From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Mon Aug 4 17:13:29 1997 id AA25461; Mon, 4 Aug 97 17:13:15 EDT id aa1223690; 4 Aug 97 21:44 BST Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 20:40:11 +0100 To: canals@blacksheep.org From: Martin E Phillips Subject: Voyages of Boden (leg 1) (long) Last Friday I finally picked up the keys to Boden at the brokers in Northwich. Unloaded the bags and whisky onto the boat, had a good poke around to find what was where, then wandered over to the nearby pub "Sweet Waters" for a quick celebratory swill. Not a stunningly nice pub, full of young sales executives from a car dealership getting tanked up for the weekend, but the Boddies was (just) acceptable. Grub seemed uninspiring, so drove into town to find an Indian. Lot of young ladies wandering around dressed just like they don't in our village. Not all bad up North. Chicken Jalfarezi from the Balti Garden most acceptable back at the boat. There had been some confusion over who was to be crewing for the first weekend, with just Alasdair, a Scotsman with academic connections, no boating experience and a so-far unrequited lust for a local authoress of "bodice rippers" eventually turning up at ten. Decided that the Karaoke night / disco at Sweet Waters wasn't the Friday night blues session mentioned in Nicholsons, and that we were unlikely to pull at the disco, so walked along to the PH marked on the Nics map a few hundred yards up the road. Horrified to find another Karaoke in full sound. Is this a Friday night tradition in Cheshire? Suffered a pint of Greenalls, watched Alasdair chew on a long-dead hot dog, back to the boat to drink whisky. Disco in pub audible until late. Got up early on Saturday morning to leave a car at Nantwich, pausing at Sainsburys to buy a cafetiere and breakfast. Filled up with diesel & water, sorted a few odds & ends of paperwork with the brokers, and set off down through the chemical works. Nice sail down to Middlewich, breakfast of chorizo, croissants and coffee at the tiller, then through the first lock of the day. Instructed crew in how to do a lock, then discovered too late that he had a phobia of ladders. Especially wet, slimy ones. Shared the lock with boat crewed by gorgeous young lady (looked like Rosy as in R & Jim) who commented disparagingly on our technique and organisation. Smiled nicely though so things weren't too bad. Took a look at the pub next to the Big lock. Not promising. John Smiths & Boddies. Moored a bit further on outside the Newton Brewery Inn. A couple of most acceptable pints of Marstons consumed in basic surroundings with amiable clientele. Discused possible reincarnation as pub sink after watching the landlady dispose of not quite perfect pints of beer until eventually her high standards were satisfied, but no sign of the food mentioned in Nicholsons. Back onto the boat, set off through the Middlewich locks, and executed a five point turn into the SU without hitting anything. Lucky to find all the locks set for us, and friendly boaters waiting to come down keen to help with the gates. Alasdair by now starting to sort out how locks work. The weather was wonderful as we cruised slowly down towards Barbridge Junction. Discussed likely time of arrival at Nantwich with food in mind as it became obvious that my initial estimate of six to seven o'clock looked more and more optimistic. Brief discussion of mooring outside the Jolly Tar at Barbridge was rejected as soon as we saw the place (a decision aided by lack of mooring space for what felt like miles in either direction). Eventually we cruised into Nantwich and moored by the aqueduct at just turned 21:00. Quick dash into town, and into the Savar, the second Indian on the right as recommended by Judy. Most acceptable meal followed by a last pint in the Oddfellows Arms (Burtonwood Ales, excellently served in a pleasant ambience) and back to the boat for a nightcap. Excellent night's sleep despite noise from nearby disco in a marquee. Next morning, more juggling of cars to leave one in Market Drayton. Set off at ten, wondering whether we'd make the distance before nightfall. Beautiful scenery, pub stop at the Shroppie Fly (rather uninspiring selection of beers from the Whitbread stable, but well served, and a nice chicken balti with chips & nan). Finished the Audlem flight in under 2.5 hours (excluding pub stop). Loads of boats coming down, not so many going up. Almost all the locks set for us. Carried on through the Adderley flight with similar experience, pulled into a mooring at Market Drayton at halfpast six. We'd done 30 locks, met no queues in our direction over the first weekend in August and found only about two locks not set our way. Not bad for the first weekend on the boat. Returned Alasdair to his car in Nantwich, and back down the motorway planning the coming weekend when the family are crewing (ie single handed locking - any tips?). The plan is for a couple of fairly easy days through Tyrley locks and along the long pound to Brewood or thereabouts, followed by a long weekend the week after to get back to the Glos/Sharpness. Back to work today. *ollocks. -- Martin Phillips | Stroud Morris | G4CIO | I drink therefore I am. Web page http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/index.html