A long queue, heavy rain and a chance meeting.

We got ready to leave the moorings for Grindley Brook Locks at around half-ten yesterday. But it took a while to get there…
At one point there were 11 or 12 boats waiting to descend!
We did fill with water and I made a batch of cookies while waiting, though. The lockies were letting 4 boats down then 4 up in turn, so the line of boats lurched forward steadily then stopped for about 40 minutes while the next batch came up. Finally it was our turn, the first boat in our little convoy. I’d bribed the lockies with cookies, but we didn’t get bumped up the queue…

Heading down…

…and Mags keeping an eye on the pissers, streams of water coming out of cavities behind the walls as the lock chamber empties.


We had an easy run down the three singles, all of them either full or with boats coming up. Then we were clear of Grindley Brook, somewhat later than planned but not to worry. Once we got going it only took us 38 minutes to drop down the triple staircase and the three singles!

Fast bywashes on the singles


Out from the old railway bridge below Grindley Brook Bottom Lock

We decided to push on even though the sky was looking increasingly dark.
Heavy showers were forecast in the afternoon, and we’d hoped to be tied up by then.

But we didn’t get away with it, heavy rain came over as we arrived at Povey’s Lock so I tied up, shut the slide and sheltered under the trees. I did venture out during a brief pause in the downpour to draw the top paddles to fill the lock, but hastily retreated to shelter when it came on again.

Fifteen minutes later the rain stopped, the sky cleared and the sun came out.

Steam rising from the wet roof under the hot sun.

We dropped down Povey’s, Willeymoor and Quoisley Locks without getting wet again, meeting boats coming up at each, then pulled in on the straight below Bridge 25.

While we were waiting above the locks we met Roger and Susan on NB Chatsworth. We had met before a couple of years ago, but this time we had a chance for a chat over a cup of coffee, then later after we’d moored, a glass of something stronger… Very pleasant South African brandy, Roger!

Susan and Roger this morning before they set off

We were off about an hour after Chatsworth, they were hoping to get below Swanley Locks today, we were only heading for Wrenbury.

I spotted this very weird effect in the sky as a jet contrail passed in front of the bright sun…

Mags in Marbury Lock, our only one today.


A couple of fine miles later we passed through Wrenbury Frith Lift Bridge.
It always used to be chained in the open position, but is now back in use to give access to the property on the other side of the canal.

We got through the mechanised lift bridge carrying Nantwich Road, only holding up a handful of cars, then pulled in on a sunny spot at the end of the 48 hour moorings in sight of Church Lift Bridge.

The weather looks grim for tomorrow so we’ll stay put, but maybe a little better on Wednesday. We’ll see.

Locks 10, miles 6¼