Jungles of Borneo

I walked on the next day for the rest of the canal.  Quite a few branches hanging over and the ground was slippery from the rain but I carried on and it got very much worse.

This was last nights mooring, the evening suns golden rays on the grasses here caught my eye but they were very much more golden than here.

Lovely mooring.

Here he comes at Barbridge Junction.

Bit tight but he didn't hit.

Second burnt out hull of the day.

I was way out in front of David but the towpath got narrower and worse.  I slowed down and David fielding a phone call from home, WaL went past me and David oblivious, carried on.

So below is a snippet of the condition of the path here, the canal edge is hidden, the path sloping down to the water, the bushes overhead were roses with associated thorns and my feet were wet.  I called David , engaged, I called again and again, finally he rang off and I got through to him, he was out of sight

"For God's sake STOP" said I gently and lovingly.  

I had everso nearly slipped into the canal a couple of times and by now was having a serious sense of humour failure.

Unlike me I can hear you saying.

I would advise others not to follow in my footsteps.

As I dropped off rubbish at Calveley a hire boat passed us, the chap called over would we like to pair up a the locks?
Oh definitely.

Sadly when we got to the lock a share boat was on the lock landing waiting for another boat.  We were left behind and off went the pair together.

Bunbury staircase locks, and the two disappearing boats.

This is a very attractive stretch of canal for several miles.

Well despite me being alone, we caught them up very quickly even though a boat had passed them so they had the advantage.  Part of the slowness could have been connected to the paddles not being fully opened when they were emptying the lock with the boats in it....

When I got to the next lock, a paddle was still up, the following lock a gate was open.

Well not many judgements from me until at the next lock, there was a bit of a bun fight between the hire boat and a boat owner ascending.

"We know what we are doing you know!  Just because it's a hire boat we do know what we are doing"

I managed to keep my counsel, David says that doesn't happen often.

This is where we ended up, moored up at The Shady in the shadow of Beeston Castle.

We walked over the bridge and had a drink in the pub.  We accidentally ordered supper, Peri Peri chicken and salad, I gave David my chips.

I like it here.

Short wet steps

 Yes first thing this morning we left.  As we were untying a boat arrived, I thought I was being helpful when I said there's a nasty ridge here we couldn't get in close, but down the other end the boats did get in close.

Oh we know, haven't you heard of the Shroppie Shelf?  We've got large fenders and we alway moor at this end.

Well that told me.

I walked and David boated for about 90 minutes, the sky clouded over and as we approached a bridge I got David to pass my new coat, just as well as when I did the first lock the heavens opened, David suggested we go onto our preferred mooring which was another hour or so onwards...

The rain turned harder and I managed to change David's mind of mooring up right now simply by looking at him.

So we stopped there.

The afternoon was spent watching the tennis from Paris

Supper was a chicken mushroom and courgette dish.

The new coat worn in anger.

The next day was a bit of a rinse and repeat, we did move onto the preferred mooring just a short distance before  the predicted rain.  

We watched the men's French final which went on hours.  I finished my book by John Le Carre, the first book he wrote about George Smiley.

Supper was the leftovers from last night dish.

A wallop, a bang and care for a poke in the eye

That afternoon David and I went for a stroll around the lanes here.  All was fine to begin with, a nice wide lane with only a few cars, the next lane was busier, narrower, bendy and without a pavement or worse still no gap to fling your body into, it was a tiny bit terrifying.  Two fields later and an unmarked path though a large property and over an overgrown bridge we got back onto the tow path and there came across a familiar boat NB Saoirse.

Last spring we joined with Steve and Andy to travel up the Buckby Flight making life a breeze.  It was a lovely and unexpected catch-up.

These two are Vloggers, filming aspects of their life afloat, then extensive editing and then posting.  

It's the modern way, but I'm an old fashioned girl, so blogging I'll stay.

 

The next day was rain during the day.  Fancy a change? suggested I

So we did and drove to Cheshire Oaks, a place of wonder for most husbands I would have thought but David was feeling generous of spirit and came too.

For those of you Readers in Vietnam Argentina and Ecuador, Cheshire Oaks is a Designer Shopping Outlet a wee car drive away from here.

David looked at waterproof coats but couldn't decide, I looked too and chose one with pockets and a good peak on the hood.  Why oh why don't they design good deep hoods for people who wear glasses???

