Here's what all the fuss was about

Three months after closing the Bridgewater canal and this is the state of play. I presume a prefabricated bridge structure will be dropped into place fairly quickly, necessitating another brief closure. Also, if there are any isolated farms out there on the moss I hope they've stocked up the fridge!
I don't know if it is a result of the dam that was previously in place but the amount of detritus in the water was ridiculous. Not all of it is down to the closure though. Not the garden chair we saw, or the two seater settee 😡. It really is a shame. One minute you're gently cruising along listening to the distinctive calls of the yellow hammers in the trees, next thing your dodging lumps of household furniture. You don't get that on the Shroppie.
The evenings as we made our way to Leigh have been following a theme recently, that is, sitting out 'till dark and trying not to set the towpath on fire.

Here we are at the moment, between the marina and Pennington Flash.

Boy, has Plank Lane been transformed or what? Also, the eagle eyed may have noticed that we are facing in the wrong direction. That's because we will head back to Boothstown for diesel before getting through Wigan in a week or so (no firm plans). That's all for now.

Back in the land of the living

Or the land of wildlife, at least. As we edge steadily back "home" there is a marked increase in things to see. On the T&M we had a cormorant following us along the canal, diving for fish as we churned up the bottom. On the fourth dive he came up with a good sized lunch, probably a bream.
We are seeing herons every day and saw kingfishers two days running. At least, I did. Elaine was inside and missed them both.
Also, as the weather improves we are spending more time outdoors. Here's a typical shot, BBQ consumed and fire pit all aglow.

Last night we burned the last of our wood at Dunham, sitting out until past ten. I was searching Spotify for a Jay Z track as pipistrelles zoomed extremely close around my head and shoulders. Elaine said, "they're all around you". I said I got 99 problems but a bat ain't one (some of you may have to look that one up 😉).

Charlotte and Frank came for a walk around Dunham today then we took a late afternoon cruise into Sale, where we currently sit. Off to restock at Tesco now then on to Worsley tomorrow.

No room at the inn

The inn in question being the Salt Barge at Marston, where the best spots were all taken as we arrived on Tuesday. So we pushed on until we found this spot where the canal skirts Marbury Country Park.

In many ways it's better than the Salt Barge because we didn't need to shop (shops are closer to the Salt Barge) and we are much closer to all of the paths around Marbury and Anderton. 

Yesterday we followed a trail down to the river Weaver before making our way to Anderton boat lift. Actually I didn't realise we had found the Weaver until this turned up.

Anderton trip boat.

Seriously, the water was so still I didn't believe it was a river. The Llangollen Canal flows more than this! We followed the trip boat as the river wound its way westward until the boat lift came into view.

The boat lift was reopened in 2002, is free to use and drops you the fifty odd feet from the T&M to the Weaver. Here's the same trip boat at the top of the lift, i.e. level with the T&M.

Here, if you look closely amongst the steelwork, you can see a narrowboat leaving the bottom of the lift onto the Weaver.

I think we might have to give this a shot in the autumn! Having stayed there for two nights we are now tied up at Dutton, just past Acton Bridge and will be through Preston Brook tunnel and onto the Bridgewater tomorrow.

Getting closer to "home"

So here we are just short of Bramble Cuttings, which are the moorings visible on the far side of the canal.

Actually, you probably can't tell that there are moorings there but when we got here yesterday there was a boat there and a boat directly in front of us (he's just left). This spot is about 45 minutes by boat from Middlewich and is a rarity on the Trent & Mersey - a mooring point with rings. It's very remote but was full when we got here at 7.30 last evening (we just squeezed onto the last ring and knocked a pin in behind us).

We had spent Friday and Saturday in Middlewich on the Shroppie Branch and Sunday round the corner on the T&M and it wasn't great to be honest. As we tied up on Friday a couple of blokes walked past us with dogs on leads. As they passed a cruiser up ahead a pit bull type dog jumped off and launched a fearful attack on one of the dogs. The occupants (we later found out they're father and son, possible alcoholic/junkies who've been there for months) couldn't pull their dog away despite multiple boots to the ribs and ended up throwing both dogs into the canal to finally separate them. Then the son started issuing threats to a woman who witnessed the scene and started marching up and down the towpath with a hammer in his hand.

