All change at the last minute.

Back from our Holidays already.

It was slow to arrive and went so fast. We'd planned on a week cruising the Llangollen canal, or as far as the Pontscysyllte Aqueduct, but at the last minute we got cold feet and decided against it, would our trip to Llangollen and back be to ambitious for one week. we had big doubts and would have been very disappointed if time ran out on us and we had to turn around before reaching the aqueduct. So we opted for an alternative route and decided on the Cheshire Ring. 97 miles, 92 locks and 50 hours.

One other thing we planned to do on our trip was to write a daily blog, armed with laptop, camera and broadband dongle we set off, but as you can see that didn't happen either. And the reason why, well we were just to shattered by the end of each day, so I'm doing it no.

The big day arrived and we collect NB Cheshire Cat from Preston Brook at 15:00, loaded up our things and after all the safe checks and operating instructions we finally cast off at 16:00, latter than we would have liked but we always seem to be the last to leave, must remember to get there even earlier next time. Wasn't much progress done that first day, we only managed to reach Walton Hall Gardens before it started getting dark and we had to pull over for the night.


 Walton Hall













Day two we were up bright and early, took Charlie for his walk and cast off around 07:00, it was a lovely morning.



Passing through Grappenhall













It wasn’t long before we were passing through Stockton Heath and then Lymm, parts of the canal we walk quite often.















What a lovely first day, twenty miles of lock free cruising, we both know tomorrow wasn't going to be quite so easy, twenty-six lock. Not sure what time we arrived at Castlefield junction but it wasn’t late, we found a spot for the night and tied up.


 Castlefield Junction












Day 3. We were queued up at 08:00 and ready for the Rochdale Nine, a flight of wide beam locks and we paired up with the crew of Agatha for this section of locks, all went well except we found access on foot between locks wasn't easy in some sections.
Oh I managed to smash my camera while in my pocket, not happy about that, it was a present last Christmas.
Soon finished the double locks and started down Ashton Canal,locking and unlocking gates was a pain but obviously necessary on this section. Filled up with water at Fairfield Junction and happy to be away from this stretch of water, the canal was dirty and obviously not appreciated by the locals. One last push and we moored up for the night just around the corner from Portland Basin and the start of the Peak Forest canal.

Day 4. Up early again today as we need to keep on schedule. We had been so lucky with the weather and today was no exception. we stopped at Romiley to pick up food from the local Aldi, handy not much of a walk.
Setting off again and just through Hyde Bank Tunnel and we see NB Caxton and Matilda Rose moored up, didn't see anyone about but it was good to spot boats we knew.

Passing over the Marple aqueduct as we got ready for the next sixteen locks, really missing my camera. After starting the locks we were soon caught up by NB Jessica with a crew of six who kindly gave us a hand with the remaining locks, and so glad they did as I was beginning to feel the strain on my bad knee. Marple junction was a good place to stop for a bite to eat now the hard bit of the day was over, the rest of the day was much easier.
Finally stopping for the night just before Lyme View Marina at bridge sixteen, a lovely quite spot.
Goyt Mill.

Day 5. This morning we cruised down through Bollington and Macclesfield and the Bosley locks, passed NB Sanity at bridge 25.

As we had done so well for time and the weather was glorious we decided to stop for lunch. This is when the thing we had dreaded most of all happened. Charlie decide to make a leap for the bank before we had actually reached yet, silly doggy so impatient, all six stone plus of him splashed half in and half out of the water, poor thing was left clinging to the bank, too far in the water to pull himself out, Corinne made a jump for the tow path when it was within reach and ran to try and help him, he doesn't wear his collar very often and for some reason we hadn't put his life jacket on this morning so there wasn't anything to grab hold of to pull him out, I managed to secure the boat and come help with Charlie, I got hold of him behind his front legs and managed to pull him out. He must have been so cold he was in the water for a good few minutes, and I know how cold the water was after clearing out the weed hatch a couple of days ago. Anyway everything was ok, he got dried off and life jacket put on. the rest of the day was pretty uneventful, we moored up near Little Moreton Hall for the night.

Day 6. Yet another dry day and we're on go again bright and early, everything was going well. We left the Macclesfield canal and joined the rusty waters of the Trent & Mersey when at lock 43 reverse gear stopped working on the Cheshire Cat, we pulled over at BW Red Bull and phoned for help, this was at 08:30, Time for a cup of tea. two hours later and we were underway again at 10:30 not bad service I thought. We worked our way through twenty-eight locks and surprisingly ended up not far for our intended destination before the breakdown, lock 68 just outside Middlewich.

Day 7. Once again we were on the go nice and early but this time as we were casting off NB Jessica and her crew joined us down the first couple of locks and then again through Big Lock at Middlewich, that was the last time we met up with them along the way. we followed behind another boat all the way though to Anderton were we made use of the BW rubbish disposal.

We did all three tunnels today Barnton, Saltersford and Preston Brook. When we entered Preston Brook the exit could see, but it never seemed to get any closer, took twenty minutes to pass through. We moored up for the night and went for a walk to find a shop for something to eat and a bottle of wine to celebrate us finishing on time.

Day 8. Our last morning on Cheshire Cat, all that is left to do was drop the boat back of at Preston Brook, we packed and got all our things together had breakfast a cruised as slow as possible back to base, making the most of the last minutes aboard. We had to be back for 9 am but we had easily done it with time to spare, the car was loaded and we were on our way home.


The week aboard Cheshire Cat had been a good one, some hard work but that's something we ain't scared of, even Charlie enjoyed it and he wasnt eager to get in the car to come home, now that isnt like him. We were planning our next canal holiday before we had reached home. The Cheshire Ring was a good choice and we would definately do it again. Maybe two weeks next time so we can spend more time exploring.






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