Four Counties Navigated

We’ve completed our southerly journey along the Shropshire Union Canal which also completes our journey around the Four Counties Ring, travelling anti-clockwise from Autherley Junction. We made the most of the excellent weather throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, although the canals were the busiest we’ve seen them all year. We headed up the Wolverhampton 21 (flight of locks) onto the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) as we headed back to our home moorings at Sherborne Wharf. We initially followed the old main line towards Birmingham before descending the only staircase on the BCN on the Gower Branch, and completed our journey along the New Main Line. Back home now, it’s time to work on editing the Llangollen Canal DVD, filmed during our previous expedition.

Posted on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 21:14
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN , Four Counties Ring , Shropshire Union

The Wreck and the Ancient Mariner

The Wreck and the Ancient Mariner came visiting today.

Paul’s parents live in Gwernaffield, near Mold in North Wales.  That’s not too far from Chester where we were this morning.

After mooring just outside Chester last night, at Christleton, we headed into Chester for our planned rendezvous at the foot of the Northgate Staircase locks.

We were waiting there for Andrew to join us by train from Manchester when Paul’s parents came strolling up the side of the staircase locks.
 

They were well equipped with the essentials, including their “Wreck” and “Ancient Mariner” caps.

Then it was time for our cruise to Ellesmere Port and back.

It doesn’t sound the most exciting trip and it certainly wasn’t but it was nice a peaceful and gave us plenty of time to chat and get the latest news.

Ice Creams from the Boat Museum filled a pleasant afternoon gap before we headed back to return Paul’s Parents safely to their car at Chester.

Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 20:46
Comments (1) Category(s): Shropshire Union

Takin’ Our Time

Moored at Dukinfield Junction, just onto the Peak Forest Canal last week I was talking to two fellow boaters.

They were asking about the journey through Manchester and wondering if it really was safe, and how long it took.

I think I worried them a little when I explained it had taken three of us some four hours to climb the Rochdale nine locks - and that was when we were fresh in the morning.

They would be facing the Rochdale nine locks later in the afternoon, after tiring themselves out on the Ashton Canal.

There were just two of them because one of the family had appendicitis and another was keeping them company back at home.

They set off very early the following morning, before we were up to wish them good luck.

This morning we passed the boat safely on their home mooring near Barbridge Junction so I assume they arrived safely.

So, K or M Jones from Takin’ Our Time, leaves us a comment to say how you got on through Manchester.

Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 at 18:39
Comments (0) Category(s): Middlewich Branch , Peak Forest

Middlewich Arm

We’ve completed the filming for the Cheshire Ring DVD and that’s all safely saved away ready for editing when we get back after this trip.

Now we’re continuing our trip around the Four Counties Ring for that DVD.

Heading north up the Trent and Mersey this morning we turned left in Middlewich onto the Wardle canal and then, almost before we knew it we were on the Middlewich Arm of the Shropshire Union Canal.

The Wardle Canal is around 150 feet long and sits between the Trent and Mersey and Middlewich Arms.

It’s probably the shortest ever canal and, depending on which story you believe, it was either built by the owners of the Trent and Mersey Canal to retain control of the junction, or was built to circumvent an Act of parliament which stopped the Shropshire Union and Trent and Mersey canals connecting (directly).

Now we’re moored near Church Minshull with these splendid views from the boat.

Tomorrow we will be heading northwards on the Shropshire Union towards Chester and Ellesmere Port before completing the Four Counties Ring.

Posted on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 19:55
Comments (0) Category(s): Middlewich Branch , Shropshire Union , Trent & Mersey

On the Move

We were stopped on the Shropshire Union on Thursday by a pollution incident (described in our previous post).

After oxygen levels had risen to satisfactory levels the Environment Agency allowed BW to open for navigation at 08:30 on Friday morning.  The oxygenating equipment was removed and the first boats, including us, cleared the Adderley flight around 09:30.

Our news and photographs made the front page and breaking news section of Narrowboat World.

And we also get a mention on Granny Buttons for our reporting of the stoppage.

Now we are well on the way towards our moorings at Sherborne Wharf in Birmingham.

Posted on Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 18:36
Comments (0) Category(s): Shropshire Union

Stopped on the Shropshire Union

We are moored at the top of the Audlem flight on the Shropshire Union Canal, and have been since 14:00 today, on our way back to our Birmingham moorings.

A man from British Waterways was walking down the Audlem flight and instructing every boat to moor up and not go any further. 

There was a pollution incident immediately above the next flight of locks at Adderley and navigation was stopped each side of this until the incident had been dealt with.

There were long queues starting to build up in both directions on this July afternoon. 

I took the folding bike and went to have a look - and to take some pictures.  The towpath soon became so muddy that I would probably have made better progress without the bike.

There were lots of fish gasping for oxygen above the top lock and these were being collected and sent over the by-wash to the pound below where the ample flow of water was creating lots of oxygenated water and the fish looked much happier.

Other staff from British Waterways were organising generators and oxygenating equipment which were soon blowing plenty of air into the water.

Staff from the Environment Agency had just arrived and were doing the same.  They were also about to start taking samples to identify the source of the pollution.

The BW Website shows the closure as lasting all day tomorrow, with a review taking place tomorrow morning.

After dinner Christine and Andrew walked up to see what the latest news was.  The pollution is thought to be some form of chemical, as yet unidentified.

Readings will be taken of oxygen levels tomorrow morning and we have a number to phone after 08:00 for an update.

Out thanks go to Steve Bignell, Dave Bailey and the others from BW and EA for their considerable efforts to contain the problem and their tireless efforts to politely explain what is going on to everybody. 

Posted on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at 20:08
Comments (0) Category(s): Shropshire Union

Visitors for Breakfast

We’re on our way to Llangollen and moored at Norbury Junction near on the Shropshire Union Canal last night. This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we found this pheasant walking along the towpath searching out its breakfast from the boaters moored here. It didn’t seem too bothered by any of the human activities going on. No sooner had the pheasant gone than these two ducks waddled up and quacked for their breakfast.  Here’s Christine dropping a piece of bread out of the hopper window. We cruised northwards during the day and are moored just north of the Audlem flight of locks tonight after a days of mixed sunshine and showers. Tomorrow we pass Nantwich and turn left at Hurleston Junction onto the Llangollen Canal, starting with the four locks at Hurleston. One of those locks is alleged to be the narrowest of all narrow locks so I hope we fit all right.  Check out our progress and see if we fit.

Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 21:09
Comments (0) Category(s): Shropshire Union