Chris T

Well, I am committed to going now so that I can report back on the pub 😁 (sorry, won't be the chippy). Lots of swans at Anderton today. We hadn't, however, realised that the boat lift and visitor centre close on Thursday, but on the positive side we now have a beautiful mooring at Billinge flash. We were told by another boater that the boat lift and visitor centre had been closed for 3 days as the car park had been occupied by travellers.

The Kings Lock pub has been closed the last 2 times we've passed, during what you'd expect to be opening hours, so we weren't sure if it had closed down. Anyway, following the recommendations, we decided to swap Northwich for Middlewich for our shopping, so will be trying out the recommendations tomorrow. We plan to moor above Kings Lock too, as it looked to be busy enough to be safe and gets a few of the locks out of the way.

We are now discussing plans to stop overnight in Middlewich on our return 🍻

The White Bear looks good, maybe one for the way back 🍻

🤣🤣🤣 I should have stopped in Middlewich today. The Anderton boat lift option would be perfect, but our timings don't really make that a possibility unfortunately.

Thank you.

It's Northwich we want to go to, I didn't spot that! So moor at Broken Cross pub and possible bus from there. I like Nantwich too but don't remember going to Northwich. Thank you.

Do you know where that is in terms of bridge numbers please? 15 minute walk is perfect.

We've just watched a cormorant catch a fish that looked way too big for it to swallow whole, it was shaking it about for some time, but I didn't see whether it managed to gulp it down and what it would do if it was too big to swallow. I wouldn't have thought a mink would have taken a fish up onto the roof of a boat to eat though. I'll have to keep an eye on the barbeque.

Can anyone tell me the best place to moor on the Trent and Mersey for the shops in Northwich please? And if there is a bus into the town. Thank you.

Heron?

That's what I had assumed/ hoped. The Polytrol did nothing to the cream lines. I tried applying it with a rag but a paint brush was much easier and I found it better to apply it sparingly than have to wipe off excess.

Our boat was looking very 'chalkie' when we bought it. We tried polishing by hand, an electric buffer and various paint restorers that were hard work and not particularly effective. Came across Polytrol and bought a trial size pot which, applied sparingly with a small paintbrush, was enough for one side of the boat (excl the gunnels). It looked great, really shiny and restored the colour so we bought some more. Four years later it is a bit patchy in places but still looks better than it did. My concern was whether it would be a problem if you wanted to paint over it, but we had lots of areas more in need of painting than the sides so decided to go ahead.

It seems to be broken more than it is operating. I don't recall this being a problem when it was a manual lift bridge, like the one next to it.

Turners diesel was 92.9 today 😲. They open at 9.

Thanks but I also found something online that said 9am so hoped that someone knew for definite.

Does anyone know what time they open in the morning please?

Thanks, that will be why I didn't keep a note. Assuming it was done on time if course.

Back to the sunk boat, there are some more photos and a video, if you have Facebook / Instagram, it looks terrible. Seems the canal was drained in order to refloat the boat. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02R3Xw1rbhjtZ2rEkhPG2R5yBjniZQLZtdspMSWyW9KnW87fpoS9XuRvAtLQLhfR6ul&id=100070211255408 https://www.instagram.com/p/CrTMVXaMl4m/

Does anyone know is the lock open again now? I got the stoppage notice but can't find it now or see it on CRTs site

No idea. His comments are that the boat will need "a full refit inside, new engine, new stock, and new equipment". No mention of hull work. Over £3,500 raised already though, so the slightly odd Manchester Evening News article has obviously helped him.

His Go Fund Me page says: "I hit catastrophe at the last hurdle and a rug or mattress caught on the propellor and popped my stern gland. Sadly the boat sank and I lost all my records and equipment."

The upper Macc / Upper Peak Forest were the busiest I've seen it in ages, quite a few hire boats too, I'd wondered if the restricted lock times would deter hirers.

They are due to reopen tomorrow, with restricted hours / days. Naturally we received the email notification the day after having our gear box removed for repair of a small leak.

More info on the Lord Combermere https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/amazing-country-pub-ready-reopen-7682846