A Perfect Dawn.

 Monday 1st August 2022 in Nantwich.

It was a very cold night, so cold that the heating cut in at 5:00am. M, very aware of the soaring cost of diesel, suggested to R that he should get up and switch it off. Despite the early hour, R heroically walked to the front of MM and turned the heating off; but then called to M saying she should leave her warm bed and come to see the dawn sky. With the mist beginning to rise, the reflections in the water and the colour of the sky, it was a breathtaking picture.

After breakfast, we set off, calling in at the nearby Venetian Marina to purchase some milk and a couple of Magnum ice-creams, watched by a heron who was still looking for his breakfast.

Just one lock to go through today and we had the help of two C&RT volunteers, which made it very easy.

We had a captive audience at the next bridge, where two young heifers watched in fascination over the bridge parapet.

After rejoining the Shropshire Union main line at Barbridge Junction, we passed Hurlestone Junction, where the Llangollen Canal branches off up through four locks. It's a lovely waterway but unfortunately, we don't have time to go up there this year and so will save it for another time.

A little further on we passed a pair of working boats on their way back from the Historic Boat Rally at Braunston. It is not often that you see a proper working boat and butty these days; it made a lovely sight.

Who remembers "Cats Cradles"? M played it a lot when she was young; all you needed was a length of wool!

At Nantwich, we moored up on the embankment before the aqueduct and walked into the town. In the central square a free kids mobile climbing wall had been set up. We watched their progress, including some very small youngsters - and thought how much Lucas would have enjoyed it! How marvellous that it was free!  It probably accounted for the long queue!

In the centre of Nantwich is the very famous Bookshop and Coffee Lounge, where we stopped for a drink and a snack. It was packed but the service was cheerful and fast.

After that, we walked across town to M&S for a "few bits". M&S is next to the bus station and we knew that the hourly no.84 bus would take us back to where MM is moored and save us walking back with R carrying the "few bits". We waited for the bus for about 30 minutes, only to be told by a kind passer-by that the Arriva buses were on strike - so no buses were running!

So we walked back to MM. A bit annoying that there was nothing on all the notices in the bus station or at the bus stops informing strangers about the bus strike.

At 6pm, it started raining heavily and was still raining when we went to bed.

Today: 5 miles, 1 lock and 2.1 hours.

Trip: 323 miles, 195 locks and 173.0 hours.