4 Canucks on the Cut- Part 2

[Steve Smyth]

Day 4 Nantwich to Middlewich

 

After being woken by the swans and ducks, we had a nice breakfast on the boat and pushed off at 8.00. After due consideration and much discussion amongst the crew, we had decided to take the Middlewich Branch for a bit of a change. Our original plan was to make it to Christleton and go into Chester. While we could have made Chester, we would have been pinched for time so we decided to see what a contour canal looked like. We watered at Barbridge in the rain after queuing up behind a Napton boat. Quite a floating palace it was too, with flat screen TV and DVD player. We decided we might have to try one of those next time. This was the first time either of us had mentioned a “next time” so obviously all were enjoying the trip. Stopped at Kate’s Canal Shop past the bridge and first locks. They were very friendly and welcoming and we spent a bunch of money on souvenirs and other bric a brac. We moored up for lunch on the path above Church Minishull and although it was really windy, we enjoyed an absolutely wonderful view as we dined on the boat. Steering in a contour canal proved to be a bit more interesting and required more direct attention than in the straight wide cuttings and embankments of the Shroppie.

 

 

We arrived at Middlewich in the early afternoon and planned to go through the Wardle lock and use the Trent and Mersey canal as a turn around point. Because of the high winds, there were boats blown around everywhere and about 6 boats waiting in line waiting to go back up the Middlewich branch. Kent executed a perfect turn in horrible conditions but unfortunately didn’t realize that the other boats were waiting their turn to go back up. In order to not appear to be jumping the line, he tried to move back to the opposite bank but got caught in the wind. He ended up drifting across the pond and almost banging into a new boat moored up at the boatyard across the pond.

 

The young lad working at the boatyard offered his help and stayed with them until it was his turn to come back across. He said he’d been pretty much doing that all day long because of the wind. Alice and I stayed on the Wardle side and helped with ropes and offering help to the boaters still coming off the Middlewich and to those coming in off the Trent and Mersey. After an hour or so of this, Kent brought the Ulfy back up the Wardle and we all jumped back on happy to be back underway. We moored up for the night and hiked back into town for dinner. Tried the Kings Lock but it was much too smoky to eat in so we ended up at the Narrow Boat Inn in town. My Uncle and cousin and their spouses joined us for dinner and we had a lovely meal. More Marstons for all and a cheery evening followed. We all walked back to the boat for a few “cans” and afterwards, I escorted the family back to the road. We went to sleep knowing that that was the end of any new territory to explore and knowing that we had to start the return journey home in the morning.

 

 

 

Day 5 Middlewich to Audlem

 

Woke up at 7.15 am and had breakfast on the boat- pushed off early. There were a lot of Claymoore and Anglo Welsh boats heading for home so we left early to avoid as many lock line ups as possible. This “strategy” seemed to work as there were no long line ups to speak of. Middlewich has very deep and for the most part, very beautiful scenery around the locks

 

We stopped and bought fresh eggs and a few veggies form the fellow at Bridge 8. It was very civilized, you just moor up and ring the bell and an elderly gentleman comes out to see what you need. We stopped at Kate’s’ again for a few more supplies for the rest of the trip. We stopped and watered up at Barbridge again. The weather was much nicer this time and the wind had finally subsided. We noticed a great many Black Prince boats headed west now we were back on the Shroppie main line. Handed off the Captains chair to Kent after Barbridge and intended to have a bit of a nap in the afternoon. Slept all the way to Hurleston Junction and awoke feeling a bit sheepish as I hadn’t meant to sleep quite that long.

 

We discussed stopping at Hack Green but we were making such good time that we pushed on. We moored up for the night in a nice pound at the top of Audlem bottom lock and walked into town for a few pints and a snack at the Shroppie Fly. Not so noisy or crowded this time so we enjoyed our evening immensely. Marstons Pedigree and Flowers Traditional are rapidly becoming firm favourites for me. Of course, these are the beers I can’t get at home. I am really going to miss the pub environment when we return to Canada. Every time I come to England I marvel at the atmosphere and congeniality evident in most pubs there. When I compare them to our loud, noisy and overcrowded bars back home I wonder what part of the formula we don’t seem to be able to get right. Nice evening walk back to the boat in time for a good nights sleep and to build strength for the locks tomorrow.

 

Day 6 Audlem to Anchor Inn

 

This morning, we discovered the meaning of “raining stair rods”. We awoke at 7.30 to buckets of rain falling on roof. We tried to remain optimistic but why today of all days? I think the wellies are finally going to get a good work out today. After a watering up in the rain at Audlem and a stop for a few pictures, we were away.