Around the corner on Sunday was different but not better. With queuing boats it took us over two hours to complete the four locks and a distance you could have walked in fifteen minutes. With the batteries charged we stopped close to another boat (on such a busy stretch it's polite to moor close up to allow other boats a chance to get in). The guy in front the ran his engine from 1pm until 8.45pm, no big deal even if you are supposed to quit at 8pm. No, the problem was when he fired up again at 4.45am the next day! When he came home from work at 6.30 and fired up again we knew we were in for a repeat performance so took an evening cruise down to here for some peace and quiet.

In some ways we are our own worst enemies. If we need to resupply we always plan to finish a day's cruising in a town, do the shopping and stay the night. All because once we stop we are reluctant to move on again. Time to review that logic I think. How about staying out in the sticks, hitting the next town in the morning, get the shopping done then back out into the sticks again? I think we'll give that a shot for a while.

In terms of us getting back "home", Peel Holdings have told us the Bridgewater should be open on the 24th or very close to it. We will give it a couple of days' leeway in case it's busy so should be back around Leigh at the end of next week.

Finally, remember how I said there was a remarkable lack of wildlife visible on the Llangollen and that we see more in urban areas like Wigan? Well, yesterday evening we cruised past a grass snake swimming down the canal. This was on the outskirts of Middlewich with housing right there on the towpath - bizarre.

Just too enjoyable

Apologies for not writing recently but we've been too busy enjoying ourselves. On Monday we made our way to Nantwich, leaving behind this

Narrow Prees Branch 

for this

Lovely, wide Shroppie!

We spent Monday and Tuesday in a nice, albeit crowdy, spot with company both front and rear

To the front 

Behind us.

These guys had met up here and on Tuesday organised a BBQ. We were sat out minding our own business when we were invited to join them. Soon, passerby were joining in too.

A great time was had by all and we headed back to Lottie around 8.30.

Up and away yesterday we made our way onto the Middlewich Branch and these perfect, remote moorings called Sykes Hollow.

No TV, no satellite, no people - perfect. Now was the time to get smoking! With a piece of brisket and a turkey leg marinated and rubbed, off we go!

It was seat of the pants stuff and I quickly realised the fire was too small. No problem, out with the ancient BBQ I use as a fire pit.

Topped up with the extra coals it actually went quite well for a first effort - definitely a different taste than BBQ.

So day turned into night, a couple of large logs were chopped down a bit and the fire pit put to use until nightfall when we finally went indoors. I don't think I've ever been happier.

Saving the best 'till last

This morning we sit at the head of the Hurlston flight and will leave the Llangollen canal behind us later today. Yesterday we left the Internet-less and mobile-struggling Wrenbury behind us and enjoyed our best day on this canal.

With the sun shining strongly and very little wind, yesterday was what last Thursday and Friday could have been.

Our progress was slow and serene. Still, we managed to catch someone up

which means you just back off even more and chill out. There were five locks to do and you can only do them as single boats so why rush anything!

Peacefully perfect 

There was a steady amount of oncoming traffic at each lock which is a good thing. Even if the lock isn't set for you the other boat always provides another pair of helping hands.

At this lock, Fergie the Labrador ignored his owner's entreaties and headed my way. What can I say? Dogs have an innate sense of trust and friendship when they meet me. It's as if they sense that I'm a dog lover. No amount of shouted orders will stop them coming over for a bit of a stroke....

What's this? I bend down with a knowing smile on my face ready to ruffle him behind the ears and what does he do? Runs straight past me as I hold the rope, hops on board and heads straight into the cabin.

I deduced that he was called Fergie because his red faced owner stood on our rear deck and yelled it about a dozen times before said dog reemerged, thankfully empty pawed.

"Sorry, he's looking for biscuits", I was informed. Thank God he's not into red wine was my unspoken thought.

Locks done, we stopped off for diesel at Swanley Marina then pulled over in a perfect spot to spend the night. Perfect, that is, until a farmer appeared and started spraying raw slurry onto one of his fields. Seriously, I've never smelled anything like it in my life! Elaine didn't like it either but at least she had a laugh at me. I couldn't stop retching and heaving as we quickly made our escape to a sweet smelling spot a little further on.

