Nothing can beat us today except....

Up early of course today, I definitely did not want to be following another early bird boater up the flight.  

So soon after 7am we were off.  Not too much of a problem for our guests as they both rise very early for journeys to work.  

Now its not remotely funny Reader but look what happened to Leon at the start!  He got an icy blast from the air vent of a gate paddle and it woke him up good and proper.  I have only ever been lightly sprayed in the past but from now on I will watch out.  He described it as a Marilyn Monroe moment but with cold water instead of hot air.

Leon's wet knickers.

I went ahead to prep the locks and David was helped by the guests.  They didn't really need too much instruction as its not beyond living memory when we took the little three girls on a fortnights holiday on a Black Prince boat to do the Avon Ring, then the children did some the locks alone and were very good at it, however I have to say the novelty wore off after about 9 days.....

Impressive farm house that was used to make the mortar for the locks here in construction, it was also a pub at the time too, now its a farmhouse.

Leon checking his phone or more like checking to see if he had signal, I didn't get a thing.

All was going swimmingly, I was up to lock three of twelve and it looked like we would complete them in 90 mins or so.  Then it came to a halt and stayed that way for the next four and a half hours.

I was looking at the view below as I waited for the lock to empty, but it didn't, I realised this and ran to check that the top paddles were down although I could see that they were from where I was.  Yes they were both down however the paddle on the towpath side was gushing through at a very very fast rate and constantly filling (Or trying to) the lock.

I knew that this was out of our hands and then quickly shut the bottom paddles too.  

This was the great view that had got my attention

This below, was the pound that feeds the lock and it can clearly be seen to be very low by now.   I went back down to the boat several locks down to report the news. I lost the coin toss and got to call CART.   

In our experience this summer when trying to book passages CART seemingly never answer the phone, if you do get through in 12-15 mins of being on hold invariably the department you require is engaged and they offer to call you back by the time that happens, you are in an area of no reception, they leave a message to say please call again and the process beings all over again.  Not at all annoying.

But today was different being a Saturday, the phone was answered immediately, "I'll send a team out to you straight away".  

He did too, even calling us back to say they were on their way.

Impressed.

Well within the hour two schoolboys arrived, or that is to say two young CART employees arrived, summed up the situation and said Yep we can fix this.

Delighted.

There was a lot of talk about safety protocols and risk assessment but in the end Billy just got in the water without a rubber ring.

Normal height can be seen above.

So Reader, this above is what you don't often get a chance to see.  A paddle.  But this one is off its runners.  Billy felt it with his foot and retrieved it.
Each paddle has two runners, one was long gone 
(By co-incidence the paddle on the other side had lost one runner too).  Billy said that these would be rectified in the Stoppage Season coming up.

Billy just got in the water

It became apparent that it was off its runner.

Folks off boats above us were equally trapped and all lent a hand.

Now a pain in the neck maybe it was, BUT, every cloud has a silver lining and for us today was a Bloody Brilliant Silver Lining Day, some of you may recognise the lady in black that I am talking to....?  Her name is Ann Marie and she and her husband Brian run the working boat NB Alton, and guess what they sell?  Yes, FENDERS!!!!!!! Wooooo Hoooooo.

So due to the entrapment, we got our dodgy fenders examined, discarded and replaced, they were a good price and I would urge everyone to use NB Alton.   HERE 

Result.  

This is the old style of nail holding up the runners.

Finally the drained pounds were refilled and time for us to move again.

Tom and Billy did a fine job, even though some boating idiots from down the flight were moaning that no one was on the bottom lock telling approaching boats of the difficulties, some moaners just need a good slap.

We got to the top pretty easily after this and sailed on into the sunshine.  

We arrived at the Gurnett Aqueduct mid afternoon.  It was very busy there due to in part a Country Show being held there.  
We squashed on the very end of the moorings in some nettles with the back end sticking out but after cruising on the Thames, this was not even a consideration.  The two men scuttled off to move a car and Fliss and I sat in the sun watching the amazing Fell Runners finish, I can't help wondering if some of them should be running in Rio!  On their return with the car,  Fliss and Leon drove off to visit his grandad who lives in these North Staffordshire Moorlands and were back in time to eat dinner in the Kings Head pub here, (Another recommendation from Denise and Steve thank you both).  
I have to say Reader the food was good and fellow craft beer enthusiast Leon, liked the beer too.  I had fish and chips again even though I usually say once a year is enough, but twice in one weekend and even here so far from the sea the fish was very fresh.  I had pecan pie for dessert with custard.  I do love that you can get custard up here in the north.
Sorry, North Staffordshire Moorlands.

Well we could do the flight...... or we could sit in the sun?

We have again been hampered by the lack of signal on the is stretch so as by way of a catch-up, I will fill you in as to what we've been up to.

Just before we left our mooring pretty early today, the same boat as yesterday went past us, this again meant that we turned every lock again. 

Oh! how we laughed.

The rest of Heartbreak Hill was done in substantial drizzle which left off now and again and became drizzle.  It really does mess with my hair I can tell you.

  

My washing line holding up two fenders.

Next morning more cobbling together, he did a magnificent job, for a farmer.

Finally arriving at Red Bull, we had wanted to service the boat but as it was rammed with boats all doing the same we didn't.  Well of course I ran and did the rubbish as we waited for the lock.

Pretty wet now and I was getting chilly, we looped the loop and got onto the Macclesfield canal and for those non Boaters  of you it was a bit like a motorway junction when you go over the Trent and Mersey canal that we had just left.

We had a slow start to this canal as its a bit shallow in places. But we stopped just short of the pub called The Rising Sun.  
We three jumped into our car which was hidden here, loaded up  with Amanda's bags and drove back to Macclesfield where her car was hidden and she departed.  She had worked hard for us these last four days.
Thanks Buddy, see you soon.

Arty shot by Amanda of WaL coming into view-between the cranes arms

The CART offices at Red Bull.

Supper was actually in the pub and very good it was too, we met up with Steve and Denise, fellow Fernwood Boat owners of NB Riverside Escapes and whom we try to cross paths with in the summer.  I am sorry I didn't snap a photo of you both.  
Rather amusingly we all ordered the same dish, Hake and chips.  It was really delicious, I usually only want to eat F&C's once a year, but I could be tempted to when we come past again...

Very late that evening, our next visitors arrived, daughter Fliss and her new husband Leon.  Now Leon is a local to this part of the world.  He informed me that we are not in the north, as I am always saying, that we are in the Staffordshire Moorlands.  We we are tonight anyway.  

I always worry about Leon coming to stay because he is a bit of a giant in narrow boating terms, I always worry for his head banging on the sliding hatch, his knees walloping on the cratch embarking and him fitting into the spare bed, he is always very polite and says all is fine.

Casting off the next morning

Aqueduct in Congleton, (or Macclesfield...)

Wonderful Turnover bridges on this canal.

We had a really lovely run up to the Bosley Locks, a bit annoyingly there was a boat directly in front of us just going into the bottom lock.  
I was only annoyed Reader because Denise this morning passed us by going the other direction and off of the canal told us the locks would take 2 hours roughly and with this ex-rugby player I was keen to test that out.

I walked up past the boat in front and discovered that there was another one too going up.  No chance of a quick time, I walked back and within seconds we all decided to get the chairs, beers, gins, books and nail varnish and relax in the sun as those blasted weathermen have reneged on a promise of sunshine tomorrow, but to be fair they have done this all summer long haven't they?
This was our afternoon view, not bad eh?

Fliss elpilating, if you don't know what that is, its a girls thing.

 For lunch Leon (A fine and capable chef, I love people like this coming to stay)  Leon knocked up a big bowlful of Guacamole.
  
Supper was wild Alaskan sock eye salmon with paprika sweet potato skinny fries and salad, followed by cherry and almond tart with extra thick cream.

Heartbreaking.

Very early today, with no choice but to leave in heavy drizzle, they set off.  I say they as Amanda who wakes very early and David who does too set off with me still in my nightie to set The Deep Lock here in Middlewich.  

I was around soon after to help, and we quickly worked through all the Middlewich locks all in our favour.  

Hardly a boat in sight, days ago when the daughter had visited it was knee deep in boats both sides

Then as we filled Kings lock, in the centre of Middlewich shortly after 7am and a boat pulled out in front of us, well it had to happen of course but there it stayed most of the day, so Amanda and I had to turn every one of the 19 locks we did today.  
Not at all annoying.

Actually not many photos of this stretch as it heavily drizzled all the time and the camera stayed mostly in its case.

But this place caught our eye, The Kinderton Arms, its past was as a popular local pub and in more recent years an Asian restaurant, now although looking sad now, its future is as a large family house, its got extensive grounds both sides.  
Its opposite a ex Lengthsman cottage. Amanda found this touching snipet of social history.  Amanda is a jolly whizz on the internet you know.     
HERE
I shall look forward to seeing its progress whenever we come past her again.

Personally I don't fancy the bill for the stable block roof repairs.

Down and along fabulous Arts and Crafts house with Woo Hoo chimneys.

