Llangollen.

Sorry for the lack of posts this week but since we turned onto the Llangollen we've had no Internet signal until today.
It was Wednesday when we turned up the four locks at Hurlston Junction, Half an hour later we were leaving the top lock having risen 34ft 3ins. During the day we did five more locks each with a rise of around 6ft. We moored for the night at Wrenbury. On Thursday we traveled on to Grindly Brook, where we moored below the flight of locks and waited for Pamela,Nathan and Archie to join us for breakfast on Friday morning. They arrived at 08-45 and after breakfast we all went to Chester Zoo for the day. In the evening we had a meal at the Horse and Jockey,this was where Nathan had arranged to leave his car while we all traveled to see the aqueducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte.
Saturday saw us climbing the six locks at Grindley Brook,the last three a staircase. All six lock gave us a total rise of 38ft 11ins. Having cruised all day (except for a break for lunch and a short walk)we moored just outside Ellsmere for the night.
Our big day had arrived,three tunnels and two aqueducts,the high lite being Telfords Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at 1007ft long and 126ft above the River Dee. It was a long day with queues at the first of the two locks of the day. It is a bit like a pilgrimage with hire boat after hire boat heading up to Llangollen, with just a few privately owned boats mixed in. Some hire firms must give very little instruction on the workings of a lock,Nathan and I ended up locking the boats ahead of us through. On more than one occasion we found open paddles that should have been closed.We didn't go into Llangollen as time was running out(we had to be back at Grindley Brook by Tuesday)so having crossed the aqueduct we turned round and recrossed it before mooring for the night. This morning we left for the return journey, because of the flow of the canal(from west to east)we got back to Ellsmere an hour quicker. Tomorrow we head back to Grindley Brook where Pamela,Nathan and Archie Will pick up thier car and drive home. Where as Marlene and I will head back to Hurlston Junction. We will do the next post as soon as we can get on line.

Return to Barbridge Junction.

On Saturday afternoon we left Chester,doing the five locks rising 35ft.on the way up we met a hen party going into Chester for the night,later we met a stag party heading in the same direction. We carried on to Waverton before mooring for the night.When we woke up on Sunday morning there was a camping trailer parked on the car park next to the mooring but no car to pull it.
Staying at Waverton on Sunday we did some painting and made a start on scrubbing down the boat roof.The weather was kind to us os we got plenty done.Two people emerged from the camping trailer and went off on bikes returning later with a car.
On Monday morning Marlene went to the hairdressers,we then carried on to Wharton lock(just below Beeston Castle). Up by the lock we found a Damson tree so we picked 2lb of fruit so we could make some jam.
This morning after making three jars of Damson jam we left for Barbridge Junction.There were six locks on route which we paired up with another boat. Second lock of the six is Iron Lock which you have to do one boat at a time as it is slightly narrow. The two last locks are a staircase,at the top we said goodbye to Tony and Mo on Elamiah. Thanks to both of them for making our morning easier and very pleasant. Stopping for lunch at Calveley we had a look at the floating gift shop run by Mel and Ivor Batchelor.We first came across this shop when we took a holiday on the Hotel boat Shirley Ann. Tonight we are moored at Barbridge Junction and are taking a walk to the pub. Tomorrow the Llangollan.

Chester.

This morning we did our shopping,had coffee then went exploring.Chester is a walled city dating back to Roman times.Much of the wall is still standing and is a good way to walk round this small but interesting city. Above the river Dee are the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre,and at the side of that is St Johns Church. originally the city cathedral, St Johns is a lovely Church standing out side the walls. In side the walls is the much larger Cathedral that was built to replace St Johns.
Chester Castle was a little disappointing as there is not a lot to see, what there is is surrounded by more modern buildings. In the centre of town is a very ornate clock high above the street,it was done for Queen Victoria.There is a mix of buildings old and not so old, with narrow alleys with restaurants and coffee shops. All in all an interesting city.The two pictures of stain glass windows are in St Johns Church,not the Cathedral.

Coffee with George Cheers.

