Nantwich (Shropshire Union Canal) to Bridge 1 (Llangollen Canal)

Monday 3^rd June

Off we go

Nantwich Canal Basin

We are on the move today and the sun was shining.  We stopped at the water point first to fill up the tank and it seemed to take an age but eventually it was full and we chugged on our way under the bridge and past the entrance to Nantwich Canal Basin.

Turning onto the Llangollen Canal

Sign post at Hurleston Junction

Coming up the bottom lock

Coming to another bridge

On we went for a couple of miles and moored up in the visitor moorings just before the junction with the Llangollen canal.  We had lunch then went for a walk up the four locks at the start of the Llangollen.  There is a problem with the bottom lock in that the wall is bowing in and making the lock smaller and therefore there is a restriction on this lock at present, it is manned by CRT staff who manage the boats through.  We walked up to Bridge 3 and up the lane to a farm which sells free range eggs.  We bought a dozen and then walked back down.  We were going to go on the Llangollen canal tomorrow morning but as rain is forecast and there was also a volunteer on the locks this afternoon, we decided to go through today in the sunshine.

Nearly up

Working up the locks

We walked back to the boat and untied.  I walked back up to the locks and Kev brought the boat.  He came under the bridge and turned onto the Llangollen.  

Our Helpful Lockie

Leaving Hurleston top lock

Lovely view from up here

The CRT guys had the gates open, the width restriction is 6ft 10ins so we were a bit apprehensive as to whether we would fit and not get stuck, but we needn't have worried, the guys were great and they monitor you going in very carefully and check how close you are to the sides before they start filling the lock which they did very slowly, they were very professional and took a lot of care which was really reassuring, soon we were up the lock and onto the next one, they said we had room and fitted in easily so all good.

Passing the reservoir

There was a volunteer who helped me with the next three locks, the pound was down between locks 2 and 3 and so it was a bit shallow, but Kev managed to get the boat in the lock okay.  

Soon we were at the top of the flight and on our way passing the reservoir, under a bridge and moored up in a lovely sunny open spot.  

We will stay here tonight and see what the weather is doing in the morning as to whether we move on or stay put.  We haven’t done this canal before so it is all new to us, after being on canals we have done before for quite some time, we feel like holidaymakers exploring pastures new.

Moored at Bridge 3

A few days in Nantwich and Visit to Chester

Tuesday 28^th May to Sunday 2^nd June

Tuesday – we just did shopping and chilled out.

Retail Park

Clock in Chester

Wednesday – we had a day trip to Chester.  It is a lovely city.  We first walked out to the retail park which is not far away and then had a wander around the shops and then went in Chester Market, there are a few butchers, cheese stalls, fruit and veg as well as cards, haberdashery, kitchen ware, etc.  

Chester Cathedral

Chester

Nile Napoletano Pizzeria

Communal Area

Chester Walls

Also there are several cafes selling food from around the world, there is a communal seating area so you order your food from whichever takes your fancy and they bring it to you at the communal tables.  We opted for pizzas from one of the cafes called Stile Napoletano, the chef comes from Naples and the dough has a long fermentation which makes the pizza very light and they use ingredients imported from Italy along with local produce.  The pizzas were delicious and were really light, different to any pizza we have had before and we would definitely have them again.  After lunch, we had a walk on the walls, went for a coffee then got the bus back, it was a good day out in Chester.

Swan Family

Ruth and Peter on Peru

Thursday – we didn't do a lot, a few jobs and chilled out.  Our friends Ruth and Peter on NB Peru were moored around the aqueduct from us, so in the evening they popped in, it was lovely to see them and we spent a good few hours catching up, they are on their way to Liverpool.

Friday – Ruth and Peter were moving on this morning so when they were ready to go, we moved our boat down into their space as it was nearer the water point and more sunny.  We waved goodbye to Ruth and Peter and then tied up our boat. In the afternoon, John, Sharon and Smuggler who are on NB Thomazina turned up in the afternoon and there was a space that they could fit in, they only have a small boat, not far from us so they moored up there.  In the evening, they came round for a few drinks and we had a lovely evening catching up, Smugs took his usual place in the dinette!

