Cheshire Run 24th July - 5th Aug 2010

Well finally we have been able to get back into a routine and we are heading North. See below for our approximate Schedule, but just be aware that due to traffic we may be delayed. For more up to date information just give us a call or text on 07791345004 or see our Twitter feed as Coalboat which we will try and update daily.

Sat 24th July to Sun 25th July - Fools Nook (Macc) to Whaley Bridge
Sun 25th July to Mon 26th July - Whaley Bridge to Congleton
Tues 27th July to Wed 28th July- Congleton, Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Calveley to Nantwich
Wed 28th July to Fri 30th July - Nantwich, Middlewich to Anderton
Sat 31st July to Sun 1st Aug - River Weaver (Dutton, Northwich, Vale Royal, etc)
Mon 2nd July to Thurs 5th Aug - Return from Anderton, via Middlewich to Fools Nook (Macc)

A Very Big Thank You

Both myself & Ann Marie would like to sincerely thank Graham (NB Daphne) & Terry (NB Serendipity) for very kindly operating Alton over the last weekend run (12 & 13 June), their help was much appreciated at this difficult time. We got plenty of reports of their good service & I think they enjoyed themselves even if they did return home a little damp & jaded.

Thanks also to all those many customers, friends & suppliers who passed on such kind messages of support & sympathy. It really is a great help to know that we are in peoples thoughts and prayers.

A final thank you to all those kind people who looked after me when I was boating back to Fools Nook on Sunday single handed, I was inundated with cuppas, beers, cake & even 3 offers to cook my tea. You really are a great bunch!

(In photo: Graham Beard steering Daphne)
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Weekend Run 12th - 13th June

Unfortunately after an 18 month battle against cancer Ann Marie's Mum - Pat, passed away earlier this week. Whilst we are away at the Funeral and spending time with family, our good friends Graham (working boat Daphne) and Terry (NB Serendipity) have offered to operate Alton in our absence. They plan to operate from Fools Nook to Marple today (Saturday), then Marple to Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge on Sunday. Please be patient and go easy on them! If you need to get in touch with them this weekend just call or text Graham on 07811417167.

Finally thank you to all those who sent messages of support, condolances & sympathy. It does help to know we are in peoples thoughts and prayers at this difficult time

Historic Boats at Etruria Festival

Sandbach, Alton, Daphne & Ibex
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Daphne heading south from Harecastle

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Loading Daphne

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Sandbach & Daphne Emerging from Harecastle Tunnel

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Etruria Festival 5th - 6th June

Firstly apologies for the lack of posting recently we have had a few technical difficulties & life got in the way a bit. We will try & do better.

We left Fools Nook yesterday lunchtime having loaded Alton & Graham Beards' boat Daphne with coal in the morning. We had glorious weather and a lovely run down Bosley Locks. We had a fairly busy afternoon with customers and passed Stuart Hopper on the Coalboat Anne at Congleton Wharf.

We arrived at Red Bull Aqueduct at 10pm to find a couple of customers still waiting patiently for us. We then retired to the Red Bull pub to join George & Irene Boyle (nb Sandbach) for a well earned pint.

We are currently making our way in convoy (with Sandbach & Daphne)through Harecastle Tunnel and are meeting up with a photographer from the Sentinel Newspaper to take some publicity photos for the Etruria Festival.

If you are at a loose end this weekend, feel free to come down and see us at the Etruria Industrial Museum Festival, Stoke on Trent. There will be historic boats, classic cars & commercials, entertainment & childrens activities as well as the steam engines for the bone mill being in steam.

Let's just hope this lovely weather keeps up!
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Hiraethlyns' New Fenders

Robin was pleased with his new fenders which we delivered to him today
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NHK TV crew with us again on the Macc

Left to right:- David (Soundman), Ben (Cameraman) & Hiroko (Director)
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Someone Needs Sacking?

On Saturday we really struggled to get through the area where Grimshaw Lane Aqueduct had just recently been repaired. We were dragging the bottom and bouncing over debris before coming to a halt with a bladeful of rubbish & grounded mid channel. We where about 1/4 mile from the nearest bridge so spent 1/2 an hour moving coal to lift the stern and another 1/2 an hour crawling to the next bridge. After some some time on the shaft Brian managed to remove a large quantity of hessian sacking from the blades. Aghh the joys of boating!
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Alton on Bosley Locks

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Little & Large

Alton & Sandbach at Christleton Lock
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The Mersey to The Macc

Well we had a pleasant few days boating back leaving the Port Monday midday & returning to Fools Nook Wednesday evening.

We buttied up the wide locks with George & Irene Boyle on Sandbach, stopping at the Shady Oak near Beeston on Monday night. Arriving here at 7.30 Irene nipped over to the pub to find out what time they were serving food until, she was told that they had just finished! So it was back to the boat for tea. Later we persuaded Irene to come with us back to the pub to sample their beer. Alas on arrival at the pub at 8.50 we where told that due to the bank holiday they were closing at 9pm! Well suffice to say we will not be stopping at the Shady Oak again in a hurry.

