Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Back onto the Shropshire Union

We‘ve got to get through Colwich Lock, just down from Great Haywood on the Trent and Mersey, before it closes for a month in early February. So we’ve got a little over two weeks to get down to Autherley Junction then back up to Great Haywood by the Staffs and Worcester.
The slightly shorter route via the Middlewich Branch then over the Stoke summit is out as there are closures in place at the moment on the Booth Lane locks out of Middlewich.
Why the rush, I hear you ask. Well, we want to get down to Cropredy in March to see Chas and Ann (NB Moore2Life), then back up to Braunston for the April launch of WB Still Rockin’, George and Carol’s new boat.

Getting to and through Colwich is no chore, it should take around 30 hours cruising. Ten days at our winter speed.

But we do need to move on, so this morning we upped sticks and headed off towards Hurleston Locks and junction.

Through Bridge 4, a little gloomy and threatening rain in the brisk breezeSAM_7791 

There a several boats lurking near Bridge 1
SAM_7792
It’s handy here, there’s parking on the old bridge, and water and waste facilities are through the other side.

SAM_7793I got a bit wound up at the top of the locks.We’d decided to fill with water and empty a loo tank here rather than at Nantwich, thinking it’d be quieter.
Despite the big painted sign…


….there were two boats along here, one of which was parked (in)conveniently with it’s fore-end alongside the second of the two water points.

NB Mary Anne, rules obviously don’t apply…SAM_7794
I pulled in in front, but found that my hose was just a couple of feet short of reaching the tap. I could have got out the extension, but it was very muddy underfoot and the standard length was already mucky by the time I’d run it out. So we reversed back, around the inconvenient lump, and filled from the point behind. I’m not sure whether anyone was aboard, but they kept their heads down if there was.

Filled and emptied, we proceeded down the locks to the junction with the Shropshire Union, meeting a boat coming up as we went.SAM_7795

Back out on the Shroppie, heading into wind and sun.
SAM_7800

This stretch dates back to 1779, and was built to broad standard, intending to accommodate barges from the River Dee at Chester. At Nantwich it ran into a basin to the south of the town, now occupied by Nantwich Marina.

Nantwich Basin on the rightSAM_7801
South of here the canal was built in 1835 as the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, and is only suitable for narrowboats.

Nantwich Marina have recently opened a wharf on the canal side, much easier to use than having to reverse in or out of the basin. There’s no room to turn around down there.

Nantwich Marina Wharf
SAM_7803
We pulled in to fill with diesel, exchange a gas bottle, get four bags of smokeless and a few bits from the chandlery.

Wallet considerably lighter we pulled in on the embankment, on the 48 hour visitor moorings. It’s busy here, there’s no space left now, and the moorings on the other side of the aqueduct look full too.
We’ll be moving along tomorrow, heading for Audlem.

Hiya Carol, no squabbling, I know who’s boss! KevinToo, I think you might be better off reading the Kindle manual….

SAM_7804


Quote - “You’ll never get me using one of those, I prefer a REAL book”!
Mags when I suggested a Kindle or iPad some time ago…







Locks 4, miles 3½

4 comments:

Dave,Beryl Bradshaw said...

A Ladies prerogative to change her mind I'm afraid.
Dave & Beryl Nb Sokai

Carol said...

Gosh, that made us smile!!! Good on her! xx

Carol said...

... perhaps you should get another?

Unknown said...

I was just like Mags. Loved my books, then at Chrtistmas I bought a Kindle with the money and vouchers given to me. I LOVE it!!! No more books for me