Yesterday evening, after some investigation, we decided that Mike would do the car shuffle today rather than leave it until the end of the trip. We have slightly more time in our schedule than on the return trip because of the rendezvous with Joanna, Alice and Jess on Sunday. To avoid a long walk, the new plan was to catch a bus into Nantwich from the bridge just above Hurleston Locks at the start of the Llangollen Canal and train over to Macclesfield. Christine will then take the boat to Swanley Bridge Marina to meet Mike with the car. This is where we have booked a berth when we leave the boat for a couple of months. Car shuffles are often complicated itineraries and there is plenty that can go awry!#
It was a grey and rather chilly day as we set off. Just after leaving we spotted this tree stump at the edge of a winding hole. We wondered why someone felt it worth the effort of painting the ends of the stumps (as a warning) rather than cutting them back when it was cut off!
After turning left at Barbridge Junction we headed down the Shropshire Union for a couple of miles. Part way along we had to stop quickly for a boat coming under a bridge on a blind bend. What made the scene more amusing was this pair of geese clearly intent on seeing off all possible intruders. As soon as we passed they went back to more contented grazing.
At the next junction we turned right onto the Llangollen Canal. It is seven years since we last did this although we have been past the junction several times to and from Nantwich, just south along the Shroppie.
Immediately there is a flight of four locks very close together. The intermediate pounds are so short that there is barely room to pass a boat coming the other way. In fact we met two coming down, the first of which filled the second lock as we were just coming up the first. Nevertheless we came up in good time but the second but informed us that the sani station was out of order. We had understood that volunteers regularly manned this flight but none were in sight today. One of the boats coming down was quite disappointed. Christine later learnt that the lady that she was talking to at Kings Lock is the partner of the Hurleston lock keeper and that it is his day off today.
Indeed, as we moored above the locks to use the services a sign of the door confirmed this bad news. Sani stations are not very frequent along the Llangollen and we did not pass one at all yesterday. Time to use the spare cassette. We were planning to fill with water any way.
Servicing done we found a mooring just beyond the road bridge and Mike quickly changed and collected what he needed for the journey. Although he would have made the train by catching a bus half an hour later, by going quickly for the earlier one was an added safety margin. It was exactly on time and deposited Mike at Nantwich Bus Station as scheduled.
After picking up a Meal Deal at Morrisons, Mike walked to the station where he had no difficulty in buying his ticket from the machine. The only boring bit was that he now had 50 minutes to wait!
As bhe waited he had a text from Christine to say that the Eberspacher was playing up once again. She contacted Kings Lock but unfortunately Paul, the engineer, was not in today but she was given advice to keep trying it. A short while later the heater burst into life and heated the radiators quite well.
Although she reported this back to Kings Lock the advice was to try several more times to see if it would help clear the system after its repair. Alas it then failed and continued to be non-functional even until after Mike returned. Christine had arranged with Kings Lock that Paul would be given a message - he should be in very early tomorrow - and we would moor close to a road.
Meanwhile, Mike had negotiated his multi-phase trip, with a local bus out of Macclesfield to Kerridge with a short walk at the end to the dry dock. He then set off back by road to Swanley Bridge and Christine checked with them that it would be OK to leave the car there. They shut the office (an the gate for visitors) at 5 but he should just make that.
Alas the traffic was heavy at the end of the afternoon and it was not until 20 minutes or more after five that he arrived to find the gate barrier closed. He was not hopeful when he pressed the call button so it was a pleasant surprise when a voice answered and let him in!
Just as he had parked the car and made contact with the office, Mike spotted nb Take Five approaching the marina entrance! Somewhat cheekily, but on the assumption that by now there was nobody to say yea or nay, Mike took advantage of the elsan disposal until close to the service mooring for the marina! Relief . . .
We continued but only long enough to ascend the next lock and moor shortly afterwards near to a convenient road bridge with the hope that this will facilitate further attention to to the Eberspacher in the morning. Much might depend on whether we an get a mobile signal. By the way, this is what the unit looks like installed in the engine bay.
5.2 Miles - 5 Locks
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