Oh no..now what do we do.

We had a slight change of plans through no fault of our own. It all started after we had been to the Salt mines  (photos on my Jameison 2 blog ) We made the Salt mines in a little under 2 hours at what I can only describe as a very pleasant cruise. Having spent a couple of hours seeing the exhibits, as well as joining a coach party for their tour round the place, (the guides suggestion) we set of once more to Anderton. Here we were going to water up and empty loos  (situation was urgent) as one cassette was full and the other very nearly so. We made the mistake of thinking there would be an elsan at Middlewich...there's not....so getting to Anderton became important. On arrival first thing was hose, tap, water followed by Ian carrying the cassette to the elsan only to return moments later still with a full cassette. Out of order notices on all the doors including the toilets. So straight onto C&RT to find out when it would reopen. We were assured that by 5pm the facilities would once more be in full use so moored just beyond the landing to wait. In the meantime we walked to Anderton lift to enquire about going down onto the river. Seems only one lift was working so availability was limited but....we could go down at 4.30pm today. Well that wasn't any use seeing as we were waiting for C&RT so tentatively took a midday slot for tomorrow.

C&RT doing towpath repairs by the facilities. They told us the bad news, no toilet emptying for the foreseeable future.

To cut a long story short we walked back to FS. Two C&RT bods were present at the facilities so Ian high tailed it over to see if it was open. The answer was NO and not likely to be in the foreseeable future. It was the pump that was at fault and not a full septic tank as assumed. An engineer had to be sent for but no one could say how long that would take.  Next facilities was either at Preston Brook or down on the Weaver. Sooo.....Ian high tailed it back to the administrators office at Anderton and asked if the 4.30pm slot was still available. With the nod that it still was, a leaflet was given to us explaining all about the Weaver with one very important point, make sure the anchor is attached to the boat!  So there you have it. We are at now on the Weaver a couple of days earlier then planned but when needs must as they say..... and our needs were most definitely a must!.

Waiting for the 4.30pm slot

Repairs to the left lift

On the pontoon below the lift.

I rather liked this pontoon and mentioned the possibility of staying over night. Ian had the unenviable task of checking to see if we had enough room in the cassette to stay and he reckoned we could last one more night if we curtailed our drinking so no beer for Ian and a small glass of wine for me!

First cygnets seen this year,

and on route

And another Sand Piper. Must be the area for them

Jay

Glad we were going the other way.

Monday 2nd May

Yes...at last...warmer weather. Okay it still wasn't brilliant but oh so nice to be able to set off without dressing to the nines in thick coats, gloves, scarves etc. We just about beat the threatening rain as we pulled into a mooring above Wardle lock. Then as the drizzle started it was a hasty trip to Lidl and the tackle shop but we were not quick enough to return before the drizzle turned into a downpour. So instead of leaving as we had planned after the shop, we stayed until mid afternoon. As soon as the sun put in an appearance it seemed every man and his dog decided to leave at the same time.

We got to Wardle lock first but then, once through the junction, reversed FS to Kings Lock Chandlers for diesel. At 57p it was the cheapest we have seen for a while. Unfortunately the diesel hose wasn't long enough to reach FS's stern so the bow had to stick out beyond the bow of a moored boat. With two locks being in use (Wardle from the Shropshire and Kings lock on the T&M) I had great difficulty keeping our bow from rubbing the other boat. Hmm, now have some idea of the term being stretched on the rack as a form of torture. We also bought another bag of coal. Well after all, one cant rely on the weather staying mild even in May.

Kings lock and Chandlers

Wardle lock through the bridge 'ole

Having boats coming out of the junction going up the T&M and boats heading down the locks on the T&M we had a bit of a delay to the journey. Mind you nothing compared to those waiting below lock 74. Boats going in all directions and don't envy that wait from the last boat.

A lock keeper helped us on our way and warned me how many were on their way up.

Chaos.

 We again managed to beat the threatening black clouds pulling into Bumble moorings which are on  the offside. Only one boat moored so with only two mooring places we were very lucky to get the second one. And what a fabulous and completely safe mooring with picnic tables. Bet it's really busy in the summer in fact the notice ask for boaters to allow arriving boats to breast up. 2 days one can stay. Shame we are moving on tomorrow. The Salt mines beckon.

Someone has a sense of humour.

On the journey,

Fabulous use of a tree stump

Croxton Flash

And the wildlife,

Last nights mooring

Not sure what these flowers are but they seem to be everywhere

Somehow I think these yellow ducklings have a different dad.