Tuesday was our Wedding Anniversary & what better a way to spend it but on a lovely cruise from Beeston, through Barbridge, Middlewich to Wheelock. We had a fairly busy day with customers and even this early in the year there were queues of up to 5 boats at the locks along the Middlewich Branch. We tied up just below Lock 60 at Wheelock and we were joined by George & Irene for a meal at the canalside mill restaurant called Murats in its current guise. The meal was reasonable but a bit pricey. We then retired to the convivial atmosphere at the Cheshire Cheese for a few pints of Hydes bitter.

Wednesday morning saw us setting of at 7.15 following a boat up the locks. At lock 63 we saw John Jackson on the coalboat Roach. He was waiting for BW to come out and let him through the Wider off-side lock having been unable to negotiate the narrow towpath side lock the previous day. We decided to have a go at getting in the towpath side lock & after about 20 minutes of effort we managed to get Alton into the chamber & shut the gates. Once in the lock Alton came up fine when the paddles where raised. We had an uneventful journey up the Cheshire Locks & as the afternoon was pleasant we decided to push on to get back to Fools Nook. We had a lovely evening working up Bosley Locks in the fading sunshine.

We got back about 7.30, moored up & tidied round. Brian felt he had earned a pint so nipped down to Fools Nook where he had a pleasant time chatting to the new Landlord Stuart & Landlady Zoe. They had a new alcoholic ginger beer in called Crabbies which was a lovely change and a refreshing pint served with ice & lemon, a great drink on a warm evening.

Well we enjoyed our first long distance trip of the year but its good to get back to base for a few days before we are out delivering again over the weekend.
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Historic Boats at Ellesmere Port Gathering

Historic Narrowboats Boats attending included:-

Acacia
Alton
Ariel
Buckden
Dory
Empress
Gainsborough
Kenilworth
Lacerta
Lamprey
Lead Us
Lindsay (on BW lock maintenance)
Malvern (on BW lock maintenance)
Petrel
Radiant & Regulus (based at Ellesmere Port)
Sandbach
Saturn
Spey (pictured with Gifford based at Ellesmere port)
Victory

Plus Wideboats:-
Parfield
Severn
Tug Kennet
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Oiling up Tug Worcester at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum

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Easter at The Port

We set of from Christleton at 7 and headed down the locks into Chester. At the staircase we where joined by Alex from NBs Witchcraft & Bewitched for the trip down to the boat museum.

On arrival at the Port we moored up in the top wide lock abreast of George & Irene Boyle on Sandbach. We then spent quite some time trying to clear our prop, eventually we moved about a ton of coal to bring the counter up and Brian stripped off to the waist and leaned in under the counter to eventually clear of the rope, plastic & wire off the blades.

It's been nice catching up with some old friends & we are looking forward to a pleasant weekend.
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Northwich to Christleton

Set of at 6.30 and had decent clear blue skies but still a cool wind. Made good progress up Middlewich locks and sold a bit of coal. Did a bit more trade at the start of the Middlewich Branch and then headed of to Barbridge. At the Junction we headed north stopping at Calveley services for a refreshing shower. We had a pleasant afternoon stopping for a chat with John Roberts & Big Al at Beeston Stone Lock. Once down the locks we made slow but steady progress along the long pound towards Chester passing GU motor Seaford (pictured) and Claytons motor Spey. We tied up abt 8 by the Old Trooper at Christleton.

We clothed up & headed of to get some food & beer at the Ring 'o Bells in the Village. We had heard good reports of this pub but we were left a bit disappointed as the range of cask beer was bland with a choice of Green King IPA, Courage Directors, or Ruddles County - no local or regional beer at all. The black pudding starter was very tasty, but the rump steak asked for as medium rare came well done. We later joined the crew of spey ( John Watson, David Macc & Tom) for a drink, they had also heard good reports this pub but were equally underwhelmed by the beer range saying that the Cheshire Cat where they were moored was better.

Anyway enough moaning and groaning, just a last days boating to go, down into Chester & along to the Port
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A Lift in the weather

Set of just after 7 from Marston & grabbed a shower at Anderton Services. Arrived at the lift at 8.30 but first passage we could get down was 10.15, which was then slightly delayed to a computer fault. We had a bit of banter & gossip with the lift operators and then out onto the River Weaver.

The weather was horrible with driving rain, sleet & hail. We made our deliveries at Dutton Lock, Saltisford Lock, Barnton & Northwich Town before Winding at Hunts Lock. Here there was a crane barge leaving the lock so as they followed in behind us we got to see the footbridge at BW Northwich Yard being swung open in a most unusual manner, we'd like to see the risk assesment on that job.

We managed to get the 4pm passage back up the lift & headed south again stopping at Broken Cross to diesel up the Claytons tar boat Dane & butty Clara. Here we managed to pick up some electrical cable around the prop & spent a fairly fruitless hour trying to get it off.

We tied up for the night at Bilinge Green Flash & had a very fine eveningin the company of Roy & Mel (NB India), Tom & Gaynor (NB Hunters Moon) and James & Heather (NB Matilda May). Good Craic and excellent music with Heather singing & playing the guitar and James on the flute & whistle. Thanks for a great night guys.
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Crane Barge at Hunts Lock

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