Showing posts with label Nantwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nantwich. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Nantwich to Audlem

We have had a bit of a lack of signal as is usual for us on the Shroppie so although I had actually written the blogs I couldn't post them, therefore, as seems to be usual for me they are a couple of days behind.

Sunday 22nd November

On Thursday we went down to Nantwich Basin where Tim and Hazel from Cratch Covers and Canopies fitted our pram cover. Unfortunately, for them, it did start to rain but at least it wasn’t windy. They gave us a demonstration of how to put up and collapse it and left us with the cover we had asked for to protect the material from doggy claws when travelling, Dudley does love to sit on the roof and say hello to peoples and doggies when we are on the move. He also has made very good use of the little doggie windows we have had fitted in the sides.

The frame work in place

Fitting in progress
On Saturday it was bitterly cold, there had been some snow flurries overnight but all traces had disappeared in Nantwich but from our elevated position up on the embankment we could see the white Peaks in the distance. We walked to Argos and picked up our many packages, James went to the Ebay collection counter, which was unmanned but an assistant on the other counter said he could use any now, James asked him of he really wanted to serve him as he had a number of packages to collect, the Assistant replied - are you Mr Ward by any chance!! There were several packages to collect but luckily all but two were very small and they were all light weight.

Dudley relaxing in front of the fire
This morning we collapsed the pram cover and secured it neatly in its cover and set off in the winter sunshine. It soon clouded over but in a away we were pleased as the sun was shining right in our eyes making it difficult to see, we went up the two locks at Hack Green and passed our favourite mooring spot at the bottom of Audlem locks, there were only three boats there today. We tackled the first three locks of the 15 Audlem ones and moored up opposite the Bridge Inn. We popped in for a drink but unfortunately we were a bit late for food as the kitchen closes early on a Sunday, so after a drink we went along to the takeaway and headed back with it to LJ.

Ready for the off, complete with protective cover



We managed to get it back up again!

Moored in Audlem


6.5 miles and 5 locks

TOTAL 685.5 miles and 532 locks





Thursday, 19 November 2015

Nantwich

We stayed for a couple of days at the bottom of Audlem locks then made our way into Nantwich, we had an appointment on 9th November for Cratch Covers and Canopies to measure us for a rear canopy, pram hood cover. We arrived a few days early and passed Mark and Corinne, Dee O Ghee going the other way. They were half way through their week out and returned to Nantwich a couple of days later and called in for coffee, the next morning we popped over the them and had a look around their lovely boat, which they have completely fitted out themselves, before they headed back to their marina. It was lovely to finally meet up with them after spending a couple of years following their blog.



Mark and Corinne
Whilst at Nantwich we heard the hum of lawn mowers and strimmers, luckily they weren't doing the edge by the boats but the huge slope of the embankment, I was amazed to see the machinery they were using all by remote control.


Well the the day arrived for our appointment with Cratch Covers and Canopies but unfortunately it was pouring with rain and a tad windy. What we didn't realise is they fix the framework and then make templates for the canvas so they needed it to be dry and ideally little or no wind. As the horrid weather was forecast for a bit and they wouldn't be able to do it we decided to make our way to Chester and hopefully on our return the weather would be better.

We left in the afternoon and stopped off at the Barbridge Inn just before the junction with the Middlewich Arm, then continued on the next day. As we were approaching the Bunbury staircase lock we past fuel boat Hallsall delivering to his customers, we got the lock set and waited for Martin to join us, he had help that day as he said the locks are a pain on his own as his boat is slightly over 70ft so it has to be in the middle of the lock to get the gates open and also Iron Lock doesn't have a ladder!

The canal is wide from Nantwich Basin up to Chester as this section of canal was originally known as the Chester Canal and terminated at Nantwich Basin, the huge embankment and aqueduct were built later to as part of the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal.


We went down the next three locks with Martin and Halsall where we stopped with a lovely view of Beeston Castle. About an hour after stopping we had a call from Cratch Covers and Canopies to say Nantwich Marina had allowed them use of their covered dock on Saturday (it was Tuesday) if we could get back for then. 

Outside the Barbridge Inn

The old stables at Bunbury staircase locks

LJ and Halsall

Moored up at Beeston

And our view

LJ's right in the middle of this picture
So we stayed at Beeston until Thursday as the forecast was rain all day Friday, dropped down the lock winded and back up to Nantwich. So unfortunately we didn't get to Chester this time but hopefully next year as we're hoping to join a floating market there.

Saturday came and it was pouring - again, but we made our way down to the covered dock where Tim and Hazel got to work fitting the framework for the cover and making templates, it took them over three hours to do, and three or four days to get the canvas done.  Once done we made our way back to the main canal but were now facing the wrong way, so we took a trip to the huge winding hold at Henhull and returned to Nantwich. In fact the canal at Henhull is extremely wide, there must be some history to there that I'll have to try and find out. 

Huge winding hole

The canal at Henhull
We decided to stay in Nantwich whilst the canopy was being made as both James and I could get a few things delivered to Argos via Ebay whilst we were waiting. On Tuesday the winds were probably the worst we have experienced on the boat, we were in a very exposed spot on the high embankment but there were no trees around waiting to fall on us! On Wednesday there were reports of quite a few trees that have come down blocking various sections of the canal so CRT and their contractors are busy getting them cleared and the canals open again.

