I was driven to Middlewich to meet up with nb Grace (an ex Black Prince boat and now owned by a friend who has started his own company hiring). Another friend Peter had brought the boat from Red Bull with other crew. The boat was moored not far from Big Lock and just outside the small housing estate called 'The Moorings'. This mooring, on rings is ideal for shopping in the town. Not having been to Middlewich for a couple of years I noticed a few changes, there is a new Indian Restaurant and a new Chinese Resturant in the main street. Somerfields is not as good as it was for shopping. We had fish and chips from the chip shop close to Kings Lock and I am pleased to say they are as good as ever.
Tuesday - Middlewich to Anderton An overcast morning. Set off about 0900 and into Big Lock. Top gates leaking very badly. A number of boats moored at the Flashes taking the advantage of nice quiet moorings. Good run through to Lion Salt Works where we stopped for lunch - we had to moor on Long Term Moorings as we could not figure out where the Visitor Moorings were - all the moorings just before the bridge are marked up as Long Term Moorings - there are a few rings about 150 yards before the bridge I can only assume these 'may' be the visitor moorings. All the moorings after the bridge are also marked up Long Term. Wincham Wharf - boats 3 deep on non towpath side with a line of boats on towpath side and thus giving only just over a boat width in places. 2 of the Challenger Stealth Hire Boats for sale here. Rain started and wind getting stronger just as we approached Anderton. Moored on the 2 hour moorings close to the lift after taking water at the relatively new (and nice and clean) sanitary point (which has a useful book swap inside). An extremely rough night with very high winds and lashing rain. Although the Black Prince boats come with full inventory of cutlery, plates and bedding when sold we found a major problem with the can opener - it just would not work and we were relying on having a pie in a tin for our dinner - after about 1/2 hour we managed to get tins open, we were close to going up to the pub for a meal but the weather put us off and made us persevere in opening tins. Wednesday - Andeton to Lymm Wind had dropped but still gusting and catching the boat every time in open spaces. Encounteed a boat right across the cut at Stockton Heath. Wind very strong now and difficult to move the stern of the boat so we could get past - we tried with a rope from our bow to pull it off but the wind was pushing our boat so much we gave up on that - managed to push out the other boat and slip past it with the intention of putting our boat to push its stern across, also failed. Stopped in a at the Thorne Marine - they had contacted BW as it was a BW registered boat that had been moored there for some months, they also tried contacting Peel Holdings to get one or the other to get the owner to come to his boat - apparently two or three boats had tried to move it with no success. By the time we got to Lymm it had started raining. Had Fish and chips from the Chinese Chippy. The town side (non towpath side) has had a lot of work done, new footpath, new railings, all grassy verge removed and new walkway for boaters along with rings fitted. Looks really good and a bonus for boaters. Had hoped for a pint in the British Legion but shut on wednesday so went in Saddlers Arms, good pint of real ale but cannot remember name, unfortunately could only have one of that as barrel went off. Thursday - Lymm to Dunham Town After a lie in went shopping, another Somerfields!! but a very good butchers even if a bit expensive so got steaks for dinner. Thursday market a bit of a disapointment after previous years of visiting Lymm. Set off after lunch for the 4 mile run to Dunham Town where we moored just before the bridge on the towpath side. On our way to the Axe and Cleaver we noticed the rubbish skip has been removed and replaced with a notice - Tip 1 mile away - this was one of the very few places a boater could dispose of rubbish, now sadly gone. Axe and Cleaver nice inside, menu looks very good but some appear a bit on the pricey side - could not see what the meals looked like as there were very few people eating and they were the other end of the pub. Had an extremely good steak cooked onboard by Peter, I seem to get steaks wrong so good job he cooked as it really was a good bit of meat although a bit pricey. Friday - Dunham Town to Watch House Another short day, we are constricted by the Barton Aqueduct which opens 1200 Saturday after annual maintenance - did try and ring Peel Holdings to see if it would open early but all I could get from them was 'It will be open at 1200 Saturday as planned. Went for what we thought was going to be a couple of quiet pints in the Watch House Cruising Club Bar - Smoothflow at £1.50 per pint. We got chatting to the local boaters and the couple of pints elongated to 'numerous' and a very late night. Visiting boaters are made most welcome, not open Monday, Tuesday or Thursday but if there are numerous boats with say about 12 crew they would consider opening. >From Watch House to Barnoldswick in next two parts. Terry Waldron
