Heater Repaired and Cholmondeston

Today's Canals -Trent and Mersey, Wardle, Middlewich Branch

It was just as well that we anticipated and early arrival of the engineer from Middlewich Boat Centre as just a minute or so past eight o'clock, there he was on the stern getting ready to fit our renewed Eberspacher water heater! It did not take long as it was just a matter of connecting up the various pipes and exhaust. 'Turn it on', he said and straight away it worked as he expected. A pleasant young man who talked happily about the work at the boatyard.

We wanted to do a little shopping even though it was nearly a quarter of an hour to Tesco - Morrisons would have been further still. It was level and by the time we arrived at the church we were on more familiar territory. In the past we have moored below the locks where it is a shorter distance to the town centre. However, we are not going that way this time, turning instead onto the Middlewich Branch. On the way back from Tesco we spotted a couple of older buildings - the Narrowboat is not as close to the canal as one might have expected and the Town Hall was originally a public library. There is now a modern library building close by - how long will that be kept open, one wonders?

On the way we went to the boatyard to pay our dues (ouch!). When the engineer handed over the invoice he said that it was not quite as much as he had stated on the phone - hopes raised. Just £7 less - hopes dashed!

On the way back we went again to the boatyard to chat to the salesman and to have a look at one of the Elton Moss boats which is just being made ready for delivery. Most impressed. These couple of photos were actually taken last night - today the paint shed was open with the new boat that we were invited to look over just being brought out for the first time. Alas, we completely forgot to take any pictures of the boat itself.

Finally we were ready to set off and after descending Kings Lock we turned immediately left onto the Wardle Canal, said to be the shortest canal on the system. It is only just over a boat's length and last to the bottom of the immediate lock! But connecting up canals from different companies was always a tricky business in the days when they were being built. This was especially the case when alternative routes were being opened up which might divert traffic to a competitor.

After the next lock, Stanthorne we found a pleasant visitor mooring where we tied up for an hour long lunch break. The morning had been brilliantly bright and warmer than of late so it was tempting to sit in the sunshine and read. Since there are only a few locks on this stretch, that is what we were able to do even after we set off once more.

We think these are the first cygnets we have seen this season.

A view down to Winsford Flash, at the upper end of the River Weaver. So close yet so far, for narrowboats and one wonders why some enterprising canal investor never thought it worth making the connection.

A couple of propeller driven aircraft came over very low - the first one came too quickly as the camera refused to start up and even when the second one came it was rather distant before we could snap it. No doubt someone will be along soon to tell us what type of aircraft they are and whether they were heading anywhere specific at such a low height.

This photo is meant to show two things. Mainly it is included as a reminder of how much white blossom there is at the moment. But also it shows that by mid afternoon clouds gathered but it remained warm and there was no threat of any rain.

This farmhouse close to Bridge 14 seemed to have a large number of chimney pots. We counted 17. That is an awful lot of fireplaces to clean each morning.

A couple more locks and above Cholmondeston Lock we spotted a good mooring - not sure what there would be closer to Barbridge Junction and it would be a bit late to attempt the Hurleston Flight today - so we pulled in and settled down for the evening.

At least we expect to wake to hot water in the morning! (Yes, we have turned on the timer programmer)

8.9 Miles - 5 Locks