From tpav@globalnet.co.uk Fri Apr 16 14:45:08 1999
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 19:37:44 +0100
From: Trevor Pavitt <tpav@globalnet.co.uk>
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: Lady Elgar goes North - 6

On the Bridgwater
We have now finished the fifth week of our cruise and, having reminded
ourselves that we are old, retired folk and that there is no need to hurry,
we spent three days on the Middlewich Arm.
On Monday we moved about three miles so that we were conveniently close to
Winsford and on Tuesday organised a car to take Jill, a temporary member of
our crew, to the railway station on her way to Wolverhampton and thence to
London.
With just the two of us again Tuesday was a bad day! Wind, rain and at one
stage hail. I left a mooring chain behind and had to go back for it and we
found that BW had severely lowered the pound above Big Lock at Middlewich
and we could not get on the visitor moorings. The only consolation was
brilliant delivery service by Somerfields (already reported). Quite by
chance we also met our friends Clive and Sheila Allen on nb ^ÓHampshire^Ô
(last seen at Lechlade last year) and a convivial evening followed.
Next day we continued our modest progress as far as Marbury Country Park
near Anderton. The Dane Valley stretch of the T & M North of Middlewich is
particularly beautiful and reminded us of the Kennet and Avon approach to
Bath.
We were glad to find that there is a new sanitary station at Anderton as
things were getting desperate! Passed the land slip at Bridge 200 which
seems to have been very speedily and effectively repaired.
I took Ray Dunford^Òs advice at the Barnton and Saltersford tunnels (which
are very crooked) and pulled well over to the non-towpath side in order to
get a quick glimpse of the other end and check for boats. Thought I was
safely through the Barnton when I lost concentration and re-profiled the top
of our front chimney (the noise scared the wits out of the dog down below!).
The Saltersford is lower and more wiggly so we took everything down here (if
you see what I mean).
More by luck than judgement we arrived at Preston Brook at exactly 12
o-clock so were able to go straight through (entry going North = on the hour
to ten past).
The Bridgwater Canal (oldest in the country ^Ö discuss!) has been much more
pleasant than we expected and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. Excellent
mooring at Moore (any more moorings Mr Moore?) with great walks for the dog
and a handy village shop where we bought bread and coal. We called at Thorn
Marine of Stockton Heath and are now moored, on their advice, just short of
the River Bollin Aqueduct before tackling the long haul through Altricham
and Sale on Monday.

Best regards to all




--
Trevor - nb "Lady Elgar" - Grand Union Canal