Week in Audlem

Week in Audlem

We have spent the last week moored at Audlem.  It is a really nice place and our close friends live here, we call them our Audlem Family and so it’s good to see them and spend time here.

Hello Brock

We had day trips to Nantwich, Market Drayton and Whitchurch, so we have had a really good week.

Hello Harry

Yesterday (Sunday), our Audlem family, Tony, Sheila, Jane, Dave, Anthea and Harry and Brock joined us for a boat trip.  Unfortunately Jane’s hubby Malcolm had to work but hopefully next time he will be able to make it.

Sheila, Jane, Anthea & Brock

Kev, Dave, Tony & Harry

We went for a chug along the canal towards Nantwich and went past Overwater Marina and Coole Pilate Leisure Area where we were going to have our picnic on the way back, but they were spreading the fields nearby and it was quite smelly so we decided to pick another spot. 

In Hack Green Locks

Me, Sheila & Jane

Our Picnic

Dave getting his lunch!

Brock hadn’t been on a boat before but he took to it really well and just chilled out.  Of course Harry was with us recently so he was used to it and sat out the back with Kev for a while but wanted to know what we were doing at the front so came down with us as well and at the locks I took him out with me and Tony took Brock so they could have a bit of a walk.

When we were chugging along, us girls sat out the front drinking Gin and Anthea had Wine as she is not a Gin drinker.  Kev, Tony, Dave and Brock sat out the back.

Our Audlem Family!

Coming to Audlem Locks

Harry & Brock rubbing noses!

We went through the two locks at Hack Green and turned in the winding hole before Nantwich and then chugged back along the canal, back through Hack Green Locks and stopped at the top where there are some picnic tables and had our picnic there.  We unloaded the food while the boat was in the lock and then Kev moved it down and moored it up.

I'm very comfortable here

We had a lovely picnic which Jane and I did together and it was a warm dry day so lovely to be able to sit outside.

After lunch we chugged back to Audlem and went through two locks and moored up before the next lock.

We all then had tea and cake made by Jane and myself and a bit more wine and gin as well! 

We had a really lovely day and it was great all being together, we always have a lot of fun.  We are leaving Audlem on Tuesday but won’t be too far from here over the Winter months so hopefully we will all meet up again soon.

Sun at Crewe

Sun at Nantwich

Today we went to Crewe by bus to renew our train pass, we did have a walk around Crewe but it is quite run down and a lot of the shops are empty but it was okay.  We then got the bus to Nantwich and had some lunch in a café there before getting the bus back to Audlem.

This morning the sun was really red and when we were at Crewe it went really funny, almost dark it reminded us of how it goes before an eclipse, it looked really strange, but amazing to see that, we have never seen a pinky red sun before, apparently it is a hurricane sun having picked up sand from the Sahara Desert, fascinating!

Hack Green to Coole Pilate and then to Audlem (Shropshire Union Canal)

Sunset at Coole Pilate

Kev & Harry at Overwater Marina Cafe

Yesterday (Friday), we moved on a mile to Coole Pilate Leisure Area which is a really nice place to moor.  We walked up to Overwater Marina which has a nice café and we had some lunch there.  

Moored at CoolePilate

Lauren (Harry’s Aunty) works there so Harry was really pleased to see her and she spoiled him with treats and ice-cream!  It is a really nice café and the food is really good, Lauren makes most of the cakes so obviously we had to have some and really nice it was too.  We then walked back to the boat and just chilled out.

There used to be a Bridge here

Under Another Bridge

Harry Watching the World Go By

Today, we are on the move just a couple of miles to Audlem  where we are going to moor as Harry is going home today.  Jane and Malcolm will be back this afternoon and then Harry will be off back home.  We have had a brilliant 12 days with him, he is a lovely little dog and we had a lot of fun and we are really going to miss him, but we will be staying around Audlem next week so I am sure we will see him again.

Harry took his usual place at the back next to Kev and we chugged on along the canal under several bridges and moored up at the bottom of the locks.  It is a really nice spot but there is a shelf under the water so we will have to get out our fenders so we don’t bang too much on the side.

Info Board at Moss Hall Aqueduct

Harry outside the Shroppie Fly

We moored up okay right on the Moss Hall Aqueduct, the River Weaver runs underneath but it  is only really small at this point.

We went for a walk up the towpath to the water tap outside the Shroppie Fly pub and filled our container up as there is no tap near where we are moored.  We then went back to the boat.

River Weaver from the Aqueduct

Kev took Harry out for his afternoon walk.  Jane and Malcolm will be back early evening so we will walk up to meet them when they are back and hand Harry over then. 

