On Wednesday we took a left turn at Barbridge Junction and went onto the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. We had a pleasant cruise in lovely weather and moored just passed Venetian marina at a spot where we used to moor when we had our previous boat ‘Spirit’. The area then was a scrubby little hollow which we enjoyed by ourselves but has now been transformed, by the Shropshire Union Canal Society, into Sykes’ Hollow picnic area with tables and BBQ areas for moored boaters!
The Sykes’ Hollow makeover.
It was very nice though with only 3 boats mooring up on Wednesday night. As we knew rain was forecast on Thursday we planned to stay put for the day. It rained quite hard for most of the morning but by the afternoon the sun was out again and so Doug and Oscar took a walk back to the marina (about a mile!) for some exercise while James did some jobs on the boat – engine checks and stern gland adjustment followed by some paint touch ups.
In the evening we invited our neighbours Ron and Jenny (on nb ‘Absolute’) on board for a glass of wine or two - who’d also decided not to move all day! We had a very pleasant chat and it was great to meet you both - hope to meet up again with you both one day.
Today (Friday) we came to the end of the Middlewich branch and continued onto the Trent and Mersey canal by turning left after Wardle Lock at Middlewich. We refuelled and watered at Kings Chandlery and continued on through some very narrow parts of the waterway very overgrown with reeds!
Narrow enough for you sir?
Tonight we are moored at the lovely Billinge Green Flash. These ‘flashes’ are caused by underground mining (of salt) and the ground has collapsed and formed these small lakes. We are warned NOT to stray beyond the side channel! It is still incredibly quiet with very few boats around.
Our mooring tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment