Friday 3^rd August 2018

We heard last night that the canal in Middlewich was to be shut. So we decided on a change of plan to go up the boat lift a day early, as we had booked our return lift for Saturday. Then go up to Preston Brook, the start of the Trent and Mersey Canal, then start our epic journey to Gloucester, getting through Middlewich as soon as possible. This would mean a longer couple of days than we had intended, especially with having the kids on board, but we do not want to get stuck.

There should be about ten different routes out of the Northwich area on the canal system, but with water shortages, poor maintenance and canal breeches there is now just the one route through Middlewich.

We waited until 9am and then rang the boat lift to revise our booking and were told to be at the lift for a 10:30 time slot. We were only 2miles from the lift but, between us and them, was the dredging operation with a delay of up to 30 minutes advertised. We duly set off just behind one of the dredging barges and attendant tug and arrived in good time at the lift at 10:10.

And there we sat. Other boats were turning up that had no booking at all but were taken up ahead of us. Then they booked us on with two wide beams in succession. A wide beam takes all the width of the lift caissons and so a narrow boat cannot fit with them. And yet they took priority. They arranged complimentary drinks for us in the cafeteria but dogs were not allowed in the grounds of the lift so only Brenda and the kids could go while I stayed with Harvey. A drink of hot chocolate was £3.60 and a latte coffee £2.95. Entrance to the exhibition was £14.75 for adults and £7.40 for children. Absolutely scandalous and makes for a very expensive day. There is not a lot in the exhibition anyway.

However, if you go into the downstairs booking office you can just walk through a door and you are in.

Harvey was getting desperate to get off the boat and pee so I took him off onto the grass beside the boat. God and his entourage descended on us. Needless to say they got the sharp end of my tongue and Harvey was allowed to pee in peace but then had to go back on board. I ask you.

Eventually we went onto the lift at 2:50 so it was very much a wasted and frustrating day. And we couldn’t understand why we were continuously bypassed and nobody could give us a satisfactory explanation.

 

Going up the lift was every bit as impressive as going down. I think it would be the type of experience that never wanes. The whole 20 miles of the river was a delight and we were very glad we had done it from one end to the other.

Once off the lift you have to turn right and we then winded and headed off towards Preston Brook. After the river the canal appeared very narrow, shallow and twisting. The progress was also much slower.

We passed through Barnton tunnel and just made the entry time for Saltersford tunnel. We really enjoyed looking out for sightings of the River Waver below us.

Just after bridge 212, two miles short of Preston Brook, we came across the site of the 2012 breech in the canal when the whole of the side of the canal slid into the fields below, draining the canal for many miles and causing a lot of local flooding. The breech cost £2.4million to repair and took 7months.

This is now a lovely mooring that we had passed a few times but all the spaces had previously been taken. We were lucky to get one. While the undergrowth has started to regenerate, the site is totally devoid of trees, which were swept away during the breech. This allows superb views right across the Weaver Valley and well beyond. Tremendous views.

 

The kids had been tired most of the day and so we had largely left them to “chill”, however, once we had tied up they came to life. Eva again made friends with all the local ducks. We had another barbeque and Harvey chased all Eva’s friends away. He was really funny and not a bit like his normal self. He did get a bit carried away though, when he seriously went for a giant of a German Shepard. The kids went fishing, Brenda went to bed and I read a paper.

Fishing score: Manny 2; Eva 2

Rubbish disposal again is a problem, the bin is smelling and has had to be put in the rear cratch overnight as last time this happened I couldn’t sleep for the smell. The last time rubbish was disposed of was at Sutton Swing Bridge two days ago. The only bin we have seen since has been a dog poo bag bin at the top of Anderton Boat Lift and this was as full and overflowing as when we came down the lift.

Day Total: 0 locks; 7 miles; 2 Tunnels; 1 Boat Lift; engine running hours 2.7

Overall Total: 107 locks; 264 miles; 10 tunnels; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 142.0