Back to a Hot MM.

 Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th September 2023 south of Rudheath.

We left home early on Wednesday morning to catch trains back to Northwich and Uplands Marina near Anderton where MM was moored. For the first time, we had left MM without an electric hookup, as none was available. We had to switch the fridge off, along with everything else, but after a week (with lots of sunshine) the batteries were still at 100% thanks to the new solar panels. Thank you Simon and Matt!

While the amount of sunshine was very reassuring, it did mean that when we arrived, MM was very hot indeed sitting out in the middle of the marina. As a result, we just moved her out of the marina and into the shade next to the marina entrance. It also meant that unfortunately the few items left in the fridge were in a fairly smelly condition!

While passing through Northwich we had stopped at Tesco for a "few bits" to replenish the (almost) emptied fridge, so we didn't need to go anywhere in the heat.

On Thursday morning, we  moved a few hundred yards to the sanitary station for water. As luck would have it, three boats moored up in front just as we arrived at the water point, so we breasted up against a liveaboard boat and were inspected by their lovely cat Whisper. She even came on board briefly!

Their daughter, Fleur, was very much at home on her boat and chatted away happily while we waited. R made a great fuss of Whisper, who kept coming back for more attention!

Their collie cross, Dusty, was also much in evidence. He was lovely! For once, we failed miserably to photograph the boat or the mother, father and brother - so apologies to them but they were a delightful family to spend a little time with. As ever, the people that we meet make our day and make the waiting enjoyable. We wish them well on their travels.

Just south of Anderton, the canal is straddled by the massive Tata works that used to be ICI. They have decorated the functional pipe bridges across the canal to make them quite attractive and interesting. This one has the formula in the middle "2NaCl + 2H2O = 2Cl + 2H + 2NaOH". Salt plus water makes Chlorine, Hydrogen and Sodium Hydroxide - all used in various chemical processes. Very ingenious!

The plant itself is huge and in the process of being doubled in size as there are large construction works extending to the south of the existing plant.

At Rudheath, we moored up and caught the No 49 bus to Northwich Waitrose for a "few more bits" to keep us going for a couple of days. Northwich is a town of many parts, all contrasting, and the bus ride gives an interesting insight to the different aspects.

Not too far further south, we stopped opposite one of the huge "flashes" caused by subsidence resulting from salt extraction in this area. In one of the tunnels before Anderton, MM had scraped the side and bent the navigation light, so R was repairing it.

A quiet afternoon and evening was rewarded with a lovely sunset.

Two Days: 7 miles, 0 locks and 4 hours.

Trip: 215 miles, 81 locks and 110.2 hours.