A very much pleasanter day, weather-wise, although we found most of our time occupied by non-boating! Let us explain.
We then continued for a short distance to the moorings closest to the town and set off to Morrisons. Our list was too long to do in one trip so we bought what we could possible carry from there and returned to the boat.
After just enough time to off-load we set off back to the nearer Tesco for the remaining items. Neither supermarket was particularly well stocked and had no served counters for specialities. It was take-it-or-leave it with pre-prepared portion packs. Morrisons bread offer was very much less interesting than most of their stores and in Tesco there was little other than a small sliced bread section.
Given that the small shops are uninspiring, one wonder where local people do most of their shopping. At mid day on a Saturday there was absolutely no vibrancy about the place at all. Quite a surprise. We did call at a small butcher - the first one we declined but the second was not much better. A few desultory joints - we wanted a pork joint for roasting and it was only one option. Come back Duttons, all is forgiven! We are so accustomed to having a real range of joints of each type of meat with specials alongside them.
Time then for lunch and by 1.30 we were ready to set off. Our aim was to get as far as Church Minshull as they have a service there at 11 am tomorrow. We could have stayed in Middlewich 9before long we were sorely tempted!) but this would have left us arriving in Nantwich a bit later on Monday than we wished, even if there we made it on schedule.
However, as we rounded the next corner, alongside the Anderson hire boat base, we were waved at to stop and come alongside with calls that all of the boats ahead of us were in a queue for the three Middlewich locks! Now we are used to the problems of seeing hire boats away at the start of their holidays but were surprised at this time - most places start handing over boats around 3 pm but it seems that here they start at 1. However, there also had been some problem with a paddle on one of the locks but we never did really find out what had happened. However, it does seem that a queue had started to build before the hire boats began setting off. It seemed also that they had all of their boats facing the same way. Many bases try to have some go one way and some the other.
In any event we were about 8th in the queue and it was around 2 and half hours before we could ourselves start the first lock in the flight.
We then made good progress - there was a steady flow of working turns in each direction, interesting in the short pounds! - and were hopeful but they were quickly dashed when we saw that there was still a couple of boats waiting to turn the corner into the Wardle Canal and the lock immediately beyond the junction bridge.
Even more surprising was seeing a boat come down the lock and then attempt to turn around expecting to jump thw queue and go straight back up. Some of the boats behind us made it rather clear to him that the pace to join a queue is at the back not the front! He made an undignified reverse away from the junction!
The first lock is sometimes known as Maureen's Lock after a character who lived here until a few years ago when she died. We have read that a couple bought the lock cottage to renovate but we could see limited signs of progress, as has been the subject of comment on social media. It does look a rather sorry sight as yet. No doubt it will be good once it has been finished.
We pressed on down the Middlewich Branch, listed these days as part of the Shropshire Union, but again there were several boats waiting at Stanthorne Lock, a mile away from the junction. The two in front of us were very new to canal boats and both lock crews appreciated us keeping an eye on them as they have been cut free from their tutors! Both boats had youngsters and everyone was not only enthusiastic but keen to learn.
Graffiti usually does not attract amusement but we rather took to this one under bridge 39.
It was a good evening so we continued further until eventually pulling onto a Visitor Mooring - with rings! Fortunately, Mike had made the quiche for the evening meal whilst we were waiting at Middlewich.
5.6 Miles - 6 Locks
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