A very sunny day spent wandering around Chester, starting with a walk around the city walls. As the day went on we were surrounded by more and more working boats, which will all be leaving in convoy on Friday to Ellesmere Port.
Chester Cathedral
Bustling Chester
Chester Castle
Enjoying the weather outside Telford Warehouse
My sister enjoying a short break with us
Serenity and Windsong surrounded by the working boats starting to gather in Tower Wharf.
We nearly didn’t make it to Chester. The plan was to have an early start and get ahead of the working boats coming through, heading for Ellesmere Port, but three of them had an earlier start than us. As we were approaching Chester we were told of trouble at the next lock, Hoole Lane Lock, we had no choice but to join the queue and wait for the repairs to be completed. We were still waiting over four hours later and now had ten boats waiting and another three above the previous lock. Luckily bw workers managed to replace the paddle with cut pieces of plywood as a temporary fix. My sister had arrived by train and managed to walk up and find us. The next problem was mooring, we wanted to moor in Telford Warehouse basin, but after going down Northgate staircase lock we found no space left. We carried on and found moorings opposite the golf course and winded the following morning heading back to the basin, with better luck this time.
Passing the city walls
Very impressive, cut through the rocks
Going down the very deep Northgate staircase lock
Quite a long day cruising today. Watered and looed at the top of Hurleston flight but made slow progress down the flight due to the amount of boats. Passed Barbridge junction on our way towards Chester. After a total of 10 locks today we moored for a pub meal at the Shady Oak near Beeston Castle.
Passing Barbridge Junction
Waiting to come down Bunbury staircase lock
Bunbury staircase, the stable blocks in the background, which were used for fresh horses for the fly boats
Round houses, used by the lengths men to store equipment
Beeston Iron lock
Beeston Iron lock, although a broad lock, only one boat at a time because the sides are distorted
The Shady Oak, canal side
The outcrop of Beeston Castle
The sun was shining today for us, five locks with a little wait at each lock as it was quite busy. The new Swanley Bridge Marina has been well thought out and has a long convenient stretch, canal side, to moor for diesel etc. so we stopped for a top up. We moored early to revisit Snugburys for more ice cream and as it was still such a nice day, out came the drinks and we had a bbq.
Swanley Bridge Marina
Moored near bridge 4, the quickest route to Snugburys
A lovely pleasant cruise today, only a short run and four locks. We stopped off at Alvechurch boat centre, Wrenbury Mill as we had ordered a spare belt on the way up to collect on our return journey, unfortunately it was the wrong size and make. Moored topside of Baddiley locks for the evening.
Marbury lock
Wrenbury Mill
We only had a short cruise today as we stopped off for a cup of tea with fellow bloggers nb Caxton and nb Matilda Rose, who were moored just off the Whitchurch arm. Then onto the queue at the staircase lock at Grindley Brook, which didn’t seem too bad, we were fourth in line, but still took awhile to move along as they let three up and three down. Moored for the night opposite Hinton Hall with rolling countryside to look out on to.
Middle chamber of the Grindley Brook staircase lock
Sheltering behind the lock gates
Approaching the bottom lock
Exiting the bottom lock
Strong by-wash, exiting the bottom lock
We had decided to spend an extra day in Ellesmere yesterday as the weather forecast wasn’t looking very good. Luckily we did as we had to find a dentist for Ian, his filling had dropped out and he required a replacement. Set off again this morning in more calm settled weather into hire boat madness. There are a lot of hire boat companies on this canal and it seems like they were all out at once, I know it is close to Easter school holidays but it was really busy compared to our journey out.
Exiting Ellesmere Tunnel
Water point mayhem, luckily we timed it right and was just leaving as the queue suddenly formed
Moored for the night between bridges 37 and 38, just before Whitchurch
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