So it's down the last four locks and a right turn at the T junction towards Nantwich. Big shop, about turn, and we finally start to head back. We've been away for twelve weeks and it will be good to return (but we'll have to see how long that lasts!).

Marbury

We didn't quite go all the way to Whitchurch on Tuesday, stopping a couple of miles short in the middle of nowhere. The closest place name I could find on a map was Fenns Bank. I have to admit the trip from Ellesmere was amazing, especially the meres section - utterly beautiful as it was on the way up. When and if we return we wont be going any further than Ellesmere.
Yesterday we got ourselves down all the locks at Grindley Brook then called it a day. Although very sunny the wind slightly took the edge off. Remember this pic I took as we went up?

Well, yesterday the wind was blowing an absolute gale through here and we were the first boat on the 48hr moorings as the canal bends to the right. We'd been tied up for about half an hour when thump! Someone came through, couldn't make the turn in the wind so ran into the back of Lottie. I mean, don't the holiday boats have a reverse gear?

After getting out there and pushing the miscreant off the bank and guiding her safety around us we headed to the excellent Horse and Jockey for a couple. We were making a fuss over the landlord's dogs, Blaze and Busby. As I went for a refill the landlord predicted Blaze would nick my seat and, sure enough, he did. The landlord dragged him off it then Busby jumped up instead with Blaze taking what we were told was "their" chair adjacent to Elaine. When the music stopped I was seated and Busby wasn't so he sloped off to watch someone eating a burger. Top pub.

Today saw a repeat of the weather with, if anything, stronger winds. Having come down the three locks we stopped at the Marbury moorings we used on the way up and walked into the village.

The "main road" into Marbury.

The village green was as we remembered it from eight years ago but the pub was shut down and appeared to be undergoing renovation. Oh well, we would have to settle for a nosey around the village.

Oak tree planted in 1815 to celebrate Waterloo.

As we rounded St Mark's church

the Big Mere came into view - stunning.

After a few minutes soaking up the scene we had a mooch around the church itself, including the bell tower

You'll be pleased to know she didn't!

So back to the boat it was. Tomorrow we hit Wrenbury with the family coming up for Wilson's birthday lunch with us.

Mayhem on May Day

That's it, we've had enough! Lots of boats on the move yesterday as we left Gledrid and made our way to a remote mooring at St Martin's Moor. We got grounded again during a traffic jam at a bridge hole then had the joy of numerous boats flying past us as we were tied up.
Today we've gone all the way back to Ellesmere in steadily improving weather and will probably be off this canal by this time next week. Our opinion is that it's overrated. No more scenic than many other parts of the system but shallower than many and overrun with holiday boats. God knows what it's like in August. Yes, it's got the magnificent aqueducts but we've done them now and probably won't go back.
This morning we had two locks to contend with at New Marton and they were quite busy.

1st in the queue 

Being busy isn't a bad thing. There's lots of people to work the locks and they are quick to fill and empty. The problem is too many inexperienced boaters in the same place.

This is the queue at the bottom of the second lock. Five in total, four of which are holiday boats.  As we were trying to clear the lock bollards they started to move up, but instead of taking it easy (after all, where could they go?) they ended up trying to leapfrog each other and at one stage were heading straight for us three abreast across the canal. Apologies for not getting a photo of that but we were extremely busy for a few seconds! 

So as the weather picked up we pressed on. Stuff the Jack Mytton pub (no photos as I was avoiding a line of four more holiday boats) and stuff the Montgomery Canal (the seven miles that are still navigable, that is).

Here in Ellesmere the branch arm was solid but as luck would have it someone left just in time for us to drop into their space. So it's a trip to Tesco then probably push on to Whitchurch tomorrow. Once we're off here it's a quick diversion to Nantwich to stock up the head back home for a while.

Highlight of the trip? Crossing the aqueduct in Pontcysyllte, getting our picture taken by tourists. Lowlight? Realising that the pictures taken on the return leg will show my pegged out underpants drying over the wood burner....