I love it when a plan comes together...

 We headed for Hurleston Locks at half-ten on Saturday morning. My thinking was that the early risers heading down will be gone, and those wanting to come up arriving from Nantwich and Barbridge will be starting to queue. And I was, somewhat to my surprise, correct!

Fine morning.

We arrived to find the top lock full with boats heading up each of the remaining three. So it was a straightforward and rapid descent to the Shroppie Main Line. Twenty-five minutes from top to bottom.

At the top of Hurleston Locks

Nearly at the bottom

That's them done then!

We turned right to head up to Nantwich where we were to meet a gas fitter on Monday to replace some pipework I wasn't happy with.

The wide and deep Chester Canal.

We got moored at Marsh Lane Bridge at the south end of the town and I gave him a ring so he knew where to find us. He was free on Sunday morning so came over and did the work a day early. Good stuff. Pleasant chap, competent and informative.

I spent yesterday putting things straight again and repairing a slight leak on the domestic plumbing at the stern. It's been dripping for a week or two but it wasn't urgent as it was running into the bilge. That's another little job done then.

We also moved down to Henhull Bridge to meet a Tesco delivery in the afternoon.

Back over the aqueduct.

This morning we woke to overcast skies and it started to rain while I was out with Amber. It got heavier while we had breakfast but was supposed to clear after lunch so we waited till gone one before pulling pins and setting off back past Hurleston Junction and on to Barbridge.

Hurleston Locks, entrance to the Llangollen Canal.

Through Barbridge.

I'm glad we weren't a minute or two earlier for the turn onto the Middlewich Branch!

Dory is a Fish Class motor boat built by Yarwoods in Northwich in 1934.

There's a gathering of historic craft in Chester over the Easter weekend so I expect there'll be a few old work boats knocking about.

We pulled in above Cholmondeston Lock and will have a couple of nights here.

Locks 4, miles 9¼