Friday 8 and Saturday 9 July 2016

Friday - Happy Birthday Fiona!

As we were eating breakfast we counted 8 boats go past travelling in the same direction as us!  So we let them get ahead a bit then set off ourselves.  We got through the first lock without too much hold up but by the time we got to the second we were fourth in the queue!  It is still a busy and popular stretch of water.  The big difference this time round is the weather - it was beautiful and sunny last time (only a few weeks ago) but this time it is overcast, chilly with a few showers thrown in.  One of the disadvantages of travelling the North West waterways as opposed to the South East – the weather!

We got through the last lock on the Middlewich Branch and turned left onto the Trent and Mersey Canal.  Down through the three locks and we are heading North again.  A quick stop to fill the water tank then we found somewhere to moor – we are now on the outskirts of Middlewich town.  It is not very big, just a small high street and a couple of supermarkets.  It is less of a walk from here into town than where we moored last time.

Saturday - Happy Birthday Auntie Jan!

As forecast it poured with rain all morning so we stayed where we were and caught up with some housework and chores.

The rain did eventually stop so we went to the shops to restock the fridge.  It is a popular spot here for boaters to stop and there are plenty of hire boat companies around!  

It is due to rain for most of tomorrow but hopefully we can get a bit closer to the Anderton Lift – an amazing and enormous piece of machinery built in 1875 to connect the Trent and Mersey to the River Weaver 50ft below.  Originally the lift consisted of two water-filled tanks counterbalancing each other in a vertical slide, resting on massive hydraulic rams.  It worked by pumping a little water out of the ascending tank, making it lighter which would assist the hydraulic rams in moving both tanks, with boats in them, up or down their respective slide.  In 1908 it was modernised, the hydraulic rams were done away with and each tank, containing 250 tons of water, had its own counterweights and was independent of the other tank.  I can’t wait!!

Chugging past Venetian Marina - we spoke to the owner here last time and he told us that when he and his wife were travelling on their narrowboat and were desperate for water they asked at the marina if they could fill their tank - they did but were charged so his big thing, now that he owns the marina, is to offer FREE water to all the boaters!  Most marina's do charge but if you are buying diesel or something they sometimes let you off.  

Back in the single locks - makes life much easier!

There is only room for one narrowboat under the bridges - typically it is always at the bridges that you meet a boat coming the other way! 

Quack!

Passing the moorings with wonderful views - shame there is a hidden shelf below the water line which means you constantly bump against it - and it sounds quite loud when you are inside the boat!

Fourth in line for the lock - I'll get the lunch on!

Moules anyone?

Onto the Trent and Mersey - entering the first of three locks that take us down to Middlewich town. 

As we come out there is another boat coming out of the next lock so we can leave the gates open for each other.

 

And into the last one - another boat going in the opposite direction - very handy!

Saturday morning - don't fancy going out there!

We think this used to be the old cinema - now a Chinese restaurant!