Fradley Junction to Norbury Junction via River Weaver
Middle Northwich motor Sickle & Small Northwich butty Cedar
Date: 9th - 21st July 2010
Crew: Matt, Sarah & Karen Parrott
FRIDAY 9TH: Having had a lift over to the boats on Friday evening we decided to
set off at around 8:30pm and get a couple of hours done. The weather was good
and we made it to just outside of Handsacre by 10pm, passing Chertsey and Minnow
moored at Kings Bromley.
Big Woolwich motor Chertsey moored at Kings Bromley
FMC motor Minnow also at Kings Bromley
SATURDAY 10TH: Set off this morning at around 8:30am, and pottered into Rugeley
where we moored to do some shopping. Set back off around 10:30am, and headed
towards Great Haywood. Passed lots of boats but Colwich lock for once was
suprisingly quiet. Alcor was moored at Haywood and we continued on through
towards Stone. Moored at the bottom of the Stone flight for around 6:30pm, and
had some dinner before setting off up the flight in the evening. Moored opposite
the Roger Fuller's yard at 8:30pm.
Big Woolwich motor Hawkesbury entering Rugeley
Big Woolwich motor Hawkesbury entering Rugeley
SUNDAY 11TH: Having done a bit of shopping in Stone and a bit of tidying up, we
set off for 11am, we Joe Fuller helping us up the Meaford Flight. Reached the
top in good time and headed for Stoke. Quite busy up the Stoke flight and
reached the top by 5pm, having had to take the running gear down on Cedar to fit
under one of the bridges up the flight. Continued onto Harecastle Tunnel where
we moored at the entrance for around 6:30pm.
Ex Little Woolwich motor Antony which was converted to a cruiser, named Water
Lilac by British Waterways
Ex Little Woolwich motor Antony which was converted to a cruiser, named Water
Lilac by British Waterways
MONDAY 12TH: Woke up to rain, started entering the tunnel for 8:30am and reached
the other side in a huge downpour. Started heading down the Cheshire Locks and
moored outside Red Bull services for 11am. Set back off again in the early
afternoon and long-lined down the locks (where two locks are present). Tied at
Hassall Green for 5pm.
Sickle & Cedar moored at the entrance to Harecastle Tunnel
Sickle & Cedar moored at the entrance to Harecastle Tunnel
Sickle & Cedar moored at the entrance to Harecastle Tunnel
Sickle & Cedar moored at the entrance to Harecastle Tunnel
Passing Princess Anne and Serpens near Hassall Green
Passing Princess Anne and Serpens near Hassall Green
Passing Princess Anne and Serpens near Hassall Green
Passing Princess Anne and Serpens near Hassall Green
TUESDAY 13TH: Another leisurely start, around 8:30am again, destination
Middlewich today. Rain again. Excellent run down the last of the Cheshire Locks.
Reached Wheelock for midday so stopped for lunch then set back off around
1:30pm, for a steady run across to Middlewich. Moored below Middlewich locks for
5pm.
WEDNESDAY 14TH: Another nice easy day today - aiming for Anderton. Passed the
tar boat Spey just outside of Middlewich, sounded nice and heading for Church
Minstull. Very quiet run across to Anderton where we tied for around 3pm and
booked to go down the lift on Thursday at 1pm.
Middle Northwich's Sickle and Taygeta near Croxton Aqueduct
Middle Northwich's Sickle and Taygeta near Croxton Aqueduct
Middle Northwich Taygeta moored near Croxton Aqueduct
Sickle & Cedar at Croxton Aqueduct
Sickle & Cedar at Croxton Aqueduct
THURSDAY 15TH: Took Sickle back to Anderton services to use the facilities and
buy a new gas bottle. Passed Snipe and Taurus there, headed back to the top of
the lift and moored on the holding moorings with the pair ready to enter the
lift. The original plan was to take Sickle and Cedar down the lift, then wait
for Colin on Sweden to arrive on Friday morning, as he was booked to head down
the lift at 9am. However, plans don't ever do to plan and at 12:45, one of the
BW lads turned up and told me the lift was broken and there was an hours delay -
but Sickle & Cedar would be the first boats down. An hour went by, and still
nothing. One of the sensors on the gates was playing up and would not allow the
lift to operate. Finally got to 4pm, and we were told to move off the holding
moorings for the night and come back in the morning when hopefully it would be
fixed.
Sickle & Cedar on the holding moorings at Anderton Lift
Sickle & Cedar on the holding moorings at Anderton Lift
Sickle & Cedar on the holding moorings at Anderton Lift
FMC motor Alder passing though Anderton on Thursday evening
FRIDAY 16TH: 8:30am I was up and wondering around to find out the status of the
lift - still broken. At that point Colin arrived with Sweden and we moved Sickle
& Cedar back onto the holding moorings. Finally by midday the lift was working
again and we were straight in with Sickle & Cedar, down the lift and moored on
the Weaver. Following us down the lift was Snipe and Taurus, followed by Sweden.
