The day began with a bright blue sky and, despite the forecast suggesting mostly grey with rain for a while, we had a really good day until late afternoon when, for a time, the rain was rather heavy. At least by then we had finished all the locks for the day.
We had a level run for about two hours until the first of the locks - with the long stretch of moored boats on tatty moorings to pass. We needed to top up our fuel tank today and had been debating which of the boatyards/marinas was t he cheapest, if only we could remember what we looked out for on the way up!
However, as we were part way down the moored line, Mike saw a working boat coming the other way, with a wide patch of reeds leaving only enough space for one boat alongside the static ones. So he slowed down and pulled over to let the boat go by but as it neared he realised that it was a fuel boat and he could see that it diesel price was very competitive. He waved it down and we both pulled to the side so that the boatman could fill us up. Fortunately, no other boat came along wanting to pass!
This boat is called Halsall and was originally built by Harland and Wolff over 80 years ago. It had been abandoned until brought back to life and only converted to its present use earlier this year. It certainly was very neat and tidy with all the various services laid out. Sadly, the only thing we wanted was fuel! It operates in association with two other boats, each with its regular run.
We continued then until we reached the first of the locks and, surprise, we joined up with nb Ange De l'Eau once again. Whilst waiting for the lock to be vacated by a boat ahead of us, they chatted to Christine and Alice about where they come from in Germany and about one of the folk stories from that area.
Close by is Beeston castle, standing on a remarkable tall rocky outcrop.
Both they and Christine had attracted to the sign on both our map and theirs (different publications) which showed a shop just a couple of minutes from Beeston Iron Lock. Mike, however, reported that he had read on the local village web site that all of the shops in the area had now closed. Despite that, Christine and Alice walked to take a look whilst the German couple stopped at the nearby boatyard to check it out. Guess who was right!
Meanwhile, Mike and Jess were left to make a start on Beeston Iron Lock - this is the one that cannot be shared.
Once we were above Beeston Stone Lock it was time to pull in for a lunch break. Mike also wanted to make a phone call but alas the signal was to unreliable.
As we prepared Tilstone Lock another boat came into sight and came up the lock with us. One of the reasons they were able to catch us up was that the boat ahead had difficulty filling the lock as the bottom gates were so leaky. As we waited, a visitor climbed onto the gunwhale at the stern and walked the whole length to the front. It nearly tried to explore inside the boat!
Finally for today we had the Bunbury Staircase to pass through. A boat had already started to prepare the locks so that they could come down but as there were two volunteer lock keepers on duty today they encouraged all three boaters to do the Bunbury Shufffle. This means that with one boat in one direction and two in the other, they pass each other in the middle. This is one of the few places where this seems to happen on a regular basis. Of course, it only works when the staircase is wide and all of the boats are narrow!
No to easy for the steerer to take a good photo but this one shows the manoeuvre mostly complete. Our boat came up the lower lock on the right and then was pulled across by a lock keeper after the first boat had moved forward. It then moved sideways when the down boat had come out of the upper lock. There are other sequences available!
We called at Calveley for the full range of services and to allow Mike to make his phone call. As can be seen, by now the rain had arrived and stayed with us much of the way into Nantwich.
Just before Barbridge Christine spotted a garage on the main road which runs parallel to the canal. We pulled in just for a paper but despite their fancy sign advertising the range of things that they sell, they had omitted to put in any steps for boaters to get up the steep bank. Mike managed it but ended up with muddy boots. And they did not have the newspaper left!
The next stretch was familiar as we had not only come up this way last Tuesday after the girls joined us, but we had gone the other way from Barbridge to Nantwich a couple of days earlier!
Just before the bridge at Nantwich basin, we could see a boat coming the other way. We held back but then they signalled that they were going to turn down the arm into the basin. This is not a recognised winding point and they were almost full length. At one point it looked as if they were jammed with the bow against one bank and the stern against the towpath. After a lot of pulling on ropes it was eventually turned but we had waited over 15 minutes by this time!
We had thought that it was by now a bit late to expect to find a space on the aqueduct and that we would have to go on further. However, just as hope almost faded, we found that there was a Take Five shaped space right at the end, before the No Mooring post!
Whilst Christine prepared the evening meal, Mike, Alice and Jess walked into the town to call at Morrisons. They found that there was still the right paper available but more time was spent tracking down a tasty dessert for tonight - sticky toffee pudding for Alice and a Trifle for Jess. On the way back Mike phoned ahead when they were about ten minutes away so that our hunger could be satisfied immediately! On the way they spotted this interesting sign.
13.7 Miles - 6 Locks
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