Audlem to Here?...

Not exactly sure where we've stopped today, could be Baddington, its somewhere between Hack Green and Nantwich.

Before setting off this morning we took a walk up to the Mill for a look around, Corinne bought the book Narrow Dog To Carcassonne, Mark has read Narrow Dog To Wigan Pier in the past, and I have see Terry on TV with excerpts from this book.

We left Audlem around 11.00am and travelled about two hours just passed Hack Green locks.
Buster met a couple from a boat coming up the locks just as we were about to go down, luckily they liked dogs or did until they met Buster, lol. he can be a bit over fussy and loves to say hello but will insist on jumping up.
We pulled over at the first suitable spot where the towpath didn't have a horrible ledge below the water line.

On route, Corinne did some cleaning and made a nice Maderia and some corn beef hash for lunch.

Nothing for it now but to sit back and watch people pass by.

Coole Pilate to Audlem...

Just a short trip today from Coole Pilate to Audlem about an hours trip. very quiet, probably four or five boats passed us all day. At Audlem a large section of moorings had been set aside for permit holders (winter moorers) all empty but meaning we had a long walk into the village.

Our view today

We decided on a chippy tea, checking the opening times on line we set off, oh no cash, better call at the hole-in-the-wall on the way, damn machine out of order! I know we can get something from the co-op and get some cashback, sorted. As we approach, the chip shop looks dark is it open? No! but the times, black tape had been struck through Monday, stupid shop. Lets take Buster for his run on the park with his tennis balls.

On the walk back we decided to call in at the pub for a drink and something to eat, walking straight past the Shroppie Fly and into a friendly pub our fav The Bridge Inn. We both had steak and ale pie chips and peas and Buster had Corinnes' leftover pie crust. This was Busters' first visit to a pub and he was a good boy, turned out an ok day, now back to the boat for a well deserved snooze in front of the fire.

On route to The Bridge Inn

Audlem Historic Transport Festival...

Its Sunday evening and where has the weekend gone, over in a flash.

We are moored at Nantwich tonight, after a weekend at Audlem, the first time we have had internet connection since leaving Swanley on Thursday night.
It was late when we finally got away, and Hurleston was our intended stopping point arriving at the top lock around 20.30 it was quiet only one boat going down ahead of us, exiting the last lock at just after 21.00 we turned right and found a mooring just past the first bridge and in front of Nb Jay 2, apparently someone has read our blog :) .  Jay 2 out on her maiden voyage and she looks magnificent.

Friday, we set off around 10ish weather wasn't great spitting slightly but was a nice trip up and through Nantwich which was very quiet at that time of day, it started to get a bit chilly as we reached Hack Green locks so fleeces were deployed. As we approached the locks two other boat were waiting their turn ahead of us but things moved pretty quickly. Audlem was busy, passing by a long row of moored boats looking for a place for us but without joy, turning around just in front of lock 15 we headed on back past all the boats again, some areas along this stretch are shallow and a horrid concrete shelf below the water line makes for bad mooring, we finally plumbed for a spot just before Overwater marina that turned out to be a good choice. Lounging about taking BB out on his very regular walks, he seems to think every two hours is the norm, looked around at the boats gathering ahead of the weekend festival and headed back to install a mobile internet aerial to see if it would improve connections, it didn't.

I can't remember much about Saturday but I'm sure there must have been one, I'm guessing we did much the same as when we arrived on Friday.

Today, Sunday and the old cars passed through the village but we couldn't remember what time! We were late, but managed to see them all assemble on the green. The weather was ghastly and we and headed back to the boat soon after they all arrived, I don't think the fly past went ahead because we didn't hear anything. We decided to set off for home late afternoon.

 

Weather hasn't played ball but its still been a nice break.

Audlem in the rain...

It was definitely a more pleasant trip going than coming back through Audlem. We moored up for a water top up, not that we really needed it just wanted a photo of us outside the Shroppie Fly. 

Us outside the shroppie

Our prefered feeding and watering hole when in town.

Half way up the locks

Our homeward trip happened to be on Monday Bank holiday, it rained all the way down the fifteen locks, hardly anyone was passing in the opposite direction so it made things even harder. 

About half way down Charlie decided to fall off the boat at one of the locks, not just his back legs this time, he was slowly sliding down the stern claws grinding at the paintwork as he went, we caught hold of his collar then a leg then anything we could, it took both of us to pull him out of the water, I still dont know how we did it without having to get in the water, Charlie weighs nine stone on a dry day and I'am sure hes put on a few pounds since his last check-up. All the visitor moorings had gone after lock 10 so on we go.

As we emptied lock 13 a CRT man appeared from nowhere and helped while Corinne walked down to start setting the next lock. We were shocked at the amount of moored boats, it must have been the rain that dissuaded them from attempting the locks. Pussies!

We finally stopped just passed the marina at Overwater.

Audlem festival 2014...

Back home now after an excellent few days trip to this years Audlem's historic transport festival but this years was more special than previously,  it was the first time we'd gone with Dee O Ghee.

Setting off last Wednesday evening after work we untied after seven and had moored up an hour later near Beeston for the night.

