Bridge 24 to Church Minshull (by Bridge 14) - Middlewich Branch

Sunday 18^th August

We are moving on a couple of miles this morning to Church Minshull as we are meeting our friends Jane, Dave and Anthea for lunch in the Badger pub.

Footbridge

Railway Bridge

We set off from our mooring and chugged under a railway bridge which carried the West Coast Mainline and a few more bridges and on along the canal, past the moorings where the wasp nest is and a bit further on.

Lovely Sunny Morning

Blue Sky Today

We then came to Bridge 14 and we moored up a short way beyond the bridge.  A while later Bill and Peanut turned up and moored up in front of us.

Couple More Bridges

Nice Shaped Bridge

We walked up to the pub to meet Jane, Dave and Anthea.  Jane’s hubbie Malcolm was coming as well but unfortunately got called into work, he had to go combining while the weather was good which was a pity but hopefully next time we meet he will be able to come.

We had a drink in the bar, then went to our table, the pub was really busy so I was glad we had booked.  We had a really nice lunch and a good catch up.  It was great to see them all again.

We waved Jane, Dave and Anthea off and then walked back down the road to the boat.  We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow then will chug on a bit further.

Moored at Church Minshull

Middlewich to Bridge 24 - Middlewich Branch

Friday 16^th to Saturday 17^th August

Friday – It rained for most of the day but we did venture out in the morning to do shopping and then stayed inside for the rest of the day.

Lovely Peanut

Saturday – The rain had gone and it was a lovely sunny warm day.  We walked into town in the morning to go to the Butchers and get a few other things.  In the afternoon Bill who we know from the Gloucester and Sharpness canal on NB Tempranillo moored up near us and came in with his little dog Peanut for a cup of tea and a catch-up as we haven’t seem him for quite some time.

Wardle Lock

We have to turn around so we decided to do it around 5pm when the canal was quieter. We left our mooring and headed for Wardle lock which was not far away.

Coming out onto the Trent & Mersey

When the Middlewich branch of the then Cheshire canal was built in 1830, the Trent and Mersey canal company insisted that there should be no direct connection at Middlewich, so built the short Wardle canal to join the two, charging large tolls for freight traffic.  

Inscription on Bridge

The Wardle canal is the shortest canal in the UK and is only 154 feet long with one lock.  An inscription on the bridge at the junction with the Trent and Mersey indicates the end of the Wardle canal and that it was opened in 1829.

Waiting for lock to empty

Back up Wardle Lock

There was a boat coming out the lock so in we went.  Kev came out of the lock and out onto the Trent and Mersey canal and reversed back to the water point.  We filled up with water and then I walked up to the lock as we had to go back up.

Passing Tempranillo

Under We Go

There was a hire boat just going up the lock who didn’t seem to know what they were doing and had to empty the lock first and didn’t tie the boat up so when the water emptied out the lock the boat was all over the shop and they were hanging onto the ropes for dear life! They eventually went in the lock and up they went. There wasn’t any boats coming the other way so I shut the lock and emptied it.  Kev had tied our boat up properly so when we let the water out of the lock our boat stayed put!

Swan Family

We were soon through the lock and chugged off along the canal waving goodbye to Bill as we went past him, although he is going the same way as us, so I am sure we will see him again.

Coming into Stanthorne Lock

A Couple More Bridges

We went on along the canal and came to Stanthorne lock where the hire boat was just going in so I went up and gave them a hand.  There wasn’t a boat coming so we had to empty the lock first and then Kev came in.  A boat came behind us so the chap from there and a young boy came up to the lock to help.  The kid was a nuisance jumping around everywhere and climbing on the lock gate, I could see him tripping and falling in, an accident waiting to happen. The chap told him to stop it but he just carried on, locks aren’t playgrounds I don’t know why people let kids do that at locks they can be dangerous places.

We opened the top gate to let Kev out and the kid was sitting on the gate.  He stayed on there and I wanted to shut it so I asked him to get off which he did, I wasn’t going to do that with him on it as if he fell in they would blame me. 

We chugged on a bit further under a couple of bridges and moored up by bridge 24. We are staying here tonight then off back to Church Minshull tomorrow.

Moored at Bridge 24

Church Minshull to Middlewich (Middlewich Branch)

Wednesday 14^th and Thursday 15^th August

Wednesday we stayed put as it rained most of the day and we didn’t even venture out.

Today (Thursday) we are moving on.  It was a bit overcast as we set off from our mooring but at least it was dry but the sun did eventually come out.