The rain had cleared away by the time we got back to the boat so we sat in the cratch with a glass of and our books when the overpowering smell wafted in.  Yes the farmer had been spreading the slurry 20ft from the boat.  Shut the windows QUICK.

Well after a couple of nights at this rather lovely mooring, but it has smelt better, we departed.

On his way, David pulls away.

I call this plant Queen of the Meadow, here is some growing on the towpath as tall as me.

Horse chestnuts already.

Eventually we rocked up at Church Minshull visitor moorings.  We've not managed to get in here before, so it was a bit of a surprise when we found a considerable ridge at one end of the moorings, it was clearly visible but it David had tied us in tightly and we crossed our fingers.

Later on we took a path to walk down to the village.  The path was flat to begin with but then it became slippery, muddy and sloping downhill.

Looks not too bad here but David was in flats and slipped all down here.

You can see the gap here. But I think this was the next morning pushing off hence the ropes.

I would like to complain officially about the overhanging bushes and shrubs.  It was the same right in Middlewich where plenty of dog walkers go.  I'm amazed they tolerate that.

Rose thorns so that's nice and spiteful.

We had supper in The Badger that late afternoon, it was very nice, busy too.  The Landlady when she heard us talking about the steep path down to the village gave me their own leaflet with the foot paths mapped out so we took a much nicer and open path back to the canal in time for some serious clunks as WaL walloped against the shelf as boats passed.

We quickly decided to move early in the morning, indeed I might have said this was the worst mooring we have ever had. 

  

What's that smell....?

 Please start at the bottom and work up!

Finally coming into the lock.

A lady arrived at the first lock on the Middlewich Arm as I waited for David to bring WaL around, she looked expectant of me closing the gates so that she could fill it for her own boat coming down.  Then I pointed out that David was on his way.  it was a bit hard to see him...

Getting into a better position

WaL's nose appearing, David had to wiggle about to get in position to make the 90 degree turn

This cormorant was had to capture as it was only on the surface for a few seconds then dived, appearing on the other side of the basin

A Cormorant whizzing about the basin.

This is Middlewich Basin, the waterpoint is right on the junction that we wanted to make to turn for.

The yellow flag Irises are going over now and I very much liked the stretches of yellow and white along the way, sometimes with a spot of purple too.

Very lovely orchid today, Amanda will know the name.

This is Albion Lock and over the road there is the recently built Albion Lock development.  I've mentioned on here before that I took photos years ago of the salt piles or mountains here when I was crewing with Amanda but can I find them... I cannot. 

I would like to see this but I can't find it online.  If you can Reader then do send me the link.

Our mooring last night, as per usual the other boats have departed tout suite and we didn't.  But this is where we had the Barbie Queue, so a tad narrow for six OAP's, three dogs, tables and six chairs...

Now it's not at all annoying but these photos above have loaded themselves from oldest to newest.

I tried deleting them and re posting to no avail.  I'm now having a sense of humour failure so just for today I simple ask you to start at the bottom and work upwards.

I was walking along and after the first lock we did where I chatted to a nice lady.  They had no map of where they were, but simply were following their noses, stopping where they pleased.  She looked at me askance when I mentioned that I really liked Heartbreak Hill, for that is where you are, thirty one locks here..

Anyway after the lock I was changing the podcast on my phone when I 

A) Almost fell in

and 
B) Almost broke my ankle

you will sympathise when you look at the second to last photo.



So when we arrived in Middlewich we actually moored up above Kings Lock, right by the fish and chip shop but on this visit we didn't partake.  Very close to here is a 'Morrisons Daily' from which tomorrow we were to collect two Amazon parcels.  David is going to do some Boat Maintenance!!!!!

Yes Reader he is.  He'd been spoon fed advice and instruction by David Lewis, in addition Darling Lewis had found the required tubing on-line which would be arriving.

The other Team Players had already turned onto The Middlewich Arm (or if we are being picky The Wardle Canal for 60 odd feet) and had moored up but we stuck out on the other section.

Tonight the Team are having  A Last Supper together and a fond farewell.  NB Hogarth and NB Caxton are departing for pastures new, well actually David Lewis is being taken by his two sons to Le Mans 24 hour Race for Father's Day and his Birthday and is being met above Audlem by my godson Max.  Joe is taking the opportunity to be taken to his own car goodness knows where, he's off home to mow the lawns, open the post, feed the two wild cats they adopted and I think do the laundry.  So they had deadlines and NB WaL does not.  I feel some lingering and loitering coming on.

