Croxton to Church Minshull

2nd & 3rd February

We woke yesterday to find that it had been snowing overnight, and the boat was covered with a light coat of the stuff, now frozen on. However, we wanted to take advantage of the break in the bad weather, so made an effort and were away just after nine.

First stop was the water point below Big Lock, where we refilled the tank whilst running a washload. Then we worked up the lock and stopped again at the town mooring to shop and have a cup of coffee.

Next, up the Middlewich three we went. If the Anglo Welsh yard had been open, we'd have refilled the fuel tank, but since they weren't, and the alternative source at Kings Lock Chandlery was surrounded by boats, we didn't bother – I estimate we'd have taken on about 70 litres into a 200 litre tank, so we're a long way from desperate.

As I made the turn into the arm (technically the Wardle Canal) a couple of kids on the road above tried throwing snowballs at me, but without much success. It was the usual fiddle to get round into the arm – it's not the turn itself, but the very deep bridge 'ole over it that makes it fun – but the lock was empty and open, so I was able to go straight in.

As Sanity rose in the lock, Maureen came out of the lock cottage for a chat. Maureen is a bona fide boatwoman, born on a boat, and now living in the cottage so as to keep in touch with the cut. She's a great old girl, always full of anecdotes and advice.

On this occasion, she told us about some kids who'd come banging on her cottage door late one evening last autumn. A group of three, a 16 year old and two younger lads, they'd kept ringing her bell and banging the knockers on the door, occasionally stopping to shout through the letter box "Are you frightened yet?"

Maureen was, a bit, but that didn't stop her arming herself with a windlass and coming through a side door at them. A couple of dog walkers saw what was happening and came to her aid, and between them they restrained the three and marched them back to their parents. The ringleader, when confronted with the police, could only say in aggrieved tones "She hit me, but I'm not telling you where."

Maureen said "my old Dad always said, 'Hit 'em where it hurts'" and she made gestures of a rising blow between the knees. "I bet he was bruised the next day". The school had followed up the incident, and as a result there's been less trouble with kids around Middlewich since.

Maureen also said "If you see Water Rat on your way, tell him I've got a parcel for him" Later on, we did indeed see Water Rat tied on one of the excellent Shropshire Union Canal Society moorings, and passed on the message – a classic example of the towpath telegraph at work.

Before that, we'd stopped on the visitor moorings above the lock for lunch, it being 12.30 or so. Setting off again, we passed Nackered Navvy, Sue and Roger Burchett's boat. Roger was steering, and after exchanging greetings said that Sue was off in Reading, where they have a house.

We moored in Church Minshull by around 2.30. Church Minshull used to have a full range of amenities, and is where Tom and Angela Rolt spent part of the Second World War whilst Tom was writing the seminal classic Narrowboat and working at an aircraft engine factory nearby.

Now it doesn't even have a pub, and is a pretty lifeless place from our point of view. But the moorings are good, and it makes a useful half way point on the Middlewich Arm. It was still very pleasant winter weather, sunny but cold, so we spent a bit of time cutting wood before retreating into the boat.

This morning the weather was back to wet and windy, so we had another seriously late start. At least here we are tied to rings, and can set out a spring at the stern, so the boat is bouncing about a lot less.

We've spent the day cleaning the boat, baking bread from a kit, and I cut Sheila's hair. Tomorrow we hope that things will be a bit easier weather wise, and we can move on to Barbridge, then Nantwich on Tuesday.