Saturday 1st February 2020



Despite the country no longer being in Europe, everything appeared the same with no obvious changes.

Due to changes to the winter stoppages programme, it seems we are constantly having to alter our plans. We have been in Middlewich far too long now and, while it has been convenient and nice to be near Tracey and the kids, we are supposed to be constant cruisers and are well ready to move and start cruising again for the year.

We have returned to Middlewich this time as I am building a wall and fitting a door under the stairs at Tracey’s house and I have another consultation next weekend. Our plan then was to travel to Chester as the opener to this year’s cruising. However, with CRT now closing the locks at Beeston, we decided we would return to Nantwich and await the opening of the locks. However, we now hear that Barbridge Junction is closing until the end of February due to a collapsed culvert. The CRT web page was unclear as to the actual location of the stoppage. The accompanying map showed the canal closed right across the junction, so stopping all movement, while the text stated the junction would be open from the Middlewich Branch, north, towards Chester, but closed south, towards Nantwich. Ringing them to confirm, the canal is open towards Chester.  

So now we are to time our departure from Middlewich to arrive at Beeston for the opening of the locks, meaning a longer stay here. All very frustrating.

After almost 2½ years laying empty, the Middlewich Narrowboat site is being taken over by a company from Poynton in March. We have provisionally booked the boat in to stay here while we go on holiday in April, another delay to finally moving off and another return to the town.

We moved this morning, a short distance down the canal, stopping at Sutton Lane bridge, not wanting to pass onto the Trent and Mersey canal beyond Wardle Junction until the linesman has taken boat numbers on Monday/Tuesday.

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