Saturday 6th Feb 2010

We got to Elton Moss as arranged at 14:00 to meet up with Ken who was to give us and our stuff a lift to the Aqueduct Marina at Church Minshull. WD's been there getting her bottom painted.That all worked well and although WD was moored right at the end of a pier Ken gave us a hand to load our stuff. He had also switched on the heating in the morning so although WD could not be classed as warm at least the chill had been taken off. We got loaded and checked oil and water and stuff then set off turning right towards Middlewich. It was really very foggy and an oncoming boat loomed into sight really quite close. I had the headlight on but they didn't! Anyway we got a little way down the cut and decided that since we couldn't see anything then we might as well stop. So we are moored (we think) near to bridge 11 in the middle of nowhere on the Middlewich branch. We've got some smokeless coal going nicely in the stove and have just had very nice spag bol. So all is well. We even got the satellite TV working.
The rudder judder seems to have been fixed and reversing in the marina was no problem. Ken said that the bolts holding the rudder weren't big enough and he has replaced them. Certainly WD seemed to drive smoothly for the short distance we have so far been.The blacking looks good and the inside was very clean and tidy. There is one fender missing. I really think we need to think about these fenders. I don't feel fenders are required whilst cruising only when moored to stop banging against the side. We once had a hire boat that had removable fenders that hung off the grab rail on long ropes and you put them out when you needed them. It worked well.
Tomorrow we plan to turn left at Middlewich and head up towards Anderton with a view to getting down onto the Weaver for a bit.
More tomorrow if we've got an Orange signal.


Sunday 7th


The fire was still alive on tickover when we woke up and we've kept it going all day. A 10:30 start after a proper breakfast. The fog had cleared and we had a good run down to Middlewich passing Jenny Wren and Firefly on the way. We locked down the two locks to the junction (being very careful of the new blacking!)then turned left onto the T & M northbound. Middlewich Narrowboats were all over the place and quite loosely moored so that they kept moving out into our path but I got through OK. We then locked down the 3 locks and managed the sharp left hander without touching the sides! The windlass got stuck on the spindle on the bottom gates of the bottom lock necessitating the use of a mallet to get it off! We moored up for a while and went to Tesco for provisions then did the Big Lock and stopped again for water. The water in the tank had seemed a bit yellow to us so we turned on all the taps and drained a fair bit off before filling up. The water now seems fine. Serendipity had watered just before us and when we set off we passed them moored up for the night. We carried on for a bit to just north of bridge 176 where there is a good mooring spot on the off side with picnic tables an barbeque areas. I suspect it is busy in the summer. However we thought that we were the only ones but way after it was fully dark someone turned up and moored just in front of us. We've just had a delicious pork stew cooked by Pip. Yum yum.




Monday 8th

Well. So much for the plan to go down the Anderton Boat Lift and onto the Weaver. We were thwarted by winter opening hours of 8AM till midday on Mondays and Wednesdays. We didn't get away from our overnight mooring untill 11 as we had a lie in and a leisurely breakfast. We were a good two hours cruise from Anderton so we'd blown it. However the cruise was pleasant if cold. We've been playing leapfrog with Serendipity all the way up here and they are moored about a mile away at the moment. With the boat lift being out of the running we kept on northwards on the T & M through Barnton Tunnel and winded on the other side and came back again. It's the first time we've been through a tunnel on WD and I would say that the tunnel light is certainly as good as if not better than on any hire boat we've ever had. I found the rear white navigation light on the port side useful too helping to light up the tunnel side at the rear. I wonder why there isn't one on the starboard side? We certainly feel that a big brass tunnel light on the bow would get in the way of mooring ropes and would be of little benefit. That's our thoughts on the tunnel light issue but would of course bow to a majority decision if others thought otherwise.



We are now moored just south of the water point at Anderton about a mile south of Serendipity who have also winded today. We are hoping to make Middlewich tomorrow and expect to play leapfrog with Serendipity again.

We've just tried to make savoury pancakes and would suggest that if Ian and Elaine are planning pancakes next Tuesday they should bring a decent heavy frying pan with them!

The satellite TV has trees in the way and there's no terrestrial TV signal at all. However the radio works ok as does the internet via my Orange phone so we are not completely isolated!

Further update tomorrow.



Tuesday 9th

Another late start this morning. It's difficult getting up these cold mornings! Serendipity was ahead of us as was a short narrow boat towing a cruiser. I was an uneventful trip to Middlewich except for when the towing nb ran into a fallen tree trunk. The tree trunk was only about half way across the cut but I don't think she was watching where she was going. We stopped behind and she'd managed to get both boats to the bank. She was a bit shaken and she was obviously on her own but she claimed to be ok and sent us on ahead. We saw the 2 boats in Middlewich later so she must have recovered. We shared the Big Lock with Serendipity. It transpired that they had also planned to go on the Anderton Lift but found it closed.

We moored at the water point and washed the right hand side of WD. I'm not sure how we are going to wash the opposite side, perhaps we'll wind at the junction with the Middlewich branch and use the water point there then wind again. I don't know how to clean the soot marks from around the chimney stack and along the gutter to the back. We've tried all sorts but to no avail.

Pip's cleaned out the oven and I've Brasso'd the tiller. I don't think it's our original tiller as it certainly looks old and didn't shine up well.

We are now in the centre of Middlewich moored on the Andersen Boats moorings (with their permission) and have just got back from a very nice meal at The Big Lock. Perhaps thats where the pre AGM meal should be? We won't be there but can recommend it. 

We are now trying to burn out the stove which has been permanently alight since Saturday afternoon. Hopefully it will be cool for us to clean out tomorrow.

We hope to be at Elton Moss early tomorrow afternoon, no late lie ins. Then hopefully the M62 will be open over the Pennines and we'll be able to make it home.


Wednesday 10th

An uneventful trip from Middlewich to Elton Moss. I had to get down into the weed hatch at one point though, WOW it was cold! It's a good job it didn't take long to clear the clothes line that was wrapped round the prop. We managed to wash the other side of WD in a lock. At Elton Moss there was no one available to do a pump out and fill with diesel. Everyone was busy fitting out a boat that is being handed over tomorrow. Sound familiar?

We enjoyed our five days even though we couldn't get onto the Weaver.  We'll save that for another week perhaps when it's warmer. WD is quite snug in the cold certainly better than any hire boats we've had before.

I was very careful with the new blacking but inevitably some was scraped.

We beat the snow on the trip back to Yorkshire and are now looking forward to two weeks in April.