The times they are a changing

We have been in the habit of waking at 6:30 cos it is so light. On that Sunday half an hour later it was 8 o’clock and the news was on the radio! It is sunny again just like yesterday when I sat outside for a while.

It got quite exciting seeing some rain at Malaysia while those cars chased each other round the track. I wonder how excited we would get if it rained here.

BW is asking boaters to save water by sharing locks and shutting gates and paddles. “Some hope.” They won’t stop bad behavior without lock keepers being on hand to control the situation. Sadly it’ll be too late when there is no water left!

We have found that it is no good getting upset trying to ‘educate’ the holidaymakers. Seems that we will just have to think ahead about where we go this summer. Keep stocked up incase we get stuck somewhere.

Meanwhile I am staying put near Wheaton Aston while Ann is away visiting the grand children. By the way the price of diesel was 78.9p/l and my tank soaked up 146 litres.

Towpath Talk, April

Our thanks to those who read it and told us it was a feature. Fame at last? Not an April Fool either. It can be found on page 93. When we passed Norbury Junction the shop did not have the April issue so we have not seen it. Sue read it out over the phone to us and Vanessa mentioned it on Facebook. I have it now as a pdf file so have seen it on the computer.

What am I talking about? The item in question is under the heading 'Towpath Blogspot'.

Repeat repeat

Have I lost it? Help required. Seeemmss II am am repeating. Sorry dear readers, need a long rest. See previous two postings.

Moving south

We got a Gold License this year at great expense so we could go on the River Thames and Wey. The lack of rain over winter is causing restrictions to navigation to save water use. These may affect our plans. Our route south will be on the Oxford canal and some reports indicate problems at the summit past Napton. I think locks will be open for limited times. The canal system has its own reservoirs but they are all nearly empty now.

It may seem strange that a hosepipe ban can save on water use. We can understand it because our tank takes less than half an hour to fill and can last us over a week! There is something to be said for travelling with friends who care and help each other. Now we are on our own other boaters seem distant. A boater left his boat at a water point to go shopping. Not a word to us when he saw that we were waiting!

We are making good progress heading south on the Shroppie with plenty of water north of Market Drayton. It was a bright sunny Saturday that we climbed up the Audlem flight of locks. Unfortunately we had lost contact with no mobile signals. Pointing our tv aerial south got a good signal from Birmingham so we just relaxed watching a program about the restoration of a working boat called ‘Dover’ now kept at Braunston.

After some rain we were obliged to move further up the Adderley flight and on towards Market Drayton on Sunday. When we got to Market Drayton we discovered that Les n Jaq on Valerie were not far away. After shopping we moved on to meet them both.

An evening on board Moore 2 Life followed and we played an enjoyable game of cards.

Next day after visiting the market Valerie continued north while we went south to Knighton. The canal cutting through Woodseaves is strewn with fresh rock falls and shallow. We scraped over some rocks under the surface!

BW is actively trying to cut back trees and vegetation through this cutting. Two sunny days later we had got to Gnosall!

Long term plans

We got a Gold License this year at great expense so we could go on the River Thames and Wey. The lack of rain over winter is causing restrictions to navigation to save water use. These may affect our plans. Our route south will be on the Oxford canal and some reports indicate problems at the summit past Napton. I think locks will be open for limited times. Then I hear that the River Cherwell is a bit dry! The canal system has its own reservoirs but they are all nearly empty now.

It may seem strange that a hosepipe ban can save on water use. We can understand it because our tank takes less than half an hour to fill and can last us over a week! There is something to be said for travelling with friends who care and help each other. Now we are on our own other boaters seem distant. A boater left his boat at a water point to go shopping. Not a word to us when he saw that we were waiting!

We are making good progress heading south on the Shroppie with plenty of water north of Market Drayton.

Below Audlem

Audlem in the sunshine

It was on a bright sunny Saturday that we climbed up the Audlem flight of locks. Unfortunately we had lost contact with no mobile signals. Pointing our tv aerial south got a good signal from Birmingham so we just relaxed watching a program about the restoration of a working boat called ‘Dover’ now kept at Braunston.

After some rain we were obliged to move further up the Adderley flight and on towards Market Drayton on Sunday.

“Did I miss something?” It was like watching paint dry. We knew who won any way. BBC did their best but SKY?

Up to the Trent n Mersey and beyond

We moved to Anderton on Sunday morning while down on the Weaver. The gang came on board Moore 2 Life for a late lunch. We cooked the chicken and an apple crumble pudding. Our thanks to Carol for the wonderful vegetable dishes, gravy and death by chocolate pudding she provided. What a wonderful gathering of friends soon to face separation. But first our thanks to Geoff for arranging the Weaver trip for us all and to celebrate Geoff and Margaret’s anniversary.

