Saturday, August 20, 2022

Two tunnels, two brief stops

Graham was up and out at 7:30 this morning and returned at 8 with a container of blackberries as we didn’t have anything to carry them in last night. Two hire boats passed us before 9am. After the dearth of boats ooop North, any boats are a novelty – even hire boats.


 

We travelled past the Black Prince Acton base where they have a couple of the new liveried dark blue boats as well as lots of red and blues. Then on through Saltisford and Barnton tunnels where we didn’t have to wait at all. As we approached the entrance to the latter a boat was emerging so we went across (whilst signalling) to pass on the other side so that they could exit the tunnel easier. The steerer rewarded us by telling us that we “ were on the wrong side of the canal”. Cheek, The ‘right side’ would have upset him more. Wish we hadn’t bothered.


 

Round the corner to Barnton wharf where we stopped to off-load some of our surplus into our car placed here yesterday. Then on past the ‘closed’ Anderton lift desperately trying to avoid hitting numerous Day boats that managed to get them selves on the wrong side, and in one case right across, the cut as we approached. New steerers always make the same mistake, rather than slowing right down and steering around a problem they always hit reverse hard and swing themselves out of control.


 

We stopped at Anderton services for a water fill. Having no CaRT pump-out card available (the last one didn’t work 18 months after we had purchased it as an emergency precaution) and not being able to find a suitable mains drainage manhole cover, Graham didn’t do a self pump-out.


 

Then on through Marston, Wincham and Rudheath towards Middlewich. Graham has always fancied mooring at Bramble Cuttings but it was occupied and way too early when we got there, so we carried on and moored for the night at Croxton Flash. The orange markers on the concrete bank here indicate that CaRT may be installing mooring bollards or rings here soon.

G&B

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