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Sunday 31 December 2017

Church Minshull Sunday 31 December 2017

It got a little bit breezy overnight, checking the weather station this morning indicated that we had had gusts just under 35 mph. but this morning was much quieter.

We set off at 1020 and started meeting boats almost immediately. We didn't need water but the water point at Hurleston is the last one before the other side on Middlewich so we topped up while we had the chance. I walked forward and checked the locks, the top one was empty and the second full, a boat had also just entered the bottom lock, so by filling the top we were able to meet them just below the second, saving us both some work.

At the top lock we saw our first daffodil of the season and the last this year.DSCF0106

When we came up the flight they were carrying out soil test drillings along side the canal, today they had packed up and gone, just a bit of mud in the grass beside the roadway. In the bottom lock, the one that causes most of the problems there are signs where they have drilled holes through the side walls to see what is happening behind them.DSCF0107

When we were clear of the locks we turned left on the Shropshire Union Canal where we made our way to Barbridge Junction to join the Middlewich Branch. Again we met several boats, but both locks were against us as we were following another boat, however it did mean we didn't have to close up behind us.

At Sykes Hollow Moorings a short section has been reserved as a disabled mooring, DSCF0109plastic mesh has been let into the grass so that wheelchairs don't sink in and one of the picnic tables has been modified so that a wheelchair used can pull in close.

We moored for the night on the visitor moorings overlooking Church Minshull and the Weaver Flashes, you never know we may even see fireworks at midnight from here.

Actually we moored just in time again, we had no soon secured the ropes and put the fenders down and it started raining again.

Today's Journeymap 15 7.35 Miles, 6 locks in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

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