Church Minshull to Cholmondeston (Middlewich Branch of Shropshire Union Canal)

The sun was shining and it was already really warm as we set off from Church Minshull.

Coming into Minshull Lock

Passing Aqueduct Marina

There used to be a bridge here!

We are going about 3 miles today and doing two locks.  We soon came to Minshull lock.  There was a boat in front of us and one coming down so we waited our turn and then Kev brought the boat in and I filled the lock.  The locks along this section are all about 10ft deep or more.  We were soon through there and on our way along the canal.

In Cholmondeston Lock

It was a beautiful morning and this branch of the Shropshire Union is really nice.  We chugged on along past Aqueduct Marina and through a narrow gap which used to be a bridge many years ago and then we were approaching Venetian Marina and Cholmondeston lock.  There was a bit of a queue here, there always seems to be, the last time we were at this lock a couple of years ago although we were coming the other way, it took us two hours to get through here, hope it doesn’t take that long today!

I went up and helped and soon it was our turn and we were soon coming up the lock and out along the canal and we moored in the visitor moorings a bit further on.

Yet another Heron

We had lunch then walked back down to Venetian marina where there is a café so we got a drink and sat outside by the canal watching the boats go in and out of the lock.  They also have a Chandlery so we had a look in there.

Venetian Marina and Cafe

Outside there was a fold down wooden table, we have been looking for one of these for ages for the front of the boat so Kev asked what they were doing with it and they said it was going to the skip so we asked if we could have it and they said yes, so Kev carried it back to the boat.  He had to do a few alterations to it to make it fit, so he spent the afternoon doing that and now we have a nice table for the front.  Kev’s next job is to give the table a paint job.  I didn’t want to get in the way while Kev was doing the table so I sat in my chair in the sun all afternoon!!

We are staying here tonight then chugging on tomorrow.

Moored at Cholmondeston