To Middlewich and beyond

 

We waterlood at Wheelock before setting off and Ady, always on the lookout for a bargain, examined the skips outside the closed San Marco reastaurant  on the Wharf. Apparently, according to the bloke who was clearing the place out-and redecorating, the previous owners had jumped ship and it must have been in a hurry. Mind you he was on his second tin of lager at 10 a.m. so not sure how reliable he was.

Anyway Adrian came trundling down the towpath with bowls and glasses and serviettes which were distributed among us. Other boaters were soon seen upside down in the skips as they searched for booty.My only prize was the wine rack above which I thought might be useful in Pam's wine cellar but she hinted that she was more in search of the contents than the holder so I gave it to Ady for his car boot venture. 

From Wheelock we headed for Middlewich where we turn off the Trent and Mersey Canal onto the Shropshire Union

Only three locks on this stretch and morale is high with Annie, Adrian and Gordon the Gazelle working like a well oiled machine. Coming into Middlewich one's first impressions aint too rosy-it don't look pretty partly because of the busy road running alongside and partly because of the disused factory overlooking the cut.

Ah Bisto!

Apparently, though you'd never know it, this is the now defunct Bisto factory-it's rumoured they had all their stock taken (geddit?) and the Directors were all on the Gravy Train-but it still seems to deal in salt which was the reason for the existence of many of the towns in this area.

A local salt mountain

Mooring at Middlewich was not an immediate success and our first attempt above Kings Lock (where there is a pub called The Kings Lock) took a long while-there was only one space so we needed to breast up, there was a strong wind and a boat opposite was running his engine in gear and creating a small tsunami if that isn't tautolagous. Roy had the devil's own job getting Panther in whilst I held off waitng to come alongside. Roy was pulling so hard and so long on a rope against the wind that he is now able to tie his laces without bending. At last we got in but the noise from the road and a generally unattractive vista  sent us scouting in look of better moorings.The Shropshire Union looked more comely so we beetled back to the boats and got going tout suite. I led the way making a quite magnificent turn off the Trent and Mersey and through the first lock of the Shroppie. We moored in a very pleasant spot and both boats having been made secure and an inventory of crew having been taken went in search of Tesco for limes and ships' biscuits to ward off the scurvy. Our plan was to dine healthily on a Salmon Stir fry.

Looking back down the first lock to the T and M canal

I went to check out the Kings Lock pub which given it's situation one would have thought would be a decent spot for a noggin and some nosh. Oh Woe. No proper beer-only a keg or lager, crap music and a tv.
I had a half of something uninteresting and wandered outside to watch the activity in the lock. I looked at my fellow customers all of whom were over 40 and all obviously sitting outside to avoid the music. I despair. The pub was empty except for two swarthy 12 year olds who were being entertained by a tattooed barmaid also about 12. I wandered towards the town and was heading to Big Lock (where they have a pub called The Big Lock-imaginative pub naming is not Middlewich's strong point) when I happened upon the Cheshire Cheese. The cricket was on and they sold a beer called The Ashes. (this was because of the cricket-nowt to do with the local crematorium).
It was very good and I was soon joined by Roy, Annie, Adrian and Gordon and a jolly time ensued. Such a jolly time we forgot about the healthy stir fry and had fish and chips and mushy peas from the local chippy which was very good though Roy had trouble feeding himself with his newly extended arms

Two thirds of the well oiled machine getting well oiled

Adrian puts his back into it

It is Joseph's birthday today and we toasted his health frequently. He is a great fan of Dr Who

The following day (Thursday) a lie-in had been planned so we prepared to move off about 10 .30. First a farewell to Gordon who has to return to London and work. Thanks Gordon. He said he hoped to return later in our trip but they all say that and we never hear from  them again till the solicitor's letter arrives claiming mental cruelty.

Our mooring in Middlewich



A swan does his hair

 

Like father like son

Unfortunately Roy had a technical problem in that he was dieseless on account of forgetting to turn his diesel back on. Ooooops. After half hour and some foul language he was up and running and we set off for Barbridge, a glorious morning, a beautiful stretch of canal with queues of lovely people at the the locks.

 

 

Roy looks in need of a rest/drink/trousers/diesel? Delete as necessary

We arrived at Barbridge where we found a suitable mooring as we stop here for a while before commencing Stage 3 to Llangollen and Birminham. Having got ourselve secure Roy decide it was wide enough canal to turn Panther around so that his starboard side (which has portholes) was next to the bank rather than his port side (which has windows). Are you following this?

Annie takes the bow rope while Panther is turned. Adrian offers much needed and apreciated advice

Annie waits patiently whilst Roy stirs up some mud. Adrian is obviously exhausted with all this advice-giving



Job done-Adrian now in need of Cocoa

 

The following day had been planned as Chester day (All my troubles seemed so far away....Oh I believe in Chester day) Sorry short musical interlude there.
I drove all into the City and we all went off and explored. I headed for the Cathedral-which was free! and had a very pleasant hour.

 

I was much taken by the gentleness in this sculpture, The Water of Life, in the Cloister Gardens.

The River Dee at Chester-looks massive after the canal.

After the Cathedral I met up with Adrian and we walked the City Walls round Chester. In brilliant condition and a worthwhile two mile history lesson including past Chester Racecourse which apparently is the oldest in the country. some of the nags I back were probably in the first race a couple of hundred years ago
The canal (still the Shropshire Union) follows the line of the Moat for its rout through Chester and we walked down the canal. I saw Roy and Annie on a distant bridge and waved vigorously but they ignored me. When we got closer it wasn't them and the couple muttered something 
about "nutters" and "Specsavers"
 

The Canal Basin in Chester



Adrian contemplates a mis-spent youth.

A Visit to the Guildhall, a fruitless search for an M and S for much needed trousers, a pint in the Victoria which I remembered from my previous visit with Pam and we all met up for our return to Barbridge where we had an early pint before our barbecue. Only we didn't barbecue cos it started raining so we had salmon fillets, new potatoes, asparagus and a glass of white wine before a planning meeting on Panther to discuss the next stage.
Roy Annie and Adrian return tomorrow (Saturday) and I leave on Sunday. I went to church in Winsford on Saturday night and was bemused by the sermon being replaced by a demo on how to walk in a contemplative manner followed by six minutes of silence. Well it was near silence as it started with the old girl in front of me sneezing once and with a minute to go the lady next to me started sneezing for Britain. I am not very good at this meditation lark as I always want to giggle and silence doesnt exist in my Tinnitussed ear so I was well happy when it was over. Back to Barbridge for a contemplative pint and an excellent Chicken Caesar salad.
On Sunday on the way back to Berkhamsted I stopped to take a photo of the haystack Dalek at Snugburys Ice Cream farm nr Nantwich where they advertise Dalicks. Such fun. One for Joseph.
Back to Berko and a roast lamb dinner with Pam, Ollie and Joseph. Marvellous!
Tomorrow Tim and Helen arrive from Canada and all the gang are turning up. So that can be a separate post.