boaterdave

I doubt that’s true but hopefully it is around Xmas

Hi all. Does anyone know if when the Middlewich Branch is due to be reopened. ?

Can anyone tell the the times of passage from the Preston brook end of the tunnel to the T&M ? And also the times same direction for Salteford ? Many thanks

Hi there having done this trip loads while our boat was moored at Anderton....my advice would be to push on for Chester. If you get to the boat yard handy around dinnertime hopefully your boat will be ready & you'll hopefully be able to set off by 2pm. Its a nice leisurely 4hour cruise to Middlewich but I'd aim to do an extra hour & go up the locks & moor above Wardle lock on the Middlewich branch or carry on a little if you want a rural mooring. Sunday I'd aim for a nice early start with 3 hours cruise to Barbridge Junc although this can alter massively depending on if there are queues at the locks. From Barbridge junction to Beeston wharf is around 3hours again depending on Queues at the locks. But the joy of this stretch is that 2 boats can share the locks apart from beeston Iron lock. From Beeston to Chriselton is around 2 hours cruising so I'd plan to moor around here Sunday night. The Monday morning you just have to head down the 5 locks into Chester city centre. This should take around 2.5 hours again depending on queues. I'd moor on the visitor moorings by the lock keepers pub think its bridge123c as this is quite near to train station. Hope this helps you.

I do apologise Adam yes Flynn was involved with skater & the pride of Sefton 2...I no Jamie well. He was a employee of skater. I was up at Aintree boats last week. Iam quite liking to the new Aintree beetle

Yes Aintree boats are a completely different outfit all together. As Adam said they were Skater marine until they went bust in 2010. But it was actually set up by an employer of Skater not a customer. As I no him very well

Just been up the Ashby last week beautiful

Made it on to The Ashby canal this evening after a long trip from Polesworth. Took an Ages to get up Atherstone flight in wet & miserable conditions. We are moored at Br 5 and have retired to the corner house pub.

Wot do you mean Really "grace&favour?

Yes Westport lake moorings our beautiful

The river section at Alrewas was fine yesterday ( sat) when we came from Mercia. Have we passed you today Mrs trackman? Wot is your boat called? Were now moored at pokesworth on our way up the Ashby

No idea about name of boat...its just one of the classic line boats

Thanks for everyone's reply. We are now going to do the Ashby & return

I totally agree last week I was aboard a friends boat moored at tixhall wide & all these private boats were going past without even a thought to slowing down. Two boats flew past ( Tarn & Harold ) must have been doing 5mph pulled the pins out of the boat behind the owners had gone of somwere so we had to rescue it. Wot gets me is that its us hirers that get blamed when every hire boat that pasted us did so in tickover.

Thanks for your advice. I'd still really like to do the ring. Will have a think about it today. As always wanted to stop in gas street.but again I'd like to do the ashby. Good thing is we cab pick the boat up at 9am in the morning

Have a look on black princes website. The sell they ex hire boats off after 3 years. The have the duchess 4 58ft 4 berth. Think black prince build there own boats

I thought I could join the black county ring at Fradley? That's only a few hours from Mercia

do you not think the black county ring is doable?

Hi everyone...... I have decided to hire a boat from Mercia Marina this Sat. I`am pretty new to the midlands canals although ive done the four counties ring. Is there any decent routes/rings you would advise? i don`t mind do roughly 8 hours a day and her in doors likes doing locks. i was thinking of the black county ring or the Stourport ring but not a 100% sure were we would join it? all advice greatly recieved

Four counties is an excellent ring

Makes me laugh the way ABC charge people to boat move for them.....I've boat moved for Anglo welsh & black prince & never paid a penny

I understand how hard it must be for him regarding having his foot amputated. But am just concerned about all the people who donated money to help him me included. Should that money not be returned if the hut is closed.

Wot happened to all the money that was raised ?

It isn't paulc that's on the narrowboat Ltd website too.