26 miles and 12 locks

TOTAL 679 miles ad 527 locks





Friday, 10 July 2015

Middlewich to Nantwich

We decided to make an early start as there were still a lot of boats around from the festival and we guessed a few would be off as well. We made good time up the first three locks out of Middlewich, as we were going into the second lock a couple of boats came round the corner behind us. We met one one coming down at the third so lucky we didn't meet that one in the narrow bit by Middlewich Boats, the water levels were really down on this section and the moored hire boats were at very odd angles. 

At the junction, we left the Trent and Mersey Canal, which we seem to have been on for ages, I love the locks on the T&M as they all have the little bridges at the bottom which saves me walking round and round the lock opening and closing gates. We turned right onto the very small section of Wardle Canal which becomes the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union. We had a brief wait at Wardle Lock as one was coming down and straight through the next one. The next section is very rural and there are some lovely views across The Flashes and the River Weaver. On reaching Minshull Locjk we came across a queue we were about sixth so I made some bacon sandwiches whilst we waited, by the time we had finished eating there were only two ahead so I went off to help them through, unfortunately the favour wasn't returned by the queue of four behind us, all still waiting at the boat for their turn, as there was nothing coming down someone would have to come up and get the lock ready.

This photo doesn't do the view justice
The queue behind us
At Cholmondeston Lock the queue ahead had dispersed, so I guess the previous lock had just been very slow filling and took slightly longer to get through. We were soon at Barbridge Junction where it was a left turn onto The Shropshire Mainline and we continued on all the way to Nantwich passing Hurleston Junction and the start of the Llangollen Canal. We arrived around 4pm and were very lucky to get a great mooring spot on the aqueduct.


Moored in Nantwich


I love the town of Nantwich with all its lovely buildings, it is a fair distance from the canal but a lovely walk down Welsh Row with many listed buildings.

Yum, went a bit creative with my cake this time


Just one of the many lovely buildings in the town


14 Miles and 7 locks

TOTAL 267.5 miles and 249 locks

Monday, 21 April 2014

Nantwich to River Weaver Aqueduct (Middlewich Branch)

It was Good Friday when we left Nantwich and very busy it was too, we were guessing due to the Jazz Festival in the town over the Easter weekend. On leaving we felt as though we were part of a boat parade, we were in a long line of boats going through the moorings. We were soon passed the moored boats and the parade started to separate a bit. It wasn't long before we came to the first junction, Hurleston, with the Llangollen canal off to the left, we carried on ahead and will come back this way after the Easter break when hopefully it will be a little quieter. 

Passing the Llangollen Canal at Hurleston Junction, we will be back
Next up was Barbridge Junction with the Middlewich Branch, we'll be heading right here after stopping at the elusive water point to top up. 

LJ at the water point
We'll be heading up here, the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union
Passing by this herd of cows
The grey and white one was being very vocal
Approaching the first lock of the day we could see a boat just going in so James moored up while I went to see if anyone was coming up, yes there was a quite a queue, five boats were waiting. We took our turn and headed off again with the same at the next lock, did they all know something we didn't? We passed Aqueduct Marina and then over the aqueduct itself with the River Weaver far below and moored up a couple of hundred yards after. Its a nice spot so we'll probably stay a few days, to avoid the rush of Easter boats.

And over the River Weaver

Moored up for Easter

James made friends with the locals
On Saturday we took a walk to the nearest village, Church Minshull where we were surprised to find a pub there as our guide book didn't mentioned one, then a stroll back down the towpath to LJ.

7 miles and 2 locks
Total 89.7 miles and 77 locks


Thursday, 17 April 2014

Audlem to Nantwich

After a wander back to Audlem and the Old Mill to view the canal scene art exhibition we decided it was time to leave our wonderful view and head off to Nantwich, it was an easy run and wonderfully warm and sunny with only two locks to do. At the first lock as LJ was on her way down a guy on his own moored on the lock landing and said for me to go onto the next lock and he would finish off there, very kind I thought so on leaving the second lock, as there was nothing coming the other way I open the paddles to fill it again for him before setting off on our way again. We approached the first visitor moorings in Nantwich and decided to moor up and check the others closer to town, good job we did as the all the others were full. Shortly after the boat after us at the locks passed and shouted out that he was grateful for us filling the last lock for him. 

At the first lock (with the helpful guy approaching)

First visitor moorings in Nantwich
The next day we moved off onto the Aqueduct visitor moorings and headed off to town.

Nantwich is a small town but again lots of history, on the road from the canal to town (Welsh Row) there are 96 Grade II listed properties on it alone. 






We popped into Aldi here and topped up the cupboards, with a few bits for Easter from Morrisons this morning before we head off tomorrow. 

This lovely building is a book shop/cafe on the main square
Last night we headed off to have a curry, which was really good, we went to the one right next to the station and had their five course meal for £9.95 each. Nantwich Marina is just along the canal so this morning we popped into the chandlers and managed to get an air filter, which we have had problems getting. 

7 miles and 2 locks

Total 82.7 miles and 75 locks