Blooming Rugby...Imperative that we make Middlewich in time..

Hmmm, our cruising plans are all cocked up at the moment.  With the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the first games could start as early as 5.45am! Ian has had to be selective and those matches he wants to watch are either on at 8.45am or 11.15am. This means either a late getaway or a very early start. Today was an early start with the Wales v Georgia starting at 11.15. We were getting a bit low on diesel so wanted to make Kings Lock in Middlewich and then get moored up before kick-off. Easily done as 5 locks in 5 miles was all we needed to do.

 Oh and today, Monday 23rd September at 8.50am was officially the Autumnal equinox. This marks the first day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. This exert from The Mirror

An equinox occurs when the sun passes directly over the Earth's equator, resulting in a day and night that equal in length.
There are two equinoxes every year - one around March 22 and one around September 22.
In the southern hemisphere the seasons are flipped, and the September equinox marks the start of spring.

So that's that then, Summer is over and Autumn has arrived and for the first day of Autumn, it was a joy to be out on the water. Sun shone giving out the warmth and only a gentle breeze to contend with. It didn't matter that all but one lock was against us (lock 68 on the Booth Lane flight had a boat ascending) we just enjoyed the day.

Lock 68 Booth Lane Flight.

Climbing over the beam was a bit of a pain!

Approaching Kings Lock

 Took roughly 2 hours 30 minutes to pull onto Kings Lock Chandlery mooring and well in time for Ian to watch the Rugby match. Took on 72 ltrs but at 84p ltr thought it a bit pricy, especially as at Shobnall it was only 75p ltr, but of course, we didn't need any then.

To the left and through the bridge 'ole is the start of the Middlewich Branch.

  I walked to Wardle lock to get it ready for Ian to do the turn at the junction. A boat had just ascended and I was about to close the gates when in the distance I noticed an oncoming boat. Now, because of this, the boater who had just left the lock stopped before the first bridge. That oncoming boat took forever to reach the second bridge and when it did, stopped as well. So now we had a situation where neither boats moved forward. Could this have been the ideal situation to wave those green flags? 😂 

This is the two bridges. Took the photo after the boats had left.

 Anyway, eventually the oncoming boat tentatively came forward but I was starting to get concerned about the length of time it had taken. What about the Rugby kick-off? It took 25 minutes before the boat eventually descended and made the right turn onto the T&M toward Wheelock.

Slow boat leaving. FS on the landing waiting to come around.

Ian still had to do the left turn into the Middlewich Branch and then ascend the Wardle lock. This was done in record time and he took the first mooring available. Never has FS been tethered so quickly and he rushed inside to deploy the satellite. Eight minutes of play had been missed and Wales had already scored a try. Still, he soon got into the game and was shouting "That was a knock on" at every opportunity.

Shopped at Morrisons after lunch and then moved to find a rural mooring. Got moored up just in time as within minutes of securing FS, the rain started. I wonder if this could be in for the night?

And wildlife,