Rural England

Having had a good and uninterrupted nights sleep on the outskirts of ‘The Badlands’ we set off at 8am as planned and made for the staircase locks of Chester on our return journey.

Passing thru’ the locks after only a half hour we moored in the town centre and went for a walkabout. There’s actually loads to see in this Roman city. You can walk right around the city over the old city gates and past the defensive turrets, including King Charles’s Tower above the canal. We also walked down to the River Dee and past the old amphitheatre which was being excavated. There is also a Tesco supermarket 500yds from the mooring which enabled us to fully stock on food and drink.
At 2.30pm and after treating ourselves to a McDonalds we set off up the 5 locks and out of the city. We completed the stretch after around 2 hours. Although we enjoyed the city we were glad to be back in rural England and this lovely stretch back towards Beeston Castle. Our intention was to moor just after Waverton in a lovely spot we’d stayed in on our way down but unfortunately the spot, quite capable of handling 2 boats, was taken up by a single craft who’d selfishly moored smack in the middle. Another example of a thoughtless idiot. I must remember to name and shame these selfish sods!!
Sufficed to say we soon found an equally inviting mooring with ample shade. Tonight (Tues 26th) was the hottest this summer with the temperature at 10pm still in the high 20s.
Moving down on Wednesday we spent the evening once again with Mel and Trish, NB-Chardonnay, still moored at bridge 109 and barbequed.
On Thursday we continued South stopping at Chas Arden for diesel, Elsan and water, turning back onto the Middlewich Branch and mooring once again at Cholmondeston at around 5pm.
Friday began with a breakfast treat at Venetian Marina Cafe and then we moved on eastwards heading towards the Trent and Mersey Canal. Friday night we moored in a lovely spot with superb views to the west over the River Weaver and Winsford Top Flash.

Today Saturday July 29th began at around 10.30am locking thru’ onto the Trent and Mersey at around 1pm. Turning North towards our next destination of the Anderton Boat Lift which will drop us 50feet down onto the River Weaver. We continued thru’ the 3 locks at Middlewich arriving at a wide 14foot lock. This used to represent the beginning of a wide, almost lock-free navigation right thru’ to Preston Brook, Manchester and Wigan (very convenient for the salt industry when it shipped all of its goods by boat), but this long since redundant. We moored at 3.30pm in our first rain for almost a month just prior to reaching Billinge Green Flash.
The above picture is of a recent unknown visitor to Quidditch!!

The Badlands

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Ahoy!

No we haven’t got lost we’re up and running again! Computer problems!

The journey continues...

Departing Wheaton Aston we continued towards our next destination of Norbury Junction. Just prior to leaving we saw the cheapest diesel so far at 43.7p (Tavern Bridge 19). It makes you wonder how prices of 63P are achieved on the Gloucester and Sharpness!
After passing under Cowley Tunnel, (This short tunnel was originally designed to be much longer – 690yds – but most of it was opened out at an early stage during construction – 1831 – because of dangerous faults in the rock, and now only 81yds remain), we stopped briefly at Gnosall for shopping.
Passing over the huge Shelmore embankment we reached Norbury Junction. This is where the Newport branch used to lock down from the main line. Here there are excellent moorings, chandlery and coffee shop, not to mention the pub. We made the decision to lay up for the weekend having got a satellite link for the impending finale to the World Cup. Later in the day we had a long walk to Loynton Moss Nature Reserve, (bridge 39). This is a floating bog with an interesting plant community. We saw Spotted Flycatcher amongst other things and many Meadow Brown butterflies. Watch out for the horse flies! Dee got bitten several times but unusually I wore jeans instead of my customary shorts and survived.
Leaving Norbury we continued on, over-nighting at Market Drayton and after completing the 15 locks of the Audlem flight we visited the famous Shroppie Fly pub. This is a converted warehouse on the canal side, the main feature being the bar, which is shaped like a narrowboat. The most disappointing thing is the food price. I resent paying an amazing 12.95 for Gammon and chips!!! The whole menu was extremely pricey for a pub! We ended up having a portion of chips each.
After Audlem we moved down slightly to just North of bridge 83, Coole Pilate, where there is an attractive picnic and barbecue area. From here we cycled to and visited Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, (pictured). This is an excellent and unique day out discovering the world of ‘Nuclear Government’. I found the whole thing really sinister!
Last Thursday July 13th we passed thru’ Nantwich and bypassed the Llangollen Canal Turn making a right shortly after and headed east along the Middlewich Branch, mooring at Charlmondeston Lock at around 2pm. Here we remain until Next Thursday 20th. The plan is to hire a car for the weekend and for me to visit my old mum in Liverpool who’s not too well at present. Dee has made off to Reading to visit her friend for a few days who’s over from Jamaica. The plan this Thursday is to turn about and head for Ellsmere Port.