John & Sharon enjoying a drink

Our Banquet

Saturday – Me, Kev, John and Sharon walked into Nantwich and found a nice pub, The White Horse to have a drink before lunch, I had Koppaburg Strawberry and Lime gin and it was so nice.  We then went across the road to the Thai Restaurant called Aroi-Thai.   We have been there once before and it was really good and we weren't disappointed this time, we had a great meal, really delicious and would definitely recommend this place.

In Ebenezers

After lunch, we walked back through the shops and stopped off at Ebeneezer's Craft Beer Emporium, which specialises in craft beers, ciders, gins and single malt whiskies. They had a nice range of gins and Sharon and I went for Bloom Jasmine and Rose gin and John had Malfy Blood Orange gin.  Kev had a Leffe beer.  

John serenading us

We then walked back to our boats and got together in the evening for wine and cheese and John's home made bread which was lovely.  John and Sharon are musicians and John has recently had a cello made, so he brought it round and serenaded us, lovely it was too.   It was a really nice day, great food, lovely gins and great company.

John, Sharon & Smugs going on their way

Sunday – John, Sharon and Smugs are moving on today so we said our goodbyes and they chugged on their way.  It was lovely spending a couple of days together but we will see them again next weekend as they are coming up by car to the marina they are leaving their boat in so they will drive over to see us on the Llangollen canal where ever we might be.  I then went into town to get a few things and Kev spent the morning and afternoon making up more stock to sell.  We are staying here one more night then on our way tomorrow morning.

Coole Pilate Moorings to Nantwich - Shropshire Union Canal

Wednesday 22^nd to Monday 27^th May

One of Kev's new shelves

We spent a nice few days at Coole Pilate doing jobs on the boat, going out walking, a visit to the marina one afternoon for coffee and a scone and Kev made some shelves to display our products which we are selling and although Coole Pilate is in the middle of nowhere, he made a sale to the boat in front of three door names so that was good.

Down he goes

What are you lot looking at!

On Saturday, it was a lovely calm evening and 11 hot air balloons came across the canal, one or two struggled to get across but just made it and went down in the field near where we were moored.  The others managed to get airborne again and went on further, it was quite a sight.

Many Balloons

Across the canal he goes

Today (Bank Holiday Monday) we are on the move.  It was dry but quite overcast as we set off along the canal, it was lovely mooring at Coole Pilate as it is such a great spot but time to move on to pastures new.

A Dry Morning

Filling up the lock

We went under a couple of bridges, then came to Hack Green locks, there are two and not very deep so don’t take long to get through.  Unfortunately the bottom gates had been left open, it was probably the boat that had sped by us earlier when we were still moored up, obviously in a great hurry!!

We filled the lock and Kev brought the boat in, and then I opened the paddles and down he went and then onto the next lock.  The gates on that one were open as well so Kev shut them and then we got the lock ready for us.

In he comes

We didn’t take long to get through this lock and then we were on our way long the canal.  

In one of the fields, there was a lot of cows who all started stampeding towards the canal, and then started drinking, they were all obviously very thirsty, hope they don't drink the canal dry!  After a couple of miles, we were approaching Nantwich, and we moored up near the aqueduct.  We nearly managed to get there in the dry but just as we were mooring up, we had a really heavy shower and we got wet, but guess what just after we had tied up and gone inside, the rain stopped and the sun came out, typical!!

Thirsty Cows

In the bottom lock

We needed to get some supplies, so we walked into the town, had a look around the shops that were open.  There was a shop and art gallery called The Pillory that sold candles, gifts and other things, so we went in to have a look and there was a really nice café at the back so we decided to have a coffee and a spot of lunch and very good it was too, we will definitely go there again.

Coming into Nantwich

We then headed to Aldi to get our food shopping, then walked back to the boat.  In the afternoon, we walked down the canal to the services as we had acquired a lot of rubbish over the last few days, so we took it to the bins.  We had a heavy shower on the way back to the boat and some hailstones. 

There has been sunshine today together with some very heavy showers, let’s hope it’s dry tomorrow.

We are staying here now for a few days, doing some more shopping, having a day trip to Chester and hopefully meeting up with our friends John, Sharon and Smuggler who are on their way up to Tattenhall Marina in Cheshire and will be passing through here in the next few days so looking forward to seeing them and then we will be heading to the Llangollen canal which we haven’t done before so a new adventure awaits.

Moored at Nantwich

Audlem (Moss Hall) to Coole Pilate Visitor Moorings - Shropshire Union Canal

Turning Around

Today we are finally leaving Audlem and moving on.  We wanted to fill up with water and the tap is back up above the second lock, so we are going to reverse up the first lock and moor just before the second lock then fetch the water in containers.

