3rd June 2015
We were in record breaking mode today! We left our mooring at 7:30 and by 8:30 had cleared the first six locks.
In spite of the rain the pounds were not that full and as we went down from lock 50 a boat was having trouble getting out of lock 51 (a single) and had to open the duplicate of our pair to provide him with enough water to exit his lock.
We stopped for water at Wheelock where the flow was fast enough to completely fill our tank in 25 minutes. We had our lunch there and fed the swans who attacked us every time we tried to release the stern mooring line so we had to employ diversionary tactics i.e. feed them further down the boat.
Lock 66 contained a very large sheet of polythene sheet tight too k some removing with the boat hook and so we pulled Oliver in and out rather than risk getting caught in some that we may have missed.
We had made such good progress that rather than stopping at Ettily Heath, as planned, we decided to carry on to Middlewich. It’s a very tight turn under a bridge into the SUC Middlewich Branch and we were concerned that it might be difficult as there was a fairly strong wind blowing from the west. We put a bow line ashore as a safety precaution but it was not really needed. Although crowded just past Wardle Lock, there was plenty of space beyond bridge 29 and we found a pretty and peaceful place to stay for two nights.
Not what you expect to find in a lock!
Trent and Mersey Canal, Wheelock, Lock 66
Trent and Mersey Canal before bridge 166. This helps to remind us that the canals were built to service industry.
Shropshire Union Canal, Middlewich Branch. The busy side of bridge 29 in the evening.
The quiet side of bridge 29 in the morning