Wednesday 1^st April 2020

We heard that Tracey’s dad died at 5:30 this morning. After a long, 12-year battle with cancer, Don is now at peace.

We are now low on water but, while the water would last another few days, we are very short of coal. Venetian Marina is the nearest outlet and so we reluctantly decided to move.

We had really enjoyed our mooring by the River Gowy Aqueduct. Not only did it serve a purpose as being remote and isolated, but it was a lovely location with nice walks. It would usually only be slow moving, live-aboard boats that do moor here, as most boats would be moving from A to B and never give the place a second thought. We had enjoyed the peace and quiet, the wildlife, picking the wild garlic and sorrel and the swing we discovered in the woods.

                                                                     Tatenhall Marina,

people we had met told of a friendly place

Peaceful River Gowy Aqueduct Moorings,

reluctant to move

After another walk overlooking Tattenhall Marina, we slowly set off. Another boat caught us up at the Shady Oak and we shared Wharton’s Lock with them. Everybody’s plans are on hold this year. This couple had planned to cruise to Ripon to visit their new grandchild.

At Beeston Iron Lock, only one boat can pass through at a time because the sides of the lock lean inwards and could trap two boats side by side. We moored just after the lock to collect our new front cratch cushions from Nick at his workshop beside the lock. They look very nice and feel far superior to what we originally had made.

We had intended to stop here overnight, but the phone signal was poor and intermittent. We continued on, passing through Beeston Stone, Tilstone and Bunbury Staircase Locks, before mooring just before the services at Calveley. It had been a long day for us and had turned very cold in the last 30 minutes of cruising.  

We are now on a long pound where there is lock free cruising between Bunbury, Nantwich and Venetian, with just four locks on the Middlewich Branch before the town itself. There have been many rumours spread of locks closing and, while they are without substantiation, we feel relieved to be on a long, lock-free pond with services at Calveley and Nantwich. Between here and Middlewich itself, we will sit out the Corona Virus before resuming any serious cruising and exploring.

Weather: a colder, overcast day.

Day Total: 6 locks; 5 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 6.1       (including running for hot water etc)

Overall Total: 905 locks; 1586 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1073.3