Manx Flag at Grindley Lock

The morning was cool as we set off for Whitchurch but the brightness in the sky looked promising, it did not disappoint. Just a mile down the canal we were at Quoisley Lock, I expected to meet Richard Parfitt here but instead we met one of his roadies, Ken has left the hedonistic rock world and now grows vegetables and keeps hens on an allotment, the produce he sells at lock side.

Ken helps us through the lock.

Kens shop.

Sue checks out the produce.

Two lockies helped us climb Grindley Brook staircase locks, one of the lockies was very interested in the Isle of Man and since he collects flags we gave him one of ours, it should be adorning  his collection by the side of the canal on the way back.

Happy lockie with Manx Flag.

Looking down the Grindley Brook staircase locks.

We have moored just before the short section of reclaimed canal of the Whitchurch Arm. Before the arm was regrettably filled in in 1944 . A cargo of Cheshire cheese used to leave Whitchurch wharf bound for Manchester once a week. The Cheshire blue vein I have heard is particularly good, so we went in search of a wedge of it in the town. It is quite a trek from the canal along a laid down sandstone trail to the centre of town, there we picked up a few provisions along with the wedge of cheese.

St. Alkmunds built circa 1713.

Just chilling.

It's that time of year where we wake up to condensation on the windows, made worse because there are three of us on the boat. Getting the mil to stop breathing would help but I'll try putting up the secondary glazing first.

I walked into Wrenbury to buy some milk at the local store, a headline on the newspaper stand said 'Summer to continue for another month'. It was on the front page of the Daily Express (must be true) so I bought a copy to show the crew.

We only cruised for an hour, through the Wrenbury lift bridge and Marbury Lock to moor on a long straight section of the canal in splendid isolation, apart from a few distant farm buildings no civilisation on show except for passing boats.

The sun is hot, washing is drying above the tiller, we washed down the towpath side of FL before giving it a polish. Sue got baking scones, cake and bread while I went down the engine hole to drain the fuel filters, top up the starter battery and check the oil levels, Betty polished the windows inside and out. Secondary glazing is back up. All the above took up most of the day, after all that work I borrowed Sue's fishing kit and sat on the bank in the late afternoon sunshine and chilled out for a while.

Sue at the controls of the Wrenbury lift bridge

View from the kitchen window.

Exterminate,, exTERminate..EXterminATE

From our mooring, we had a walk to Snugburys dairy farm where they sell their ice creams from a shop on the premises. It's about a mile hike across fields with a few stiles to climb and a six-bar gate as we went the wrong way at one point.

The farm creates a work of art each year out of straw, this year's sculpture celebrates 50 years of Dr Who.

Back at the boat we untied FL from the bank and set off. Pasture land as far as the eye can see is on both sides of the canal. Large herds of 100 or more cows to port and thoroughbred horses to starboard, heads bent low on muscular necks munching on the carpet of green grass.

We have moored at Wrenbury and had Sunday lunch in the Dusty Miller the roast had all gone by our 03:30 arrival so Welsh black rib-eye steak and steakburgers were enjoyed with glasses of Unicorn, Blonde and a Chardonnay for Wrinkles.

A locked gate wasn't going to come between Betty and ice cream

Farm pig.

Farm ice cream parlour 

Dalek 

Apparently, a local 'elf and safety' busy body wanted it torn down as it's a distraction to driver's on the nearby road..... shall we tear down Stonehenge too.... knob head.

Llangollen Canal

We were up and off to pastures new, we have passed the entrance to the Llangollen canal earlier in the year on our way south to Birmingham, we have also walked over  the Pontcysyllte  Aqueduct when we had  a mini-break a few years ago, so we are both looking forward to cruising the canal aboard FL and especially the aqueduct.

I do like this part of the Shroppie, the only civilisation you meet is canal-based either on boats or in a couple of marinas. The weather is overcast but warm as we head for a left turn at Barbridge Junction that will take us from the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union canal to the Shropshire Union mainline. 

As there was a vacant mooring spot outside the  Olde Barbridge Inn we pulled in for lunch and a glass of Woodlands Red Squirrel

After an enjoyable lunch, we were soon taking the right-hand turn onto the Llangollen canal and up through the Hurleston Locks. Bit of a kerfuffle as I entered the first lock. I got stuck going into the first lock just as I read the large signs hanging on chains from both sides of the lock gate wall ' Please Raise Your Fenders Before Entering'. I'd just spent 15 mins putting the fenders on as I had heard about harsh bye wash at some of the locks, no matter a bit of reversing and FL was free to let me remove the fenders. We are now moored on a quiet stretch above Bridge 4.

