Ian gets a proposition!

 Saturday 28th

The Shady Oak, a lovely pub serving great grub. Not so good on the ale front although Doombar was on tap. We stayed well past 9 pm, the meal had been for 6. 30 pm so certainly made use of their hospitality. No game of Mexican Train played as an early night was agreed by all ready for an early start in the morning.

We are in their somewhere.

Look at those lovely water droplets on the side of the hull. Great polish job methinks. Gave myself a pat on the back!

Today.... No rain...Yipee...and a very pleasant start to the cruise. Before we set off though, Ian had to go down the weed hatch. He removed from the prop a large linen sheet! No wonder it was most uncomfortable holding the tiller yesterday with all that vibration.

 Quite a few locks to do which all needed to be filled. And those bottom gate paddles...awful as they were the sort that for every two turns of the windlass, the ratchet moved up one notch. Took forever to get the paddle raised and to top it all, the gates were extremely heavy too! Also, the dreaded 1.5 miles of moored boats after bridge 114 had to be gone past on tickover. Last time we came it took 35 minutes to get from one end of the moorings to the other. This time took considerably longer because a boat was met coming toward us at bridge 115. With a breasted pair moored virtually in the bridge 'ole Tony, as lead boater, had to duck into a gap just before them. The oncoming boat passed but then Tony had to try and get Merlin out from behind the pair. The wind was blowing a hooley across the fields holding Merlin well into the side. A very nice gentleman from the moorings came and helped but it was touch and go for a while if he would ever get out!

Tucking into a gap

The long length of moorings

 In Chester, there were the usual moored boats and very few spaces to be had. It wasn't planned to stop today as Ellesmere Port was the destination for tomorrow and the hope was more mooring opportunities would become available after the weekend. We did have to avoid the trip boat heading straight for us, blooming great wide beam taking up nearly all the width.

A narrow cutting, with high walls of Chester towering overhead, led us to Northgate staircase lock. We entered the top lock but before we could descend, the water levels had to be adjusted in the lower chamber. There is a marker gauge on the sidewall on this chamber and if it shows red, the lock needs topping up before the top paddle can be drawn. Ignore this and there won't be enough depth of water for the boat to get over the cill.

Looking back

Second chamber

Waiting to descend.

Marker showing red.

Lots of Gongoozlers watching our descent, one was a lady from South Africa who got very excited watching the whole locking procedure. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands continually. Both Ian and Lynda referred to her as a 'dizzy blond.' She even made a proposition to Ian, offering to come and live with him on the boat. He was all for it, rather fancied someone that could cook South African cuisine. But then she dropped the bombshell, she couldn't cook! His decision...he's sticking with me!

We needed the facilities at the bottom of the locks. Water was fine but as for emptying the loo...Ian couldn't get anywhere near the hut. All fenced off because of a collapsed path by the lock so the only way we could get to it was to reverse into the arm.

 Then we had the problem of getting back to the main channel. That wind, fierce it was and tried to keep FS against the side. Ian resorted to using the pole to keep the front out while I steered and put the power on from behind.

Another few miles travelled before stopping about 7 miles short of Ellsmere. Ian cooked chilli for us all and I made an apple and blackberry crumble for afters. It all went down very well with wine and a few beers. Still no Mexican train played. Strictly Come Dancing had started so we all sat and watched that.

And some more photos of the journey,

Colours of Autumn

Flooded towpath

I think this was Tarvin lock

 And wildlife