The Anderton Boat Lift





Holding tanks at the top of the lift

We didn’t cruise far in the morning but we took on diesel, changed our gas bottle and filled with water. Then we cruised to the Anderton boat lift, what an amazing sight it is considering when it was built. it was restored and came back into service 9 years ago.We were given a passage for 1.30. Lottie thought we had gone into a lock and wanted to get out of the cassion to work it but a tripe stick soon persuaded her to stay on the boat.



Lottie watching the boat descend




Almost at the bottom

What a puzzled expression her face had when she realised we were gliding down the 50 feet to the River Weaver.

We had a lovely afternoon on the river enjoying the natural beauty of the banks and reed beds. At last we enjoyed sunshine, and the wind became gentle. As we approached Northwich the giant swing bridge beeped and started opening even though we were low enough to cruise under it. The guy was doing his routine safety check. We moored up after a short cruise to shop in Northwich. There was one gap left on the moorings but a kind boater paced out the gap for us and we fitted snugly. At these times i'm glad we have a 40 foot boat.  It was a long walk to the shops but it was interesting to look at the swing bridge, the biggest I've seen. We were cheered as the barometer climbed from change to fair as tomorrow we explore up the river to Winsford.

Wintery weather

Paired locks on the Cheshire flight

We left our mooring in overcast drizzle. It soon stopped and sunshine cheered us up, but the wind added chill. One of the paired locks was extremely narrow but we couldn’t use the slightly wider chamber as the gate had something jammed in it. I let the water out slowly and Paul eased the boat through the bulge in the lock walls.

Deep lock chambers

We found a quiet mooring to stop midday but after we moved off there was nowhere to stop. The wind got stiffer and colder making steering difficult as the boat side acted as a sail pushing us side wards. A noisy road appeared and ran alongside the canal. it was busy with heavy lorries but the end we moored in Middlewich in front of the locks against the main road. It was noisy but the road became quieter as the evening progressed. We were too tired to care.

Fighting the wind

We moved off in the dry with rain threatening. We flew down the 4 locks, thrust along by willing hands from the boats coming up towards us. The rain started in the 4^th lock but we soon found moorings just as it lashed down. Lots of poor people were still locking  and would have to carry on but it was good timing for us. During the rain Paul completed the repairs on the chimney from inside the boat.
 

Canada geese

After lunch we cruised on but the wind got colder and stronger, feeling more like March. However the Canada Geese seemed unaffected by the stiff wind. We stopped at the first moorings we could find at the Salt factory to get inside and warm up, yet this is Summer. We only cruised 3.75 hours but we did good lock miles.

bathroom blues



Harecastle Tunnel with Brindley's old tunnel on the left

Orange Water

Paul decided we would need a pump out today as as our toilet system was nearly full. We couldn’t see how to reach the one in Stone as there were loads of boats moored in the way. Paul shrugged and we locked out of the town. We ended up in Stoke having had no trouble at the locks just as the services finished. the guy at the boat yard offered to come over and service the boat at 8.30 so we moored on the service pontoon for the night. Although it was the middle of Stoke we had a peaceful night with no sign of vandalism or trouble as the pump out guy had assured us. We were even insulated from the traffic by a steep bank of trees.

Next morning as we were pumped out 2 hire boats arrived. They had spent the night in the marina while we moored free on the pontoon.

Old crane to the north of Harecastle Tunnel

cows by canal

Afterwards we had a short cruise to the Harecastle tunnel where we joined the queue. The boat behind flew round the corner, lost control and rammed the bank to avoid hitting us. No he wasn’t a hirer but a boater with 20 years experience. He must have been asleep at the tiller! We only waited a few minutes then went through the tunnel, the middle boat of 5. It was cold, noisy as huge fans blew fresh air pat us and the middle section grew lower and lower. We emerged to sun on the other side and the water was deep orange in colour due to the presence of iron ore. We enjoyed the start of the Cheshire locks which were spread out with beautiful rolling scenery around, wooded hills and fields of cows with calves. The first few locks were paired, the lock beams almost touching, but afterwards some were disused and one had completely vanished under a new road. The water soon returned to its normal colour. Lottie liked the mooring that evening, as rabbits roamed free on the common land at Rode Heath.

