Goodbye to the Llangollen..........

.........and on to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal

Sunday 14^th February:

This morning was frosty and chilly but after a full English breakfast I was keen to get going, with everything about ready I went outside to see a boat approaching heading in my direction, with the four Hurlestone locks ahead it wasn’t what I wanted to see but such is life, luckily following along behind him I stopped at the services just before the locks and emptied and filled as he began his descent.

Servicing finishing I headed into the first lock.

View down the Hurlestone flight from the top lock

Once through the first lock and entering the second lock I was happy to see a boat in the third lock coming up, that helped as it meant I could leave the bottom gates open and they would leave the top gate open and we could pass each other in the short pound between the locks, once in the third lock the same thing happened and entering the last of the four someone waiting to coming up locked me through, it was like the middle of summer, so many boats on the move, more than I have seen for a few months!

Hurlestone Junction is at the bottom of the locks and turning left I headed up the Shropshire canal main line passing the large reservoir that stores water from the canal, fed by the River Dee, and is used to provide water for the people of Crewe.

On towards Barbridge Junction passing the Olde Barbridge Inn.

And then turning right under bridge 1 to enter the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Junction on the right

Almost through

A long line of moored boats means slow progress to begin with.

Nicely lined up, look at all those moored boats

Approaching Cholmondeston Lock, which according to Canal & River Trust latest figures was the fourth most used lock on the system last year, and a deep one at 11’ 3”, I could see two men at the top gate and assumed a boat was coming up, I hung about mid canal for a while and not much seemed to be happening, when they walked away I headed for the lock landing and tied up, walking up to the lock I was surprised to see the chap I had followed first thing now filling the lock, I was puzzled, I asked what was happening and he said “I am delivering the boat to the Marina” (Venetian marina is just after the lock), I asked where his boat was, a bit baffled and he said “it’s behind yours”, it’s a long lock landing (due to it being a busy lock) and he had tied up right at the start of it, I hadn’t noticed his boat I had assumed it was just one of the line of moored boats near the lock, anyway a bit puzzled still I told him to go get his boat while I opened the top gate, he then proceeded to move off and steer across the canal colliding with a boat moored opposite saying later that the wind caught his bow, anyway he came into the lock and I locked him through, I must admit I am still a bit baffled by it all.

Leaving that lock I had to negotiate a fishing match of about 12 pegs, what a lovely bunch of fella’s, they nearly all had something polite to say or a bit of banter, it made a pleasant change, often fishermen don’t even acknowledge you passing.

I was also lucky at the next lock, Minshull lock, as a boat was coming up as I approached, some days it goes well J

Approaching the lock I could see people working it.

It’s another deep one at 11’ 0” and one of the first locks for a long time where I have needed to tie up and go back to close the bottom gates, there was just no way to get back up on the lock side from the mouth of the lock, there are steps but there is some sort of obstruction preventing access to them.

The steps are on the right but there is a barrier in the water

I then passed the Aqueduct Marina.

And moored up at Church Minshull just before bridge 14.

Totals today: 6 miles : 6 locks

Monday 15^th February:

A cold start, I didn’t realise how cold until around 8am I ventured outside to find ice over the canal behind me, not thick ice, but on this straight sheltered section it had been cold enough to freeze.

Not very obvious, but it is iced over.

I decided to walk into Church Minshull, a small village with not much there but I thought as I had stopped here a look around was warranted. The first 700 metres or so was another take your life in your hands country lane with not path or verge to keep you off the narrow busy road, downhill from the canal and with bends in the road it is not a pleasant experience in either direction.

A few pictures before heading back to a now lovely warm boat.

St Bartholomews

There are lots of white painted timber framed houses, the church and pub and not much else, a beautiful village but quite a busy couple of roads running through it. There was a sign for the pub on the towpath (stating 700 metres away) but I would not fancy the walk back at night after a couple of beers, a hi- viz jacket might help!

I wanted to move up to Middlewich today and as it was only a short run of just over 4 miles with one lock I left it until 12:30 before setting off, it was sunny but bitterly cold and I was surprised to find myself doing some ice breaking.