haggis

Often over the last few years there have been signs of activity but it seldom lasts long. Perhaps it will be different this time.

Had a leisurely cruise to join the end of the queue and when we walked up to the lock we noticed that few of the boats were actually occupied. We got to the lock just as they were removing the Heras fencing and they said " yes, the lock is open ". We walked back to kelpie passing on the good news to the occupied boats and we were actually about 6 th through with Iain helping every boat before us. It was painfully slow because the paddles have limiters on them and boats waiting to come up had to wait for the exiting boat to pass the three moored work boats there for the repair. We eventually moored at the play park in Middlewich at 5.45 A long day, not in miles and locks but in time. A carry out meal is on the cards ! Sorry, didn't read this till after we moored. Thanks for the info you gave us over the last few days. It was very helpful although we had thought the lock wouldn't open till tomorrow and our plan was to wash Kelpies roof and one side. Didn't happen 😄

The lock is open !!!

The only thing which seems to be happening at Orchard Marina is that the rain is adding to the water in it 😄

That's us arrived at the end of the queue and prepared for a long wait.

That is the painting we have a print of!

I remember Alan Firth. Many years ago I wanted a set of place mate with canal scenes but couldn't find any. It was suggested I contact Alan and ask if he would sell me some prints so that I could have mats made. He actually gave me 12 photos of his work which I had blown up to A4 size and had the mats made. They are beautiful and are used regularly. I contacted Alan and he said he would like to see them so the next time we came down south we visited Alan and showed them what we had had done. He gave us a framed print of one of his paintings which we have on Kelpies wall. I wish I had more of his work and I have fond memories of him.

We have never seen Barbridge so quiet. One hire boat ( Chas Harden) moored on the towpath and room for at least two more boats outside the pub. The lock closure obviously has a big effect here and the guy in the pub told us they had kicked off all the boats on their moorings which had been here for a while.

That's a possibility but the splodges were quite big ( over an inch in diameter ) and I think sparrows and chaffinches do quite small poos. I think it was either an animal or a bigger bird But what

Getting back to the original post we moored in Wrenbury last night and we have just found several red splodges on the roof. A close inspection revealed several red berries ( hawthorn?) In each splodge. The splodges are dried now but they were obviously sort of liquid when they hit the roof. There were a lot of squawking ducks in the canal last night but do they eat hawthorn berries ? Any idea what our visitors were ?

Thank you. For some reason I am not getting emails. Plan is to moor at Barbridge tonight then move along the branch and join the queue tomorrow. Knowing we will have a long wait.

Not good news but thank you for letting me know.

No, that sounds like a highland fling. I was thinking of something less energetic, like a waltz.

Several times on this holiday when walking back from the pub or when walking the dog in the dark lights come on when we pass a moored boat. I assume this is some sort of camera system and I am sorely tempted to do a wee dance or make rude gestures 😄. Common sense has so far prevailed !

If you do walk up there tomorrow I would appreciate an update. If it is open and the queue has got through we hope to be there on Tuesday

Blast , I should check my messages more closely in future 😄..i can spell I just can't type!

Glad you all made it.

We are hoping it will be fixed tomorrow as the email seemed to suggest. We have our fingers crossed as it is a long was round by Autherley or the Shop Canal.

Days 9 and 10. Back up onto the Golly and had a quick shopping trip in Ellesmere - moored across the end of the arm 😄. Moored above Grindley overnight . What a beautiful day Sunday is ! Wall to wall sunshine . Iain felt he had to support the Willeymoor pub and had a pint while he worked a few boats through. Nice to chat to the owners of Border Riever, fellow Scots at the foot of the staircase. Mooring in Wrenbury ,- again ,! It would have been nice to go up to o Llangollen but have to get back for rmore blood tests and iain possibly has a couple of RYA courses to run

That sounds promising , Thank you

We got the email about this closure and as we should go through the lock in a few days I wonder if anyone in the vicinity can give us an idea if it will be a quick fix or not. It's a long way round if it is going to be closed for a while 😄

Day 8. A leisurely trip back to the bottom of the Frankton locks ready for our booking tomorrow. Sanded, washed and painted the bit between the port side gunwale and rubbing strake. We have enjoyed our short trip on the Monty with the more relaxed and leisurely boating .

The big trees on both sides seem to have grown a lot since we were here last and with the canopies leaning over the canal it does feel a bit enclosed in places. Jungle was probably not the right word 😄

Yes, the first bit of the Monty from Frankton is like boating in the jungle. Huge trees on both sides and the edges very overgrown. It gives the canal a feeling of being different from other canals though 😄

Day 7. We try to boat on a new to us bit of water every year and we achieved that today by going to the end of the navigable part of the Monty. It was raining but that didn't affect our enjoyment at being able to travel on this part of the canal which is so unlike the rest. Instead of lots of trees and SSSIs we had views over flat farmland to hills in the distance. The hard work which has gone onto the restoration was evident and we admired the lovely stonework at the edge of the canal.