Thursday morning setting off in brilliant sunshine was very nice but we know what lay ahead of us, the dreaded five broad locks that take so long to do on your own, is time we were fortunate and a work boat heading for Tilstone emergency lock repairs on Friday was heading our way, at least for one of the locks. Three and a half hours later we had completed all the locks, Barbridge junction next and onto Hurleston junction that was deserted when we past by.  We continued ahead and past a long line of boats, we had hoped to moor in the heart of Nantwich tonight but instead we had to settle for a mooring just past the aqueduct.

Again Friday was very hot as we set off. The damn horse flies were bugging us something terrible and I'm still blaming one of theses flies for making me hit some bushes, Corinne was down getting a drink when we hit and she came rushing out thinking id either fallen off the boat or had a heart attack. After a quick check over Dee O Ghee and a thumbs up from the bow, no serious damage done just another war wound on the paintwork. A bit further along as we approached Hack Green lock Nr2. You know the one with that Secret bunker location that nobody knows about.

 Guess who was coming out of the lock in front of us, it looked very much like someone we know, the sailing boats on the bow gave it away. As they pulled over to the towpath and we entered the lock Steve and Chris from Nb Amyjo walked back up the lock to meet us, it was great to see them at long last after following the blog for so long and knowing we were going to be neighbours in the same marina when they finally brought Amyjo home, it was a shame we met where we did and couldn't stop for a longer chat.

We soon reached Audlem and checked for a space as we passed along all the boats, turning around at the winding hole just before bridge 79, and finding a mooring closer than we had expected to the festival, the day was still very hot and we know Charlie would struggle in the heat if we went walking too far, in the end we took a nice slow stroll up to Audlem Mill and picked up a souvenir of our trip, a big red pot teddybear.

On the way back to the boat we sat outside The Shroppie Fly for a drink and a cool down under an umbrella bench.

Later that evening once the suns heat had dropped we headed back for another look around the boats before the crowds arrive tomorrow.

Cheese Boat

Saturday and the official first day of the festival it was a scorcher, we went out earlier to miss the heat and called in at the Mill again and bought a foxy door stop we'd seen yesterday,

Foxy door stop

Charlie flaked out with the heat

had another quick look around the boats and headed back to take shelter from the weather, as the day came to a end we repainted the towpath side of the blacking to hide some of the knocks we had acquired since last November.

Sunday. Today was Corinne's and Charlies birthdays,

Birthday girl

we all lounged about till around ten thirty and then headed for the procession of vintage and some not so vintage vehicles that pass through the village at 11:15. The hot weather had eased slightly. We watched all three hundred vehicles pass by then headed up to the green where they had parked up for people to look at them more closely.

We slipped away slightly early to get lunch before the rush started, Thinking we'd give the Shroppie fly another chance after last years disgracefully attempt at food, only to find they are no longer a dog frendly pub, their loss not ours. We took a walk up to the Bridge Inn just a 100 yards up the towpath and found dogs are more than welcome, the drinks are better too.

Wanting to get back the the boat before the Dakota fly past we headed back after lunch. Its been a great day and the fly past topped it off.

Monday was our day to be heading off home, we set off around 9:30. the narrow locks we came to were a dream compaired the doubles we had ahead of us.

Aqueduct at Nantwich

Coming into Nantwich we needed the get water and empty the unwanted waste and rubbish, two boats were aready on the services but it didn't take them long to move off, all full and clean again we were off, today was yet another very warm day, we were making good progress too. As we approached Barbridge Inn a space just big enough for us to squeeze into was avalible at the front of the pub, inches to spare and we were in. Everyone was sat in the garden to the side but the tables at the canal front looked better and in the shade, We had seafood salad and banoffee mess, both lovely and on our to visit again list.

It was then we made the decision to go on and get the five broad locks out of the way today, leaving lock free cruising tomorrow. It was a good choice too because as we waited at Bunbury Staircase a boat came up behind, and joined us for all five locks, we both moored for the night at The Shady Oak Beeston.

Tuesday and a slow get away, no need to rush as all the work was done yesterday, it was a nice trip back to the marina, the weather had gone a lot colder but it was fine.

This trip: Miles 34. Broad locks 12. Narrow locks 4. Aqueducts 2.

Audlem Historic Boats Festival...

The annual trip down to see the historic narrowboats at Audlem has became a regular occurrence for us. You never know maybe next year we might even make the trip there by boat. 

We arrived just after eleven and it was still fairly quiet, by time we'd done the usual trek up the flight of locks and then back down and on to the old working boats things we're busying up.  The weather was ok not too hot and the breeze kept us cool.

It was Corinne's birthday yesterday and she wanted to go to the Shroppie Fly for a meal, as we do every year. The choice of menu today wasn't great and it turns out neither was the food, we couldn't recommend here for eating which is a shame because it used to be good.   

Walked on into the village and found a shop that sold fudge and ice cream then made our way back to the boats for a sit down and to give Charlie a rest, and us. We had just finished the ice creams when the heavens opened, luckily the car was close by for us to take shelter.