AndrewIC

Almost anywhere from lock 68 to Kings Lock 71 is noisy from the road. There might be a useful spot just below lock 67. Above lock 67 is pretty bleak most of the way back to Wheelock. You could lock down King's Lock, reverse up Wardle Lock (or reverse down the following morning) and then there are lots of quiet moorings (rings/Armco) from bridges 31 to 28 on the branch. Pub at King's Lock, chippy opposite. If I was running late, I'd try for Wheelock and the pub or restaurant. If I was early I'd press on to above or below Big Lock 75 (also pub), or even try for Bramble Cuttings offside between bridges 176 and 177. There is a towpath side mooring a little before Bramble Cuttings if it's full. There is also another set of rings towpath side a little beyond, but CRT seem to have given up cutting the vegetation on that bit. NB - if your definition of "summer" includes the weekend of 19th-21st June, or about a week either side, Middlewich will be heaving because of the Folk & Boat Festival.

I change the alternator/water pump belt (I only have the one) every year. Bit paranoid about it since I had one fail in the middle of a tunnel.

On the subject of the cost of hiring, and this is anecdotal rather than a formal survey, it seems to be the more “budget” (and I don’t just mean smaller) operators that have gone to the wall, at least round here: Claymoore, Middlewich Boats, Empress@Nantwich. Passing through Middlewich on a regular basis over many summers, Middlewich Boats would regularly have several boats tied up idle midweek, but Andersen, whose boats are always absolutely immaculately turned out, regularly had none at all. Perhaps there isn’t much of a market for budget hiring any more?

A decent sized IT is quite a big and heavy thing, so you’ll need to find space for it. Another vote for Airlink though, it just works.

I’ve never seen anyone about, and never felt inclined to stop and ring the bell to see!

Does the place just N of Harecastle tunnel still sell diesel? Otherwise as you say, nothing before Kings Lock in Middlewich.

An inch measured from the bottom of the tank? That’s quite likely the source of your problem. Fuel feeds from typical stern tanks either come from near the bottom, or from a dip tube through the top of the tank. Neither will reach the very bottom of the tank. My first suggestion would be to add some fuel, bleed, and see if the problem goes away.

42ft 8in x 8ft 9in according to the listing on Canalplan.

In another old post on here, Tim Leech reckoned the top gate of the stop lock was 9ft and a few inches. Wincham make their “Pioneer” boats 9ft and reckon they fit through to the Bridgewater.

“A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't” ?

Been up a few years, but relatively modern. I think it appeared one festival weekend, the bridge tended to get thronged with drinking gongoozlers in the evenings. Informal observation suggests that a majority of the Andersens head the other way and towards the Llangollen.

Made it halfway a few summers ago. Defeated by weed.

“Bramble Cuttings” just below Middlewich is I am old clay pit and I believe belongs to CRT. The site is maintained by Broken Cross Boat Club. There are signs asking you not to stray onto the surrounding farmland, which is fenced off from the site.

What a knob.

Interesting. The bridge below Big Lock carries the public footpath known as Middlewich FP15, it’s shown on the Cheshire East definitive map.

(Thread swerve) Is that “maintainable at the public expense” a universal thing for rights of way, and how does that apply to public footpaths? The bridge at Big Lock in Middlewich carries an official public footpath.

I don’t know the answer to your question, but the bridge carries the public footpath Middlewich FP15, and there is a formal temporary closure notice up to October 2020. Last I heard CRT had “no plans to repair” https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/public-rights-of-way/temporary-path-closures-for-new-page/m/middlewich-fp15-closure-extension-notice-pdf-21kb.pdf

I sit corrected. That wasn’t suggested, but then there was no need to.

Very pleased with our Howdens kitchen in the house, but you’ll need a trade account or a friendly fitter to get stuff ordered. There have a book called the installers guide which is very hard to get hold of, but shows exactly how everything goes together. However, the carcasses come pre-assembled and glued, so that may be an issue on a boat.

Are they looking into it?

Passed you, I think, Hunts Lock-ish. You were descending from view as we ascended.