 

It took 3 hours to complete the Audlem flight as there were not very many boats coming down. We had to waste quite a few locks because of it. Rain lasted until lock 9. Alice and I had become a lean, mean locking machine by this time and we were able to really fly compared to our speed coming down the flight. Kent piloted Ulfy up to lock 15 and then we switched. There were quite a few more boats coming down through Adderley and Tyrley which help speed things up immensely. Learned all about allowing for by wash in quite a few of the locks. Just when you thought you had the bow lined up, it would push it off to the left and you’d be trying to realign the bow in the last 15 feet, sometimes with limited success. The cry of “brace for impact” rang out more than once.

 

It started to rain and blow again much to our dismay. Woodseaves cutting was quite challenging in the wind and rain. It seemed that every time we were at a narrow spot, we came up against a boat going down. No major calamities ensued as we had gotten reasonably adept at steering by this time. We moored up one bridge short of the Anchor Inn at High Offley. We had been told that we must experience this pub while on this particular canal. It was quite amazing to see Olive trudge up and down the stairs with her plastic jug and drawing ale directly from the cask. The place was first opened in 1826 and looks like little has changed since then. There were no pumps, no cash register and definitely no fruity machines. We asked her to open the shop so we could do some browsing which she kindly did. We purchased a few t shirts and had a few pints of 6X and Scrumpy in order to celebrate Kent and Alice’s wedding anniversary in fine style. I guarantee that they won’t forget this particular evening. Back to the boat for a snack and a few more pints then off to bed. What a great day of cruising, locking and sightseeing but we were feeling a bit sad as we realized we only had 2 nights left on Ulfy.

 

 

Woke up at 7.00 to a lovely blue sky and warm sunshine. After a nice breakfast, we set off on our last full day of cruising. It was a pretty uneventful and peaceful day. The canal really does look different from the other direction. The scenery around Norbury, Gnosall and Shebdon was really quite lovely. I think I was so nervous and wound up on the way out that I didn’t really notice it at all.

 

We stopped at Norbury and watered up Ulfy for the final time. Alice ran over the bridge and purchased some more water for us as well. We stopped back at the Hartley Arms in Wheaton Aston for a lunch and wow, was it ever great. Good pints, lovely food and large portions for all. We waddled back to the boat at 2.00 and pushed off through our last lock together. On the very last lock, I finally nailed it. I went straight in with very little to spare on either side and didn’t touch once. Luckily, this was the lock that Kent chose to video with his camera so I end look like quite a boating whiz on the clip. The 4 of us know that this was not always the case but what happens in the cut, stays on the cut.

 

As we were coming out the lock, we met a large boat full of fellow Canadians who were just finishing up the Four Counties ring. We exchanged pleasantries and discovered they had had just as much fun as we had and they too were sad to be finishing up.

 

We sailed through the crowd of boats moored at Brewood and turned at the winding hole at Bridge 9. Kent again proved to be a veritable maritime master as he spun the boat around with no problems whatsoever. We moored up for the evening and wandered into town for a nice evening meal. Unfortunately, every single pub in Brewood was packed to the gunwales and unable to accommodate our little party. So we had to walk back to Ulfy and devour our leftover beer and food supplies. We had quite a shock when we got back as the back end of the boat had pulled free from her moorings and drifted out almost blocking the whole canal. At this stage, we just laughed it off and pulled her back again. While not quite the gourmet meal we were hoping for, it was fulfilling none the least. Crackers, biscuits and a can or two of tuna fish were all we had left.

 

Drinking the last of our supplies, we toasted each others company and the success of our maiden voyage. All of us suggested that it had been everything we had hoped for and made a commitment that one day, we would be back to try it again.

 

We awoke the next morning early and puttered back to Countrywide to return our trusty boat back to William and his crew. The handover was quick and painless with no additional charges levied for the broken glasses and the one bowl we broke at Audlem. Kent and Alice piled in with their family and headed off for the south of England. Marsha and I were picked up by my uncle who took us back to Warrington and then on to Northern Ireland.

 

The boat was flawless and comfortable and performed every task we asked, including a few that we shouldn’t have asked. It was a wonderful trip filled with scenery, good company, good beer and only a few mistakes and just enough crabby people to make them amusing. The Shroppie and the people on it gave us everything that we wanted and more and proved to be an excellent choice as a route for first timers. We feel we got the whole canal experience.

[Bill Kennedy]

Hi Steve

 

Great trip report. The Shroppie really is a lovely waterway. Although we have only ever seen it in Spring/Summer I imagine it would be quite beautiful in Autumn.

 

Was pleased to hear CWC treated you well and that Ulfy lived up to your expectations. We go back in under 5 months for our next cruise amd can't wait.

 

Cheers

 

Bill