Calveley (Shropshire Union Canal) to Cholmondeston Lock (Middlewich Branch)

Wednesday 7^th to Sunday 11^th August

Having my afternoon tea

Hendricks Teapot and Tea Cup

We stayed put at Calveley for a few days and did some jobs, went for some walks and had a day trip to Chester by bus.  Chester is a great city and it was a lovely sunny day so we walked around part of the walls and also walked along the canal.  

We had a look around the shops and then we went for a Gin Afternoon Tea at Bella Vista, an Italian restaurant.  It was a birthday present from my niece Catherine, her hubby Angus and my great-nephew Freddie.  Instead of sandwiches we had small pizzas, and then panescone, specially made panettone scones served with mascarpone cream and jam and then mini desserts.  The gin and tonic was served in a special Hendricks teapot and special cups and saucers, it was all delicious and such a lovely gift, we really enjoyed it, a great way to celebrate my birthday again.

Our Afternoon Tea

On Friday morning, we met our friends Sheila and Tony for breakfast in Calveley Mill café.  It was lovely to see them again and catch-up and the breakfast was excellent and really good value for money.  Saturday was very windy and rainy on and off, so we didn’t do much.

Off We Go

Today (Sunday) we are on the move.  It was raining early morning but then cleared up so we set off along the canal to the winding hole, turned around and went back down and stopped off at the services.

We then carried on along the canal passing Calveley Mill and Café which is closed on Sundays and under a few bridges.  We then came to Barbridge Junction and turned left onto the Middlewich Branch.  There are a lot of moored boats here so we chugged slowly past them.

Turning Around

Barbridge Junction

All Closed Today

We went on for about a mile or so and moored up not far from Cholmondeston lock.  We had a few rain showers when we were going along and a bit while we moored up but nothing too heavy and the showers didn’t last long and the sun came out in between.

Coming to a bridge

Turniing onto the Middlewich Branch

We had some lunch then went for a walk along the towpath, down the road to Venetian marina where there is a chandlery and yes you’ve guessed it, a café!

Passing lots of moored boats

One More Bridge

We had a coffee in the cafe and was going to have a toasted tea-cake which they said they had then it turned out they didn’t so they gave us our money back and a piece of home made cake as well which was very nice of them as they didn’t have to do that and really good it was too.  We went in the Chandlery and got a few things we needed then walked back to the boat.

Chaffinch on the towpath

Passing a Swan Family

Phew, No Smuggler today!!

On the way back on the towpath there was a bramley apple tree with lots of apples, many of which were on the ground, so Kev shook the tree and used his umbrella to poke a few off and we got a bag of apples so looks like crumble and apple jelly are on the menu shortly!

A chap we passed said there was a plum tree somewhere around here on the towpath so we will have a look for that.

We are staying here a couple of days then we will go on a bit further.

Moored at Cholmondeston Lock