Monday 11th July

Brewood to Windmill End

An early start to get to Autherley junction for 10 where Andy was due to meet us, having spent the night in Wolverhampton. He arrived there as we were going through the stop lock. Turned right to get to Aldersley junction and then up the Wolverhampton flight. All the pounds were low for the first half of the flight then we started meeting boats coming down and the rest were ok. Moored above the top lock. We walked with Peter to the station where he caught a train back to London and we went through the underpass to go to the Great Western for lunch. There Andrew Todd was waiting for us. After lunch we carried on down the Old main line, down Factory locks onto the New Main line and through Netherton tunnel to get to Windmill End where we moored for the night. Walked to The Old Swan where we had dinner in the Smoke room. I had Faggots for the second time this trip as they are homemade, not as good as the ones from Welshpool, but still good.

Sunday 10th July

High Offley to Brewood

A late start to get to Gnosall for lunch. Stopped at Norbury wharf for gas and diesel on the way. Moored in Gnosall and went to the Navigation Inn for a Sunday roast. After that we carried on to Brewood. We had something to eat on board then walked into the village centre to go to the Swan Hotel. There was a stag party going on but we got some seats and enjoyed a few beers there.

Saturday 9th July

Market Drayton to High Offley

Had a a lie in while it rained then went for lunch in the Red Lion. After that we set off but stopped almost immediately to fill up with water. The flow wasn't great and then another boat started filling up and using the toilet and it got much worse, so we didn't finish. Up through Tyrley locks and on to High Offley. Moored north of Anchor Bridge for a change and noticed that Leah was there so we were moored next each other. Having been sold for £42k she has changed owners again, had a repaint and is now moored on the Caldon canal.

Had something to eat on board then went to the Anchor for some 6X. There was some live folk singing to keep us entertained. Olive is still the landlady.

Friday 8th July

Audlem to Market Drayton

Managed to get away up the locks before anyone else when we spotted a boat coming up the lock behind us. Moored in Market Drayton on the 'overnight' moorings in time for a late lunch in the Red Lion near the town centre. This is the new Stones Brewery tap so I was disappointed to find only 3 beers available, but the food was good. There was a good pet shop in town and I got some new grooming tools and chews for Muffin. We stayed in Market Drayton overnight and had dinner in the Red Lion.

Thursday 7th July

Wrenbury to Audlem

Set off to get to Natwich for lunch. There we moored on the 24 hour moorings and walked into town to the Black Lion. This wasn't as dog friendly as we had been led to believe, but they had a warm room outside that we were allowed in. Unfortunately they had run out of Oatcakes but the food we had was good. After lunch we carried on to Audlem where we moored above lock 12. Went to The Lord Cumbermere for dinner.

Wednesday 6th July

Welshampton to Wrenbury

A long day to ensure another night in the Bhurtpore at Aston. As we were a bit ahead of schedule we ventured down the short Whitchurch arm, winded and moored back on the main line. Walked into Whitchurch for lunch at the Black Bear. The first beer that I had a sample of was not good so I settled for something else. The food was good.

After lunch we carried on and moored once again near Wrenbury for the walk to Aston for dinner at the Bhurtpore which was very good and less crowded this time despite the football match with Wales playing. The New room had been booked for a function so we were allowed to have Muffin in the bar area.

Tuesday 5th July

Maesbury to Welshampton

Set off early to get to Frankton locks again for noon. we arrived early and were first in the queue. Once up we headed for Ellesmere and went up the arm to go shopping in Tescos. As there were no other spaces we moored right at the end. After that we carried on to Welshampton to spend another night in the Red Lion there. Only a two course dinner this time.

Monday 4th July

St Martin Moor to Maesbury Mill

Set off to get to Frankton junction for noon when the locks are opened. There were quite a few boats there already so we moored for lunch just before the junction. Then we went round to join the queue. Once down the locks we carrried on through Queens Head and right to the last winding hole then back to Maesbury Mill and moored outside the canal centre. Unfortunately the Navigation Inn does not open on Mondays so we had to walk about a mile to the Original Ball where we had dinner.

Sunday 3rd July

Llangollen to St Martins Moor

Set off in the morning and back over the Pontcysllte aqueduct. Stopped again at Froncysllte for a return visit to the Aqueduct Inn. There we had a surprisingly good sunday roast at 2 for £10.

Carried on to get to St Martins Moor where two of Peters old friends now live. They have 2 Beardies, chickens, a garden railway, a real organ, not to mention a very nice house and garden. They gave us a very nice meal.

Saturday 2nd July

Llangollen

There was a vintage transport weekend on at the railway. We went to catch the first train of the day at 9.30, a DMU to Corwen. This was like the ones I used to use from Colwall back in the 70s. From Corwen we took a vintage bus back to Glyndyfrdwy where the were quite a few other buses and lots of cars. The bus we caught reminded me of the buses on the 99 route from Penny Lane in 77/78, and one of the other buses actually had that route number showing but was a more modern bus. There were examples of my parents second, third and fourth cars, ignoring the motor caravan, and of my first car. Then we caught a steam train to Berwyn where we went over the restored chain bridge and up to Horseshoe Falls and to Llantysilio church. Back at the station we were planning to catch the diesel train back to Llangollen but it had broken down and returned empty to Llangollen. So we ended up on the next steam train, the same one we had been on before.

I had arranged to meet Jean and Robin at the basin and they were just arriving as we got back. Took them for a cup of tea on board.

In the evening we went to the Hand Hotel for dinner where we had the Lounge all to ourselves. We had the 3 course meal from the restaurant menu. The one beer that they had was not good.

