Monday 20^th April 2020

We did not really have a feel for the moorings at Calveley. No real reason, but there are much nicer moorings close by.

So at 10:30, after saying goodbye’s to Lol and Jackie, we set off, cruising to the winding hole above Bunbury Locks and stopping at the services at Calveley. We did not really need the services but thought, if we topped up with water, dumped rubbish and emptied the loo, we could stay longer in the countryside before once again having to run the gauntlet of servicing and shopping.

Brenda visited the nearby farm shop while at the services. The shop is attached to a large cheese factory and also has a café. Very shockingly, the café was open. The shop sold a good selection of goods but unfortunately, not even to avoid a big shop in Nantwich.

At Barbridge Junction, we turned onto the Middlewich Branch. We had forgotten to dispose of the bag of rubbish tied onto the roof that contains the debris from our sea food cook-in. Naughtily, we put this into the rubbish skip at Venetian Marina. They would not like this, but we felt we had no option and, if anybody had been about, we would gladly have given a few pounds to the marina for the privilege. Much better though, to dispose of it in this way than just throw it into the bushes beside the canal. Many boats seem to follow this disgusting habit anyway, but we have seen more evidence of it since the Corona lock-down.

On our journey, we had seen many new family groups of ducklings and a Buzzard feeding on the ground being mithered by some Magpies, obviously after carrion. Also another large cargo plane overhead, approaching Manchester Airport.

Since leaving Syke’s for Nantwich last Thursday, we have seen just one other boat moving, excluding ourselves and Halsall, again on her rounds. And yet, the last two weeks have been the school Easter holidays which should mean one of the busiest periods on the canals, especially in this area with everybody wanting to cruise the Llangollen Canal.

Beyond Cholmondeston Lock, we moored once again, at Syke’s Hollow, a favourite mooring spot. Being the only boat here, it feels extra special. We are so lucky.

Washing was hung out, the grass around one of the picnic benches cut (after Brenda complained the gardener hadn’t been) and we sat and had a tub of ice cream that had been bought in the farm shop. A rare treat that we both enjoyed. We do not have the freezer capacity to store ice cream and normally can only buy from canal-side shops.

So we now enter another period of water conservation and attempting to keep the rubbish down. Living on a boat, you quickly become accustomed to minimising use of water and electricity anyway, but even more so in this climate. Not a lot can be done about rubbish, but modern packaging is really annoying although most was disposed of at the service point in Nantwich. We have started to burn paper and cardboard and cut up and stuff plastics into tins and bottles.

We spent the rest of the afternoon sat in the sunshine, partly sheltered from the wind before retiring to the front cratch. Facing away from Venetian Marina, there are no boats ahead of us and an uninterrupted view.

We had a steak dinner with chips bought from the farm shop and fresh salad. We have been missing fresh vegetables and especially salad stuff. Brenda had an early night and later I watched the night sky, it is so clear and unpolluted, and did see a couple of shooting stars from the Lyra meteorite shower flashing low across the north eastern skies.

Weather: warm and sunny but a cold wind.