Nantwich

Our last full day for this trip but we wanted to reach our destination by lunchtime as we have made arrangements to moor at the marina and also to meet with an electrician this afternoon. We have had problems with our electrics right from the start and various investigations have not resolved matters. At present, the batteries are providing very little electricity and we cannot have hot water in the morning until the engine has been started.

Before then we had the remainder of the Middlewich Branch to complete followed by a short run down the Shroppie to Nantwich. The Middlewich is a very attractive canal - the only urban area is right at the start but once Middlewich is left behind it is all rural.

Former Bridge

Several bridges have been demolished since the others were numbered - missing numbers reveal the gaps. However, the narrowing of the canal is unchanged and a treap for the unwary!

Weaver Aqueduct

Had our photographer been a bit cleverer the picture of the Weaver Aqueduct might have included the river itself. Truth to tell, we really did not catch a good view from the canal.

Minshull Marina

There are two large marinas on this branch - the latest is at Minshull and looks fairly full already. Pity that there does not seem to have been a corresponding drop in the number of online moorings - several long stretches detract from the other benefiits of this canal.

Minshull Lock

We had just a couple of locks today - at Minshull Lock the cottage lokks down the line of the canal and does not have any windows on the lock side. The locks are also quite deep - 11 feet rise.

Barbridge Junction

We reached Barbridge Junction where we turned south onto the main line of the Shropshire Union.

Former Stop Lock

Just after the junction we passed through the remains of a former stop lock - this time just a pause whilst Christine off loaded our rubbish in to the waiting bins.

 

The weather, after a short patch of very wet fine drizzle (almost a mist), turned pleasantly warm and sunny.

Hurleston Junction

At Hurleston Junction we were relieved that we were not ehading to LLangollen - there was a queue of three and three more arrived just after we passed by. There were signs of tension when a boat came north through the bridge and a waiting boat was convinced that it was about to steal its place in the waiting line! In fact they were just turning around.

Soon we were almost at the entrance to Nantwich Marina - based in a former arm. At a narrows, just a few metres back from the junction, two boats emerged to come the other way. As we were about to reverse to allow them through there was a sudden and strange sound from the engine and our minimal ability to move out of the way indicated a trip down the weed hatch. We soon established that we had picked up a padded waterproof jacket which was frimly twisted around the prop. Nothing for it but to cut it off piece by piece. In the end it filled two large carrier bags - which we later dumped in a waste skip.

We made contact with the marina staff who sorted out our mooring spot - very good indeed, right alongside a parking spot. It was now so warm that after sitting in the bow setas to eat our lunch it was an weffort to stir ourselves. Cleaning and some maintenance needed to be done - Christine did her usual excellent clean through (mike normally does not see this in action as it usually happens when he is collecting the car) and Mike pumped out water from the engine bilges and also re-adjusted the bow fender. (He is trying to prove to Christine that we do not really need a new one - it came from here in 2009!)

7.9 miles - 2 locks