Monday 8th August
It has been very windy today and, may I say, quite chilly. There have also been some fairly hefty showers so not very pleasant travelling weather. Despite this we left Hunt’s Locks this morning and travelled 6 miles and 1 lock (Saltersford Lock) and have stopped at Acton Swing Bridge.
The town moorings in Northwich were still full when we got there so Ken snuck off to the paper shop while I did sanitary station things. We had to negotiate 3 canoeists just past the boat lift who seemed Hell bent on taking up the entire width of the river! We eventually managed to get round/past/through them but when we got to Saltersford Locks we had to wait for it to be filled. While this was happening they caught us up and when the lock was ready we had to wait again while said canoeists took their craft over the lock before the lock keeper could open the gates for us to go in. When we emerged from the lock they were once more strung out across the width of the river!
We reached Acton Swing Bridge just after lunch, (which was soup watered down by the rain and soggy bread) and managed to get in on the end of the grassy bit. We are right near the sewage outlet that B and B fell foul of when we were here with them. We have it at the back of the boat though not the front as they did and the wind is so strong it is blowing any smells there may be well away!
We took George to the Leigh Arms, using the path under the road this time instead of dragging him over it! It still took ages to get him a few yards though. Fortunately there weren’t any other dogs in the snug so we were able to take him in. Just as well because it wouldn’t have been very pleasant sitting outside in this weather, even if they do have heaters (with warnings) in their smoking area!
Later on we were having a cup of tea when all Hell broke loose. There is a cruising club from Lymm doing a circular tour including the Manchester Ship Canal from Ellesmere Port to the Weaver. We met some of them going up the T and M, heading for Chester, when we were going down Big Lock in Middlewich last weekend. Anyway this afternoon some of them had just arrived from Dutton Locks having come up the Weaver today and we were treated to a couple of really good broadsides from one of them. They were trying to get past us to moor up behind us, misjudged the strength of the wind and bang went our new paintwork! Ho hum.
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be better although it is forecast to still be windy, so we are going to walk to Weaverham from here, which is about 1.5 miles.
