Now in Northwich

Well after a good catch up with Penny we moved on towards Nantwich. Just spending the one night there before moving on to Middlewhich Canal, where we were glad to find a mooring with shade we we could sit out in the cool. How does our weather change so quickly. On Wednesday we moored near Winsford to be near the railway station. This was so on Thursday we could catch the train to Manchester to attend Cheryl's (Paul's niece) degree ceremony.

Paul, Jill, Cheryl and Mike
after presentation of Cheryl's
Bachelor of Science Nursing Practice with Honours

Friday was a quieter day with a short cruise to Middlewhich to prepare for our Saturday visitors. First to arrive were Cheryl and Mike. Mike lives at Macclesfield very close the the Canal of that name and has never worked a lock, so on Thursday we said we can put that right. Then by coincidence on the same day Tommo, who Paul used to work with, drove north 50+ miles on his way back to Plymouth from Sutton Coldfield. He had been to a wedding and drove all that way to come and see us and bring a loaf of bread. By the way it's all gone now Tommo!
We are now moored at the place called Broken Cross. There are no prizes for guessing the name of the nearby pub.
It is the end of next week that Falcon goes in for painting and we will be heading for Plymouth until 10th August. Will catch up with as many as we can, but a bit unknown at the moment as I am having a wisdom tooth out on 1st, so see how it goes!
So bye for now.

Market Drayton

Busy moorings at Market Drayton 

A busy day Sunday! A short cruise in the morning brought us to Wheaton Aston. There is a garage there close by the Canal that sells the cheapest diesel anywhere. However it wasn't open on Sunday, so Paul watched the British Grand Prix. We then watched Andy Murray win Wimbledon. After such a hard afternoon the only thing to do then was go to the Hartley Arms for a meal. Shouldn't watch too much TV! A very nice meal too, good portions and very tasty.
Monday we cruised on to Norbury Junction. This hasn't actually been a junction since 1944 when the link to the Newport Branch Canal was abandoned. That evening we were lucky to catch the Alarum Theatre performing Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways. Just 2 women providing an amusing and touching depiction of a past lifestyle.
We arrived at Market Drayton yesterday only to moor by Campanula with Penny on board. A friend we first met 4 years ago on the North Oxford Canal and we have met since in a similar area so a surprise for us to see her this far north. Last night much red wine was consumed whilst we had a catch up. We will be moving on tomorrow.

Northward on the Shropshire Union Canal

Wolverley Church 

We walked up the hill to look at this church. There is a zig zag path down the other side of the hill with leads into the village. A very interesting village as many of the houses there are partly carved from the sandstone rock, their dark back rooms are actually caves.

Moving on later that day we reached Kinver. We have been there before, back in 2013, with Sheree and Alec on board. Wednesday found us back on the same stretch of water we cruised back in December last year.

Today we have moved on to the Shropshire Union Canal, so we are making good progress in our journey northwards.

This is the sign by our mooring so at least we know where we are!

Back on the Canals

Thursday we cruised up the River Severn, after Bevere Lock we passed the end of the Droitwich Canal, mooring for the night at The Holt Fleet. We were meeting friends Colin and Joan there for a meal. Very nice it was too. We moored for the night on their short jetty managing to tie up with a bow rope and 2 ropes mid-ship. Next morning the River had risen and was flowing much more quickly and when we looked the land side half of the jetty was under water. We were very luck that our ropes had been long and the boat had shifted and we were still floating. We made a hasty departure and after 2 locks and 6 miles of River we were glad to enter the lock at Stourport-on-Severn and on to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

We came up the narrow locks, 2 x 2 staircase locks in
front of the fairground

Saturday we spent the day on chores, me at the launderette whilst Paul did an oil change. We did go for a walk around the historic Canal Basin too.  Then on Sunday we saw Colin and Joan again with their

The wide Barge locks. Wide beam boats can only come as far
as the basin as the next lock is narrow.

daughter, Sue with husband John. They had driven over to Stourport to see us. We took them for a short cruise, down the lock into the basin and back. Enjoying lunch and wine on board too. A good time was had by all.
Today we have cruised up through Kidderminster and are moored for the night at Wolverley. Will have a look around there in the morning before moving on.