Once Colin had made it down the lift we headed down to Mike Carter's moorings in
Yarwoods Basin, where both Sickle and Cedar were built all those years ago.
Sickle & Cedar finally in the lift on Friday lunchtime, only 24hrs after the
booking time
Heading down the lift
Heading down the lift
Moored on the Weaver waiting for Sweden
Snipe & Taurus entering the lift
Snipe & Taurus entering the lift
Sweden's turn
Entering the lift on Sweden
Entering the lift on Sweden
Entering the lift on Sweden
Sweden leaving the lift onto the River Weaver
Sweden leaving the lift onto the River Weaver
Heading up the Weaver towards Northwich
SATURDAY 17TH: We departed Yarwoods Basin at around 9:45am, waving bye to the
Carter's (this is a great mooring and smashing family, anyone down this way
with the boats I would strongly recommend the moorings, very convinient and
friendly people). We arrived at Hunt's Lock for 10am, Colin took Sweden in
first with narrowboat Duchess, and we followed on with Sickle & Cedar. Met back
up with Sweden and Duchess for Vale Royal Lock which has specified passage
times. We managed the 12:30 passage and continued up the Weaver to Winsford
(although had to stop briefly at the first swingbridge after Vale Royal Lock to
drop the mast on Cedar as she was riding too high to fit under. The cratch
scrapped under with around 1/2inch to spare), we moored at the end of the
British Waterways navigation. Having had lunch we decided to venture into the
flashes with Sickle & Sweden. Everyone had warned us about the depth in here,
and the submerged islands, we stuck to the edge and got a good way through with
Sickle leading the way until I rode onto a mud bank and the back end was several
inches in the air. Luckily a bit of rolling and reverse we came straight off and
decided that we'd spin round and head back out.
Picked Cedar up and towed her backwards until we found enough space to wind her
then moored up before Vale Royal Lock for the night and had a BBQ in the rare
sunshine.
Moored in Yarwoods Basin
Moored in Yarwoods Basin
Sweden & Duchess in Hunt's Lock
The bows of Cedar & Sweden waiting for passage at the Vale Royal Lock
In Vale Royal Lock
Heading towards Winsford
Moored at the end of BW navigation at Winsford
Venturing on with Sweden and Sickle into the flashes
Winsford Flash, Sweden following on behind Sickle
Heading back out of the flash
Heading down the Weaver towards Vale Royal Lock
SUNDAY 18TH: Made the 10am down passage at Vale Royal Lock this morning, then
continued onto Hunt's Lock and moored at Northwich to do a bit of shopping.
Continued on past the Anderton Lift and onto the bottom half of the Weaver. We
went through Saltisford and Dutton Locks and spun at Sutton Swingbridge. Spent
the night about 30mins cruising below Dutton Lock.
Sunday morning moored before Vale Royal Lock
Sunday morning moored before Vale Royal Lock
Heading between Vale Royal and Hunt's Lock three abreast in the sunshine, or not
Descending Hunt's Lock
Moored in Northwich for some shopping
Moored in Northwich for some shopping
Heading downstream near Sutton Swingbridge
MONDAY 19TH: Colin and I set off with Sweden, Sickle and Cedar at around 7:45am,
and headed straight up the locks, arriving at Anderton Boat Lift for 10:30am. We
booked Sickle & Cedar up the lift on the next passage at 11:45am. Once we were
in the lift, Colin set back off with Sweden and headed back up the Weaver to the
Yarwood's Basin to leave Sweden for a couple of weeks. We made it back across to
Middlewich for around 3pm, to find a queue of around 10 boats below Middlewich
lock as the second lock had been out of action for the day and just reopened. So
it was a very slow run up the locks and we moored below Stanthorne Lock on the
Middlewich Branch.
The nights mooring on the lower end of the Weaver
Moored on the holding moorings at Anderton lift
TUESDAY 20TH: Set off around 8am, and headed across to Cholmondeston where David
Ray was waiting for us having been given a lift by Sue Cawson, got through the
lock and David jumped on to give us a hand. Reached the bottom of Audlem locks
for around 3:30pm, towed Cedar up the first hand full of locks due to moored
boats then when we got to the thick - David went on with Sickle, and I
bow-hauled Cedar up the remaining 10 or so locks with Sarah and Karen
lockwheeling. Reached the top for just gone 5pm and Sue drove back out to give
us all a lift back down to the Shroppie Fly where we had a meal and a couple of
drinks.
Thomas Clayton motor Spey at Church Minshull
WEDNESDAY 21ST: Last day of boating - set off around 8am. Headed up Adderley and
Tyreley Locks. Reached Norbury Junction for around 3pm.
Moored above Audlem Locks on Wednesday morning
An ex FMC steamer at Market Drayton (Viceroy?)
An ex FMC steamer at Market Drayton (Viceroy?)
Part of the ex FMC motor Cormorant at Market Drayton
Ex LMS boat Tebay
Ethel and Birmingham at Knighton
Cowburn and Cowpar motor Starling at Knighton
Midlands and Coast butty Taurus near Norbury