I apologise for no blog yesterday, but we were in a spot with signal.
No.1 daughter's trains and taxi arrived as predicted and I hadn't finished my first pint when she arrived. Just one more and we were off back to the boat and almost straight to bed.
After a quiet night we got up and ready for the off to have to wait for a couple to pass the opposite way and one our way.
This is the spot where there was a breach a few years ago and all that water disappeared in to the Wheelock river. This is where we would have ended up last night if there had been no room. A bit of a walk from the pub though.
I had a short wait whilst the bloke ahead went up Stanthorne Lock, but he view was pleasant and I couldn't resist a photo. It has been spitting since we left but no wet, as yet.
I am not one really that demands a lawn like towpath edge, but it does seem a little nonsensical to not cut back the trees on the offside,AND leave the small trees to grow on the tow path edge. Surely this just means more work in the long run. It seems they have mown the edge between the trees but then gaps between them are so small that very few will be able to fit to moor here.
We had just gone under the West Coast Main Line when I could see the bloke on the boat ahead alongside and waving. At first I thought he must have broken down, but no he was stopped as there was a tree down and they were in the process of shifting it. I knew there was a tree down that you could navigate round, but it seems they were at the time when they need boats to stop. However there were six or so beyond and the two of use waiting so he let that lot go through first.
As we approached Bridge 21 and twelve Acre Farm there was a field full of crows, all bust feeding. I seem to remember that they feed on leatherjacket larvae. These are the larval stage of the daddy long legs that get in the house. The crows can make a mess of a lawn if they descend on them there. It seems that that also do the same for chafer grubs.
These former stables are up for sale. It always strikes me as a shame that because of the proximity to the canal means that you can't really have a canal side garden or view. They must have been built around 1900 as they are not on the 1897 map but are there on the 1908 one.
I liked the look of this house and I think it was at Minshullhill Wharf. It is a warehouse and cottage that were built in 1830's and is said to be by Thomas Telford!
The view from the moorings are lovely and great for a sunset. Not one boat there today, mind you not much chance of a sunset either.
Either side of the Weaver Aqueduct are these restrictions. At first glance they look like railway bridge abutments but it looks like they were access bridges for farmers when the canal had been dug but have been taken away now. I think they may have been modified since to act as stop plank spots for the Aqueduct to as it looks narrower than other bridge holes. There was minimal wait at the two locks.
We got to Barbridge Junction and turned right with nothing to hamper our turn. The drizzle had turned to light rain, but conveniently stopped for the turn.
There was no melee at the foot of Hurleston Locks for the Llangollen canal as there so often, is just the wall of the dam of the reservoir that arches nicley.
The moorings from Bridge 92 to the Nantwich Aqueduct were rammed and plenty of annoying gaps too.However we found a hole well past there and once 'all fast' and 'finished with engines' we were off into time for some bits and stretch our legs. We didn't linger as Helen wasn't feeling too good. When we got back she took her self to bed and is now getting restorative sleep, by the snoring that is going on!
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