Shropshire Union

Thursday July 6th @ Wheaton Aston. After leaving Whittington Lock at around 10.30am on Monday we continued on thru’ Kinver.

This section of the canal is shrouded by delightful scenes. On both sides are cottages, pretty gardens, moored boats and a very low bridge! Tall steep hills rising to over 250ft appear on the east bank. The canal then leaves this damp, mossy area and bends round to Kinver Lock. Continuing on we pass thru’ the charming and diminutive Dunsley Tunnel a rough-hewn bore carved out of the rock, with overhanging foliage at either end. The next lock is at Stewponey, accompanied by a toll house. We pass the Stourbridge Canal turn at Stourton Junction which would be the first of many locks that carry this canal up towards Dudley and the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Not on our list for this year.
A few miles on and just prior to Rocky Lock in 33 degree heat we decided to moor having found excellent tree cover in idyllic surroundings. The rest of the day was spent crashed on the bank. In the evening we were entertained by an array of bird life in the woods opposite which included Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl’s.
Over the next few days we plan to navigate through Wombourne and the outskirts of Wolverhampton, not the most auspicious of areas but nevertheless pleasant in parts. After passing thru’ Wombourne on Tuesday we moored at Dimmingsdale Lock, luckily just prior to a thunderstorm. On the Wednesday we progressed north on the Staffs and Worcester, stopping at Compton for diesel and water. At around 2pm we entered onto the Shropshire Union Canal at Aldersley Junction. We then completed a very long day, mooring at Wheaton Aston at around 5.30pm last night. Today, Thursday, we laid up for the day having been woken by a thunderstorm at around 5.30am and torrential rain. Dee stayed aboard and I cycled some 8 miles into Pentkridge for a few provisions. Tonight we’re having a curry take-away.

Monthly Log (June)

Well it’s just on a week now since our last post at Gloucester Dock and already I find myself writing our June monthly log too.

(Pictured.. Quidditch moored at Slimbridge with Dee's dingy).

In brief June was spent primarily on the rivers. We arrived on the River Avon at Stratford on June 1st and progressed along the whole extent of this beautiful river progressing thru' onto the River Severn at Tewkesbury. After arriving at Gloucester Dock on June 9th we moved onto the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and here we stayed to explore, visiting Sharpness, Saul Junction and Slimbridge, until finally returning to Gloucester Dock. On June 27th we headed out and northward. The weather was exceptional apart from the odd torrential downpour and not too busy until the build up towards the Saul festival this weekend. We now leave these waters for the 2nd year in succession perhaps to return in a future year but for now we say farewell.
Since leaving the dock on Tuesday (a day late due to torrential rain) we progressed out of Gloucester and onto the River Severn mooring for the night at Tewkesbury once again. After leaving Tewkesbury on Wednesday morning we had a brief stop at Upton on Severn Marina to empty our Elsan toilets, (Gloucester was unfortunately broken!) and continued on thru’ Worcester mooring at the extremely attractive Bevere Lock at around 5pm, one of our longest days. This is the 2nd time we’ve passed straight thru’ Worcester! In our opinion Worcester council does nothing to attract the boater. The moorings are poor. You have a choice of mooring right under a busy road bridge or alongside Worcester race course, which at the time of passing had a race meeting in progress. Well maybe some peoples idea of a dream mooring!
We eventually arrived at Stourport on Thursday and moored river side, surprisingly the only boat there overnight. We’d completed the 43 mile Gloucester to Stourport stretch in 2 days as planned.
On Friday morning we locked thru’ Stourport Basin taking on drinking water and thus returning back onto the narrow canals.
Today we’re currently moored at Whittington Lock on the beautiful Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal just short of Kinver. We arrived here yesterday in 30 degrees and managed to achieve a tree sheltered mooring and satellite signal, only to have our hopes dashed by yet another England shootout! Lets not dwell. Here we stay until tomorrow when we move off northward heading up towards the Shropshire Union Canal which we hope to enter later in the week.
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTIE XXX