Sunday, 3 June 2018

Short run today, long one tomorrow

I won't write at length today as there's no useable 3 signal here and we're using the small data allowance on the Vodafone. We made a relaxed start at half eight and were soon heading down the Cheshire locks. They were all against us so progress was steady rather than swift, Sheila steering and myself locking.

This is the stretch which used to have duplicate locks all the way down, but many of them, including the Church two with which we started, now have only one functional chamber at each site.

We started meeting boats coming up as we worked down Halls lock and there followed an exercise in steering skill for Sheila as she had to alternate between one side and the other of the pairs, right, left, right, right, and so finally into the length that leads to Rode Heath.

I just had time to do the breakfast washing up before taking the helm for the final stretch to the moorings. Here we found first a boat being fitted out on the towpath, then a 70' gap, then Just Joshing, a boat with which we've been leapfrogging for several days.

We couldn't quite fit onto the rings with them there (as so often, the rings are at awkward spaces for us) and I thought we were going to have to resort to a pin or two, but they kindly pulled forward one ring to let us in, even though they were planning to leave soon.

It is nice to meet considerate boaters!

We popped to the local shop here hoping to get some Staffs oatcakes for lunch, but it looks like the shop has changed hands and they didn't have any in stock. We've had to settle for a loaf of Warburtons basic sliced wholemeal.

It's continued to be very fine – there's a scent of barbecues floating on the air – and we're looking forward to some heavier locking, 14 in all, on our way to Wheelock tomorrow.



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