We expect to leave our overnight moorings early and alone, but three boats passed us before 7:00 am. So we are not the only ones. First came Big Lock which can take two narrowboats. Two must have already gone up ahead. The third was finishing taking on water and joined us to go up. We were expecting a bit of a queue at the next lock, the first of three deep narrow locks, but they were deserted and empty so a quick ascent was ours. Kings Lock next, just after the junction with the Middlewich arm of the Shropshire Union Canal was full and a boat was about to descend giving us open gates eventually. However, I did pop-up to have a look. The hire boaters were just returning from a trip to Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal and singing its praises for heritage interest and attractiveness. Their intent to work this into a “ring” had been thwarted by a tree down on the Ashton Canal apparently. Soon we were on our way again, all locks in our favour. We had intended to stop at Wheelock for water, but the landing was occupied so we carried on with the intention of getting the first few of the Cheshire Locks out of the way before a threatened turn for the worse in the weather. Again all bar one of the locks were in our favour and better, some left with gates open for us by opposite direction boats. We were lucky. It isn’t always like this. One can picture a scene where following another uphill group all the locks need to be emptied, or they have been turned around by enthusiastic crews setting up a passage for their boats well in advance without regard for the needs of boats coming the other way. The Cheshire Locks are paired for the most part, which does help.
We stopped above Lock 59 just in time to a valid a soaking and watched a very slow procession fo traffic on the M6 motorway. Emergency bridge repairs apparently.
Comments