More Fun with our Friends and a Rare Picnic Spot.

Sunday 1st May 2022 at the Anderton Lift.

Our friends returned early on Sunday morning. M had been concerned about the weather forecast, which had earlier predicted some rain but, thankfully, it stayed dry all day and brighter than expected.

We set off through Wardle lock and turned north on the Trent & Mersey Canal. M had walked ahead to check that no boats were coming as the junction beyond the bridge is completely blind and has apparently led to some "interesting" encounters in the past!

R is used to M chatting up people on the towpath. As we went through the four Middlewich locks, we met dozens of people all "magnet" fishing from the towpath. This smiling chap was called Tim and he told M some fascinating tales of things that they had dragged up from the canal bottom, some of which would make one blush!!

Some of his "booty" from today. Now we know where all the lost windlasses go!

The last of the four locks is called "Big Lock" as it is a wide lock, unlike all the other locks on the Trent & Mersey, which are narrow. It was part of a scheme to make all the T&M locks wide, but the scheme never got further than this. Alex and young Boris helped to do the lock.

This sign was covered with lovely depictions of local industries to welcome you to Middlewich. In our case, we were going the other way and so it was "Goodbye" to Middlewich.

Alex was shown the way that a paddle works by his Dad.

Then Boris Senior took the tiller, and very competently too.

This was a real find, a proper dedicated picnic site with moorings, tables and benches on the off-side. We had seen it before in 2015 but had not been able to stop as all the moorings were occupied. This time, there was nobody else moored up, so we stopped and moored up for lunch.

It is called Bramble Cutting and used to be a clay pit, from which came the clay to line the bottom of the canal. It proved to be the perfect place for another very large and relaxed lunch.

In the afternoon, Ivona took the tiller and appeared to enjoy it immensly! Unfortunately, there wasn't really time to visit the Lion Salt Works as we had hoped.  On the other hand, however, we (especially M) were relieved to find that the unattractive chemical works sites north of Middlewich were soon past us and gave way to lovely countryside.

We moored up directly outside the entrance to the Anderton Lift and went into the Visitors' Centre. Unfortunately, as it was late in the afternoon, operation of the lift had stopped, but our friends were able to see the Centre and we all walked down to the viewing area where there was this large picture frame. A perfect opportunity for a photograph of our motley crew!

A final group photograph with the Lift in the background.

 By now it was 5:30 and our friends were keen to get back to their hotel. We called a taxi for them, which picked them up at the nearby Stanley Arms pub to take them back to their car in Middlewich.

It was a brilliant couple of days, which hopefully will leave them with many happy memories. We think that a narrowboat holiday is probably a "must" in their future plans. Their parting words were "Thank you so much and can we come again please?" Of course!!!

Today: 11 miles, 5 locks and 4.4 hours.

Trip: 48 miles, 54 locks and 29.9 hours.