Off We Go

Coming to a Bridge

Nice House by the Canal

We chugged on along the canal under several bridges and passed a few moored boats. We then came to the nice moorings which overlook the River Weaver and Winsford Top Flash and we had planned to stop there on the way back but someone had put a sign saying wasps nest so I think we will give it a miss and find another mooring!

Two More Bridges

We passed a boat that was covered in many solar panels, either they are all electric or use a lot of power and judging by the massive satellite dish on the top, I think they do, we only have two panels!

Stanthorne Lock

Is That Enough Solar Panels!!

We went past the section that breached last year, it was quite a long stretch and you could see the new sides they had put in.

We went on and then came to Stanford lock where there was a boat coming up so when he came out in we went.  There was a man on the lock from another boat waiting to come up and I thought he was going to help me with the lock but no he went back to his boat and left me to do it on my own!

Down We Go

I emptied the lock and opened the gates for Kev to come out.  We left the gates open and went on a bit further and then was at Middlewich and moored up before Wardle lock and the junction with the Trent and Mersey canal.

Section Where the Breech Was

In the afternoon we walked down to the Original Factory shop to buy some plastics boxes to store Kev’s wares in.  We took them back to the boat and headed into town.  There used to be a Tesco but that has closed and in its place is Jacks which is a discount store similar to Aldi and Lidl but owned by Tesco.  We had a look around and it was okay and the prices were very reasonable.

We then had a walk through the town, went for a coffee in a café we have been in before and funnily enough when I looked on my Facebook page, we were in this café two years ago today and at a similar time, how spooky is that!

We then walked back to the boat.

We are staying here now for a few days then we will turn around and head back along the Middlewich Branch.

Moored at Middlewich

Cholmondeston Lock to Church Minshull (Middlewich Branch)

Monday 12^th and Tuesday 13^th August

Gatekeeper Butterfly

Coming into Cholmondeston Lock

Monday – We stayed put and did a few jobs then went for a walk.  It was z nice afternoon so we got an ice cream at the Chandlery and sat by the canal to eat it.  In the afternoon I made a cake and also a crumble with the apples and plums we had picked.

Tuesday – We are moving on today and although we had a rain shower early, it brightened up and sun came out. We moved down to the water point to fill up.

Coming to a railway bridge

Cholmondeston lock is just nearby and there were volunteers on today so they had the lock ready for us.  They helped me with the lock and we were soon through there and stopped at Venetian marina just below the lock to buy a gas bottle as one of ours had just run out and it was a good price £27.80.

Church Minshull Lock

We then chugged on along the canal past Hollow Sykes leisure area where are there picnic tables and bbqs, under a few bridges and then we came to Minshull lock.  A boat was just coming out so once they were out, in we went.  There was another boat waiting to come up so I had plenty of help.

Passing Aqueduct Marina

We went on our way, past Aqueduct marina where we will stop on the way back as they have a nice café and good chandlers.

Coming out of Church Minshull Lock

Nice Footbridge

We went under a couple more bridges and moored up between bridges 12 and 13.  We had a short sharp shower just before we got to the moorings but it soon passed over and the sun came back out, so we were able to moor up in the dry.

My Flatbread Lunch

This is a really nice spot to moor but there is a bit of a shelf so sometimes it is difficult to moor without keep scraping and banging on the shelf but today we got the angle right, got a couple of big fenders in and it was fine.  Kev was banging in the pins and his hands were wet and he started practising for the hammer throwing in the Olympics with the hammer flying into the canal and that was the end of that, no gold medal for him!  Guess what we will be buying when we get to the shops at Middlewich.

Homemade Creme Brulee

The Badger Pub

We decided to go to the Badger pub for lunch which is a short walk from Bridge 11, up the lane across a field then on up the track to the road and the pub is right there.

It is a very nice pub and we both had their home made flat breads, mine came with melting Somerset Brie, roasted sun blush tomatoes, pesto and rocket and Kev had Chicken and Chorizo with pesto, they came with skinny fries and coleslaw, they were really good.  We also had dessert and they were home made as well and lovely.  With our coffee we were given a piece of home made flapjack and we commented to the waitress how nice it was.  When we left, she gave us a piece each to take back with us, how kind was that.

Painted Lady Butterfly

We walked back to the boat by going down the road to Bridge 14 and walking back along the towpath.

We are staying here tonight and possibly tomorrow as the forecast is for rain and we don’t want to get wet! Then when the sun comes out again, we will go on a bit further.

Lovely spot to Moor

Moored at Church Minshull

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