Week with Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin - Shropshire Union Canal

Saturday 14^th to Sunday 22^nd September

Kev's cousin Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin the dog are staying in the caravan park at Overwater Marina for a week so Saturday morning we went over to where they were camped.  It was great to see them as it’s been a while.  

Drinks at the Shroppie Fly

Rosslyn, Michael & Griffin

We all headed off for a walk down to Audlem along the towpath which was great for Griffin.  He is a lovely dog but very nervous of people so barked at us abit and wouldn’t come very near but hopefully as the week goes on, he will get used to us and we can get close to him.  We had a wander around Audlem, had a look in the church and stopped at one of the cafes.  On the walk back we stopped at the Shroppie Fly pub for refreshments.

Drgaonflys on the boat

Sunday – We are leaving the marina today but first we had breakfast in the marina café with our Audlem family, Jane, Malcolm, Sheila and Tony and Rosslyn and Michael joined us as well, it was a lovely breakfast as always. It was then time for us to leave the marina so we chugged out onto the canal and moored up by Bridge 80 not far from the marina.  In the afternoon Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin came over for tea and cake.

Geese on the canal

Tea Time!

Beautiful Griffin

Monday – We are off for a chug today to Nantwich so when Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin arrived we set off along the canal, it was a nice dry day and quite warm.  We soon came to Hack Green locks and waited for our turn to go through.  There are two locks here but they aren’t very deep so we were soon through and on our way.  We got to the winding hole, turned around and moored up.

By Chester Castle

We then walked into the town along a footpath and along by the river, it’s a nice walk and Griffin could run around.  We had a look around the town and went in the lovely church.  We also went to the Library (Nantwich Book Shop) for lunch. We then headed back to the boat and chugged back to Bridge 80 where we moored up.  I had made Lasagna so we all had that for tea.

Me and Ross

Me, Cara and Rob

Tuesday – We had a car trip to Chester as Rosslyn and Michael haven’t been there before.  We parked at the park and ride at Christleton and got the bus in, it was really easy and much less hassle as there is not a lot of parking in Chester.  We walked around the walls down to the river and got off there and had a coffee sat by the river as it was a lovely sunny warm day. 

Tea Outside

We then carried on around the walls past Chester Castle and the race course and then came to the Basin.  

Me photo bombing the photo!

Chester Clock

I got in this one as well!

We carried on and was just about to go down the steps off the walls when coming up was Cara and Rob who we know from the G&S canal and haven’t seen for a few years.  We had a lovely catchup and then we went on our way.  It was so lovely to see them after all this time and the funny thing is Cara is our friend Sheila from Audlem niece, we only found that out last year it’s a small world!

 We had a wander around the town and Rosslyn and Michael visited the Cathedral.  We stayed outside with Griffin as we have been inside many times.  We then headed back to the park and ride and drove back to the marina.  Rosslyn cooked us all tea and as it was such a nice evening, we sat outside to eat it, not bad for the middle of September!

Our New Captain!

Wednesday – We are off in another boat trip today so when they turned up, we set off.  We had to go through Hack Green locks again and past Nantwich and we moored up at Hurleston Junction.  I had made Quiche on the journey so we had that for lunch with new potatoes and salad. 

Kev & Ross

At Snugburys

After lunch we went for a walk up the start of the Llangollen canal to the first bridge and up onto the road and along there for a short time to Snugburys ice cream farm.  It was quite busy as it was a lovely sunny afternoon but not manic like the last time we were here on August bank holiday Monday!

With the Snugbury Bee

We all had two scoops and sat on a bench to eat them.  We then walked down the field to see the Snugbury Bee.  Rosslyn and Michael loved the ice cream as much as we do, it’s so creamy and tasty.

Hack Green Locks

We walked back to the boat stopping off at the farm near the canal to get some free range eggs.  We then set off back along the canal, past Nantwich, through Hack Green locks and moored back at Bridge 80.  I made some sandwiches tea and then Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin went back to the caravan park before it got too dark.

