From terry@talwaldron.freeserve.co.uk Fri Apr 30 22:43:54 1999 Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 21:49:47 -0000 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: mailing list Subject: Trip Report - Christmas 98 New year 99 (Part 1) (longish) [The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] Crew: Terry, Sue & Clyde (14 year old King Charles Spaniel) Boat: nb Stella Type: 47ft Cruiser Stern Route: Acton Bridge to Market Drayton & return Acton Bridge to Middlewich and return Acton Bridge to Castlefield and return Dates: 24 December 1998 to 8 January 1999 24 January Left home at the unearthly time of 0430, aiming to get to Acton Bridge at about 0900. Car broke down 3 miles from home, breakdown service very fast, with us in under 15 minutes, fault diagnosed and repaired. Got caught in very slow traffic and road works on M5 but very little traffic north of Bristol. Got to Acton Bridge at 1030, the fire had been lit for us and the engine was running to charge batteries. It took us an hour to unload and get the boat ready for our trip. Away from the boatyard at 1130 heading south on the Trent and Mersey. The canal in most places had a light covering of ice, no more than 1/8 inch thick, and no trouble breaking it. Sky overcast but no wind, light rain for very short periods. Saltersford tunnel, although short, has many bends, I use the precaution of blowing the horn on entry to ensure there are no other boats either in the tunnel, or about to enter, the tunnel is relatively dry with only a few spots of water coming from the roof. Barnton tunnel treated the same way as Saltersford although you can see a glimmer of light, met a working boat (no name on it) waiting for us to come out, quite a tight, blind turn under a road bridge just beyond the tunnel. The ICI works dominate the right bank of the Weaver below. Passed Anderton without stopping, will do that later in the trip. The Old Broken Cross pub looks nice, will have to try that on the way back. Weather getting worse as the afternoon sets in, Sue not happy that I push on to Middlewich in the darkness so moored at 'Brambles Cutting', an old clay puddling pit which had been cleared of trees etc. and picnic tables put in, this on the non towpath side and loved by Clyde, followed him round for about 15 minutes with a shovel and plastic bag. A very quiet mooring the only noises being the crows and the pheasants. Had an early night. 12 Miles 0 Locks 2 Tunnels 25 December Sue up with Clyde at 0600, although the fire was still warm it needed completely relaying to get it to light. A beautiful warm morning, no wind, dry and no frost - is this the calm before the storm??. A heron sits on the opposite bank fishing, apparently not worried about us being there. The pheasants are still making quite a noise. We had only intended a couple hours cruising today but as the weather is so nice we will do more. Off ropes by 0915 and at Big Lock by 0950, 2 young lads with their new motorbikes (about 50cc) riding in the park beside 'The Moorings'. The first of the 3 Middlewich locks set in our favour but the other 2 against us, we now start to encounter people out for a morning stroll with their dogs. Looks like both the Hire Boat companies are shut, the boats are moored 2 abreast on non towpath side and singly on towpath side. A residential boater walks along side us for a chat as far as Wardle lock. Sue not keen on this lock as the bridge does not have any handrails, advised this quite a fierce fill so kept the boat up against the cill and rode up the gates. Sun now shining brightly and quite hot, off with the coat and now just in shirt sleeves. More people walking this part of the towpath, about 50 swans here. By the time we got to Bridge 18 the sun had gone in and the sky was overcast. Carried on to Barbridge, took water, and moored just beyond the water point. Now just starting to rain. Sue cooked the Turkey (not a whole one - we just got a large breast) and we opened a couple bottles of wine - too much dinner, have to leave the pudding for another day. Very rough wind in the night, things on the roof moving, subsequently found to be the TV aerial. A boat close to us running his generator until very late in the night, far enough away not to worry us, but could still be heard. 13 miles 8 locks 26 December Set off heading south on the Shropshire Union aiming for Audlem today. Set off at 0915 into a light headwind but no rain. Saw our first kingfisher of the trip at Bridge 97, he followed us for about 1/4 mile. Wind getting stronger, still from ahead, having to put a few more revs on to make usual cruising speed, waves of approx.. 1ft with white crests. Bridge 84 a large (at least 100) Canada Geese sheltering. Close to Bridge 83 a nice picnic area with Bar B Q pits (Coole Pilote Leisure Area). A little Wren looked as though it had made its nest in the plank stowage at hack Green lock 2, although we were only a few yards away it still hopped in and out looking for food. Wind very strong and driving rain straight into my face, moored bottom of Audlem Flight for lunch. Both of us soaked by the time we got through lock 12 and weather not looking as though it would abate, moored. Weather changed for the better by the time we had had a cuppa but Sue did not want to do another 11 locks today so we stayed where we were. Gales overnight and rain lashing the roof, Clyde did not want to go out for his late evening walk (nor did I). Although this is a sheltered part of the canal with high banks both sides the boat was still moving in the wind. 8 miles 6 locks 27 December A nice still morning, no signs of the storm of last night, TV aerial still lashed to the roof but it had moved, as had the flower pots. Away at 0800, a good run through the 11 Audlem Locks despite virtually all being set against us. Decided to try single handed locking, told Sue I did not need her services for a few locks. Although I had Chris D book with me I tried my own ideas for single handed locking, not too much different to that described in the book, must now try it on double locks and swing bridges. Met 6 boats coming from the opposite direction between Adderley locks and Market Drayton. Saw another Kingfisher at Bretton Wood, about 1/2 way between Bridge 66 and the disused railway bridge. Another Wren seen hopping in and out of the plank stowage at Audlem Lock 3. By the time we got to Market Drayton (1300) it was very dark and dismal. Walked into the town, about 15 minutes walk, went to the Cobbett Arms for a Carvery Lunch, very good and price reasonable, pity they only had one draught bitter on. Walked around the town, only one or two shops open (off licence and video shop) so went into hambly's for a Caffreys, locals very friendly, had a good chat with a couple and they enticed me to try the local brews, cannot remember the name but it was quite good - no food in this pub, it's a drinkers pub. 6 miles 16 locks Market Drayton to Acton Bridge in Part 2