Shropshire Union Canal:Calveley

Last night the canal re-opened at 19:30.   There was a surge of boats both ways, but nowhere near the 29 boats that Pat had counted from behind us.   The last boat through said they are all drunk or having barbecues.   WE went and had a look at the remains of the tree.   Basically they have cut the top off leaving some of the substantial trunk but giving a single channel as a temporary measure.  We stayed put overnight but left especially early to get a headstart at Middlewich as the junction is a bit of a canal hotspot and also to make up a bit of lost time.     The plan worked.    We didn't see another boat moving until up on the Middlewich branch.   It has turned out a fine day and once we turned on to the Shroppie proper heading for Chester we were so impressed by the sight of a wide grassy bank after passing the Calveley Service Centre (so called) that we stopped for the day.   We have been passed by a regular stream of boats in both directions including two full length CRT working boats.   Haven't seen those in operation for ages.