Bye bye Bunbury

After three days in a beautiful spot at Bunbury

it was time to move on and we are now moored near Beeston Castle at Tiverton. As nice as it was back there the lack of connectivity was a pain and explains why I haven't blogged about it.

We didn't actually intend to go so far but the infamous Shroppie shelf above Bunbury Locks meant we couldn't get within two feet of the canal bank, which means even my wide fenders are useless and every passing boat would slam us into the side. Local use car tyres laid flat on the water as fenders but I'm not going to start carrying those around so we had to descend the locks.

The pair of locks are built as a single unit known as a staircase where you move directly from one lock chamber to another. When we came through here two years ago the locks were manned but since "the season" only starts in April we were on our own. Still, it's straightforward enough and there's an instruction board too.

Way back, perishable goods were whizzed down the canal on fly boats which moved 24hrs non stop. This meant that fresh horses were required and stable blocks were built to accommodate them. The stables at Bunbury have survived and would make excellent accommodation for humans in my opinion.

Below the locks is the base for Anglo Welsh holiday boats and they are three abreast in places so a very careful crawl by is required.

All in all though we had a great time in Bunbury. The village itself is a mile or so away and you take your life in your hands walking down the country lanes but it's all good. We also got to do a bit of varnishing and priming so Lottie D is more like Spottie D at the moment but we'll get there eventually.

Right, time to roll my meatballs (!) for tonight's tea then we're off for a walk to Beeston Castle. Don't think we'll actually go in though. The entrance price is as steep as the climb to the top. Eight quid for a ruin? I don't think so!

A very nice weekend

It was time to move on yesterday after the weekend trip to Warwick Castle so we made our way to Barbridge and tied up on the pub's 24hr moorings.

The pub was busy inside and out and there was a floating trader on hand too.

As we headed off we were discussing the jobs that need doing on the boat and I decided to take some before and after photos as an incentive to crack on. Thankfully, none of my "before" pics will be this bad!

We needed logs and kindling but were disappointed to find the marina facilities at Nantwich closed early on Sundays. As the weather warms up we only need a small fire on the go. However, it's handy to have some wood that you can split down to give the fire a quick boost. Just opening up the vents means you have to wait until the coal gets going. Luckily we found this lot so we filled our boots!

There was pretty constant boat traffic yesterday but none of it was bombing along so we were able to maintain our preferred snail's pace.

More of the same today please as we only intend to make the short hop to Calveley, which is roughly between Bunbury and Tarpoley. Might stay put for a while and get these jobs done!

Audlem and back

We've just spent a couple of days in Audlem and the verdict is....... It was OK. If you're not continuing through then you have to stop at the bottom of the lock flight which means you can't get access to the services. It also leaves you with a bit of a muddy walk into the village but it's no big deal. However, the paved, ringed moorings at Nantwich are much better so we decided that we will leave Lottie here when we go away on Friday night. Plus I think this is easier for Charlotte to find as she picks us up on Friday.
Audlem has two good, food serving pubs plus a Co-Op so it's fine for a short stay. We were looking forward to visiting the well known canalside pub the Shroppie Fly but, sadly, it has fallen on hard times and was shut.
We gave Lottie a three course meal of water, diesel and coal today at Overwater Marina on the way back today so she's good for around three weeks. We also helped an inexperienced couple descend the locks at Hack Green, then set them for a boat coming up, then went down them ourselves - almost like doing six locks actually but very enjoyable as the promised rain failed to last more than a few minutes in the morning.
Finally, we did a circular three miles around Audlem yesterday - here are the pics

Quiz time

On Friday we moored near a place called Chomondeston.
Q. How's that pronounced?
A. Chumston (points to me for knowing that one).

Q. What's this? (Clue: His right hand isn't blurred due to Parkinson's, he's actually winding something)

A: It's a Hurdy Gurdy (I didn't know that one!).

These two were part of a gang we encountered in the Black Lion in Nantwich. You can see them "in action" on Elaine's Facebook page. But back to the pub - what a place it is! Built in 1664 as a pub and it's always been a pub. Well worth a visit, as is Nantwich as a whole. It's like a miniature Chester

full of interesting buildings, pubs and restaurants. I particularly liked the mobile pizza operation 

in this converted fire engine. If you look closely the mid section has dough rolling equipment and the wood burning pizza oven is at the back - I love to see ingenuity like this.

