Coole Pilate to Bridge 80 - Shropshire Union Canal

Thursday 5^th to Monday 9^th August

Thursday we didn’t do much just went for a walk to the marina.  On Friday we moved the boat about a mile down to the moorings just before Bridge 80 and Overwater Marina.

Lucy Singing

Leaving Coole Pilate

A Couple More Bridges

Under We Go

Over the weekend the marina were fundraising for the RNLI, so on Saturday evening they had a BBQ, licenced bar and live music.  We wandered over early evening and had a hotdog and burger and listened to the music.  There was a funky choir on first and they were very good and after them was a girl called Lucy who sang everything from jazz, soul, swing, pop, musicals and even ACDC and guns and roses, she was fantastic.

A Lone Swan

Sunday they had a full day with a marquee with craft stalls, tombola, raffle, BBQ, dog show and in the afternoon a raft race which was great fun.  All the boats made it to the finish line apart from the RNLI raft which sunk at the finish line!  

Off They Go

Entries for the Raft Race

We met our Audlem family there, Jane with little Harry, Sheila, Tony, Ruth and Michael, unfortunately Malcolm was combining so couldn’t make it. Our friend Dave was on car park duty so we briefly saw him.  We had a really good day and it was great all being together.  It was a sunny dry day and there was a good turnout so hopefully they raised lots of money for the RNLI.

The Winning Raft

Today (Monday) we stayed put again and didn’t do much in the morning as it was raining, but it dried up in the afternoon so we walked down to the marina.  We are going in there for a few days as on Wednesday we are off back to Weston for my Mum’s funeral which is on Thursday so we checked with the office to see where our mooring space was so we can go straight in there tomorrow.  We then went for coffee and cake in the cafe before walking back to the boat.

Hopefully it will be a dry day tomorrow so we can get into the marina and moored up without getting wet.  We will just chill out there and then head off down to Weston on Wednesday and come back on Friday.

Hack Green to Coole Pilate - Shropshire Union Canal

Wednesday 4^th September

Beautiful Rainbow

We are on the move today but not far, just around the corner to Coole Pilate Leisure Area where there are picnic benches and BBQs.

Coming to a Bridge

We set off along the canal on a nice sunny morning.  We went under a two bridges and then we were at Coole Pilate where we moored up.  There was only a couple of boats there so plenty of room for us.

Lots of Geese in the Field

Nice Bright Morning

In the afternoon we went out for a walk as it was dry and quite sunny but windy.  We walked along the towpath and got off at Bridge 80 and walked down the track to Overwater Marina.

Nearly at Coole Pilate

There is a nice café there so we stopped off there for a coffee.  They make really nice scones and today the scone of the day was cheese so we had one of them and delicious it was too.

Many Geese on the Canal

Many Ducks

It had gone a bit overcast and started spitting with rain as we left the marina but got harder and harder.  We did shelter under a few trees but still got quite wet.  We walked on and then the sun came out and there was a beautiful rainbow over the fields.  We managed to get back to the boat in the dry.

In the evening we looked out the window and the canal was full of ducks, we have never seen so many all together and a bit further down was many geese, the canal was full!

We are staying here for a couple of days as it is a really nice spot to moor then on Friday we will chug down to near the marina as this weekend they have an RNLI fundraising weekend so we will pop along to that.

Moored at Coole Pilate

Nantwich to Hack Green - Shropshire Union Canal

Wednesday 28^th August to Monday 2^nd September

Rosemary Shrager

My trip back home went okay and although it was sad, it was nice to have a day to remember my dad.

At the weekend there was a food festival in Nantwich so we had a few walks around there.  It was really good and lots of things to see and taste, gin, cheese, dips, toffee vodka, cakes, etc.  They also had cookery demonstrations with various chefs.  We watched one by Rosemary Shrager, she was very good and a lot of fun and it was all free.

Nantwich Aqueduct

Monday – it was time to move on from Nantwich.  We reversed back to the water point to fill up, get rid of rubbish, etc., and then we were on our way.

We chugged back past where we had been moored and over Nantwich Aqueduct and on along the canal.

