Lady days 16th to 17th July

Started the morning gently as Anna due with her big sister Ruth at 11am. Soon started kicking myself for not saying half ten, because she's prone to having disasters and therefore arriving late. Today was no exception as she forgot her phone with the directions on! Only 30 minutes late in the end. Here I need to apologise as so much yakking went on I forgot to take photos...

As they arrived, yoo-hooing across the water, a boat was about to go into the double lock, so I hailed them, to ask if they would hold for a moment while I joined them  (relax, I had done my engine checks at 11am in the expectation of moving). They obliged so I slipped in with them while Anna navigated her way, from the housing estate in which they were ensnared, around to the lockside where they could more easily come aboard.

It was Ruth's first time on a narrowboat, although both go yachting, so we had the Grand tour as we brought their things on board. Which included vast amounts of food, so I hardly needed that extra shop! All three of us are gluten free, oddly enough.  I had met Ruth before at social occasions over the years, and we got on really well.

Anna had been on the narrowboat before and she said she would show Ruth what to do as we arrived at our first lock. So I sent them off and hovered mid channel, watching and wondering if that was true, because there was a certain amount of thoughtful staring before the lock started emptying. But they got there absolutely fine, no flooding or drained pounds.

They were thrown in at the deep end too, because there are three locks in swift succession, then another two on the exit from Middlewich. The second lock I handed the tiller to Anna, so I could check and possibly complete Ruth's understanding of what should be happening. In that lock I spied something small and frantic in the water, so scooped it out: a frog! Sat there stunned and exhausted, goodness knows how long it had been trying to find a way out.

Terrible photo, sorry

The third lock has a 90 degree turn in, and there was a boat moored right in the way, so I took over the steering again. As I came out of the lock, the crew moved on to the next, leaving the lock gates open.  I was a bit too busy to call them back.. the grumpy old man in the boat behind us, nb Coffin Dodger, came up to complain about it so I apologised sweetly and ask if that boat waiting in the pound wasn't coming down then? Away he went, so fast that his dog lost track of where he'd gone and circled the area until it worked out where to go. In fact I knew fine well that the waiting boat was about to go into the dry dock that sits right in that sharp corner, but hey. No one shouts my crew when they are doing their best.

The weather has at last turned beautiful. No queue at Wardle lock, lots of flattering amazement at my boat handling around the tight turn at the junction of Trent and Mersey/Shropshire Union canals, under a bridge to boot. Soon out into the country for our last lock of the day. Before too long our thoughts turned to lunch. 

Better not have too much, we said, as it's half 2 already and we're dining at the pub. As we emptied the fridge onto the dining table and tucked in.

An hour later, replete, we gossiped our way along the canal, Anna and then Ruth having spells on the tiller. Even steering is a different experience with constant attention needed where there is so little room to the side and also below. Ruth is used to having the whole of the Irish Sea to muck about in!

Delighted to find plenty of space at a lovely mooring spot just above Church Minshull and its splendid pub. A short walk down through woods to whet our appetite.

Actually, rather soggy in places, but we made it without too many slips and no mud baths, thankfully, and well worth the walk. Excellent meal, as ever.  Only took the one photo, because I was taken by this door in the Ladies loos.

Going back up the hill we walked the long way round through a farm and along the towpath as it was much firmer underfoot.

My newbies were wiped out and headed straight for their sleeping bags. A quiet night and glorious sunshine in the morning, and an enormous cooked breakfast while lots of boats went by.. Replete, we got under way with only two locks to do.. and a great big queue at the first of them.  But with sunshine to soak up and stories to swap, no problem.  Volunteer lockies were on hand at the second lock, Cholmondeston.  I had Anna and Ruth taking the boat in while I went lockside to chat with them and to see if there was a date set yet to fix the bust paddle.. this because Andrew and I are back here in August for an IWA fundraiser and it would be good to have the lock fully working.

Nb Coffin Dodger was ahead of us. As they came up the lock, I greeted him and he immediately launched into explanations of how to drive boats: extremely obvious stuff like pushing your boat out from the bank to save the engine chewing up the edges. It really felt like Charlie, my very young grandson, telling me all about dinosaurs. I think my response was along the lines of, Oh well done, it's good to know isn't it.

Anyway, Anna steered in beautifully. 

From there, just a couple of hours cruise back to base, another spin and reverse manoeuvre- and breathe - and then load up the car with Anna, Ruth, and their luggage, to drive back to Middlewich.  Our two day route covered in 30 minutes. Then back to Nantwich to do my own packing, snug the boat down ready for its next outing,  and off home.. to meet with Anna at rehearsal that evening!