Reversing into the lock

Reversing back out of the lock

Back in the lock again

We left our mooring and Kev came down to the winding hole and turned around.  While he was doing this, I emptied the lock and opened the gates and he reversed back into the lock.  I closed the gates and slowly filled the lock and soon we were up the top and Kev reversed back up the pound and moored up before the next lock.

Passing Over Water Marina

Kev plodded up and down the towpath to and from the water point with his trolley and container and after 12 trips the tank was full!

Lovely Sunny Day

We then headed back to the lock and down we went.  We then set off along the canal to Coole Pilate which are some lovely moorings made by the Shropshire Union Canal Society with picnic tables.

Goose Family

Heron Taking Off

We passed Overwater Marina and chugged on along the canal.  It was a lovely sunny day but quite blustery.  There was a Heron on the towpath which when we got to him, he flew off and then landed further up and did that for a while.  I tried to get a photo of him taking off but didn't have too much success.

There he goes again !

We went under a couple of bridges and moored up at Coole Pilate.

We will stay here now for a few days then move on a bit further.

Moored at Coole Pilate

Mooring at Moss Hall, Visits to Dagfields and Whitchurch

Monday 13^th to Monday 20^th May

Monday – We didn’t do much, just a few jobs and went to the butchers in the village and the local shop.  We had a coffee in one of the cafes and then moved across to the tables outside the Chocolate Shop and Post Office for an ice cream as they sell Snugburys which is great ice cream.

Lots of Things at Dagfields

Tuesday – In the afternoon, we walked up to the marina and had a coffee in the café, it’s a nice walk and a very nice marina and café.  In the evening, Jane came to tea and we had a lovely time eating, chatting and drinking gin!

Dagfields Sign

Wednesday – We went to Dagfields Antique and Craft Centre with Tony and Sheila and we had a lovely day looking around all the units full of antiques and bric-a-brac. It is a massive place and lots to see.  There are two cafes, so we had coffee in one and lunch in the other.  Tony and Sheila are great to be with and we had a lot of laughs.  We spent about five hours there and could easily have stayed longer, it was a great day.

Plants at Dagfields

Thursday – Tony took Kev to B&Q to get some wood and I stayed with Sheila. Kev texted me when they were leaving B&Q and then Sheila and I walked down to the canal and met them by the pub.  Kev loaded up his trolley and off we went back to the boat.  Kev then spent the afternoon cutting out personalised picture frames ready to sell.

Powells Pies

Friday – We got the bus to Whitchurch.  It is a really nice town and we spent a good few hours browsing the shops and the small market.  There is a lovely café which is in a very old building with beams and low ceilings so we had lunch there. There is also a pork pie maker called Powells and they make the pies with wooden dollies, the old fashioned way,  you can watch them in the their shop, so we called by there and obviously bought a couple.  We then walked to the Lidl and up the hill to where Jane’s works.  She finishes at 2pm so when she had locked up, we went for coffee in a nearby café then she drove us back to Audlem.  In the evening, we went to Jane’s house and Dave and Anthea came as well and we all had a Chinese takeaway which was really good.  Malcolm joined us later when he finished work.  It was a really lovely evening.

Heron in the filed

Saturday – We got the bus to Nantwich as Kev had to pick up his new glasses from Specsavers.  There was an Antiques market in the square so we had a look around there and also got some other shopping.  There is a café in a bookshop which we call the Library so we went there for refreshments and it was good as always.  We got the bus back and then just chilled out.

Footpath across the Field

Sunday – We didn’t do much today apart from a bit of tidying up and Kev did some more work on his personalised names, painting and sanding down.

Monday – We went for a walk in the morning across the field and did a cache on the way.  The path led to the village and we went in the Butchers to get a few things and then to the Co-op, then back down the towpath to the boat.  In the evening, we went for a meal at the Lord Combermere in the village with Jane, Tony and Sheila for Sheila's birthday which was yesterday and we had a lovely evening with great company and very good food.  We said goodbye to them as we are moving on tomorrow but will be back in July.  We have really enjoyed being with our Audlem family again having days out, eating, drinking and spending time together, it is always a lot of fun so can't wait to do it all again soon.

Panoramic View of from our Mooring at Moss Hall