Overwater Marina to Chester and back to Tattenhall Marina

We stayed in Overwater Marina for 4 nights and made good use of having an address for deliveries.  Less than 24 hours after ordering a television from acdc it was plugged in and we were watching it, a very efficient service.  Our afternoon walk frequently took us into Audlem village, home of the Shroppie Fly pub named after the express delivery boats on the canal.

Looking over the lock gate to the Shroppie Fly pub with Audlem Mill in the background

On Saturday morning we pulled out of Overwater Marina but didn't go far, we joined Chris & Geoff at Coole Pilates.

Leaving Overwater Marina

The next day we sailed the short distance to Hack Green and, on foot, followed the signs to the Secret Bunker.  The drab concrete building was part of the early warning and communications network in case of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.  The displays and rooms of equipment demonstrated the gravity of the situation. 

Communication boards in the bunker

There as also a small dormitory of uncomfortable looking beds.

The sparse dormitory

On Tuesday we moved on to Nantwich where the narrow Shropshire Union widens into the broad canal to Chester.  We stocked up at Morrisons because the canal continues through open countryside and our next grocery shop will be Chester.  We did however stop at Countrywide farm supplies and one of our purchases was a splitting maul which I soon put to good use when we stopped for the day.  

On Friday we came to the first broad locks, 3 of them in a staircase at Bunbury. 

The old stables at Bunbury top lock

The next morning we awoke to a hard frost and fog so the view was hidden as we sailed passed Beeston Castle.

Frost and fog and some smoke from our chimney!

On Sunday Chris and I took turns to walk ahead and set the 5 locks into Chester where we moored near Cow Lane Bridge.  On Monday we enjoyed a visit to Mum and Dad and on our return found the city centre cordoned off with a lot of police on duty; it was the memorial service for the Duke of Westminster.  Later we went for a drink with Geoff & Chris, tomorrow we will be going our separate ways until the New Year.  

Monday night had been bitterly cold freezing the canal over.  Brent III's bow crunched noisily through the ice as we turned round and sailed out of Chester.  We moored up outside Waverton and during the night the canal froze over again.  This time the ice was an inch thick and took some breaking through to leave the bank.  Kev got us on our way but progress was slow and very noisy as we broke the ice in our path.  

Breaking the ice 

  
Luckily some other boats were also on the move and it was easier going where they'd broken the ice but when we reached Tattenhall Marina it was obvious we were the first through.  Kev had to ram Brent III back and forward to open a route to the jetty and end our travels for 2016.  During the year we've sailed 1043 miles and come through 713 locks. 


Our travels in 2016

Wheaton Aston to Overwater Marina

As the days are growing shorter and the sun is lower in the sky our solar panels aren't always producing enough electricity so we're now relying on the engine to recharge our batteries.   To make the most of running the engine we decided to travel a short distance each day.  We left Wheaton Aston behind and sailed into open countryside.  There was a price to pay for the rural scenery, our broadband and phone signals were non-existent for much of the time.  The canal is crossed by a variety of bridges, the first unusual one being a turnover bridge that also incorporated a road bridge. 

The turnover bridge takes the towpath across the canal and incorporates a road bridge

Bess and Brinny enjoyed their afternoon walks along the wooded canal sides especially when they saw a squirrel to chase. 

Did you say squirrel?

On Saturday morning it was bright, blustery and bitterly cold; out came our hats, gloves and scarves as we set off for Norbury Junction.  On the way we sailed along the narrow cutting which leads through steep sandstone cliffs to Cowley Tunnel. 

Trailing plants hanging over the southern portal of Cowley Tunnel

We stopped for a couple of days at Norbury Junction where, after a spark of life from the wi-fi, we ordered an Asda delivery.  

On Monday we set off and the canal took us under a well known landmark, High Bridge on the Grub Street Cutting.

