Wow they do still exist!

We lost our advantage with the locks this morning even though we were up at 7 am.  A single hander came through at 6.45 am so we waited for another hour before setting off.

Another miserable start to the day, a fine drizzle that gets into everything so wasn't looking forward to doing the 13 locks. But the first 6 locks were done quite quickly and the drizzle did stop during these.  There is a tried and tested method to our locking on a flight.  I go into the lock with FS, close the top gate and open one paddle on the bottom gate. I descend. Meanwhile, Ian has walked down to the next lock to get that ready. As soon as it is filled he comes back to me to let me out. In this way, we managed the 6 locks in 45 minutes, roughly 8 minutes a lock. The system broke down though when a boat was seen in the distance coming up. Turns out it was the diesel and coal boat Halsall.

First lock of 13

Ian ready to set the next lock

Nb Halsall coming up

 From then on our timings grew longer especially at the Shroppie Fly. All the hire boats were leaving at the same time so stood to reason the queues would start.

Looking back

Exited from the last of the Audlem flight at 10.40 am a total time of 2 hours 40 minutes.

Hack green locks also had a queue. A day boat from Overwater marina with grandad, grandma and grandchildren all first timers and about to do their first ever lock. At the lock was a lady from the Cheshire Cat hire fleet also out of Overwater marina. She was helping another two novices and showing them how to operate the locks. While Ian was busy helping the day boaters, I became the guinea pig for the novices.

Last of the Hack Green locks and a C&RT guy with two contractors were measuring the lock gates or trying to. The latch on the concertinaed measuring stick kept slipping and to resolve this problem Ians windlass came into use. With a hammer and the windlass as support, the latch was hit several times to get it to back into position. Looks like these gates are to be replaced. The month of November was mentioned.

Stopped at Nantwich having managed to find a mooring. Another of those very popular places to stay and only chance of finding somewhere to moor is to get there early. We arrived by 1.30pm. By 3.30pm no spaces left.

Oh and my strange sighting? A Dredger!!! Thought them extinct as have seen no evidence of any dredging for longer than I can remember!

 And seen on route,

 This cat stalking a Heron.  Heron took off in fright.