Canal built broad. Bridge 92 is the last on the B&LJC, from here northward they’re wider.




Now on the Chester Canal, looking back at Bridge 92 and Basin End on the right

About 2 miles along the embankment containing Hurleston Reservoir can be seen on the left, and just beyond the next bridge is the junction.

Hurleston Reservoir

Bottom Lock, Hurleston Junction
















Four locks lift the canal 35 feet in less than a ¼ mile.

Mags heading for Lock 4

The short pound between Lock 3 and 2 was the site of a minor disagreement between Mags and the crew of a hire boat way back in summer 2007.

Site of the Battle of Hurleston (more of a skirmish, really)

Looking back down the flight from the top, Mags in Lock 2

The bottom gates of No 2 are leaking badly, making the lock slow to fill and using a lot of water from the intervening pound.
The pound was a couple of feet down as Mags slowly dragged her bottom over the mud, but there was no way she could get the boat over the cill and into Lock 1.
With a bit of judicious introduction of water from above we got enough in the lock and pound to get in, and came up onto the level alongside the lock cottage.

Lock 1

Beautiful Cheshire countryside

We intended to pull in on a length of piling only a mile from the locks, and did so in front of a familiar boat.

Bill and Ginny, NB Wilvir

Of course, Meg has to get in the picture! Gunner, Wilvir’s third crew member, was off sniffing somewhere.

Bill and I took the pooches for a walk around the reservoir in the twilight after we’d caught up over a brew.

Moonrise over the reservoir

I think we’ll stay here tomorrow in good company, then set off for Wrenbury and our mail pick-up on Friday.

Locks 4, miles 3½