Green canal water on Middlewich Branch

Another relatively early start today: we left Sandbach at about 0745. As we arrived in Middlewich we had a very short hail shower but, generally, the precipitation held off. We walked into the town centre and were saddened to see many closed shops. After lunch we set off again, planning to "get ahead" while the weather was fair. Tomorrow the forecast is dire.

We soon crossed the site of the breach of March 2018.  There's new concrete edging, smart towpath and new post and wire fencing, but nothing else to indicate the drama of three years ago.
 

Shortly afterwards we entered Stanthorne Lock, scene of another - shorter and much more recent - closure.

Above the lock we came upon a boat appearing to try to wind where there wasn't a winding hole. One of its mooring pins had been pulled out and the wind had done the rest.

We approached slowly and I pushed it by hand from our bow. When it was near the bank again I disembarked with a shaft and hooked the dangling mooring rope. Thankfully the mooring pin was still attached so I hammered it back into the bank and we got under way again.

As we approached Minshull Lock I could see a pair of old boats.  The one on the outside is Bargus, which we have seen delivering fuel on the Staffs and Worcs and on the Caldon canals.  I can't remember the name of the boat on the inside.
 

In the lock itself I was struck by how green the water was; especially visible in the bubbly foam as the lock filled.

The evening got better and better, with full sun and blue skies. It wasn't very warm, but these trees photographed nicely.

We had determined to get to Nantwich; as we neared we passed Mountbatten towing Jellicoe.

We found a space at the second 48 hour moorings beyond the aqueduct. We're planning to stay here during tomorrow's forecast rain - and Sunday morning's rain.

Demolished

As promised, and a day later than originally planned, we moved on up the Middlewich Branch today. It was tempting to stop on the 48 hour moorings with the superb views over Winsford Top Flash but we pushed on to Barbridge, where we tied up on the pub moorings (The Barbridge Inn). We treated ourselves to a meal in the pub; slightly on the pricey side, but very good food. One black mark for trying to overcharge me by a pound, but it was all sorted with apologies from them.

The Jolly Tar, where we have eaten in the past, seems to have been demolished. All that remains is the pub sign on its pole.

This is Minshull Lock towering above us, where we joined a queue of two. At Stanthorne Lock we were fourth in line. (At Cholmondeston Lock (pron. Chumston?) we went straight in.)

Approaching Barbridge Junction we saw a small flock of what looked like swallows on a cabin cruiser. Fledglings, perhaps.

Onto the LLangollen Canal tomorrow. Wales, here we come!

Flagging

We finished off the Cheshire Locks today without getting too wet. Soon after setting off we came across a motor and butty preparing to come up. The butty is Tewkesbury; I didn't get the name of the motor.

At the golf course at Malkin's Bank they were flying the flag. The EU flag.

I guess the golf club isn't too impressed with the result of the EU referendum. I was shocked - along with many others, I'm sure - when I heard the news; how can the UK stay together now?

Further on was this sad sight.

We tied up in Middlewich above Wardle Lock after topping up with diesel at King's Lock. For tea we got a takeaway from the Indian/Bangladeshi just along from Tesco Express. I think it's called something like the Middlewich Balti Takeaway. They give you a nice coffee - with cream - while you're waiting. When I got our order back to the boat we found a few extras: poppadoms, chutneys and a garlic naan. The portions were vast - we have more left over than we ate! That's tomorrow's lunch sorted.

Salt of the earth; poste restante successful

David Cameron, Ed Miliband et al can stop their electioneering now - we've cast our votes. We had our postal ballots forwarded to Middlewich Post Office; they arrived this morning, so we voted straight away and posted the ballot papers back. It's the first time we've cast a postal vote - and the first time we've used poste restante. It lacked the excitement of going to the polling station, running the gauntlet of the party activists hanging around by the door, then marking your cross with a blunt pencil, but we're happy we have been able to take part in the democratic process.

This is the first general election for some time that I haven't had to film at a count or edit packages through the night - hooray!

On our way to collect our post we witnessed nature at work. A magpie had taken a young blackbird and was proceeding to peck it to death by the towpath. The magpie was being mobbed by adult blackbirds but it didn't seem too bothered. I watched until it picked up its prey in its beak and flew with it over the bridge parapet. I'd never before seen such a thing at such close quarters.

After lunch we went down Wardle Lock, paying our respects to Maureen Shaw (whom we saw the last time we were here) and turned right onto the Trent and Mersey to start heading south.

Above Kings Lock we passed fuel boat Alton.

I always marvel at the huge pile of brilliant white salt out in the open at Middlewich.

We tied up in Wheelock at the foot of the Cheshire Locks, or Heartbreak Hill as some call it. No heartbreak for me; I'm looking forward to more lock action!

Nantwich to Middlewich; a canalside pub in all but location

I was expecting the knock on the side hatch. It was Graham, come for the hat he'd left behind last night. Before setting off I had a look round the chandlers at Nantwich Basin. It seems very well stocked, but all I bought was an April issue of Waterways World for an article about Edwin Fasham and his narrowboat Ferrous.

The sun shone for most of the day, but there was a fierce cold wind. We and most other boaters were in winter gear.

Between Hurleston Junction and Barbridge Junction we saw what looked like a scrapyard to the west.

But, on closer inspection, the cars seem to be arranged deliberately in a line. Is this an artwork? It's in the same area as previous constructions of straw. I remember seeing the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster there a few years ago.

The views across to the Weaver valley from the Middlewich Branch were very good.

Is this the radio telescope dish of Jodrell Bank?

Also in the photo was this bird of prey.

From Bridge 14 we walked into Church Minshull. There's a church, a pub next door, a village hall and the rest is houses. These include some very fine dwellings indeed.

We got talking to a local who invited us to look at his house, a former watermill complete with all the workings. I will have to do a separate post about this some time.

Meanwhile, here's one way to get out of having to repaint your boat...

... cover it with shiplap timber.

We tied up in Middlewich just before Wardle Lock, and have eaten at the Narrowboat pub. This has plenty of canal ware, including a cratch board, but is curiously located away from the canals. We had good rump steaks, it was a real shame the plates they were on were cold.

Tomorrow we're hoping that our postal votes will arrive at the post office after being forwarded from Wolverton.