Chester to Beeston

With the IWA taking over the basin for their weekend festival we decided to head off. It is frustrating when the 48 hour mooring rules are put aside for some, many of the boats that were moored in the basin when we left on Tuesday had been there when we went through on Saturday to Ellesmere Port and they will be there all week until the end of the festival. All the moorings have been reserved from Friday 6th until Sunday 8th which is fair enough, but on Monday they were three abreast and taking upnresidence on the water point as well. What annoys me is that these are 48 hour moorings and many were turning up with their boat, mooring then leaving it. 

The basin, starting to get busy a week before the festival

Monday evening (2nd June) we headed into the City for a last drink at the great Boot Inn and then a belated anniversary dinner at Moules a go go, they have a special offer of 2-4-1 on their kilo of mussels every Monday. From the moment we arrived the staff were really friendly and efficient and we both really enjoyed the food. Definitely visit there again on any return trips to Chester.

The Boot Inn

James at the bar

Enjoying a pint and kilo of mussels at Moules a go go

On Tuesday 3rd June we only moved a short way up through the staircase locks again, doing shuffles in each one so it took quite a time, I wanted to stop to top up at Tesco and as there was a free spot in that stretch we decided to stay put, and said our final goodbyes to Chester on Wednesday.

Middle staircase lock, LJ up and two down

LJ passing the second one down

It's a long way down !!

LJ going into the top lock with one coming down

James' view looking back

Moored up in the Tesco stretch

Wednesday 4th June we set off just behind a Viking Afloat hire boat, so someone to share the locks with. There were plenty coming down for the festival so lots of help at the locks and I met some of the nice members of the IWA.

LJ sharing with a Viking Afloat, nice to have lock companions

Couldn't resist this one, nothing like the Corfe Castle back near Poole

We stopped just before bridge 108 and the lock as we had spied some nice wood on the way down that was shouting out to be collected.

Nice spot for a few days, view of Beeston Castle to the left

11 miles and 5 locks

Total 232.25 miles and 144 locks