Griffin and Michael

Lovely Ice Creams

Thursday – It was another lovely sunny warm day so we all decided to go for a car trip to Ellesmere where there is a mere or lake that you can walk around.  It didn’t take too long to get there and we parked up and set off around the lake.

We walked as far as you could then turned around and walked back to the cafe.  It was lunch time so we had a coffee and a bite to eat.

The Mere at Ellesmere

Griffin at the Griffin Inn

We then crossed the road and walked up through the wood to the Motte and Bailey. We followed the path over the top and took us down to the road and into the small town.  We had a look around and then walked down to the canal where there is a Tesco so we got a few provisioned then walked along the canal following the sculpture trail which took us back to where the car was parked. We then drove onto Oswestry where we had a walk around the town before driving back to the marina and as it was another sunny evening, we sat outside and had tea which Rosslyn cooked for us. 

We then played the card game crib, Michael gave us a refresher course as we hadn’t played it for a long time and me and Kev beat him, but when we all played together, he won, I think he led us into a false sense of security!!  It started getting dark so we walked back to the boat.  It was a fun evening and a lovely day.

Griffin enjoying the mere

Friday – To day we are off out with Sheila and Tony.  They picked us up from the marina and we went for a nice drive around the country lanes and ended up at Newton’s Fish & Chips, a road side transport café which was really nice inside and spotlessly clean and the fish & chips were excellent.

Lovely Fish & Chips

On our drive back, they showed us places where they used to live and work.  We went to their house in Audlem and had tea and cake then a couple of glasses of gin.  We had a lovely time and lots of laughs.  Tony dropped us back at the marina late afternoon.  It is always great to see them and spend time together and I am sure we will see them again soon.

 Saturday – We are off out with Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin again today. It was another lovely sunny day so we decided to take a drive to Norbury Junction as its not too far away.  When we got there, it was busy but we found a space in the Junction Inn car park and a table outside the pub overlooking the canal so we sat there and had some lunch.

After lunch we went for a walk along the canal and down onto the road and back along to the pub.  We then went to the cafe which is opposite the pub and had a coffee sat in the sun.  It’s a lovely spot to just sit and watch the world go by.   We headed back to the marina and as I had made cauliflower cheese for tea, Kev and I headed back to the boat to put it in the oven and Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin came over when they had parked up.

At Norbury Junction

After tea we played a few rounds of crib and Michael won again and I was last!  But I didn’t mind, it was a lot of fun.  They headed back before it was too dark.

Lunch at Norbury

Sunday – This is our last day with Rosslyn, Michael and Griffin as they are off up to Lancashire tomorrow to visit Rosslyn's sister Sharon and I am pleased to say although it has taken most of the week Griffin has got used to us and now we can cuddle and smooth him, he is a beautiful dog and it’s great go be able to touch him without him backing away and barking.

Griffin waiting for a treat

We decided to drive to Nantwich so we did and then had a wander around the town and stopped off at the Library for lunch.   The weather wasn’t so good today we had a bit of rain but nothing too much.  We then decided to drive to Bridgmere Garden Centre which is near Nantwich.

Hello

The car parks were packed when we got there but we found a space and all headed in, dogs are allowed so Griffin came as well.  It is huge with a farm shop and retail units like Cottontraders, Pavers, Lakeland to name a few and a café and two restaurants.  We had a good wander around although you need hours to see it all properly and we had less than two before they closed as on Sundays they close early, but it was great to go there, we enjoyed looking around.

We then drove back to the marina.  We had a cup of tea with Rosslyn and Michael and then it was time to say our goodbyes.  We have had a fantastic week with them going out and about and showing them this area and places that we like and all spending time together, it has been a lot of fun and laughs and so good to see them again and meet Griffin and make friends with him and hopefully they will come and visit us again in the not too distant future.  We walked back to the boat and just chilled out for the rest of the evening.

Moored in Overwater Marina