Friday 1st July

Froncysllte to Llangollen

Went over the Pontcysllte aqueduct and stopped for lunch at the Sun Inn at Sun Bank near Trevor. I remembered having a lock-in here many years ago but did not really recognise the pub. Nice beer and I had Potato and Leek soup. After lunch we carried on through the two narrow sections without having to wait for other boats. Moored in the basin at Llangollen at the far end.

Went to the Wynnstay Hotel to eat but they had stopped serving, then we tried the Bridge Inn but they had stopped too as they were very busy. So we trawled around the take aways and ended up in a chinese. We took the food back to the boat to eat.

Thursday 30th June

Hindford to Froncysllte

Set off to get to Chirk for a crew change, so we moored in the cutting north of Chirk tunnel. Peter arrived on the 12.47 and after he had dumped his bags on board we went to the Hand Hotel for lunch. After that we went back to the station so that Andy could catch a train to Birmingham.

Peter and I walked to Chirk castle and were there till they they closed at 5pm. After walking back a different way we set off to get to Froncysyllte. We moored on the 48hr moorings and walked on to the Aqueduct Inn. They had some good beer and the food wasn't bad either.

Wednesday 29th June

Ellesmere to Hindford

Rain again in the morning so stayed put. Went for a pint in the Red Lion but it was Thwaites beers served too cold and a bit fizzy. After lunch and another visit to Tescos we set off slowly again to get to the Jack Mytton at Hindford. The beers here too were a bit cold and fizzy but nicer than the Thwaites. Expensive food but nice to see the place open again after being closed.

Tuesday 28th June

Welshampton to Ellesmere

Set off slowly to get to Ellesmere before the rain started. Went to the Market Hotel for lunch but they don't do cooked food anymore. We went to the White Hart but they don't open till 3, so we got some fish and chips which we took back to the boat. Then we went back to the Market Hotel for a beer, here my phone crashed again whilst connecting to the cloud. Later on I returned into town to find a signal to help reinstall the phone. Managed to get 4G inside the library and after initial setup was then able to use their wifi to finish off. In the evening after having something to eat on board we went to the White Hart for beer.

Monday 27th June

Grindley Brook to Welshampton

We ventured down the Prees arm and the first lift bridge looked like very hard work, the second one was dismantled. We winded in the now BWML marina in the old clay pit which is the end of navigable water. Moored and had lunch on board then walked down the un-navigable rest of the arm as far as Waterloo. After the bridge there the footpath was impassable and the canal appeared to be dry.

When I rang to book the Monty for tomorrow I learnt that I was not allowed to do it twice in one month, so I booked it for next week. Stppped short of Ellesmere near Welshampton so the we could walk into the village to the Sun Inn for dinner. They had a nice set menu and I had 3 courses. The faggots were excellent especially as they came with red cabbage and mash.

Sunday 26th June

Wrenbury to Grindley Brook

Stopped for lunch below Willeymoor lock and went to the pub by the lock. No Sunday roasts available and the same frozen products as last time. Carried on to Grindley Brook and up the locks there. Stopped for water above the locks then moored for the night. Went to the Horse and Jockey for a beer.

Saturday 25th June

Church Minshull to Wrenbury

Set off to get to Barbridge for lunch. At Barbridge junction we turned south and moored up by the car park for the Barbridge Inn. Had lunch in their conservatory. After that we carried on down to Hurleston junction where we turned onto the Llangollen canal. Moored for the night by bridge 17. From there we walked to the Bhutpore Inn, Aston where we had booked a table for dinner. They manage to keep 11 real ales and they included a Barley wine from Castle Rock which I had to try after my curry.

Friday 24th June

Sandbach to Church Minshull

Only 5 locks to get to Middlewich but most of it follows a straight road. Stopped for diesel at Kings Lock boatyard where it was only 57p/l. I managed to squeeze in 136l. Turned left at the junction onto the Middlewich branch and moored. Went for lunch in the White Bear. Later we carried on and moored for the night on the 46hr moorings between bridges 13 and 12. Here you get a good view over to the village of Church Minshull. Unfortunately there is concrete shelf below water and we couldn't even get the bow in, but with the help of an underwater fender I managed to prevent banging in the night. Had something to eat on board then walked to the Badger for a beer in the Tap room. They had a singer in the other bar and later on some quiche and chips were brought out.

Thursday 23rd June

Kidsgrove to Sandbach

Set off at 9am to get to Thurlwood locks at Rode Heath. We were lucky with the locks and they were all full so we made fast progress and arrived early. Had the remains of the pizzas for lunch then went to the Royal Oak for a pint.

After that we set off down Heartbreak Hill again. We were not so lucky with the locks and ended up following a couple on a brand new boat who were being very gentle. They stopped at Wheelock and we carried on to moor within easy walking distance of Sandbach station. We caught the 18.57 train to Goostry where we went to the Crown Inn for dinner. Very nice food and a good selection of mostly local beers. Caught the 21.43 train back to Sandbach.

Wednesday 22nd June

Etruria to Kidsgrove

Moored at the Middleport Pottery to have a look round. I bought a dish for use as a friut bowl. We discovered that the Titanic pub nearby that we planned to go to does not open at lunchtimes so we had lunch in the pottery cafe, I had sone Staffordshire oatcakes filled with Black Pudding and cheese. Carried on to the Harecastle tunnel where we only had short wait before we were able to go through. Moored for the night below lock 41. We got take away pizzas in Kidsgrove for dinner then went to the Blue Bell for beer.