An Exceedingly Hot Day

 Tuesday 19th July 2022 near Beeston Castle.

Today the media is predicting record high temperatures that threaten Armageddon (the media does love a good scare story), so we decided to start early before the worst heat of the day actually melts us. Six of the clock provided a lovely sunrise.

Cholmondeston Lock is the last lock on the Middlewich Branch. How many feet have pounded up and down these worn steps over the years? What stories those steps could tell!

Barbridge is the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) with the main Shropshire Union Canal.

A bit strange to see a "Welcome to the Shropshire Union" notice at the junction considering that both canals are part of the Shropshire Union Canal.

The locks at Bunbury are a staircase pair and, unlike the locks on the Shroppie further south, they are wide locks. It is a good idea to follow the rules... dire consequences may befall you if you don't!!

Luckily, we buddied up with a family on a hire boat so we could share the work (and save precious water).

There used be a handy little shop next to the lower lock but it seems that sadly it did not survive.

M loved this old fashioned rose next to Tilstone lock. Here we met a family from Seattle, USA who were coming the other way on their first ever narrowboat trip. They assured us they were enjoying it!

 The next lock is Beeston Iron Lock which unusually has iron sides in an attempt to overcome the unstable sandy ground in which it is built. An attempt which has only partially succeeded as the iron walls have distorted and you can no longer get two boats into the lock together. So we had to go through one at a time.

MM waits patiently for the lock to fill.

As we approached Wharton's Lock, Beeston Castle came into view perched on its high rocky outcrop and visible for miles. It's a brilliant place to visit but it was far too hot today so we'll save it for our return trip.

By now, it was gettng very hot. That's R sitting in the shade while the lock fills! Beeston Castle in the background. We decided to moor up after this lock.

The Sandstone Trial runs north-south through Cheshire from Frodsham in the north to Whitchurch in the south, a distance of about 34 miles. Here it crosses the canal as it passes Beeston Castle.

We found a mooring with some shade for us under the overhanging tree branches although the trees were not tall enough to give any shade to MM. The temperature inside MM only peaked at 35deg despite being in full sun.

We got the chairs out and sat in the shade to try to keep as cool as we could. Luckily, there was a pleasant breeze throughout the afternoon but later that disappeared after which it was absolutely still, making it feel even hotter. All in all, we were probably luckier than many people further south, where it was even worse.

Today: 7 miles, 6 locks and 4.3 hours.

Trip: 289 miles, 175 locks and 151.6 hours.