From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Wed Jun 18 19:04:19 1997
	id AA08871; Wed, 18 Jun 97 19:04:05 EDT
          by mail1-gui.server.virgin.net (Post.Office MTA v3.0 release 112
          ID# 0-33929U70000L2S50) with SMTP id AAA19583
          for <canals@blacksheep.org>; Wed, 18 Jun 1997 23:53:20 +0100
	id <01BC7C43.69FA5DC0@p54-raven-gui.tch.virgin.net>; Wed, 18 Jun 1997 23:57:44 +0100
From: "J. C. Watson." <jc.watson@virgin.net>
To: "Canal Mailing List (E-mail)" <canals@blacksheep.org>
Subject: Morris on the cut (long!!)
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 23:53:20 +0100

Hi all

Well we have returned from our foray from Anderton (T & M) to 
Ellesmere Port in company with Bollin Morris of Altrincham on 
a hire-boat kindly provided by Anderton Marina in return for the Morris
dancing at there past open days. Gill and I accompanied
the Morris boat in Tam Lin part of the way even though I was forced
to go to work on two of the days :-( this made for some interesting
logistics.

Day 1
Pick up boat from Anderton with a delivery crew as the Morris were
dancing at Lymm and could not join the boat until evening. We had
arranged an early pick up as I wanted to be through Middlewich and
tied up above Kings Lock before most of the hire fleets from Middlewich
set off as this can cause some delays at the locks and junction there.
We set off in the boat at about 11.30 and had a pleasant cruise along
the T & M getting used to the boat, a 68ft 12 berth Owl Class. We
arrived at Middlewich and went through Big Lock and then started
on the next flight of three before the junction. The hire boats were
filling up with their customers and I was glad we had missed the
busy part of the afternoon. We passed the junction and went up
Kings Lock in order to be nearer the pub! and so the Morris could find
us easily (They can always find a pub!!) Having ascended the lock we
needed to wind as tomorrow we would go down the lock and turn left
at the junction. There is a winding point above the lock but it had
several boats tied up in it including a pair of full length boats breasted
up and to make things more difficult there was a boat tied up opposite
the winding hole. Taking my courage in both hands I started the turn
and by resting the bow of the boat gently on one of the moored boats
managed to get the boat winded with about six inches to spare.
Then it was defiantly time to go to the pub where we had a music 
session (and drinking session)

Day 2
Eve was put in charge of the boat as she had some experience
in the past, and for her first job she had to take the boat down the
lock and negotiate the tricky turn onto the Middlewich Branch. This
she did in fine style and off we went to our destination The Shady Oak
at Tiverton where Morris people were going to arrive in the evening for a 
social session ;-) We picked Tam Lin up at Barbridge.The weather was 
fine and we had no trouble getting on to the Shroppie (Chester Canal 
Section) and passed down Bunbury staircase, and the other locks to 
arrive as planned. A pleasant evening was spent in the pub.

Day 3
An early start with Ellesmere Port as our destination. Another fine day
helped us on our way through Chester and the impressive Northgate
Staircase triple lock. Lunch was taken at Tower Wharf and then we 
continued on to Ellesmere Port. On arrival we were told as boaters we 
could let ourselves into the museum with the BW key and have a look
round which was great and when the rest of the Morris side arrived we
danced in the museum much to the amazement (and I hope pleasure)
of the boaters moored there. No pub tonight but we do have a small
barrel of beer on board donated by Coachhouse Brewery to help us
on our way!!

Day 4
An easy day for the hire boat crew, destination Chester which we reached
at around 11.00 however because of work requirements Gill and I 
carried on to Barbridge in Tam Lin and went home to go to work the
next day. The Morris had another social?! evening in Chester.

Day 5
The skeleton crew (4) on the Morris boat brought her up to Barbridge
while Gill and I were at work and we joined them at the Barbridge Inn
in the evening where the landlord Bill was very hospitable. Two
other sides joined us and a fine evening was had by all culminating
in pictures of nearly everyone on the roof of the boat (Sorry Judy, no
dancing on the roof but certainly some drinking!) 

Day 6
Gill and the rest of the crew took the boat on to the Salt Barge at
Marston while I had to do another day at work :-( I drove out in the 
evening and we had a good music session in the pub.

Day 7
An early start to return the boat to the marina by 09.30 and then the
task of unloading all the gear and trying to fit it and 9 people into two
cars. (we managed it) The marina were great and there was some talk 
of repeating the trip next year. Gill and I went back to Barbridge where
we had left Tam Lin to pick up some more gear and there we met
Reico (sp?) and her partner (list contributors from Holland)on holiday 
on a boat from Wrenbury.
She was displaying the cut web symbol so we introduced ourselves
and had a good chat.
Secured the boat and went home, a really good week!

Hope this was not too boring but we had a good time and introduced
a few people to the canals who now may just become converts.

Regards

John and Gill Watson
nb Tam Lin