We are staying here now for this week so will do a few bus rides and walk to the Golf Course to use the driving range, hopefully the weather will perk up as it was sunny this morning but is very grey now.  It will be nice to spend some time in Audlem again.

Moored at Moss Hall Aqueduct

Nantwich to Hack Green (Shropshire Union Canal)

Sunset at Nantwich

Last night there was a lovely sunset at Nantwich, the trees looked they were on fire.

Evening Sky at Nantiwch

Going over Nantwich Aqueduct

View from Aqueduct

This morning we are moving on a few miles up through the two Hack Green locks and the sun was shining as we set off along the canal.  We stopped at the water point to fill up, get rid of rubbish, etc., there was a bit of a queue so we had to wait our turn, but soon we were filled up and on our way again.

We went on along the canal and over Nantwich Aqueduct and soon we were leaving Nantwich behind us.  There was a boat in front of us and one behind.

Harry waiting patiently for Kev

Sunny Morning

We went on under a few bridges and then came to Hack Green locks, a set of two.  The boat in front of us went up first and one was coming down, so we gave a hand to them and then it was our turn.  They are not very deep locks so soon we were on to the next one.

Under another Bridge

Waiting for our turn

A boat came out of that one as well so they left the gates open and in we went.  We were soon up the lock and there was another boat waiting to come in so we left the gates open for them and moored up in the visitor moorings a short way from the locks.

Harry at Hack Green Locks

In Hack Green Locks

We had lunch and then Kev took Harry for a walk, it was quite sunny but very blustery, the wind is quite strong today.  Not long after Kev and Harry came back, we had a heavy rain shower but then the sun came out again.

We are staying here tonight then moving a short distance to Coole Pilate Leisure Area which is a nice place to moor then Saturday we will be headed back to Audlem where sadly that will be the end of Harry’s stay with us.

Moored at Hack Green

Hurleston Junction to Nantwich (Shropshire Union Canal)

No Sunshine Today!

Coming to Nantwich

We are moving just a couple of miles today to Nantwich.  It was quite overcast when we set off along the canal.  Harry took his usual place out the back next to Kev.

The canal was quite quiet and we didn’t pass any boats this morning. 

Harry Supervising Mooring Up!

Harry Having 40 Winks

We then came to Nantwich and moored in the visitor moorings before the water point as we want to fill up when we leave here on Wednesday.

As we were mooring up, a small Steam Boat came by.

Small Steam Boat Passing Us

We walked up to the town and went for a coffee in the Library, it’s actually the Book Shop but we call it the Library.  It was dry so we sat outside.

We then walked to Morrisons and Aldi and did some shopping.  I went in and Kev stayed outside with Harry.  We then walked back to the boat.  There was a hire boat behind us and they left late afternoon so we pulled back to their spot as where we were there was a shelf under the water and we kept banging against it.  There is a shelf all along these moorings but it was bigger where we were first moored.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow, then moving off on Wednesday. 

Moored at Nantwich

Calveley to Hurleston Junction (Shropshire Union Canal)

Bunbury Mill

Inside the Mill

Inside the Mill

Harry and I at the Mill

Yesterday (Sunday), we walked up to Bunbury Mill which is a working watermill now turned into a museum.  We had a tour around the mill and Harry came as well, we were shown how the mill works and how they turn grain into flour, it was really interesting.  The mill is only open on a Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 5pm April to October, but it is well worth a visit.  It is about a mile and a half from where we moored so it was a nice walk there and back.

Cafe on the Canal

Calveley Mill Cafe

Today, we are on the move, it was dry when we set off but quite windy.  We stopped at the services to get water and then moored outside Calveley Mill Cheese Shop and Café.

Harry having his Brekkie

Passing Barbridge Junction

We sat outside and had a really nice breakfast and Harry had some as well and the sun even came out.  We also got our Calveley Crunch Cheese which we had ordered and then went on our way.

Going through a narrow bit

Harry at the Reservoir

We went on along the canal and passed Barbridge Junction which is the junction with the Middlewich Branch and on we went for a couple of miles and moored at Hurleston Junction which is the junction with the Llangollen Canal.

We went for a walk up the locks to Hurleston Reservoir and had a walk all around the reservoir. It is really nice and high up over the canal so the views are lovely.

Hurleston Reservoir

Lovely View from the Reservoir

We then walked up to Bridge 1 and up the lane to the house that sells free range eggs.  They had plenty of eggs so we got some nice big ones, then walked back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight then moving on to Nantwich tomorrow.

The Canal from the Reservoir

Moored at Hurleston Junction