A long day to Audlem.

 So this morning at the crack of 9am, we untied WaL and as we did so noticed the boat in front was also making a move, good I thought, always helpful to have two boats in these doubles although boaters will know that Bunbury are the last of the double locks heading southwards.

I walked and greeted the crew on the other boat.  So when I got there I prepped the staircase flight of two locks, this involves filling the top lock and emptying the bottom lock (but this time the bottom one was empty.

The other boat arrived first and I had opened both heavy doors.  The crew emerged and ambled up to the first lock gates. 
Am I getting old and crotchety to think that a thank you or even an acknowledgment of setting the gates might have been expected?  She looked clueless frankly and copied my actions.  Where are you headed today? I asked breezily

To the Llangollen 

Oh lovely says I, have you been there before?

Oh yes...   So not a rookie.

Anyway David left the top lock first to more easily negotiate the slight bend and remains of the fallen tree from a few years ago and I walked on.

Finally on at the service point and glad that WaL was in front as they made very slow progress behind us.

It was breezy and grey with the wind taking the bow in places.  We looked over to our right at Hurleston junction as we passed and didn't see a single volunteer today, they may have been having tea in their wee shed of course, but when we had ascended earlier in the summer every lock was prepped for us, that day.

Lucky strike.

Easy though Nantwich,  below is the attractive aqueduct, back in the summer we went several times in both directions under it.

 

Out of sequence but this is Hurleston Junction without helpers. 

Barbridge junction pretty quiet today onto the Middlewich Arm.

We headed on down towards Audlem past the very pleasant moorings of Coole Pilate where more boats were moored than I was expecting to be out and cruising in October, but it is dry and not freezing.

We inched slowly to the moorings at Audlem, there were a few spaces but only a few.

Heating on, showers and a spot of relaxing for David who'd had an early start today, he'd thought it would take six hours but in the event only five hours.

Supper was a very tasty beef stir-fry with double teriyaki sauce.

Up and at 'em tomorrow but help is coming.... I hope.