That night we all walked to the White Bear in the centre of Middlewich, we had no idea it was there but the food was lovely and so were the staff.  I would definitely go back again.

So with a tear or two in my eye we exchanged bear hugs and kisses 

it was Au Revoir.

Its been a lot of fun all being together for this trip, Gloucester we had to pass on but we'll try again next year.

So all alone and crying the next morning we went down Kings Lock and watered up at the ridiculously positioned water point, but for gods sake don't complain, CART will take it out and not replace it. 

It was a delightfully sunny day and we continued through Middlewich and went up one lock.

This gorgeous Lock Cottage is in a sad looking state, I presumed it is rented but that's a guess. The sky looks threatening here, I might have taken this the previous day.

I walked up to the first lock and met these ladies.  I told them how delighted to se women on the back relaxing and the men doing the locks.  I asked them if I could include this photo on my blog, so memorable to see.

So this is where we rocked up.  South facing, on armco, a tree to sit under if it gets too hot, just perfect.

Until that is, until we heard a familiar sound.....

It was the pump which collects the slurry into a huge tank on the back of a tractor, in turn it will be taken to a field recently mowed and the silege collected.  A field everso everso like the one oppersite out boat!

Anyway the sound was on and off, later David noticed that the tractor had towed the zonking great pipe across the field.....

I said we might have to move on but still nothing happened.

About 4pm this happened.

Supper was chickpea, chicken, courgette surprise, only 500 calories.  

Blimey... Where is everyone?

Today was supposed to be a lie in, a leisurely start, but when I woke up both the other boats had gone as had my husband biking!

When David did return, we had breakfast together tidied the boat and set off about 10am.

I had been hoping to meet boats coming up, but really this trip there has been a noticeable lack of boat traffic, I was thinking that it could be connected with Heartbreak Hill (The name of this flight) being closed last week or partially closed because of low water levels.  Good for us of course.

WaL coming along to the lock at Rode Heath.  I was filling the lock and if I'm not mistaken he was probably making himself a coffee.

Down she goes.

Here I was being showered in ash smuts.  The air stank of smoke and in my head I accused this white cottage of being guilty and what horrid neighbours they were, ash fell on the new shiny cars.

But here was the culprit.  An anti-social farmer not making friends.

Getting closer to the motorway.  I always feel smug near motorways as I'm convinced the drivers would prefer to be boating.

Gorgeous rolling fields all the way along this stretch.

I first came across these sheep below,  watching 'This Farming Life' on the BBC.  

One couple had these, the farmer had been persuaded to get a few by his girlfriend.  They washed them, showed them and are now selling them for many many thousands of pounds.  The farmer had never regretted the purchase!

I've not seen any in the flesh before but they are as cute as can be.

HERE   are some better photos of them

Swiss or Valais Blacknosed sheep.

Some rare orchids along here, I've no idea which, but the sign said please do not pick.

Now these were in one place and I love them, perennial Sweet Peas.  I hope the seed spread.

The side wash here was running full pelt at Makins Bank.

Coming out of this lock for a full sized boat is a tricky feat not to clonk the wall, but today all managed fine.  I thought we'd have the next lock in our favour but no.

If you've got bionic eye sight you will see dairy cows in the distance.  Cheshire is a massive dairy county but the cows are hiding in their barns.

Prettiest cottage on the flight, pity it's looking out onto a busy road but still.  

I walked down all the way to wheelock which was in the region of 5.5 miles, (Actually so did Lesley and Amanda) turned almost all the locks and after watering up here I did get on here and sat resting in the sun as we went through Wheelock and out into the countryside.

There with a lovely mooring were the Team members ready and waiting to take ropes, prep the barbie and whip out a couple of corkscrews.

Darling David Lewis was cooking tonight, steaks.  Amanda made my favourite salad that she had made last year in France.

It's a Hugh Feanley-Whittinhstall's recipe from the 

book: How To Eat 30 Plants A Week....

HERE   

Absolutely delicious.

I would have taken so photos of us enjoying a peaceful supper altogether, but as it was a beautiful sunny warm evening all the world and his mother came out walking, cycling, running, fishing and one young man was on a "Uni-Board" or a name very similar, it was a skateboard with a sphere in the centre and some magical motor, he literally posed on it and shot along the tow path,  he'd come from Winsford certainly 6 or 7 miles away!  

We thought we would be undisturbed but we were up and down like corks on the ocean grabbing the dogs and our plates.

Oh how we laughed.