The first cruise - picking up the boat.

We'd been delayed picking up the boat (which needed some work) so this trip was always going to be a rush. By the time we'd got the boat we knew we were going to get trapped by lock stoppages in Stoke, so we had decided to leave it near some friends in Rode Heath. Even this needed to be quick, because we had to get past lock 57 on the Trent and Mersey before it closed. Because we had a 'real' mooring to go home to, BW were quite relaxed about leaving the boat in one place for six weeks, particularly since we had decided to take it along the Caldon Canal while it was trapped. In fact, when we picked the boat up, some of the work on the stern tube was outstanding, to be completed by the Alvechurch yard at Gayton, which is a much larger yard than Wenbury Mill.

Thursday 2nd November 2006

Wrenbury Mill to Ravensmoor

Very frustrating day. Had arranged to pick up "House Sparrow", ex-Alvechurch hire boat, from Alvechurch boatyard at Wrenbury Mill. Although I'd spoken to the man in charge of the boatyard the day before, they weren't expecting us, and no-one with any authority was there. The boat was completely unprepared. Just after the end of the hire season, everyone is on holiday.

Eventually accepted the boat, loaded up and got underway at 15:30 or so. I found the engine quite hard to start - needs a lot of throttle. Managed to get out of tight berth OK. Rewarded by almost immediate view of kingfisher.

Another kingfisher near Wrenbury Hall about five to four. Worked through Baddiley locks with another boat following so left the paddles set for them. Second lock had broken ground paddle so very slow to fill. Third lock bottom gates don't meet very well so also slow to fill.

Moored for the night on 48hr rings just short of Halls Lane Bridge (bridge 12) about 5PM.

Chicken in curry sauce with Bombay potatoes and a bottle of Kibble Hill - poured a libation for the boat onto the foredeck. Then went round inspecting our purchase. The cooker and central heating are excellent, much better than in the sister-ship we hired a month ago. Temperature gauge doesn't work - did the surveyor get confused? He said that the oil pressure gauge didn't work, but we don't have one.

Engine on 1h45, 2.5 miles, 3 locks.

Friday 3rd November 2006

Ravensmoor to Middlewich

Cold night and morning but the frost on the fields and mist over the canal is magical. This is what we signed up for...

Engine was very hard to start and by the time it caught the batteries were getting worried. And so was I. But underway with no drama at 08:30, and through Swanley No 1 lock about five to nine. Saw a bird on the wire near the marina that was certainly a bird of prey - might have been a sparrowhawk.

On to the Hurleston flight. One of the lock-keepers here suggested that if we're mooring long-term with a padlock and chain (as we will be) that we should tie a knot in the chain before locking it, to take the strain from the wash of passing boats. This sounds like good advice. The other (lady) lock-keeper turned out to be a fund of information about engines, and thought our Lister-Petter ought to go on for ever. Really helpful lock-keepers.

Good moorings below Hurleston, and at Barbridge, but we need to press on and use all available daylight. Barbridge is a bit close to the main road, anyway. Cautiously onto the Middlewich Arm (lots of moored boats). Managed to nudge a moored boat whilst waiting for an oncoming boat at bridge 2 (bit of an adverse wind) but skipper of moored boat quite relaxed about it. First heron of the trip just after bridge 3 (11:15 or so).

Ran on until just after noon, stopped for lunch between bridges 5A and 6. Saw a bullfinch just before tying up.

Under way again about twenty to one, passed Minshull lock by about ten past. There was a wren in the undergrowth on the towpath just before, and a pair of buzzards circling just afterwards.

Came past boatyard that doesn't appear on our Nicholson. They are rebuilding an old icebreaker. They've also just repainted a boat for a lady we met at Venetian marina on our trip a month ago - lovely paint job. She followed us down to the next winding.

Kingfisher on the section to bridge 12. He stayed on his branch so we got a really good view as we went past. Another near bridge 12 about twenty to two, but he flew away. Mistle thrush near bridge 16, kestrel just after bridge 21. Another heron and goldfinches just before bridge 23.

Stopped in Middlewich near bridge 28. Excellent moorings. Chained ourselves to a ring in practice for when we have to leave the boat. The chain is plenty long enough, so will hold well with two crossed dog-anchors! Walked into town and visited King's Lock chandlery, picked up a couple of bits of kit we were missing, including a couple of paper-clip mooring pins. Then down to where co-op used to be when we lived in Sandbach (12 years ago!) to find it is now an Indian restaurant, but there is a Tesco Metro next door so able to pick up shopping.

Engine on 7h15, 16 miles, 9 locks.

Saturday 4th November 2006

Middlewich to Malkin's Bank

Cold night. Central heating is good...

Ric's back hurting from fall just before we left home, so Jane doing the locks. Ric developed technique for starting - 20 seconds on glowplugs, full throttle, keep starter running until it fires. Crude but effective.

Under way about twenty to nine. Locked down to Trent and Mersey almost immediately. Very helpful lock-keeper lady said that Middlewich boatyard has a chemical disposal point. (We're using porta-potti because it's a short trip and we know of nowhere to get a pump-out accessible from where we will have to leave the boat at Rode Heath). They're just to the left of the junction, and we want to turn right. OK, said the lady, turn left and back out, or turn right and back in, or moor at the junction and walk, which is what we did. Born cowards. Free chemical disposal point. Away again and through King's Lock (71) by 10. Rump's Lock (70) has a serious bulge in the left wall (east) to catch the unaware. Moored for lunch just past the old Hayes chemical plant about a quarter to one. Under way again about half past. First heron of day just after, just where Jane predicted it would be. This is where we used to see them when we walked from Wheelock. Another near the sewage works, also as predicted.

Dropped rubbish at the BW mooring at Wheelock, which is hugely improved since we left. Carried on up the flight, moored for night just after top lock as far from the M6 as you can get on that stretch. Engine off 17:20 in gathering dusk, fireworks just starting from the village. A lot of water in the engine compartement and the stern tube leaking even when the greaser tightened - Ric has been tightening it all day.

Engine on for 8h40, 6 miles, 12 locks (all Jane because of Ric's back).

Sunday 5th November 2006

Malkin's Bank to Rode Heath

Dry and a bit warmer but not obvious how long it will last. Tried cardboard spills in engine compartement when doing engine checks and we estimate that it will last a fortnight comfortably on the Rode Heath mooring. Under way 08:40.

Tied up above lock 57 at 09:20. This is the one that's closing, that we have to get through by tonight. Cup of tea in the lock 57 café. Under way again at 10:00.

Tied up in Rode Heath at Bargain Booze (bridge 141). Joined by Nic and Mark who drove us to Wrenbury Mill to pick up our car, then joined us on the boat for last mile up to the Broughton Arms (excellent pub). Moored at 12:15. Loaded car then hand-hauled the boat back away from the bridge and chained it to a ring. One of the isolator switch paddles came off when Ric was switching everything off, but otherwise boat shut down in good order. Awarded selves a pint each at the Broughton and sat outside watching the sunset.

Engine on for 2h50 in two bursts, 2 miles, 6 locks (all Jane again).