Friday 3^rd January 2019

Before leaving Bramble Cutting we did a good turn and replaced one of the picnic tables. Some toe-rag had dragged it down to the edge of the moorings and it looked as though they might well have been readying to cut it up for fire wood. People obviously have, and do, put a lot of time in to maintaining Bramble and how some people can misuse and abuse such a wonderful place is unbelievable.

We left the mooring, wondering when we will return, and had a very slow cruise into Middlewich stopping at the dump to dispose of rubbish. The sun was very low in the sky, directly ahead of us and very bright, making seeing where you were going, very difficult.

After watering up, we negotiated the Big Lock. The bottom gate opened easily enough, but then Brenda couldn’t shut it. After climbing up off the boat, it took the two of us to close it. Then, once the lock was filled, the top gate would not open despite trying both sides. Pushing the gates with the boat did not move it and eventually it took the two of us, repeatedly swinging on one of the gates to open it. This boating life does keep you fit!

The Big Lock is due to close on Monday for maintenance. Obviously, not before time. The footbridge next to the lock is also due for repair. This bridge is contemporary with the building of the canal, is a listed structure and will have to be completely lifted from its position and transported away from the site for repair. Some job. In the meantime, a scaffold type, temporary bridge has been built in its place, but with steps at both ends making it difficult for the many people who use it with pushchairs etc.  

The Big Lock pub, next to the lock, is once again closed, this time for a refurbishment and is apparently due to reopen as a top end restaurant. In our 20-odd years associated with Middlewich, this pub has seen a number of changes and hopefully the new venture will prove a success. It is a very iconic building, in a prime location. In its past, it has provided a service for working boatees not only as a pub but also as a shop and feed-store providing supplies.

     

                             

                                                                            Big Lock Pub, Middlewich                                                              

                                                                  Foot Bridges at Big Lock

We planned to moor just after the Big Lock, but had heard reports of a boat being broken in to and stripped the previous night, so decided to move further down and moored beside the houses on The Moorings. In some places, unattended boats are an easy target for thieves and some people can begin to feel vulnerable living on a boat out-with a marina. If this was to happen, you would wonder why they continue with this life. We always apply the ‘Graffiti Rule’ when mooring in urban districts. If there is graffiti, as opposed to urban art, or rubbish in a place, we move on.

We had a visit to Lidl and walked the dog up through the town, sussing out the new Italian restaurant, before spending the remainder of the day quietly reading. In the evening we had a Lidl’s own Chinese meal, very nice, and I went to the Lion, my old local, giving Brenda space and the opportunity for an early night on her own.

Weather: cold, but bright and sunny.

Day Total: 1 lock; 2 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 9.3         (including running for hot water and battery charging)                         

Overall Total: 858 locks; 1488 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 970.2