Martin, Brenda and Sox Visit for Lunch

 Tuesdsay 23rd July 2024 in Middlewich.

Last night, we moored up in Nantwich and found this morning that we were moored next to a hire boat with three delightful Danish couples on board. We fell into conversation with the ladies as their menfolk had walked into town to buy coffee, of which they apparently drink a lot, according to the ladies! They were just completing the Four Counties Ring and were clearly having a great time, not least because the weather has been so much kinder to them than in previous years.

We had arranged to meet our friends Martin and Brenda for lunch in the wonderful Coffee/Bookshop in the town. The shop was extremely busy on such a sunny day but the staff managed to find us a table where we could also have Martin and Brenda's dog "Sox" beside us. The owner and staff at the Coffee/Bookshop are always so very helpful and the food, as ever, was excellent. It was lovely to spend some quiet time catching up with Martin and Brenda.

The canal is quite a walk from the canal and, on the way, there are two houses on opposite sides of the road that we both always stop to admire. This one looks very old and is definitely a "project" that R would enjoy making into something special.

This elegant cottage, on the other side of the road, is one of M's favourites with its beautiful front garden.

At Barbridge Junction, the Middlewich Arm branches off the Shropshire Union Canal and here we turned towards Middlewich.

There are only four locks on the Middlewich arm but they are all quite deep, like this lock at Minshull. For once, M was actually driving the boat in this photo as R was up top doing the gates!

Just after Aqueduct Marina, we moored up for the night at a beautiful spot with a lovely view and even our own picnic table, where we sat to have our dinner.

Today: 6 miles, 2 locks and 2.7 hours.

Trip: 81 miles, 64 locks and 46.3 hours.