Weaver Trip Day 6 - On the move again

Today was our day to move again.

We breakfasted and then got AmyJo ready for the off.  We upped pins about 10am and ambled along the river taking it easy as theres no rush.  This area is so delightful it was nice to go really slow and take it all in, besides there are very few boats here and none on the move yet. 

Leaving devil's Garden.  We enjoyed our stop over here.

Several herons frequent the shores and this one took flight just as Chris was going to photograph it.

One thing I like about the Weaver is it always has something to see around the next bend.  This magnificent railway bridge spanned the river about a mile or two after we got under way.

We knew Dutton's lock was coming up soon and sure enough in about a mile it came into view.  As there was a water point below it we wanted to pull in to top up.  It was a tight fit as another boat had moored on the landing overnight but there was just enough room to squeeze AmyJo onto the water point.

Topping up with water at Dutton's lock

Whilst the tank was filling Chris went of in search of the lock keeper.  He informed her he was waiting for a boat to come down and then we could go up.  After about 30mins there was no sign of the boat so he phoned them.  Seems they had rung the wrong lock and were not due here after all.  With that the locky turned the lock in our favour and we entered in together with the other boat.

Waiting inside Dutton Lock for the other boat to come alongside

 On exiting the lock one passes one of the River Weaver's famous wrecks, the MV Chica, looking a sorry sight nowadays.  

This wreck has some fascinating history and started life in 1894 as a cargo barge in Norway and was commandeered by the German Navy during the occupation of Norway in WW2.   After the war she found herself running guns in the Mediterranean then finally smuggling cigarettes and tobacco across the straights of Gibralter only to find herself as part of the fishing fleet in Liverpool bay in 1950.  In 1981 she was bought by a businessman to run cruises up and down the river Weaver but during a period of inactivity in 1993 she started taking on water, with nobody onboard to operate the bilge pumps she listed and her fate was sealed and she has not moved since and can still be seen sticking out of the water having become part of the scenery.

This is how she looked when she sank c1993.

Leaving Dutton Lock behind we cruised in solitude through the countryside.  I admit to being slightly selfish and enjoyed not having to dodge boats coming the other way.  This sure is a great place to get away from the "madning crowds".  Bit like a larger version of the Monty but on a grand scale.

Lock side cottages,  The one on the left has just sold.  Missed a good oppotunity there.

 Another mile and we found ourselves at Acton Bridge.  We had planned to stop overnight here but the noise from the traffic on the A49 would have meant a disturbed nights sleep.  Instead we settled for lunch in the Leigh Arms just on the far side of the bridge.  Moorings here are good and we can thoroughly recommend the food here.  Portion sizes are such that even I could not partake of a desert!

Acton swing bridge carries the A49 to whitchurch

 Ahead lay Saltersford locks so after returning to AmyJo I called ahead to book us through.   Ian the lock keeper gave me the all clear and I let him know we would be there in 30 minutes.

Bridge side moorings, the pub is on the opposite side of these.

Does not look much but inside is quite nice.  Keeps some good real ales too.

Shortly after that we passed one of many side cuts leading to sluices.  This one had a lovely wooden bridge across it

Fantastic reflection of the bridge beams

Superb looking log cabin at the river's edge

This colourful chappie stands guard over the rowing boat

Top this for a garden ornament

 On our way to the lock we passed nb Jo's Delight and her crew asked if we intended to ascend the lock.  When we told them we did they asked to join us which we accepted so they then followed us up to the lock.

Saltersford lock hoves into view

When we approached the lock it was ready for us so we motored straight in with Jo's Delight mooring in front.  As big as these locks are the water flow into them is quite gentle so it was just a case of handing Ian, the lock keeper, the warp and holding onto it as the lock filled.  The old railway semaphores are no longer used but were intended to signal which chamber a boat should use and when to enter.

Saltersford lock stands ready to receive us. 

Jo's Deleight crew reassures their dog all is well

Lock keeper Ian hand back the warp to Chris after passing it round a bollard

Another set of sluices just after the lock

A short distance after the lock we came across Barnton Moorings which looked tempting so we pulled in for the night. 

We're not sure what we'll do tomorrow as the forecast is horrid.  Heavy rain is on the cards so we may just hunker down and chill  but for now its quite calm and our setting beautiful so we'll enjoy the evening with a bottle of vino calapso.

Total distance:3.07 miles Elapsed time:2h29m59s Locks:1 Bridges:1 

Average speed:1.23 mph (1.63 lock/mph) 

Total distance:2.41 miles Elapsed time:1h26m36s Locks:1 Bridges:1 

Average speed:1.67 mph (2.36 lock/mph) 

Weaver trip day 4 - Day off but no time to laze about.

First can we say thank you to all those who posted "well done".  Its nice to know people enjoyed our account of the shipping canal trip and hope it will help and inspire others to give it a try.  If weather is favourable it is well worth the effort to give it a go, we certainly hope to do it again one day.  

We planned this trip to give us plenty of time on the River weaver with free days of non cruising to explore further.  Today was one of them.  

Yesterday I posted wondering why Devil's Garden is so called.  Last night we found out why.  The wild life at night gave out chilling wails, shrieks and groans all through the night.  One can imaging superstitious boaters in the early days thinking the Devil's banshees were out to play in the night.