Just about perfect...

...is how I feel about yesterday. With only one lock to contend with we had the perfect cruise to Church Minshull.

Even though quite deep at over eleven feet the lock is so tight that it filled really quickly and we were soon clear and on our way. This link between the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals is only about five hours long in total but to speed through it would be a crime in my opinion. The scenery is stunning and the canal is so well looked after with the Canal & River Trust having the invaluable assistance of the Shropshire Union Canal Society. Mooring rings, bench seats and BBQ stands abound - they even have daffodils planted along the overflows!

As with the T&M earlier we are seeing plenty of these.

If you can't read what it says it's a notification of the intended route of HS2. I can't begin to imagine the pain that this would cause.....

All too soon we arrived at the elevated moorings above Church Minshull and got Lottie tied down.

As I enjoyed this view Elaine wasted no time in spoiling someone's Sudoku session 

Only joking Elaine!

leaving me free to interact with the only other locals around

As the sun went down I grabbed this last shot to end the day

We will stay here again tonight. Who wants to leave a special place like this?

Middlewich

I wrote in my previous post that we would stay at Marston for a "day or two ". Well we ended up staying for six days and managed to make a start on some jobs plus getting a full engine service done. Add to that around eighteen miles of walking and we should be losing weight. If only every walk didn't end at the Salt Barge 🍺.
Actually, the reason we stayed so long was that Charlotte was picking us up on Sunday so we could watch Logan's first match for Leigh Miners Rangers U7s. Given that he played "blind", i.e. No glasses (his sports specs weren't ready in time) he played a blinder, winning Most Improved Player! It was really great fun to watch the kids and it was hilarious watching the coaches trying to control them! Knock ons were ignored as were slight incidences of foot in touch, but serious transgressions were acted upon - one of our kids absolutely clothes lined one of theirs and was taken off immediately!
After returning to Lottie we immediately set off for Middlewich, calling in at Orchard Marina to empty our cassettes. That was fun! The marina entrance was extremely tight and the water very shallow as we eventually found a vacant pontoon to tie up to. The cheery couple who helped us were sadly countered by the tool in the adjacent boat who didn't have the guts to face us with whatever complaint he had but was brave enough to shout F*** Off to Elaine as we left. Big man.....

We cleared the Big Lock at Middlewich and stayed here

for a couple of days then this morning moved on to here

off the Trent and Mersey, onto the Shropshire Union but still in Middlewich! Actually, this is the Middlewich Branch of the Shroppie. It took us nearly two hours to negotiate the four town centre locks but that's all we needed to charge the batteries so why waste diesel going any further? 

Our next deadline is to be in Audlem (between Nantwich and Market Drayton) next Thursday to take Logan for his birthday treat so we have plenty of time. We'll stock up again tomorrow then it's off into the countryside again for a few days.

It gets busier every day

We left Dutton behind us yesterday intending to go to Barnton but ended up going on to the Salt Barge (yes, it's a pub!) at Marston, which is near Northwich if you don't know the area.

Us leaving Dutton 

We knew we needed supplies but couldn't bring ourselves to stop at Barnton where we knew we could restock. The problem was that we were enjoying the springlike weather too much!

There are two tunnels to negotiate along the way and we just missed our entry time to the first one at Saltersford by two minutes, partly due to still having to avoid detritus from Doris.

Tree across the cut

With a half hour wait in front of us there was enough time to enjoy a perfect BLT and orange juice with the aural accompaniment of a woodpecker in the trees above the tunnel entrance. Shame we couldn't see him.

We were just at the second tunnel entrance as a boat came out. As we made room for him he thanked us and told us no one was following him so in we popped. Now, this tunnel isn't straight but you can see a faint glow of daylight at the other end when the tunnel is empty and Elaine confirmed the "glow" beforehand.

It was quite a surprise to see a duck in the middle of the tunnel (what was she doing there?) but more of a surprise to see a tunnel light headed our way. Another boat had entered from the other end! We were well over halfway through so pretty much forced him to reverse out. I thanked him and he was OK about it, even though he claimed he was 200m into the tunnel (I don't see how that could be true. The other boater told us it was empty, Elaine saw the "glow", etc). Anyway, he had the smaller boat therefore easier to back up, right?

