A Supermoon and Nocturnal Steam Boat

 Tuesday 17th September 2024 near Malkin's Bank

The forecast promised sun all day and, for once, it got it right! The day started with a bit of mist but the sun quickly burnt through to give a nice start to the day.

We started early to get through the four locks at Middlewich. Normally there are C&RT volunteers on duty at these locks but they were only just arriving as we were going through the last lock. Sluggards!

The area just south of Middlewich is now overgrown with trees but you can clearly see where there were industrial wharves all along on the eastern side. Almost all of the original buildings have been flattened leaving vast brownfield sites.

There is still one large plant in operation. Like almost all the industry that once lined the canal along here it was, and still is, all based upon salt.

We have fond memories of this little cottage by Lock 66. When we were passing a couple of years ago the owner was just moving in and trying to work out how to get a very large wardrobe through the rather small front door. Did he succeed or not? Well, we didn't see an abandoned wardrobe in the front garden!

Last year we stopped at the Malkin's Bank Golf Club for breakfast and had written in the guidebook that it was at Lock 64. However, when we reached Lock 64, there was no sign of it so we kept going and finally moored up after Lock 60, still without seeing it. R walked back and found that it was actually right alongside Lock 61 - so we shall go there for breakfast in the morning. - and correct the entry in our book! Overnight there was a full "supermoon" and R took this rather unusual photograph of our mooring. There was also a partial eclipse of the moon but sadly the clouds had obscured the moon by the time that it took place.

Very unusually, later that night we were awoken by a boat passing at about 10:00pm. Even more unusually, it was a steam boat and they tooted their steam whistle very loudly as they passed before cruising on into the lock and away into the distance, still tooting at every boat they passed!

Today: 7 miles, 15 locks and 5.3 hours.

Trip: 273 miles, 116 locks and 138.0 hours.