Coming to Railway Bridge

Kingfisher

Nice Sunny Morning

Kingfisher posing for us

 It was a nice dry sunny morning and we went under a few bridges and passed a few boats. I saw a kingfisher flying in front of the boat and it went into the hedge.  Usually when you pass them they come out and get in front again but to our surprise it didn’t, it stayed sitting on a branch, I quickly aimed my camera at it and took a picture before we went past, it was all done in a hurry as I was expecting it to fly on but somehow I managed to get a good picture.

Coming into the first lock

We chugged on and were soon approaching Hack Green locks, there are two of them.

Under We Go

A boat had just come out so I got off and opened one of the gates as the other was already open and Kev brought the boat in.

First Lock Done

Cows By the Cut

Geese flying overhead

Coming into the next lock

We were soon up that lock and I walked on to get the next lock ready while Kev shut the gates on the first lock.

These locks very deep so it didn’t take long to go through the second one.  We left the lock and moored in the visitor moorings between the locks and the next bridge.

We are staying here for a couple of nights then will chug on for a short distance on Wednesday.

Moored at Hack Green 

Hurleston Junction to Nantwich - Shropshire Union Canal

Tuesday 27^th August

We are on the move today just a few miles to Nantwich.  It was very hot and sunny as we set off along the canal.

Coming to Bridge 96

Passing Moored Boats

Going Round the Bend!

We went under a few bridges on along the canal.  We passed a few boats coming the other way and there was a hire boat in front of us who pulled into the winding hole where we thought he was turning but he said he just wanted to go slow so let us pass, not sure why as we weren’t going very fast but we didn’t argue, we went by and then he followed us.

Coming to Nantwich

We came into Nantwich and wanted to stop at the services.  There was a boat there but she was just finishing so she moved off and we took her place. 

When we had finished at the services, we moved over to the moorings and tied up.

We then walked into town, had a coffee and a snack at our favourite café, Nantwich bookshop or as we call it The Library and then went to Aldi for some supplies.

Nearly at the Moorings

We walked back to the boat and it got overcast and very humid.  By the time we got back to the boat it had started raining but it didn’t last long and then the sun came back out.

We are staying here now for a few days as tomorrow I am off back to Weston as on Thursday it is my Dad’s first year Anniversary and I am going to spend the day with Mavis, Dad’s partner and also help sort arrangements for my Mum's funeral and then come back to the boat on Friday.  Kev will stay with the boat and have a couple of days to himself which I am sure he is looking forward to, peace and quiet!!

Moored at Nantwich

Barbridge to Hurleston Junction - Shropshire Union Canal

It was a bit misty and grey and a lot cooler than yesterday as we set off from our mooring along the canal and past the Barbridge Inn where we had lunch yesterday.

Passing the Barbridge Inn

Under We Go

We chugged on under a few bridges, we passed one or two boats coming the other way but it was fairly quiet.

Lots of Ducks Today

Not So Sunny Today

We went on and then Hurleston Reservoir came into view.  We went past the junction with the Llangollen canal, under the bridge and moored up in the visitor moorings not far from the bridge.

Passing Hurleston Reservoir

One More Bridge To Go

In the afternoon, the sun came out and it was very hot again. We walked up the locks at the start of the Llangollen canal and out onto the road, along there for a short distance and then we were at Snugburys Ice Cream Farm and was it busy, there was hundreds of cars and people, they were queueing off the main road to get in.  We walked in off the road and not far in there was a queue of people and we thought that can’t be the queue for ice creams but it was!

Passing the Llangollen Canal

Snugbury Bee

Long Queue for Ice Cream

Snugbury Bee

We got on the end and waited our turn, it didn’t take very long and soon we were at the counter.  Today I had my usual Sea Salt Caramel and a new flavour for me Liquorice and Raspberry, Kev had Choc Mint Chip and Honey and Ginger.

Yummy Ice Cream

Lovely Wild Flowers

We found a bench in the shade to eat them.  We then walked down to see the Snugbury Bee, he is magnificent.  They have a sculpture every year and this year they decided on a bee to highlight the decline of the bee in the UK.

We walked back up and back to the road and the queue for ice cream was even longer.  We walked back along the road and stopped off at the house that sells free range eggs and then back on the canal, down past the locks and back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight then off the Nantwich tomorrow.

Moored at Hurleston Junction