Maybe another year

Saturday 8^th June; Frankton Junction to Hampton Bank (before bridge 50)

The internet signal here is rather variable, so yet another day had passed with no blog update.  Better luck tonight I hope!  Yesterday evening’s slurry spreading was still making its presence felt when we got up.  The pong dissipated a bit with a heavy shower at 9, after which I walked round to find the lockie at Frankton locks to cancel our booking.  The first boat was already on its way down, disappearing off to the third lock. 

Not this year

We left soon after I got back, with the clouds gradually lifting.

Good morning neighbours

When we were sheltered from the wind it was getting pleasantly warm.  As we wound round the bends and under the Val Hill bridges, we passed the pretty little sheep next door to the holiday lodges.  They appear to be Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep, which are identified by their black colour with white extremities – just like our second mate.

Pretty little sheep, raised for meat and probably delicious

We moored on the main line at Ellesmere, and walked up to the town for cakes (Vermeulen’s), sausage roll and spinach mini quiche (Moolah) and some bacon from the butcher, before a nip into Tesco for some wine.

The crane at the end of the Ellesmere Arm

After our delicious lunch we pulled over to the vacant services to top up the water and dispose of rubbish, before getting going again at about 2.  The imposing building opposite the arm was built in 1805-6 and held the canal offices of the Ellesmere Canal Company.

Views in three directions

We cruised on in sunshine, not wanting to stop by the meres as there were too many trees to hide the sun. We were aiming for Hampton Bank, where there is a long section suitable for mooring with an attractive woodland opposite.  Before we got there, a large bow appeared round a bend, and we paused in a wider section for fuel boat Mountbatten to pass – even in the middle of the canal he said he could feel the bottom on occasions.

Mountbatten

We moored about a hundred yards before the winding hole, in bright sunshine.  How delightful to finally have the side hatch open over the water with the sun streaming into the boat!

Nicely moored up by 3.30, there was plenty of time for some jobs – Dave refilled the stern tube, then removed the strips of carpet he had tacked to the stern steps when we bought the boat, as Meg found the steps too slippery to negotiate.  No such need for Jess, who can leap right across them if she chooses!  They need a fair bit of work to spruce them up, so they got rubbed down and had the first coat of varnish.  The hand washing I did this morning was drying well in the cratch, and I made a batch of gingerbread.

A good mooring for a game of ball

6½ miles, no locks, no tunnels, no lift bridges, no aqueducts.