On Monday we all moved on to the holding mooring and waited for our lift back up to the Canal.

Despite being out of season there were also two boats waiting to come down. We have all enjoyed our week down on the Weaver having discovered the river from one end to the other. Another time we will explore with more time to do it.

Now we plan our journey down south and leave our friends behind having enjoyed the winter months with them all. It is now a bit strange stopping for the night without the convoy. No choice but to have a cup of tea on our own boat after the days run!

Our electrical system alarm sounded off the other evening suggesting low battery voltage after a run. “Logically this could not be true so what caused the problem?” Voltage levels were ok at first but suddenly dropped when a load came on. After some consideration I switched the master battery switch off and on. Problem solved, a dirty contact.

After shopping at Middlewich and stopping the night on the Shropshire Union branch we moved on all the way to Hurleston during a cold foggy day.

North to Runcorn

The other two locks this way are three miles apart. We all set off one by one to get water and use the town facilities. Then it was full steam ahead to get to Saltersford lock passing the Anderton lift on the way. This lock and the next are much bigger than the previous two. We have to tie up alongside Seyella while Geoff throws ropes up to the lock keeper. George and Carol do the same. Once through the locks we all went at full speed on our journey north. Soon the river heads off to join the Manchester Ship Canal while we continue on the Weston Canal.

Industry now takes over from the open countryside.

We pass the Western Marsh Lock to turn at the end of navigation and return to that lock.

Here we can stop, get off and admire the view. Looking across the waters we see the Weaver on the left where it joins the Ship Canal and in the distance the river Mersey. All the waters heading round Runcorn to the right for Liverpool and beyond. On our return we head for a green field mooring 5 miles distant where we stayed for the night.

Geoff booked passage back through the locks at 11 am and noon so we set off first to get water. The others arrive just as Dutton lock is opening for us all. Must have done an average of 3 miles an hour between the locks but the wide deep river allows a higher speed. Going up the locks proved to be more difficult with the water pushing the boats away from the side as we went up.

Once through the locks we head for visitor moorings at Weaversham for the weekend.

South to Winsford

Next day we set off for Winsford passing the ‘Salt Union’ mines where rock salt is bought to the surface.

Mountains of it stored along the riverbank. The river gets quite narrow as we enter the ‘flash’ at Winsford. This is where the salt mines have collapsed and created shallow ponds.

All three boats turned here managing to avoid getting stuck. Our trip back was uneventful with all three boats cruising down the river in sunshine. The locks were once again being operated for us. We all managed to moor safely at the Northwich town moorings.

We tie to the odd bit of chain left by a previous age and climb over the barrier between road and river.

Discovery mode

Now we can discover the Weaver. The river is very calm and peaceful once we get past the salt processing factory. Geoff had kindly arranged all the bookings for the lift and locks for our trip to Winsford and back. So now our convoy is ‘racing’ along the river and passing Northwich.

British Waterways operators were opening the first huge lock. The lift was push button operated but winding huge handles opened the locks. So it was just as well they were being done for us. The locks are wide enough for all three boats to go in side by side. No need for ropes as the lock gently filled up.

The next lock at Vale Royal is a further 2 miles up river and by the time we got there they were being opened.

The visitor moorings were less than a mile further on where it was easy to get off and tie up to rings. This northern river is quite unlike that southern river Thames. This one has a good towpath and moorings are free.

Come on down it is free!

We were first at Anderton in July 2002 on our way back from discovering the Leeds and Liverpool canal. At that time the lift had only just been restored to working condition and we took a ride on the trip boat. That cost £3.50 then and taking our boat would have cost £30.

Now it is free. Then it was our turn going in the right hand channel with Rock n Roll.

The lift has two caissons full of water that can take two narrowboats each. They go up and down 50 feet independently using hydraulics taking boats to and from the Trent n Mersey down to the River Weaver.

Geoff was already at the bottom and was waiting for us to come out.

The river is navigable from Winsford at the southern end to Runcorn in the north, a total of 20 miles and 4 locks. Geoff and Margaret went down first in Seyella and another boat.

Salty towns

Middlewich Locks
The Romans were here first, found the salt and realized its value. “Are you worth your salt or salary?” Middlewich and Northwich is where we are. The salt is under the ground and gets pumped out as brine. The entire area is sinking as the salt is removed. The canal is getting deeper as the sides are built up to prevent the water escaping.

The bridges have flat tops and have to be raised to allow boats to pass under. We have moved on to Anderton.

Salt is Sodium Chloride. Made from two elements Sodium and Chlorine both of which are toxic! Chlorine is Bleach. Mix Sodium with Fluoride and you get toothpaste! Sodium, Hydrogen and Carbon make Baking powder. Sodium and fat make soap! So now you see its value!