Onwards

Wednesday 9 July

We carry on today descending Hassall Green locks, and the Wheellock flight where there were no less than 12 C&RT personnel working to replace a set of lock gates.

A place to dump the loo and take on water

We then reached Rump's Lock. This is the lockside cottage where we bought Anna back in 2001.

Unbeknown to us at the time she had sat outside the cottage for 6 years adjacent to a salt factory that produced an atmosphere in the surrounding area that slowly ate away her hull and we had to get her overplated.

The salt factory

And the salt

We then came into Middlewich and turned into the Shropshire Union canal Middlewich Branch. At this junction stands Wardle Cottage up until recently owned by Maureen Shaw who was a boat woman through and through. A beautiful plaque has been erected opposite her cottage where she spent many an hour telling boaters in no uncertain terms, how to operate the lock!

No, that's not Maureen!

After working the lock we were very fortunate to occupy a slot nearby as a boat vacated it. It's Keith's uncanny luck again!
We spent the evening in the Kings Lock enjoying a meal just before the second semi-final. The pub has recently been taken over and is tastefully refurbished.

Thursday 10 July

A late start this morning and we just pootled 5 miles down the arm to the village of Church Minshull where the mooring overlooked the surrounding fields and in the distance The Wrekin.
After Keith removed the cratch cover in order to give it a thorough clean and re-proof it, we wandered through the woods, across the river Weaver and into the village. The last time we visited here seven years ago, the pub was firmly boarded up and the Post Office had shut. Today, however, the Badger is splendidly open again having been lovingly restored and we enjoyed a local brew, Shropshire Gold, in the garden that is right next to the church.
The church was open so we reminded ourselves of its interior. In one corner sits one of its bells that became cracked in 1983. Hanging from bearing pin is the original clock weight of 1722.

Friday 11 July

We headed on down to Barbridge junction and joined the Shroppy proper. On the way we experienced our first serious queue at locks. Oh well, we had all day to travel the 8 miles into Nantwich.

A wooden sculpture on the way in to Nantwich

It is a really hot and somewhat humid day today so we found a shady spot on the visitor moorings above the town and had a wander down to explore the unspoilt period shops and buildings that adorn this fine old town. It was devastated by fire in 1583 but rebuilt in fine Tudor style. Many of the half-timbered buildings still remain.
We took in a pint of Manchester ale in the Vine before dining in the nearby Thai restaurant.