Cruising familiar water



Giant Hogweed

We started out the same time as everyone else, five narrow boats heading for the 1^st lock with us in the middle. We soon passed black spot piglets playing in the sun, squealing and jumping over each other. It’s good to see an old breed thriving.
Minutes later a farmer drove some lively calves along the tow path as we queued for Colwich lock. He explained they had slipped out of their field some 2 miles away and had led him a lively dance. 1 was still missing. Lottie took exception to calves on the towpath and barked at them rudely to inform them they should stay in their field. It was just like a scene from my book the intrepid pony escapes.

Cygnets calling for dinner

Soon we passed a magnificent giant hogweed plant which was as tall as a tree. Swifts skimmed the canal for flies and a kestrel hunted in a nearby field diving from high the find its prey. Damselflies, mostly neon blue but some bright red visited our boat hoping it was a giant flower. They were disappointed. Swans and cygnets came calling for dinner when we were moored up at Stone. They knocked at the window with their beaks as if to say come out and feed us. I fed them swan feed as too much bread isn't good for them.

Setting out

The Trent and Mersey Canal near Rugely

Virgin Express disturbs our peace for a few seconds

We had a good trip driving round the notorious M25 even though there was an accident in the fast lane. We drove by before the police closed the road to move the cars onto the hard shoulder. Paul filled the boat with water ready for us to cruise but didn’t shut the front doors first. The pressure from the water surprised him, the hose leapt out of the mouth of the tank and sprayed inside the boat soaking me, the sofa and cushions. Thank goodness it was a lovely sunny day as we soon dried out. It was a lovely afternoon for cruising, so nice not to be wearing a jumper today. The Trent and Mersey canal was tranquil, swans, ducks and bird song. We rounded a corner and the canal squeezed between the road and railway. The cars blared down the road and an ambulance squealed by siren blaring.

At the same time trains passed each other on the nearby embankment. Within five minutes we turned away from the railway the road headed away and it was peaceful again, just us, birds singing, lambs and blossom drifting down from the trees like fine snow.

this is how it should be

After unhelpful weather we were half a day from our new base. the weather is glorious but we had to go back to celebrate Mum's birthday.
After an hour we moored up and washed the boat, a pleasant occupation on a sunny day. Lottie Lurcher flopped on the bank enjoying her freedom until she spotted a cat strolling along the towpath. She sped up to it at full gallop but the cat stood its ground and braced itself for impact. Poor Lottie stopped dead, and looked at the cat as if to say you're no fun, you are supposed to run. Saddened she returned to me and received a treat as compensation while the cat strolled nearer and settled down to wash itself. what a tease.
Later we cruised along to a new friend who lives next to the canal, his unique oak boat at the bottom of his garden. Lottie played with his whippet Amber while we enjoyed relaxing in his garden.

As soon as we set out a hire boater pulled out in front of us. it was just as well we were not in a hurry. The boat had several changes of tiller man each worse than the first. It  was amazing how they scraped the boat round each corner but it did make fascinating cruising. Many hire boaters are excellent at cornering and going through bridge holes but these were the worst I've seen in a long time. Eventually we moored up less than an hour from base.

Next morning we cruised to the marina where Nick and Amanda the resident swans showed off their cygnets. By 11.30 we had packed the car and set out for home. The motorways were kind today, no holdups so we reached home in just over 3 hours.

Lazy cruise back to base

Rocky overhangs make the canal narrow

We tackled the Stourton 4 locks leisurely but were still back at the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal within an hour.

 

Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

Paul promptly moored up for a leisurely brew. We set off slowly along this beautiful canal so we could enjoy the views. We stopped early and the sun shone all evening.


We had a cold start the next day. We moored up for a break and to warm up inside. Then we worked through the Bratch flight, which is both unusual and attractive. The bridges were also pretty. 



The Bratch 1of 3 linked locks

Waiting to ascend The Bratch

After lunch we moved on. It was slightly warmer but I found myself waiting for the sun to peep through the clouds to warm me up even though I had 4 layers of clothing to keep me warm. It’s more like March than May.


We found a lovely mooring but were disturbed by a pair of ducks which crash landed on our roof. They waddled up and down and sounded as if they were a pair of emus. It was the first time ducks have tried out our roof but we don’t really want clodhopping neighbours upstairs.

Noisy neighbours settled on the towpath

Next morning was sunny but turned cloudy quickly and got windy. It turned cold then it rained. Within an hour it had turned to sleet. No wonder the British are obsessed with the weather.