This little chap kept flying off in front of us for about half a mile.

Minshull Lock

IOM boat with flag. Manannan was a mythical sea god.

Canal Shitehawkes 

First lock on the Llangollen.

Web picture of the Aqueduct.

C&RT Enforcement Notice.

I now know why the Cheshire Locks are called 'Heartbreak Hill', not because of the sheer number of locks to work through but because of the awkwardness of a lot of the exits.

We set off at 08:00 to complete the rest of the Cheshire locks, we stopped at the Kings Lock Inn at Middlewich for a nice lunch and a glass of ale. I popped next door to the chandlers of the same name to see Steve and purchase a fan belt for the spares kit.

This boat was moored on a lock landing .

A C&RT enforcer left the owner a note.

After Kings Lock we took the left hander onto the Wardle Canal which quickly becomes the Shropshire canal's Middlewich branch. FL is moored above bridge 22 on a high embankment overlooking the river Weaver Flashes.

Left to the Wardle Canal and Shropshire Canal Middlewich branch

Lunch break.

The lock wheelers walk.

Buggart

Set off for Harecastle Tunnel from Westport Lake in warm grey dry conditions. A quick briefing from the tunnel keeper and we were on our way through, the middle boat of a group of three. As soon as you are through the portal and underneath the Pennines the arched damp masonry and the huge fume extraction fan cool you down a few degrees. Betty who had been watching from her perch in the cratch came out on deck for the last few hundred yards of our journey through.

Betty The Kidsgrove Buggart ?

Out into the light and onto the orange waters of the northern portal, we soon pass the junction that takes you in a loop over the Trent & Mersey via Poole Aqueduct to the stop lock that joins to the Macclesfield canal. Then we are at the beginning or the end of the Cheshire flight aka 'Heartbreak Hill'

A well earned rest..

Sue and Betty handle the locks with aplomb, occasionally Sue walks forward to set the next lock and Betty manages to close both lock gates as FL leaves the lock.

The Sun has been out most of the day and by 14:00 it was very hot. We called it a day Hassal Green after sixteen locks, leaving twelve locks to do tomorrow to get above the Booth Lane flight.

Stone to Westport

After buying bangers from the Stone butcher it was time for the off at 08:55. The first lock of the day was 50yds in front of us, Yard Lock the first of the 13 we would ascend today. Old Joules Brewery buildings tower over us on the west bank, now housing many light industrial Ltd Co's. A short stop at Newcastle Lock for dumpage's and to pick some water purifier tablets from the chandlers.

A wave and a goodbye to Phil who was in his garden as we passed. Sue and Betty made short work of the Meaford flight with the help of several craft descending.

A short  rural stretch to the Wedgewood factory of the entrepreneur Josiah Wedgewood, a lesser-known fact and one that is probably glossed over in their museum is that good old Josh employed child labour (many were just eight years old) in the dipping process of applying lead glaze, most of these kids died before reaching adolescence those that didn't die had hideous afflictions, in 18C did they know lead was poisonous, yes they did. Lead glazing only stopped in the 20th Century.

From here to Barlaston then Trentham followed by the city of Stoke, Britania Stadium is at the southern extremity, we pass under the city's busy roads, the railway curves towards the north and south around the canal passing overhead in between Bottom Lock and Cockshutts Lock on the Stoke flight.

Stoke top lock is our last lock of the day, here the Caldon canal branches away to the west from Etruria, the fine old buildings of the Middleport Pottery look timeless.

We moored at Westport lake, landscaped by none other than Ted Heath, we will do the Harecastle Tunnel tomorrow.

Aston Bridge

Stoke bottle kiln.

Timeless in Black & White.

Missing links.

Set off out of Aston Marina by 10:00 and moored up in Stone by 12:00, visited the Titanic pub (The Royal Exchange) where we bumped into Phil and his pooch Freddie who had kitchen passes for a couple of hours, we last met up with Phil at the pub last winter along with the rest of the Aston Marina Friday early doors crew. Phil is looking forward to this winters gathering although it will somewhat be depleted.....The mad as a hatter crew of EHC, the batty fruitcakes of FD and the pair of crackers from Caxton will be elsewhere, Michelle the landlady was her usual bubbly self, free bowls of chips were presented to us to welcome us.

Phil & Sue