May 28th moored at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union 
         64 miles, 36 locks and 3 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Monday 28th May

A nice gentle cruise today through Market Drayton and Tyrley Locks (5) as far as Norbury Junction.  Passed a boat in each pound between the five locks and sailed into an open lock each time. Again hot and blue sky was the predominant weather though we saw more cloud and it looked and felt a bit omninous as we settled down to an outdoor meal at the Junction tonight!  The good weather may be coming to an end we will have to see. As it is we have travelled for a week and I have not bothered putting the TV ariel up once, even for a weather forecast!

Sunday 27th May

Up early today and underway by 8am.  Another sunny and warm day ahead so trying to clear the flight before it gets too hot.  In fact we moored up about 1:30 just beyond bridge 67, the change over bridge above Adderley locks which meant we cleared the Audlem and Adderley flights, 18 locks, before lunch!  We had a bit of help from someone on the Adderley flight preparing locks before we got there which helped.  Rest of day spent chilling out on the towpath with a bit of shade from some trees but too many flies about to be perfect.  Choosey aren't we?

Saturday 26th May

Decided to stay put today and chill out enjoying the warm weather. Watched lots of weekenders passing up to the winding hole at the bottom of Audlem flight, coming back twenty minutes or so later. I made use of our time off from cruising putting up the new kitchen blind after lunch.  Then, with a slight change of plan, we decided to break cover and see how far we needed to go up the flight before finding a better mooring.  We were bumping about on the cill where we were and had our pins ripped out by boats passing on rather more than a tick over.  As it happened we only moved through two locks and managed to squeeze onto the end of the moorings for the night - about five foot of boat beyond the BW mooring sign (If both boats in front of us weren't leaving gaps on the moorings we would have got in properly!)  Justified it on the basis that it was hardly likely any more boats would be up or down tonight (in fact two did) and we would be making an early start on the flight in the morning.  Anyway new mooring placed us within sight of the The Shroppie Fly so we called in on the way to the Co-op for a drink sitting outside with the dogs watching the world go by.  Bumped into a friend Andy and his wife whilst out walking the dogs.  He has now retired and is also planning on using his boat more. 

Friday 25th May

Onward with temperatures soaring and only a gentle breeze to give us some respite. Along the rest of the branch with a few more boats on the move today. Left hand down at Barbridge Junction and onto the Shroppie, past Hurleston Junction, no sign of boats moving up or down the flight as we past. Headed for the services at Nantwich passing Barola as we approached. Brief encounter with the crew, just out after a winter sojourn at Great Haywood, looking as fresh and lovely as their boat (!) on their way to the Montgomery for what sounds like too much exercise (for us anyway!)
         
We moved on through Nantwich (too warm for a walk into town today) through the two locks at Hack Green to the annoying cacophony of gunfire from a local pigeon shooting range, passed Cool Pilate (too noisy to moor here) and finally moored up just beyond Overwater marina entrance.

Thursday 24th May

Moved on mid morning in a short convey of boats (2 ahead) to Middlewich on another sunny day.  Stopped just above Big lock, under the trees for a bit of shade, while we left the dogs on board to go for a Tesco shopping trip wth Molley the Trolley!  Then after a bite to eat we pressed on through the three locks to the Junction, through Wardle lock and onto the Middlewich branch.   Cruised on through Stanthorne lock to Clive Green and moored above top flash on the River Weaver.  Spent a warm night with windows and doors open for fresh air letting in the noise of the trains flying up and down the West Coast main line after an evening with all the local farmers competing to get the most from the dry weather, cutting turning and gathering the grass with all the noise that todays mechanical processes make.  Oh for the days of horses and hand tools!

May 23rd 2012 moored at Billinge Flash on the Trent and Mersey
                          24 miles, 1 lock and 3 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Wednesday 23rd

Hotter still today.  We cruised on through Barnton and the two tunnels to Anderton passing the lift bridge just as the trip boat entered to descend the lift.  Quick top of the water tank at Anderton services and moved on to Marbury Country Park for a lunch time stop and walked the woods to give the dogs some exercise. Very disappointed that the meadow which was alive with wild flowers last year had not much more than thistles and nettles on show.  Looks like the late frosts have taken their toll.   Headed onwards down the T&M through Marston and Wincham.  More evidence of work going on at the Lion Salt works at last, may be it will be saved as a museum before falling into a total ruin. Through Broken Cross, passing the site of a new marina on the right, just beyond Orchard Marina on the left.  Still no sign of it being connected to the canal yet. Moored up on the flash with open water to the side of the boat and tried another chilling out session before the sun droppped below the line of the hedge and it it started to get cool again.

Tuesday 22nd

Another sunny and hotter day, how lucky we appear to have been deciding to set off this week.  Early (for us) we set off for a short cruise before watering up and using the services at Thorne Marine under the London Road bridge Stockton Heath. Onwards passed Preston Brook (saw Ruby Tuesday moored with the other hire boats at Claymore Navigation).  Onwards through Preston Brook tunnel, timed to perfection arriving with 5 minutes to spare before setting off on the half hour.  Very few boats seen on the move at all, we seem to have the canal to ourselves although managed to time our arrival at the stop lock after the tunnel well, passing a boat as it emerged from the lock.  After the stop lock we cruised just a short way to the winding hole between bridges 212 and 211 above the River Weaver and the Dutton Locks.  Here we moored up for a late lunch and chilled out sitting in our chairs on the towpath for a couple of hours.  Only 2 boats passed, not many more pedestrians and one cyclist.  Then off down to Dutton Locks and through Dutton parkland in a useful circuit to work up an appetite.

Monday 21st

We woke to a very sunny day and went off early into the deer park with the dogs for a walk before taking it in turns to visit the gardens (no dogs allowed).  I visited the house and saw the silver collection as recently seen on TV.  Bridie deferred until next time we pass Dunham.  We made our way back to the boat to enjoy the warm weather and set off towards Lymme, a pleasant hours cruise away, where Bridie had a quick trip to Sainsbury's before continuing on beneath the M6 and on to Pickerings Bridge - a mooring spot we have visited several times.

Sunday 20th May

Left Cumbria this morning with a clear blue sky and almost no cloud to be seen but at a cool 9°as we motored onto the M6 and headed south as far as junction 7 of the M56 for Dunham Massey where we met Simon and friends with Prairie Oyster (PO).  Arrived about 11:30, a bit warmer now at 14°, but now a grey sky with no sign of the sun.

First priority was to unpack the car of our belongings dumping in PO and filling it with Simon's.  Then off to the Swan with Two Nicks for lunch. Managed to find a table for six and take all four dogs in with us.  Why aren't more pubs dog friendly?  This was Mabel's first pub lunch and she approved once she found food was a possibility.  She was generally well behaved apart from engaging a Staffie at the neighbouring table in a little polite 'conversation'!

After lunch Simon and friends headed north, with our car, and we set to unpacking and getting ourselves settled on board.  Took some time off for a dog walk during late afternoon to prevent a rebellion.

Preparations are now well under way.  Prairie Oyster is already heading south with son Simon and friends enjoying a brief holiday after his house moving.  All being well we should join up on the Bridgewater near Dunham Massey this Sunday. 

Last years travel log can be found at www.nbprairieoyster.blogspot.co.uk