Saturday
The last two days were spent with the boat resting at Nantwich, along with Christine, whilst Mike made a quick trip back down to Truro for an important meeting. The planned rail journey went according to schedule - 3 legs on the way down, 4 coming back - even if a tad boring! Around seven hours each way on the train, plus the extra at each end. Amazingly, it cost almost as much to do the last 9 miles from Bodmin Parkway to home as it did for the train ticket from Natwich!
Actually, Christine did not feel as if she had been resting as she not only went into Nantwich to do shopping but also several trips to the launderette at the the boat yard. She also investigated new fenders for each end of the boat and booked it in for Tuesday afternoon to have some fitted. We also replaced the water inlet cap as the original one was worn, making it difficult to turn when preparing to fill up the tank.
Back on the water, today we set off in good time but first had to stop about a hundred metres down from where we moored for the water point and disposal facilities. Once really under way we made good progress. At Nantwich the canal becomes broad gauge as can be seen from the first bridge after the boatyard arm.
The last two days were spent with the boat resting at Nantwich, along with Christine, whilst Mike made a quick trip back down to Truro for an important meeting. The planned rail journey went according to schedule - 3 legs on the way down, 4 coming back - even if a tad boring! Around seven hours each way on the train, plus the extra at each end. Amazingly, it cost almost as much to do the last 9 miles from Bodmin Parkway to home as it did for the train ticket from Natwich!
Actually, Christine did not feel as if she had been resting as she not only went into Nantwich to do shopping but also several trips to the launderette at the the boat yard. She also investigated new fenders for each end of the boat and booked it in for Tuesday afternoon to have some fitted. We also replaced the water inlet cap as the original one was worn, making it difficult to turn when preparing to fill up the tank.
Back on the water, today we set off in good time but first had to stop about a hundred metres down from where we moored for the water point and disposal facilities. Once really under way we made good progress. At Nantwich the canal becomes broad gauge as can be seen from the first bridge after the boatyard arm.
Passing both Hurleston and Barbridge Junctions we headed on towards Chester. As we arrived at the Bunbury Staircase (two locks joined together) and were filling the top lock ready to descend, two boats arrived at the bottom - they would also have needed to fill the top lock in order to come up. One of the skippers was very keen to save water by doing the up and down at the same time. this required Christine to do some nifty steering as neither of the other two boats were keen to do the 'cross over'. (One boat has to go from one side to the other in order to complete the operation - think about it!)
The Beeston Locks are interesting: the original lock (which must have been really deep) was replaced by one made from stone as is commonplace) but the other from iron sheets, using the same technique that telford developed for the Pontcysllte Aqueduct. The reason for this change was because of a long history of problems with shifting sands at the site, eventually leading to a complete collapse.
Beeston Castle stands on an amazing rock outcrop - obvious to see why it was chosen as a place to defend. The stretch around Hargrave was tedious as, for about a mile, there were moored boats. One of the least attractive moorings we have ever seen. In many cases, staging (of dubious safety standards!) has been built out over the water thus reducing the navigable width. A high proportion of the boats seemed to be heading for retirement, built perhaps 20 or 30 years ago and many of the cruiser style more common in the 1970's.
We checked on services at Waverton church before find a mooring at the nearest bridge. Mike painted the pole with blue paint.
No comments:
Post a Comment