Having decided to forego the delights of Barnton (there aren't any!) our next stop was Anderton Marina for coal and logs. Unbelievably this large marina doesn't sell solid fuel but, luckily, the nearby Uplands Marina did and was accessible from the service block on the towpath. A quick back and forth with a borrowed wheelbarrow while Elaine sorted the water and cassettes and we were off again. There were quite a few boats on the move now and it genuinely felt strange to be sharing the canal after winter when we were the only thing moving.

As we made our way through Marbury Country Park in the continuing good weather it was time for the first al fresco beer of the season

Cheers!

then we saw another first of the year 

Delicious, er, I mean beautiful!

Soon we were at the Salt Barge, all tied up with the Sky dish pointing in the right direction. The four miles plus round trip to the supermarket (thank God for the Granny Trolley!) ended with a pint followed by a late tea then a very cosy night. Think we'll stay put for a day or two!

A long walk but well worth it

We were all set to watch Logan play his first under 7s rugby league match today but the weather put paid to that as it did to yesterday's training. So, with Charlotte and the boys free from rugby yesterday Elaine and I knew what was coming. Sure enough, we were Facetimed and arrangements were made to meet up on the car park of the Leigh Arms at Acton Bridge.

After prising the kids off the play area we set off down the minor road running along the River Weaver to Dutton Lock with Mister Twenty Questions (Wilson, that is) in full flow.

"Grandad?"

"What?"

Question.

And repeat ad nauseam!

There was plenty to keep them interested along the way with wildlife 

sunken vessels 

and a viaduct  to climb on

What we didn't have was a toilet facility but, hey, no problem!

After heading back to the Leigh Arms they headed for home after a drink and another bout in the play area. We, on the other hand, headed up the road to the Holly Bush, a 16th century pub with restaurant and accommodation.

Whilst everything else has been well renovated the tap room was like stepping back in time, a snug little room, tiny hatch bar and glowing coal fire. Add to this the really friendly welcome from the locals and all was well with the world, even though we had a couple of miles of muddy towpath to contend with to get back to Lottie, again in the middle of nowhere.

She's in there somewhere!

So, with some eight miles under our belts we were glad that we had put a stew on the stovetop before we set out. Time to tuck in!

Is our boat magnetic?

So we made the quick cruise from Stockton Heath to just-beyond-Moore-in-the-middle-of-nowhere and tied up in splendid isolation. This will be our last night on the Bridgewater for a while and where better to spend it? Just us and the scenery - perfect!
We had this guy for company on Tuesday night

and he did very well. It was only his second sleep on the boat and the first without his big brother but he was no trouble.

We left Lymm on Wednesday morning (sad to say bye bye to the Bull's Head) and headed to Stockton Heath (hello London Bridge!) where Charlotte picked up Wilson eventually after first driving to Lymm, forgetting that we were moving on. Alone again, we stocked up on supplies because the next real shopping opportunity would be Middlewhich. With a fully provisioned Lottie we could take our time getting there.

We set off in strong winds today with the front and rear doors open. No sooner had I said to Elaine, "God (as she likes to be called!) these winds are strong" the control panel door just inside the boat crashed open, leaving me with yet another repair job on my hands as the wood splintered across the bottom hinge. Oh well, add it to the list.....

Speaking of repairs, I installed the new parts onto our old water pump and got stuck in

Like a proper sexist I let Elaine join in the fun, cleaning and mopping up my mess

Quickly popped the refurbished pump on

then put back the steps - boy do they need a coat of varnish!

Job done, I looked outside to see this

We had a neighbour - and not for the first time either. The number of times we stop in open space only to see boats join us isn't funny anymore. We've even had people ask if they can moor next to us because they don't like being alone! Finally, as I write I can hear another set of pins being knocked in as another boats joins us. Hence the question, is Lottie magnetic?

Of course, it's a free canal (I wish!) and this just may be a popular spot. It's just that with literally miles of towpath either side of us I don't see the need for this encroachment. Perhaps they've all heard what a real sociable type of guy I am 😉