Tuesday 30th April; Audlem to Nantwich
The wind had really got up overnight and was bumping us about on the exposed embankment.
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| Windy mooring on the embankment |
We walked up to the village for a few things before we left, and having a quick browse round the canal shop before getting away soon after 10.
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| River Weaver winding down below |
Dave wasn’t sure that the last pump-out had been very effective, so to be on the safe side we called into Overwater marina for another. The wharf is right by the entrance, but with that strong wind keeping us off the wharf we were glad to have assistance from a couple of other boaters to take the ropes. We cruised on in extremely gusty conditions, past the popular and extensive Coole Pilate moorings which had just one boat moored – in the summer this is often crammed. Then we were lucky enough to see a couple of hares chasing about in a field.
There was a boat ahead of us at Hack Green locks, so we stopped for an early lunch and relaxed in the sunshine. We visited the Secret Bunker (clearly signposted) a few years ago, so didn’t fancy another visit just yet. When a boat came up the locks we took the opportunity and set off again. This first hour or so was delightful. The top lock was all ready for us, and was a doddle to operate.
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| Leaving Hack Green top lock |
Mysteriously, as a boat had only recently come up and no-one had gone down, the bottom lock was nearly empty. I opened the top paddles and waited. After a while I went to check that the bottom paddles were fully closed – they were, but there was an awful lot of leakage from the bottom gates. The levels just wouldn’t equalize.
Meanwhile the wind had blown Bonjour across the canal towards the bywash and the stern had gone aground. It took us a while to get her back across the canal and tied up. With the levels not equalising there was nothing to do except empty the lock again to see if any obstruction could be dislodged, before refilling and trying again.
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| I’m bored Mum, what’s going on? |
This time it did work though Dave stayed off the boat in case he was needed to help open the gate. The weather had really warmed up by now, although the wind was still very strong. We were impressed by this boater’s ingenuity, though I suppose it wouldn’t work everywhere!
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| A good drying day |
Some of the mooring spots along here are very sheltered and we saw the first towpath chair of the season.
Apart from the wind it was a very pleasant potter into Nantwich. We wanted to moor fairly close to the Aqueduct as Dave plans to go and get the car tomorrow, otherwise we might have stopped out in the country.
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| David’s Bridge, no 90 |
We moored half-way along the embankment, where there was plenty of space, and sunshone for the solar.
2 locks, 5½ miles
