Day 29 - Saturday July 29th - Chester to Barbridge Junction
15 miles 4 furlongs, 11 locks, 9 hours 5 minutes
Set off at 8.20am, winding immediately before bridge 123E. Hoole Lane
locks were in my favour. Approaching Tarvin lock, I could see a
fisherman on the bank who obviously had something fairly decent hooked
on his roach pole. I held back until he landed it, as I wasn't in any
great hurry and didn't want an irate fisherman haranguing me at the next
lock. A boat coming the other way spotted what was going on and stopped
as well. A few minutes later they managed to land the fish - something
weighing about 4lb apparently. I set off again to the lock, getting
words of thanks from the fisherman. While ascending Greenfield lock, I
spotted a boat coming down the next lock, so left the top gate open for
them. Thankfully they also spotted me and left the bottom gate open for
me. Cleared the top of Christleton lock at 10.40am, and set off on the
8 mile run to Wharton lock. A boat pulled out and followed me for a
while before stopping and tying up on the offside. Through Wharton lock
without problem, arriving at Beeston Iron lock in a light shower of
rain. Annoyingly the crew of a boat going the other way started filling
the lock as I was a couple of hundred yards short of it. I sheltered
with the stern of the boat under the bridge while they worked through
the lock. The main problem with this lock is the complete lack of lock
ladders and a footbridge right over the tail of the lock. I ended up
with the bow of the boat between the gates, getting off the back with
the long centre rope and a windlass. Up to the footbridge with the rope
where I tied a big bulky know in the end and after a few goes managed to
swing it enough so that the knotted end went right under the bridge and
I could grab it as it swung up. Untie the knot then haul the boat in
using the rope. While filling the lock, another boat arrived behind me,
so I said I'd wait for them at the Stone lock. I got there, raised the
paddles to let out the odd three inchess of water that had leaked in,
opened both gates and had my boat in by the time they arrived. Shared
this lock and Tilstone lock with them. A crew member from another boat
behind offered to shut the gates, so the other boat left in the
direction of Bunbury while I was still getting the ropes on board. Not
a problem, as we would be sharing again at Bunbury I thought. Not
quite, as one of the Anglo-Welsh boats from Bunbury had set off, winded
and was now heading for the staircase in front of both of us. Whilst
technically the boat I had been sharing with was in front of me at this
point, I feel that morally I was in front. Certainly, if the situation
had been reversed, I would have allowed them back in front to share the
lock. However they shot into the lock with the hire boat, never looking
back or acknowledging that I was behind them. I ended up sharing with
the following boat, clearing the top of the staircase at 4.20pm. The
boat which had sneaked past me tied up on the visitor moorings just
above the staircase, so they were obviously in a hurry! I carried on to
Barbridge Junction, going just beyond bridge 100 where it is wide enough
to wind a 55ft boat (so I discovered), and tied up just North of bridge
100 at 5.30pm. Had the BBQ lit within 5 minutes of stopping, and
settled down to a beer while the BBQ got going. A couple of pork loin
chops and salad followed by raspberries and cream for supper and then
over to the pub for the rest of the evening. Just finished eating by
the time it started raining, so quickly retreated to the boat. Had a
little rest before going to the pub, only by the time I realised what
time it was, it was nearly a quarter to eleven. Oh well, the best laid
plans ... Went to bed instead.
Weather - Mainly Cloudy with Light Showers later
Tomorrow's Forecast - Sunny Intervals
Terry Streeter
NB Arun - Barbridge Junction
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