A telegraph pole in a bridge at Grub Street Cutting

The next day we sailed along the high Shebdon Embankment which is a mile long and towers over the surrounding countryside.  Sadly the views are obscured by trees growing either side of the canal.   We stopped out in the open near bridge 49 and that night the heavens opened.  

On Wednesday the weather was dry as we set off and sailed through the narrow Woodseaves Cutting which is carved through red sandstone.  The banks are steep and look precarious in places with loose rocks and fallen trees.  The heavy rain during the night had washed sandstone into the canal turning it orange.  At Tyrley Wharf we spotted the smallest narrowboat we've seen. 

The Spirit of Phoebe, a small boat floating on an orange canal

The visitor moorings at Tyrley made a good place to stop because the rain had started again. 

Attractive wharf buildings at Tyrley 

The next day we sailed down the Tyrley Locks to Market Drayton where we dodged heavy rain to go shopping.   OnFriday we were surprised to find a heavy frost had frozen our ropes which took some untying and were still stiff when we moored up a short way out of town. 

From here the canal changes its character, we've seen the last of the high embankments and deep cuttings but it is still rural and we still had only an intermittent broadband signal.  On Sunday we sailed down the 5 Adderley Locks and on Monday tackled the 15 Audlem Locks.  

Looking down the Audlem Locks.  On the Shropshire Union the balance beams are painted grey and white instead of black and white.

At Audlem I called in the mill which now houses a shop, the first floor of which is dedicated to needlecrafts.  It is always a pleasure to buy some colourful embroidery silks. 

Audlem Mill 

On Tuesday morning we turned into Overwater Marina and were given a mooring next to Geoff and Chris on Geordie Spirit.  We're going to stay for a couple of days to make use of the facilities, especially the tumble dryers. 


Our journey from Wheaton Aston to Overwater Marina

Parkgate Lock to Wheaton Aston

On Monday we returned to Penkridge where we stopped for a couple of days and Kev turned his attention to the new hob.  Unfortunately we needed a longer copper pipe so out came the bike and Kev cycled the short distance back to Midland Chandlers.  He then fitted the new hob which is a vast improvement on the old one. 

The new hob, the big ring on the right makes short work of boiling the kettle

It was half term and there were plenty of boats on the move as we retraced our route south. After descending Gailey Lock we were in a long pound all the way to Autherley Junction.

Gailey Lock is on the left under the bridge with the towpath arch to the right.  The round tower is an interesting landmark on the canal as it used to be a toll house.

It's the season for mushrooms and toadstools and at Calf Heath we spotted some bright redcap toadstools.

A bright redcap toadstool emerging at the side of the canal

On Friday we arrived at Autherley Junction and initially moored up close to Morrisons so we could go for a big shop.  Then we moved onto the visitor moorings but not for long.  Geoff & Chris on Geordie Spirit sent a text; they were 3 miles ahead on the Shropshire Union.  It didn't take us long to join them on the moorings at bridge 8.  It was good to catch up and we all stayed put until Tuesday. 

  

The view of the moorings as we return from our walk

One of my afternoon walks took us into Brewood, a large village with several shops.  One of the houses was all decked up for Halloween.

A spooky house in Brewood

At its southern end the Shropshire Union consists of a series of embankments and cuts with very few locks; its also very rural and pretty in autumn.

Autumn colours on one of the embankments

On Tuesday we were ready to move on but didn't go far before we spotted some large logs in the undergrowth.  Geoff & Kev soon had their chainsaws out and neatly sliced the logs into discs for stowing on board.  With our bows slightly lower in the water we continued to an open spot near the Stretton Aqueduct.  Once moored up we were all busy splitting logs and stacking them on our front decks.

Stretton Aqueduct crossing the A5

The next day we sailed into Wheaton Aston where we stopped at Turners Garage for diesel.  Geoff & Chris sailed on, heading for Market Drayton.  After fueling up we stopped on the visitor moorings and walked into the village for some shopping which included free-range eggs from the hens we'd seen in a field next to the canal.


Our journey from Parkgate Lock to Wheaton Aston