We carried along working hard and I can't thank Amanda enough for all her hard work today (And tomorrow), those of you that have met her will know that she is a Locking Nut, last week when her and David had the boat they did 117 locks in total, we so far haven't managed that all summer!  

We carried on up Heartbreak Hill, now this is all new to us but the single locks become pairs of single locks here.  So great as it is to make progress, after several pairs there are places that have had the other one removed from use, which quickly gives you a Bottle Neck.  Plus as we are on a very very popular holiday ring, its busy.  Water levels quickly started to drop.  We were about 4th maybe in an immediate queue of six....

Estimated to be about 12" and dropping with each lock emptying.

Bottleneck and subsequent queue.

The water levels in the next pound were down approx 2ft now.  Lots of talk and muttering between boaters and to my bewilderment, the lady on the next boat "Took an executive decision" to empty a full lock with a boat coming down in front of her, to "Give water to the pound below, we thought it would help"  
Amanda simply asked how that was when boats are approaching and this pound is dropping.   
No comment was heard.  

I did call CART, (Canals and Rivers Trust, these are the people who run the waterways)  and after the 15 minute standard wait, a lady told me she would notify the manager of this area.  Two chaps did arrive later, they looked over from a lock bridge and departed, that was all we saw, I don't know if this is standard for this section to have such very low pounds or what.....  Does anyone know more?  Do please tell.

Well David found some nice moorings out in the countryside with space, 17 locks had been done, we had started at 6:30am and it was 2:30pm now, a monster day for us.  No we don't like it here lets go on!  Muttering under his breath, we did another couple.
In the final lock of the day, this happened.  Can you imagine the language?

Its very hard to hold something heavy if someone is making you laugh....

Amanda held the gate closed and took these, best that could be done.

  All the boats we had been following had already pulled in too.  Tea and naps were widespread on WaL I can tell you.
On waking we played Buttons and David managed to tie them up a bit more with my washing line.  Then it poured with rain and that was that.   We would try again tomorrow at a quiet lock.

Supper was Italian and bed time was very very early.

Last day on the Weaver.

Lack of signal and generally having a great time has had a bad effect on the blogging rate and I had so promised to do better too!

But here I am now.

At crack of dawn this morning, the two twitchy people onboard needed to be exercised so cycled off to Winsford to have a look.  Windsofrd is the furthest point south on the river.  David took these shots.

Salt mountain in Winsford, unexpected to us southerners....

We set off at well I am not sure of the time but certainly too early for Ray and Caroline to be awake.  We were as quiet as a really quite thing going past them.

It was such a pleasant cruise too, beautifully wooded, sunny skies, the small hurricane of last evening had subsided and sunglasses were deployed (but no sun hats).

A small debate was had as to wether the above two would make good restored Houseboats......   What do you think Reader?

I won't be buying one.

One of the two locks this morning.

These two locks at the Northwich end are hand wound and therefore manned by two Lockkies.

This wee cruiser, entered the lock and rather cheekily without asking held onto WaL's roof with their metal boathook, David, not unreasonably asked them to desist and the dear lockkies took their rope.  Moral of the story.....  Small cruisers cause long narrowboats damage.

No news as of yet as to if Chris's wife had been delivered.

Fab vintage looking boats here, primarily for Lesley K  HERE  I really miss her blog and would love it to begin again.

Flitting through Northwich.

This is a sliding gate to stop the traffic on the bridge through Northwich.

Presumably the control box

And the beautiful old bridge.  Don't they build ugly ones today?

A side view of the boat lift that came into view from this direction.

Today its electric, but the wheels on the roof would have been part of the workings in its previous life.

Sailing into the lift to join NB 3 No Trumps.

Grey Wagtail in the depths of the lift.

So these pictures of the ride itself are for Marilyn McDonald, so look Marilyn, you are quite "Enclosed" whilst in the lift, you can't see over the sides really as you rise, you can only see into the distance if you want to look that is.  Its a very slow ride, not jolty or unnerving.

This is Mick and his wife Alison was on the front.  They really miss  Derwent 6,    HERE     Reading tales of Al and Del kept him going while they waited for their fabulous boat to be built.

and out, quite an experience altogether.

The orange car here, according to Ray and Caroline who spoke to the owner, is worth more than the house!

We sailed on down to Middlewich, and in the rain now, moored up just above the Big Lock.

Supper was roasted cauliflower on a bed of rocket with pomegranate and cranberries.  We had had that at home in a great pub, but my efforts need refining.


Mick on a separate matter could you inbox me on Lisavcarr@gmail.com