Tuesday 21^st January 2020

A hard frost accompanied the darkness last night, but this had completely disappeared this morning although it was still cold and the towpath had turned muddy.

We left the mooring at 9:30 but not before Chris and Lesley on Rosie II passed by. We had first seen them on the G&S Canal and later on the K&A. They too, are spending the winter in this area and we had seen them a few times.

We passed through Minshull Lock and stopped at Venetian Marina for fuel, coal and engine filters in readiness for the next service, due shortly. This section is of interest as, in the past, a steam engine used to run on rails, towing boats between the two locks, although there is no evidence of it at all today.

At Venetian, the canal passes below the Crewe to Chester railway line. A few weeks ago, we took the grandkids into Chester on the train. From the Venetian viaduct to Chester took just 15 minutes. It took us 1½ days when we went into Chester in November on the boat!

Barbridge Junction is reached shortly after Cholmondeston Lock, where a young guy pulled a huge Pike out of the canal just in front of us.

We then came to the Barbridge Inn where we moored across from the pub. Typically, shortly after mooring Halsall, the fuel boat passed. Never mind, Susan at Venetian might but slightly more expensive, but fuel treatment additives are already added to her fuel and we like to spread our money around.

Weather: a cold, clear day.

Day Total: 2 locks; 6 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 2.4         

Overall Total: 865 locks; 1499 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 990.5