Historic Working Boats

From the Llangollen canal we returned briefly to the Shropshire union and then turned onto the Middlewich branch.  This canal is just 10 miles long but because it is raised up over it's surroundings it has some outstanding views. 

View from the canal - across the River Weaver and a lake looking towards Winsford.

As we approached a bridge we saw a boat coming towards us, an old working boat now selling rope fenders, coal, diesel etc.  As we passed each other Kev asked the price of diesel and decided to fill up.  We moored up and the working boat reversed back and tied up to us with the diesel pump in the right position.  We enjoyed a chat while filling up, bought some coal  and then untied and continued our journeys.  All very easy and convenient.

We saw some more old working boats which were travelling to an event at Ellesmere Port for Easter.  At Middlewich the canal joins the Trent & Mersey and we head south.  The view changed dramatically; a busy road, industrial areas, a salt factory and houses now flank the canal.  As we headed out into the countryside we came across another working boat which was stuck sideways across the canal.  The owner was trying to turn it round in a winding hole, a place where the canal has been widened to enable boats to turn.  Unfortunately it wasn't deep enough for the boat loaded with bags of coal.  We assisted by trying to push and when that failed by pulling on a rope tied to his stern.  A guy with a van obliging pulled a rope that was attached to the bow.  Eventually the old boat turned and was able to go on it's way which was, bizarrely, in reverse to the next lock down.  Apparently it had got stuck going through forwards but the owner thought it would be OK in reverse.   

Taken during a pause in the proceedings, our rope is tied to a cleat on the stern and the van on the left pulled a rope attached to the bow.

It was getting late so we moored up just before the next lock and Kev noticed the water level had dropped.  We assumed the guys with the old boat were still having a problem going through the lock. 

At 9 o'clock the water level had dropped by 18 inches and we were resting on the bottom.  We walked down to the lock to see what was happening and found the lock paddles had been left partially open.  This meant the water was running straight through the lock and draining our section of the canal.  There was no sign of the old boat so we shut the paddles and walked up to the lock above our mooring to let in some water.  The boat owner's phone number was on one of my photos so I gave him a ring but he denied leaving the paddles open. 

The next day the water was still low but we were able to continue.  Boaters coming in the opposite direction told us there was a problem at Wheelock Locks the day before.  The water had mysteriously drained out and engineers had been checking for leaks.   It was more likely another case of opened paddles. 

As we headed south-east we gradually climbed up towards the Peak District and noticed the canal water had turned brown.  This gradually changed to rusty brown and at Kidsgrove it was orange.  The colouring is caused by ironstone leaching in the Harecastle tunnels.  

At Kidsgrove we turned onto the Macclesfield Canal which, unusually for a canal, loops back and crosses over the Trent and Mersey on an aquaduct.  

We've come along the orange Trent and Mersey at the bottom of the picture and then turned onto the Macclesfield Canal which loops back to cross over on the aquaduct.  

Between Middlewich and Kidsgrove we've climbed 288 feet in 31 locks.  Many of the locks have a duplicate lock which prevents bottlenecks on busy days. 

Duplicate locks at Thurlwood

Our route from Baddiley to Kidsgrove.