We had moored just up from the site of the March 2018 breach of the canal
Having walked up from our mooring I had Stanthorne Lock ready for A.B. to enter
Although the weather report had promised no rain for the first few hours of cruising, we set off in drizzle and I was thankful once more that I had packed my very chic adrenalin paddling pants :)
We cruised through luscious looking farmland, the canal was wide and deep and L had A.B. purring along at 1400rpm and all was quiet in the engine bay - he was a happy boy.
and it was cheering to see swans and their families again. I don't know why there are none up in the Pennines or Peak District - and they are not ducks so L shouldn't complain - for awhile :)
We are now on the busy Shropshire Union Canal and this poor swan didn't plan ahead
Old barge horse stables, a relic of the days before engines, when horses were used to pull the barges and now a Des Res. I can't remember the exact figures but before the canals were built a horse could pull something like 1/2 a ton of what passed for roads in them there days, but could pull 40 tons along a canal.
Oh, how I wished it was sunny to truly appreciate our surrounds.
Dairy cows walking along the canal edge and presumably the same swan we had panicked earlier
Not only do we panic him again
he in turn, panics the cows
Having been startled good and proper, they galloped across the field and then came hooning back again.
About 9.45am the rain stopped and the sun came out
This poor swan still hasn't figured it out and flies a mile or so up the canal and then waits for us to catch up
However it does give me a chance to get a few pics.
Oh for S's camera
Next time we caught up, he finally figured it out and moved to the side and let us pass.
Now doesn't the canal beckon one on?
Looking over the hedge
The quaint village of Church Minshull
Part of the decorations or are these Border Terriers ready for the off?
Another pair of swans and 5 of their 6 cygnets
I love a bit of woodland, especially when its mixed.
Moored boats, the bane of L's life - means he has to slow down to tickover.
We are enjoying the countryside - so very different to Australia
Approaching Minshull Lock. There is water surging out which means the lock is being drained so there must be a boat in it. Goody
L drops me off and hovers while I go up to help with the lock. The boat goes out and L brings A.B. in. Half the work is done for us :)
Some of the farmhouses and buildings that can be seen from the canal are quite substantial
Sometime after 10.30am we reached the object of our desire; Venetian Marina, at the foot of Cholmondeston Lock, where we added to the general mayhem by pulling over to the left to moor up for our pump out and diesel in.
Not only were the people there really friendly they were fast, efficient and helpful and had a small grocery store so we could stock up on the basics. There was also a convenient cafe right next door and the staff at the chandlery let us moor up on their pontoon so we could partake of "the best breakfast in these parts".
We waddled back to the boat after a 'full english' (bar the black pudding!) and waited for a break in the traffic to move the boat across the canal to get in the queue for the lock.
While waiting for our turn it started to rain again and by the time it was A.B.'s turn to use the lock I was rather wet and a little envious of this bloke's brolly hat.
We cruised on in proper rain and arrived at Barbridge Junction where the SUC Middlewich Branch (what we were on) meets the Shropshire Union Canal. We would be turning left.
L cautiously sticks A.B.'s nose through the Bridge and from the bow I give the all clear
This duck, reluctant to move, must be very trusting, or through long experience, knows if a boat is going to whack into the edge. You can clearly nearly 200 years of boat damage to the stonework.
Lawrence, clever Captain that he is, didn't disturb the duck and began to back and swing the boat at the right moment
So we were turned facing south down the canal, the direction in which we wanted to go
The bridge holes on this part of the Shroppy are nice and wide
Next came Hurleston Junction, the start of the Llangollen Canal.
The infamous Hurleston locks lead the way up onto the Langollen Canal
The rain became heavier and we soldiered on to Nantwich, passing Suzie in her orange waterproofs and her owner, similarly clad, but thankfully not colour coordinated, on the way!!
We moored up around 3.00pm, happy to shed our dripping raincoats and turn the heater on. The rain continued until sometime after 8.00pm so hopefully we will have better weather tomorrow.
12 miles, 3 locks, 7 hours
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