I’m back! September already, 5 months out and still only a stone’s throw from Leicester! We have been spending a very nice few days here in the Tower Basin at Chester.
Monday (bank holiday) 30th August.
We though we would take George for a little toddle along the Dee Branch to the River Dee. There are 3 locks down to the river but when we got to the last lock (which is no longer in operation) the footpath was blocked so we couldn’t get any further. Unfortunately, to go up the towpath the other way we had to pass the boat, which of course proved impossible with our daft old dog, so that was the end of our walk!
We then decided to go to Tesco’s, conveniently situated 10 mins walk away along the towpath into the town. We took the barrow (for the beer and tinned stuff) rucksacks and bags and did a fairly large shop. On the way back a cyclist came up behind us and I didn’t notice (as he had no bell) until he spoke. I very nearly fell into the canal I jumped so much!
I needed a drink to get over the shock so we took George to Telford’s Warehouse again. The weather was a bit more pleasant than it had been the day before. The Telford’s Warehouse doesn’t get really busy until the late afternoons and evenings. That said, all the outside tables did fill up while we were there lunchtime and we were joined by a family at one point who were going to have lunch. Fortunately for them another table became free before they got their food so they didn’t have to suffer the staring dog!
There are only 6 tables on the small patio outside the pub and later on, whilst fishing from the hatch, Ken counted 56 people crowded on there. Including a young couple who did more snogging than drinking!
Tuesday 31st August
More shopping today, this time maggots were on the agenda, along with a satellite dish and some dog food. After having somewhat of a problem with Google Maps recently it was fortunate that Ken had seen the tackle shop form the canal on the way here, so we knew where it was! The same could not be said of Maplin’s, or the pet shop though (more later). We walked some of the way along the city walls but had to cut in to the canal path after a few hundred yards. We still have not completed the city wall walk but intend to do it when we get back after we have been to Ellesmere Port.
After finding the tackle shop we went into the city centre in search of Maplin’s (satellite dish) and a pet shop (Naturediet). It was a very interesting trip but completely fruitless as far as those two were concerned. However we did do a bit of other shopping and visited a very nice pub, The Shropshire Arms, where we did a bit of people watching.
Wednesday 1st September
It could be put off no longer, our poor old boat was getting really scabby so we had to do a bit of painting on the black today. We will do the other side when we get back here as we will obviously be the other way round. It looks a lot better but some of it has scraped off on the moorings already and we haven’t even gone any where yet!
Following this and another attempt with Google Maps we went in search of Maplin’s again. This time we found it with no problem and discovered that we had been past it 3 times already! Once on the boat on the way in to Chester and we had walked right past it twice yesterday on our way to and from the tackle shop! Ho Hum. Anyway, we are now in possession of a shiny new satellite dish which will be very well secured to the boat! Unfortunately we were still unable to find the pet shop. Hopefully we will find one before our poor old dog starves to death!
Tomorrow we are going to Ellesmere Port to look at the Historic Boat Museum and the Manchester Ship Canal. We will find a rural mooring for the night, it will be nice to be quiet again after being here near the pub. Then we will come back here for a couple of days to do some more painting and finish the city walls walk.
