Cripes!! Is that a crocodile I see?

Well what a different day to yesterday. For a start the wind had died down, the sun put in an appearance and it felt much warmer then late. I thought we would have a lie in this morning but what with Jade banging her tail on the radiator and the Magpies creating merry hell outside the window, we thought we may as well get going sooner rather then later. Not much boat traffic on route to Middlewich and no dramas to speak off, which was good considering the amount of reed obscuring our vision through bridge 'oles and the narrowing of the channel.

Straight through the heart of the Solvay Chemical works.

Reaching Middlewich we descended Big lock with another boat. This is where we nearly had a bit of an incident. The boat in question was only short, about 45ft, and at the helm was a young lady. I had entered the lock first and then she followed. For some reason her fellow took her rope and tied it to the bollard. He then proceeded to lift the paddles. I expected him to return to loosen the rope but he was to intent on chatting to Ian. I could see what was about to happen and shouted for him to come and slacken the rope. He rushed back just as the boat started to tilt. Then realised the knot was to tight for him to undo! Ian had the presence of mind to close the paddles quick and then the chap, by leaning on the boat, managed to get the knot undone. The boat sprung up and rocked violently. Why he tied the boat in the first place was a mystery and I mentioned to the lady that with two boats in a lock this wasn't usually necessary. The lady told me he always ropes up when going up a lock but in future will make sure that she keeps an eye on it and that it is secured with a quick release knot.

We stopped for a shop after the lock and didn't get away until after lunch. Approaching the Junction to go up the Shroppie I wondered what this bloke was up to. Ummmm....... let me think!!!! He didn't seem to care that all and sundry were watching and, when he had finished, walked away as if nothing had happened.

The junction was bedlam. There were boats waiting to go straight on, one boat waiting to go round, as were we, a boat already on the Shroppie waiting for the lock and one coming down. It took over 40 minutes before I could make the turn, and then I still had to wait for another boat to descend.

On the Shroppie

And what about my post title? This was on the top gate beam of the first lock on the Shroppie.

As the time was now well past 4pm, after the next lock we stopped for the night. No sooner had we moored then a boat approached at such a speed that if we hadn't tied up with cladding pins, we would have had our pins pulled and be across the cut. This time both Ian and me shouted at him to slow down. The wash he created was huge and instead of slowing down, put the power on even more and just shrugged his shoulders. I wish I could name and shame him but neither of us got the name of his boat. As I mentioned yesterday, what is it with most boaters of today!


So now for the wildlife on route,