Friday 15^th November 2019

After breakfast we left the moorings, heading for Anderton. The section of canal from Bramble Cutting to the railway bridge before Billinge Flashes, has to rate as one of the most picturesque on the system, especially at this time of year with the colours of the remaining leaves on the trees. Isolated, quiet, peaceful and tree-lined.

‘Ay-Up’ leading the way on the stretch between Bramble Cutting and Billinge Green Flashes

At the flashes, we saw the first of the floating weed that is becoming such a nuisance. It only takes a small piece to be overlooked and, within a short space of time, it is blocking the canal. There was a lot of this weed, some small pieces, but other big floating patches that, come summer, will become a problem again.

Weed Banks at Billinge Green Flashes

The whole run from Middlewich to Anderton is interesting and, although we had done it quite a few times, it never fails to retain its interest. There is the lovely run from Bamble to Billinge. The flashes are an entertaining wonder. Formed by salt mining subsidence, they form a huge lake that harbours a great number of birdlife the year round. Always there is the hope that a long freight train will pass by on the accompanying Sandbach to Northwich line. 

Beyond the flashes, there are now three closely grouped marinas. God forbid all the boats leave and pass onto the canal together, there are so many. Once past Orchard Marina the canal passes the back on the huge Morrison’s distribution centre and the smells from Roberts Bakery tantalise the taste buds.

At Broken Cross there is the pub we frequented so much while waiting for repairs after the boat was launched. There is yet another housing complex in the process of construction here that hide a tale. There was a canal wharf building on the site that the developer agreed to renovate as a condition of building on the surrounding land. After the original houses were built, the wharf buildings were left for a few years to deteriorate beyond repair and reach a dangerous state before they had to be demolished and the developer left with yet more available land. 

The big Tata chemical works is reached. The canal becomes wide and passes through the middle of the works. It is a strange feeling. Going slowly through all the moored boats at Wincham Wharf and the tight, Wincham Bend is then negotiated, hoping not to meet any approaching boats.  

Passing through theTata Chemical Works at Rudheath

Then comes another nice stretch of canal, past the Lion Salt Museum and Salt Barge pub at Marston and another favourite mooring spot on the bend before Marbury Park, overlooking Great Budworth Church across the fields. The canal then passes through Marbury Country Park before reaching Anderton after a few tight, blind bends.

We came across Halsall, the fuel boat and had a cylinder of gas and a couple of bags of coal from them. At the boat lift, we winded and moored for an hour or so. The river flow and level have largely receded and the lift was open, lowering boats the 50 feet down to the River Weaver. The lift is supposed to be closed for maintenance until the end of March but apparently, they are operating to transport the back-log of boats after the recent flooding when the lift was closed.

We then started to retrace our steps and moored outside the Salt Barge pub, where we had dinner and Kenny had his first pint since August. It disappeared in a flash.  

Weather: a cold, clear day.

Day Total: 0 locks; 11 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 3.7  

Overall Total: 816 locks; 1388 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 891.7