A mixed bag of weather

At 6.00 it was raining. By 7.00 it had stopped raining but the water dripped onto the boat from the trees.

converted warehouse

“It looks as if we will have a mixed bag of weather today,” the Captain remarked as the barometer had fallen.

He cast off then dived into the shower leaving me to steer. It was only 20 minutes to the Big lock which is the only double lock this end of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

floral delight

As we passed the moored boats a skipper cast off in great haste obviously hooping to share the lock with us. Why didn’t he say hello? The Captain drained the lock and opened the gate for me.

I steered through with the other boat closing fast on my stern. Mischievously the Captain closed the gate behind me. Well we can’t read minds can we.

He soon relented and opened the other gate then struggled to close it while the crew woman stood clasping her windlass on the rear deck.

still waters

“I thought you’d help close the gate,” I commented as the Captain tugged the heavy thing shut inch by inch.

“I couldn’t get off the boat,” she replied.

 white water lilies instead of the usual yellow

“You were moored up back there – you only had to step off,” I replied. “My husband’s back is hurting and he could have done with some help.”

The captain later told me she’d been chatting on her phone when her skipper cast off with a bowl of breakfast on her knee. Obviously they had been keen for someone else to prepare the lock for them. The hasty skipper had expected me to move sideways in the lock but unlike their posh boat we don't have a bow thruster so I would have had to push against the slimy lock wall to move to the other side of the lock. Naturally we don’t mind helping those who can’t but it gets annoying when those that can don’t.

following past moored boats

We moored for the Captain to shop in Middlewich for our final meal needs. Lottie and her walker followed after 20 minutes to meet the Captain and help carry the bulging bags back to the boat. Lottie was more interested in what was in the bags than in helping.

After hot drinks we set off to the narrow locks in sunshine. Everybody we met had a different take on the expected weather and predicted thunderstorms, rain or scorching heat. We ended up with the latter though the thunder clouds rolled past us and drenched people around Manchester.

The first lock was set for us though the Captain had to wait for a hire boater descending as the lock above was in his favour. They left the lock gates open above as nobody was following them.

By the time we had worked through the second lock a boat had arrived above the third with two others close behind. It was chaos as they had nowhere to queue because a local hire boat firm occupied most of the space. Instead of changing over every two locks I worked the flight to try to protect the Captain’s back.

blind bend after the bridge

Needless to say our rise was swift as the lock beyond had a boat emerging as we approached. It’s so much quicker when the gates are left open for you. By the time we left the top lock black clouds were boiling and we could see rain dropping heavily from the clouds behind us. Fortunately we cruised beyond the storm into clearer skies.

The Captain boycotted the first inferior moorings alongside a bustling road and we tackled four more locks before peace was restored.

Although it was way beyond his normal feeding time the Captain cruised into Wheelock and filled with water before mooring for lunch at 2.00. I don’t think the Captain’s ever delayed lunch that long before- normally he’s looking to moor before 12.00.

Cheshire fields

With bad weather possible tomorrow the Captain decided to push on at 3.45 even though it was a scorching afternoon. I worked two locks to each one the Captain tackled and grew very hot. As sunlight makes me itchy I became uncomfortable especially when my sandals rubbed on the large horse fly bite on my toe. As we were following an invisible boat each lock had to be prepared and the paddles seemed stiffer with each lock. Even when there were pairs of locks side by side both locks were against us.

hot locking

The lock gates grew heavier with the heat. We stopped on a longer pound before the next two locks thankful to get into the shade. This is a pleasant mooring though it can’t compete with yesterday’s idyll. There is the sound of a distant road but otherwise all is peaceful. We are opposite a golf range where an old boy is wandering up and down the tow path looking for lost balls. From his glum face he hasn’t find any.

From the sound of the noisy A-road it’s just as well we stopped here or we would have been deafened by it two locks closer.