A Quiet Fortnight

Anderton Boat Lift, two boats in the left hand caisson going up.

And one in the right hand caisson coming down.

Out pops the BW trip boat.

Ptolemy in the museum, dressed as a lift operator 150 years ago.

First mate sorting out the drinks.

Due to the stoppage on Shebdon Wharf Embankment we were stuck at Audlem for five days. Since leaving Audlem a week ago, at BW's request (we were told on Monday morning that they had twenty plus boats coming down from Market Drayton and they needed the room, so please reverse down three locks and go ) so we went down to Nantwich, where nb Bendigedig caught up with us, ( they were further up the Audlem flight than us ) then we moved on to Middlewich. At Middlewich we split up temporarily, Bendigedig going south and Shush going north and on to Anderton having stayed a few days in each place.

Yesterday Martin and grandsons Ethan and Ptolemy came for a visit, and we took them to the Anderton Lift museum and whilst there two boats were being raised up to the canal from the river, they enjoyed that, after that we went and had some food, then back to the boat for a couple of hours before they had to go home. Thanks for coming boys, hope you had a good day.

This fortnight we have done 39 mls and 22 locks

See you all next time.

The Waiting Game

Moving up in the lock que

The girls give a hand

Over night mooring

Last week was a quiet one with Eiddwen away in Norwich with Lisa and the girls for a few days, so I made my way up to Swanley Marina with Eric and Elsie's help up through Hurleston locks in readiness for their return on Monday. I booked in there so they would have somewhere to leave the car and if the weather was bad we could go into Nantwich, as it happened the sun shone it's socks off and we had a lovely three days with them. Thanks for the help in the lock que girls.

When they left on Wednesday, E and I Moved back on to the Llangollen for the night and the next day down the Hurleston locks and back on to the Shroppie, we got as far as Audlem on Friday night intending to catch up with Eric and Elsie on Bendigedig the following day, having spoken to them, we knew they were just below lock 14 on the Audlem flight that was ten locks above us.

The next morning when I was opening the rear doors I found a note from BW saying do not move your boat, we will be along later to explain. It turns out there is a hole in the base of the canal 12 miles ahead of us and the water in that pound has gone. So we may be here for a week or so, that's a real hardship !! as we are 100yds from the shops, 10 yds from two pubs and the same distance from the services for water etc, how lucky was that.

That,s all for now folks

Back on the Shroppie

Arrived at the lock 9th boat in que, left lock 2 hrs later with 10 boats still in que

Day or two old calf with mother.

Harry Heron catching his breki.

No blog last week due to signal problems, so a double helping today. First lock, we joined the que for two hours, Minshull lock is very slow both filling and emptying. We filled with diesel at Venetian Marine, we wanted water as well but he was a jobs worth!!, so we didn't get any. After the last lock we moved down to Barbridge Junction and turned right, having decided to go down to Christleton for a couple of days. On the way we called at Calveley services for much needed water before cruising down to Beeston Iron lock for the night, next day we moved on to Christleton.

Eiddwen and I went into Chester the following day to get a few bits. Making our way back, we had a chaotic time at Bunbury Staircase locks, there are signs which we thought were idiot proof, that tell you how to use the staircase. However if you can't read ! the signs don't help. A pair of boats going up grounded on the cill between the two locks due to not having filled the top lock first. To top that the next boat down didn't empty the bottom lock first, so as they emptied the top lock into the already full bottom lock the water went over the top of the gates and nearly went into the small shop by the gates, hey ho just another Saturday on the Shroppie. Moving on we arrived in Nantwich on Sunday lunchtime. Eric and I will be around here for the next few days due to both the girls going off in different directions to do their own things.

In the last 2 weeks we have done 37 miles and 14 locks

That's all for now.