Leaving Nantwich heading south,then at the first winding hole we turned around heading north to Chester. We stopped at Calveley Service point where we topped up with water before mooring up just passed bridge 104. Later we walked across the fields,then the foot path went into a private garden.As we walked through we met George Cheers, the owner of the house,while passing the time of day he invited us in for coffee, Which we accepted. Time soon passed as we chatted about the local area and what we were doing. some times you meet people who make you feel really welcome,George was one of those people.
On Thursday we had six locks to do, the first two were a staircase,the locks were double locks going down.On the staircase two we passed a hire boat in the middle, that was going up. We moored at Bates Mill Bridge, near the Shady Oak pub.in the afternoon we walked over to Beeston Castle that is built on cliffs that are 100m high. As we walked back down we called at the Shady Oak for a drink before dinner.
Today we carried on to Chester,doing five more locks. Arriving in Chester in the afternoon we turned round by the Frog and Nightingale pub and moored for the night.In the evening we took a walk round town,tomorrow we'll take a proper look. Tonight is the first time I've been able to get on line since we left Nantwich.

Nantwich.

On Monday morning we took a walk up Hurlston Locks to see what we would have to do in the future. Timing will be everything,these locks are busy on weekends so we propose to go up them on a week day,but that's later.
After our walk we left heading for Nantwich,once again we have our balloon ride booked for Tuesday morning. This evening Richard came down to take us to the launch site. It took him an hour to find the mooring once he arrived at Nantwich. At the appointed time(11PM)we phoned the flight line to see if the flight was on. The voice on the phone informed us due to bad high altitude winds the flight was cancelled,Please re-book your flight. We were gutted, again.This morning we had breakfast then Richard returned home,Marlene and I walked into town. Nantwich town is a mixture of old and new buildings which works very well,a lovely town centre.We were going to move on this afternoon but decided to spend a second night here.
The canal at Nantwich is on an embankment then crosses the A51 Chester road on a cast iron aqueduct.Tomorrow we will cross the aqueduct then turn at the winding hole between bridges 90 and 91,then back the way we came heading for Chester.
We re-booked our balloon flight for October 28th near Weston in Staffordshire,hopefully third time lucky.

Misty Mornings.

There was a mist over the water yesterday morning,soon though the sun burned it away for another lovely day. Setting off we cruised down to the Big lock at Middlewich.This is a wide lock for two boats, the only one on this stretch,the rest are narrow.We entered the lock with another boat and seven swans,rising through 5ft 1in.We moored and went shopping,then called for a pint at the Newton Brewery Inn.In the afternoon we did the three Middlewich locks with a rise of 32ft 7ins,then on to Wardle lock on the Shropshire union Middlewich Branch rise 9ft 9ins. It was time to moor for the night.
This morning the mist took a little longer to clear, but clear it did.Our first lock was just along from our mooring so i walked up and set the lock while Marlene followed with Doublefracture.Stanthorne lock rises 11ft 1in. Traveling in wonderful country side in beautiful weather,what more could we ask for.Two more locks rising a total of 22ft 3ins brought us to Barbridge Junction.
I've just come back to this posting after my Sunday dinner,with a lovely South African Merlot. Right, where was I,Barbridge Junction,after watering up we carried on to the junction with the Llangollen Canal(Hurlston junction),then moored for the night(then the lovely Sunday dinner). Tomorrow on to Nantwich.

Sixty foot above the Weaver.

Thursday saw us heading for the 1,239yd Preston Brook Tunnel. This tunnel is time controlled like Foulridge. We arrived just after the hour so while we waited for our time slot on the half hour we had coffee. At the appointed time we set off through in a convoy of six boats, we were third in. Coming out the other end twenty minutes later we then jioned the que to go through Dutton stop lock. Around lunch time we moored sixty foot above the river Weaver, the view was wonderful. In the afternoon we walked down a track to take a look at Dutton locks on the Weaver, these locks are huge the largest is forty two foot wide and long enough for a large ship.The sun set was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Today, two more tunnels, the first, Saltersford tunnel(424yds).It must be the worst tunnel in the system,it bends all over the place and we were nearly through before we saw the light at the other end.Luckily this is also time controlled. The second is the 572yd Barnton Tunnel,not quite as bent but not straight either. Next we arrived at the Anderton lift, which lifts two narrow boats 50ft from the river Weaver to the Trent and Mersey canal, a great piece of engineering.
This afternoon we passed the boat yard where we bought Doublefracture,although she was unnamed then.Tonight we are moored at Billinge Green Flash, over looking wide stretches of water with alot of water birds.