Lottie goes abroad

We will be leaving Whitchurch later today having spent the past two days here. There's a short length of the spur that used to run into Whitchurch still in water and it makes a convenient mooring spot. We hadn't intended to run all the way from Marbury to here but oncoming boaters told us that Grindley Brook was very quiet so we went for it. At Grindley there is a rise of three locks then a triple staircase lock and the queues can be terrible. You pass through a narrow passage under the railway

then its straight through the first three locks and onto the staircase. This was manned by two C&RT personnel so we had to do as we were told. Put it this way, the water was let in very carefully!

At the top we stopped to use the services. Twice I was asked by holiday boaters "are you waiting for the locks?". Surely the fact that I was pointing in the opposite direction was a bit of a clue?

As with the run from Marbury to Grindley Brook, the rest of the trip into Whitchurch was beautiful but still no kingfishers, deer, etc. It seems that Wigan is the place to be if you want to see wildlife!

Here at Whitchurch we big shopped, bought another lump hammer (grrr!), fixed the bedroom lights and finished off the polishing of Lottie that we started at Marbury. She's looking good now.

Before 

After

It's a quick window wash today (Elaine is insisting) then I think our next stop will be in Wales. Hwyl fawr am nawr (look it up!).