Preston Brook, Bridgewater Canal

David made a very early start while I stayed in bed. Love canals with no locks. He likes to get up and go very early and I would rather not.

We had a very uneventful trip back down the Bridgewater, stopping off at Moore again for a newspaper and got to the boatyard just on 0900.

They very kindly let us moor up outside and let us have a land line so that we now have electricity again.

After lunch we had a visit from Rachel and George, David's niece and her husband who actually live very close to Moore and had walked down the towpath to see us.

I forgot to mention that on Friday I was sitting trying to upload the blog when I noticed white smoke coming from the radio next to me. Considering that it was not switched on we couldn't work out what happened and were thankful that it hadn't been the day we were off the boat in Chester. Might have lost the boat. And, does this have anything to do with the Alternator packing up?







More irises (I love irises). I stamped, embossed and water coloured this one then matted it a couple of times.

Lymm, Bridgewater Canal

I thought Friday 13th was supposed to be the unlucky day. Not so. Saturday 14th can be worse.

We set off for Lymm with high hopes then David noticed that the batteries were not re-charging. We have been having trouble with readings and stuff (techie things). We stopped at Thorne Marine but they were not interested in helping us so we went on to Lymm, moored and I went for a paper. David phoned RCR but they couldn't/wouldn't help. So we went on to the two boatyards past Lymm. Again, one was closed and the other one thought I was mad for thinking that they might be open and might help us!! So I phoned Claymore Boats at Preston Brook and the man said that he was on his own at present but we could bring the boat in on Monday.

So we winded the boat at Bollington and came back into Lymm for the night. We had to let the fire go out (needs electricity to pump the water through the radiators), switched off the fridge, and sat in blankets and read by candlelight - very romantic.

We have had to cancel visits from 2 more of David's family because we didn't know where we would be. And on top of all that MU lost 1-4 to Liverpool at home!!! Can things get worse?

Let's hope tomorrow is better.....

A decoupaged card. You can't see it but there are about 3 layers on the Mini.

Moore, Bridgewater Canal

Like it, like it! Ours would be mortified if we left her the boat too. She hates them!

We were cheeky and went through Preston Brook tunnel 15 mins early. Well it was 0745 and we could see that no-one was coming the other way. Consequently we were moored up at Moore by 0900 and I was on the bus to Warrington by 1000.

We are now in Scowcroft Country and had a visit from David's eldest brother and his wife and we all went for dinner at The Red Lion. A very decent meal and David's review should be in Canals and Rivers any day soon.

A bridge on the Shropshire Union (I think) matted onto silver, green and blue. Green ribbon and three plastic flowers.

Dutton Stop Lock (nearly), Trent and Mersey

Today we were messed about by BW three times!

1st: at Anderton Services. They were recovering the towpath with wet, white chalky stuff. I jumped off the boat to get rid of the rubbish and David suggested we top up with water, but thought better of it. So back onto the boat. The ropes were covered in the white stuff and so were our shoes. We now have white marks all over the boat.

2nd: at SaltersfordTunnel. We had to wait for 3 boats at Barnton Tunnel so we were too late for the time slot at Saltersford. BW were putting in drainage pipes so we could not tie up while we waited the 40 mins before we could go through. We watched them throw stones into the cut, cut off pieces of plastic tubing and anything else they could think of. I suppose they will have a job dredging next!.

3rd: We always try and stop on the pilings just before Dutton Stop Lock. BW had very kindly dredged, but put all the mud on the towpath side so that we had 4" of sticky wet mud to step into to tie up. So we now have muddy footprints to go with the white chalky ones.

Rant over. We passed a new football stadium at Wincham where the Manchester United Reserves play so we were not worthy - though Michael might think it was another team that we are not worthy of (see yesterday's comment).

A symphony of blue and green. Matted photo, blue ribbon, silver peel-offs and stamped motive.

Bramble Cutting. Trent and Mersey Canal

Nearly a day to justify the red sky last night. It started out very cold this morning but got milder and the sun almost came out several times.

The usually busy Middlewich Branch was really quiet - we only met one boat and that was on a skew bridge - of course!

The picture is of Stanhorne Lock. Too high I couldn't get over it and too low I couldn't get under it. My fault, I'm short and fat!

There was work going on by British Towpaths all along the canal at Middlewich. There was a workboat in the top lock and the driver having a sandwich and cup of tea (the one between the 9 o'clock start one and elevenses) but he moved out when he saw us and he had also left all the gates open for us on the way down.

Middlewich was almost eerily quiet and I checked on the stoppages to see if we were going to be held up. But no. Just quiet. I was let off the boat by the visitor moorings for a quick trip to Tesco and met up again with David while he was emptying the Big Lock.

We finally found all the boats - there are 4 here 2 on the Bramble Cutting and 2 on the moorings almost opposite.






A white hammered card with a silver 3-aperture frame. In each aperture is a different coloured silk ribbon rose.

Between Bridges 5 & 6 Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union

A start stop sort of day.

We set off and it began to rain so we moored up at Hurleston Junction for an hour. There are good moorings there but there is also a ledge just under the water and even with the round tyre type fenders out we were banging. So we set off again and ended up just after Venetian Marina.

Yet again, no Internet connection so another retrospective update.

The full moon rose in the east and behind us the sun set in the west.


Two beautiful shots and David took them both.

Pottering around in Northwich about 4 years ago I came upon this tin cow in one of the charity shops. She is a fridge magnate so I just stuck her onto the card with some sticky fixers and added a "get well soon" peel-off. The recipient can remove the sticky bit and use it as a fridge magnate if they should so wish.

Nantwich, Shropshire Union

Thanks to the comment from John of nb Epiphany I have corrected the post to Adderley Locks - trying to post without the Nicholsons and short term memory loss. Sorry for any confusion.

A quick, straightforward run up to Nantwich today. Hack Green looked inviting, as usual, but we have never stopped there for the night.

Arriving at Nantwich for 0915 and by 1000 we were on the bus to Chester for some shopping and lunch.

Who was it who said that the towpaths are unsuitable for horses? Obviously not this one!

As we came out of the bottom of Audlum locks yesterday we saw our first lambs which reminded me of this card.

The sheep have been stamped and embossed and then background hand painted with water colours. I can't remember now, but I think I added some shiny gunk to the sheep to make them stand out a bit This has then been mounted onto some green mulberry paper and fixed to a yellow card.