Barlaston to Great Haywood

Not an early start, but weather forecast for Thursday wet and windy, so pushed on to get all the way back to the marina.

14 miles, 12 locks, 8 hours engine time

Kidsgrove to Barlaston

Another early start. Through Harecastle tunnel.

13 miles, 7 locks, 8.5 hours engine

Wheelock to Kidsgrove

Early start just after 7. Needed a pump-out so went all the way to Kidsgrove and got it at the BW station at the Red Bull. BW cards at only £10 each from the Lock 57 shop.

6.7 miles, 25 locks, 9 hours engine.

Middlewich to Wheelock

Retrospective post

Set off around 12.30 after the Middlewich Festival Praise service. Lunch on the hoof. Tied up just beyond the water point at Wheelock.

5.5 miles,  4 locks,  4.5 hours engine

Engine time only at Middlewich

Swung round in the wind when a mooring pin came out at breakfast, so bought a new one. Now both ends are secured with a double pin. Engine run for charging and water.

2 hours engine time.

Northwich to Middlewich

Inverter complaining about low batteries, so we got under way at 8 a.m. to give them a boost and heat the water. Not sure how the routine had changed sufficiently to make this an issue. Checked the leisure batteries and the acid levels seemed OK. Up the Anderton at 12.15 nominally (long delay while the tour boat arrived). Water at Anderton services (and cleaned the boat from the Anderton's drippy muck). Then a long, windy cruise to Middlewich, with food on the hoof. Good speed when conditions allowed it. Tied up south of King's lock, right next to a fairly busy road. Rain and wind promised for tonight.

13 miles, 5 locks, 1 boat lift, 7.5 hours engine time

Marston to Northwich

Slowly into Anderton, with NB Sanity moored at near the marina there. Down the boat lift at 13.40, then up the Weaver to Northwich. First experience of a river cruise. 1600 rpm gave about 4.7 mph, according to Garmin. Not much room on the moorings. Eventually doubled back and another boat moved a few yards so we coule moor up between the swing bridges.

4.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 boat lift, 2.5 hours engine time

Middlewich to Marston

Some of the Middlewich locks were pretty stiff. Filled up with water just past the last, then a gentle cruise. Lunch at the delightful moorings / picnic spot created by the Broken Cross Boating Club. Then through the industrial bit to the northeast of Northwich. No Three signal where we moored up, blog posts made in the morning.

11 miles, 5 locks, 7 hours engine.

Church Minshull to Middlewich

10 a.m. start. Nice slow run through the Weaver valley on a cloudy morning. Went aground when allowing another boat to pass. Had to wait an age to get through Stanthorne Lock. Tied up between bridges 29 and 30 above Wardle Lock.

5 miles, 1 lock, 3 hours

Bunbury to Church Minshull

Gentle cruise down to Barbridge Junction and up the Middlewich branch of the Shroppie. Called in at the Aqueduct marina. Nice café with free WiFi, but no longer has a shop. Moored up between bridges 12 and 13, overlooking the valley across to Church Minshull. Very pretty in the evening light. Downside – this is our first real experience of banging and bumping on the Shroppie's concrete shelf, so I've rigged some extra deep fenders.

7 miles, 2 locks, 5 hours engine time.

Tattenhall to Bunbury

Clearing up, laundry, water. Lunch (toastie / baguette) at the Ice Cream Farm. Got away mid-afternoon. Aim was to get through the wide (and problematic) locks, which we did. Moored up shortly before Calveley Bridge 104.

6.5 Miles, 6 Locks (including one 2-part staircase), 4 hours engine.

New SIM Card

Replacement 3Gb card bought at Christmas from Amazon did not work – the website said it had no allowance left. Three store in Chester sorted it out and gave me a replacement. Very helpful.

Preparing to move tomorrow.

Keeping warm

Weather forecast accurate – a day for staying put. Fire lit early.

Internet connection working quite well, and did some college work. But then the 3Gb SIM ran out and I to replace it with another.

Beeston Castle

Walking day: 8 miles, 4.5 hours leg time, though Garmin showed most of the walking being done around 3 mph.

In the morning at Tattenhall marina: pump out; new bottle of gas.

Long Day Trip

Started from Tattenhall at 7.15. Winded at Christleton, and back to Waverton to wait for David & Jo, Lewis and Charis. Down through Wharton's lock, winded, back through the lock. Managed to wind at Waverton before we dropped them off. Back to Tattenhall by about 9.15 p.m. Great day out.

25 miles, 2 locks, 11 hours engine