Today is a well deserved day of rest. We may have only covered sixteen and a half miles yesterday but the twenty seven locks in between certainly take it out of you !
We left our overnight mooring on the Trent and Mersey and began our gruelling day at the windlass, or rather I did as the captain settled in at the helm. I'd rather do the locks. Time seems to fly by as there is always something to be done. At the helm it's bursts of intense concentration getting the boat into the lock without bashing it too much. Followed by a seemingly endless wait for the chamber to fill.
It was an early start, all the more surprising because it was a Sunday. Though days are starting to mean less and less as we go on. A beautiful day and we stopped again by 9am for an ice cream. Then came some more locks, which you may have seen as you flash pass on the M6.
Look at those poor truckers working, and on a Sunday too, and here I am messing about with boats in the sunshine. Did I make the right decision ???????????????
We carried on up the canal towards Middlewich passing the salt works and the toilet factory. We get to see all the sights !
We stopped off at Kings lock's Chandlery for some bits for the boat. Chimney, navigation lights, fire rope, coal and a seal kit for the toilet.
Then we hung a left onto a new canal. The Shropshire Union ( Middlewich branch ) I like it, the water is the same colour as hot chocolate. Though I expect it doesn't taste great.
The Captain complained of a lack of power as we set off from a lock as we started this stretch and there was a lot of vibration through the tiller. We pulled over to the side and I got out the trusty boat hook and had a probe under the boat and around the prop. Pulled out a huge industrial polythene bag. Normal function restored we headed for the last lock of the day!
Victory is mine !!!!
It was plain sailing from here to Church Minshull where we moored for the night. With more curious cows for neighbours. This bad girl had her hind legs chained together like a convict?
Where we watched the sun go down. Strange but true, I have never taken the time to properly watch the sun set.
That brings us to today our " Day of rest " We replaced the chimney I carefully removed with a tunnel, bit of maintenance in the engine bay and then the afore mentioned seal kit for the loo.
The seal from the loo to the holding tank had perished and was letting smells back into the boat. So roll up your sleeves and get your spanners our. Not pleasant !! twenty three years worth of poo have passed this way, eeerrrrrrrrr!!!!
Actually it wasn't actually that bad. The valve into the tank kept the evil bellow from sight at least. The new seal worked a treat and the pong has been banished.
Next time the Shroppie proper and onto Chester, The lock keeper.
