Audlem

We didn’t move yesterday although we’d planned to. Heavy showers plagued us through the morning and by the time they’d cleared after lunch – well, frankly, we couldn’t be bothered!

Canada geese may be a pain, noisy and messy, but you can’t fault their parenting skills.
The gosling are organised into creches when they’re feeding to allow some adults to have a bit of down time…
…and when they’re on the move they are protected in front and behind, with flankers at the sides.

The sky cleared later, and we had an impressive sunset, although I was too late to capture the colourful bits.


This morning, the summer solstice, we were up early with bright sunshine pouring in through the windows. We were on the move at soon after nine.

We had two miles to travel to the bottom of the 15 locks at Audlem, passing the large Overwater Marina and crossing the River Weaver on a long embankment.
This is the third time we’ve crossed the river in the last few months, running south from it’s source in the Peckforton Hills it’s crossed at Wrenbury by the Llangollen, then by the Shroppie here before it turns north again, deflected by the 130-foot ridge which the canal has to climb. Then it’s crossed the final time by the Middlewich Branch near Church Minshull. Shortly downstream it becomes navigable for the final 20 miles to Weston Point and the Manchester Ship Canal.

We were pleased to see no queue at the bottom lock, although we had to turn it with a boat going up ahead. The weather looked dodgy for a bit but didn’t amount to anything.

Audlem Bottom Lock, Lock 15

We were able to swap with a descending boat at Lock 14, then had to wait for a few minutes for our turn on the water tap below L13. It’s a slow tap, so after 30 minutes and nearly full we took advantage of an empty lock left by another boat on the way down.

Coming up Lock 13, with the Shroppie Fly and Audlem Mill above the lock.

Up L12 and we tied up on the moorings below “the thick”, the next nine locks on the flight that sit one after the other. They’ll wait for tomorrow.

I toddled up into the village, past the fine church sited in a prominent position, and made a visit to the butchers – Oxtail and Trotter. Some chicken breast fillets were on my shopping list, but I added some Audlem sausages made with Cheshire cheese, cranberries and chives, and a spectacularly good pork pie…

Rather than cook I took the night off and headed up to the chippy for tea. Lovely. A well worthwhile stop, and here was me thinking about pushing on this afternoon…





So, onward and upward tomorrow.

Hi Peter and Jennifer. So, you got up Wigan OK then. Well done. Enjoy the rest of the L&L.

Locks 4, miles 2½