At Bumble Cuttings a Grebe

 Tree Creeper seen an a bridge 'ole.

Lazy day.

Sunday 1st May

Such a long cruise today! All of an hour and 20 minutes doing 3.4 miles and 1 lock. We need diesel you see and the boat yard at Kings lock isn't open today and are only doing Sunday hours tomorrow (being a bank holiday) 10am - 4pm. Thought we may as well do a bit this morning and then Ian might be able to do a spot of painting while I do a spot of fishing. Caught my first Eel of the year and hope it will be the last!!! Hate the things, they are slimy, cant be grabbed properly and once that slime gets on your hands is almost impossible to remove. How anyone likes fishing for them is beyond me. I suppose they do make good eating though, if you like that sort of thing.

Ian had to abandon the painting idea as guess what!! It rained again. Instead he has been doing computer things (ECP&DA Outlook magazine as one of them). As for me, a day in front of the TV catching up on all those programs recorded and not watched.  

And at this remote mooring by bridge 15

White throat

Swallow

Gold Finch

OMG! Talk about fun and games at Bunbury

The day had a promise of good weather about it so we got away early (like 8am). The benefits of this was (a) for a start the locks were with us because of a late arrival on our mooring last night (heading for Chester) and (b) we got to see a big dog fox (no photo for once) and the Deer enjoying the early morning sun. We also met another early riser, bloggers Louise and John from Plodding Along. I was below making tea but did just about manage a wave as they went past. Ian got to say hello and hopefully next time we meet I'll be able to have a chat too.

Lovely sunny morning.

With it being Saturday, Bunbury's Anglo Welsh hire fleet were already back at their berths all being serviced by the workforce and this in itself didn't cause us to much of a problem. I just hovered in the middle until the lock was made ready., No it was as I entered the bottom lock of the staircase that the fun and games started.

On duty was a volunteer lock keeper. Wonderful the ascent should be quick I thought. Hmmm, I thought wrong as two descending boats entered the top lock. Now usually this is no problem because once all gates are closed (bottom and top) the middle paddles raised, I rise up, they come down, we level off, the gates are opened and we do a bit of a Chinese shuffle. In other words one of the descending boats pulls alongside me, the boat facing me then moves over to allow me to enter the lock. The first boat then takes my vacated place and the second boat moves in to join him. Simples.... But....we hadn't put the volunteer into the equation. All went according to plan at first but when it came to the second boat moving across the volunteer told him to stay where he was and for me to cut across his bow and enter the lock at an angle! What???? Absolutely Impossible!!  FS's length is 57ft no chance of swinging the stern round even if I could have got the bow into that lock AND FS is NOT a bendy boat therefore I had no hope of doing that manoeuvre. If he wanted a wedged boat on his hands then yes I would comply. So he was not a happy volunteer when I refused because he now had to get the other boat to move across. This boater didn't seem to have any idea of what to do so the volunteer had to go into his office, grab a long boat hook, got the chap on the back to walk along the side of his boat (water side) stretch with rope in hand and attach it to the boat hook so he could be pulled across. Why not just tell him to push away from the side and let the boat drift across. Anyway after 15 minutes it all got sorted and we were once more on our way. Will let the pictures tell the story.

Top lock the two boats enter. I'm now waiting in the bottom lock

Both chambers level

First boat sidles in next to me

The facing boat should by rights move across to allow me in

(Raining hard by now as you can see) I missed photographing the rope throwing bit  (did see it though) but you can see the first boat starting to move across. I have by now joined the second boat in the top lock.

First boat manoeuvre complete and second boat moves in to take his place. (This is how it should have been done in the first place!)

Phew...gates closing and we can finally start our ascent.

The rain stayed with us on and off until we made the junction. Turning left we debated whether to moor up but all the moorings were full. (I think they must be permanent moorings). Carrying on we went down Cholmondeston lock by Venetian Marina and then moored at the bottom. So glad we did especially as the heavy rain turned to hail!
 

Barbridge junction. Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union

Dont worry this swan is only getting some tasty titbits from the wall.

We hadn't realised the trains ran quite so close. Good job it's the bank holiday weekend. Not to much noise from them.

Lovely and sunny when we moored but then

Yep all that came our way.

And on route,

This is the Beeston Iron lock. Only just realised there are no lock ladders so single handers would have to pull the boats in  or be very agile to jump up from the roof! 

Bad weather in it's way

And wildlife seen