As we were not planning to move today I got the opportunity to work on our roof box I mentioned in a previous post.  I had made the carcase up over the last few weeks but needed to at the lids.  All materials were of uPVC and were simply Fascia and soffit boards bolted together.

The box Carcass made from 4 pieces of fascia board and sides of soffit board.

 It measures 100 X 90 cm and is 22cm high at the sides to 30cm in the centre.  Its surprisingly roomy inside.

With legs added we tried it on the roof for size

 Today I built up the lids to secure the contents and then added two more lids to act as bases for the solar panels.  I have yet to fit the tilt mechanism but this needs a little thought first to produce.

Nearly complete, just edging on  the far lid to complete.  The panels will sit on top.

Solar panel lid tilted showing the box lid underneath.  The raise edge strips allow for a holding up system to be installed.

The top lids are wider than the lower to allow for the size of the panels.

 As the day wore on it got quite warm and with very little wind became a bit too sticky to work.  By mid afternoon I had to stop and call it a day.  Needless to say my tan got a good topping up.

Whilst I did this Chris gave AmyJo's port holes a thorough clean and then sat in the sun supervising watching my progress and helping out when needed

Tonight's sunset, just stunning!

Tomorrow we plan to move on and explore some more moving up Dutton's lock and into Acton Bridge.

Weaver Trip Day 4 - Manchester Shipping Canal

Neither of us slept well last night.

Maybe it was the thought of the day ahead that played on our minds.  When we mentioned it to anyone we always got the reply "Oh your brave!"  Would the weather be bad, and would there be plenty of shipping going up and down the canal.  All this in between cat naps.  Morning could not come soon enough.  Had we got everything ready, would AmyJo get us there, thoughts of our coolant issue re-surfaced.

We need not have worried as it seems the gods favoured us as the morning dawned bright and windless.  I busied myself checking the engine and making sure all was stowed,  anchor attached and fenders at the ready.

I then phoned Eastham control to ask if I could check the VHF radio and all was well but the controller had no record of our passage and no way would he allow us onto the canal without his paper work from the duty manager.  I assured him I had a letter of confirmation giving permission for the trip and he then promised to ring me back.  A tense 15 minutes passed before he rang back to say he had found the paperwork.  I then called C&RT to be told the lower lock was ready for us.  Finally I rang the council to confirm they would be present to swing the bridge.

At 9:45 we slipped the mooring and edged round to the lock just as the council guys were getting the bridge ready to swing.  I waited with AmyJo just outside the lock until the bridge was clear then entered the lock.  Our good friend Lorraine was there and she helped Chris work the lock.  The lock was full of algae and rubbish but as luck was with us nothing ended up round the prop.

Algae filled lower lock and bridge about to swing 

AmyJo sits in the lock amongst the rubbish.  I prayed none got caught round the prop.

 The lock level dropped slowly to the Shipping canal and the gates swung open.  I managed to get AmyJo's stern to the wall so Chris could get back on board, however she had to get on via the roof very carefully.

Just out of the lock the Shipping canal lay ahead.

 I called Eastham on the VHF and was given the go ahead to proceed plus, much to our relief, we were inform no shipping movements were planned until tonight.  Our luck carried further as we swung out onto a mill pond of the Shipping canal, flat calm and barely a ripple on it.

Shipping moored just outside the Museum lock and the way out to Eastham locks and the Mersey.

 Tentatively I opened AmyJo's throttle to 1700 RPM and she instantly came alive.  AmyJo clearly liked the deep water for she surged ahead at 5 knots effortlessly.  Her helm smooth and light unlike when on the shallow canals.  We could not believe our good fortune and the run up to Weston Marsh lock went without hitch.  After all the worry the trip actually felt anti climatic but we revelled in the experience all the same.

Leaving the port far behind

Numbered marker posts that are marked on the guide notes helped us find where we were

 Next Stanlow refinery hove into view and it was time to report our position to Eastham control.  I called in but only got mush for response.  I then phone them to be told they had replied to me.  Seems our VHF is only good for very short range, an expensive waste of money, so the mobile phone had to be used from then on.  

Large refining plant on the water's edge.

The refinery shipping berths are on the other side of the canal and pipes run across on the canal bed to the refinery

Ship crews and refinery staff are ferried across in these purpose built ferries.

Not a ship in sight

 After Stanlow the canal runs fairly straight towards Runcon.  There is not much to see as high sided banks protect it. AmyJo happily glided through the water, made good progress and never missed a beat.  There were numerous geese that squawked and flew off as we approached

Geese taking flight as we approached them.

After an hour and a half our goal was coming into view.  The ICI refinery seems to block ones way but in fact the canal swings left and our destination, Weston Marsh Locks, is off to the right.

Weston Marsh Lock is to the right just round the headland beyond the yellow marker bouy.

Finally the lock hove into view and we were pleased to find the lock was open and ready for us, so once we rounded the port and Starboard marks we made our way into the lock.

Weston Marsh Lock comes into view with open gate to greet us

The lock is much wider than it seems as only one gate was open as we approached

AmyJo felt insignificant in the cavernous lock.

Once in the lock we were greeted by two cheerful C&RT lockies one, Mo, turned out to be the team leader for the river staff.  He was a mine of information and happily gave us information on mooring places and water points.

The Locky winds the paddle for us.

 Braced for the surge of boiling water as the paddle opened we were amazed at how gentle the lock level rose the full 2 feet 4 inches to the river level.  That was it, we had traversed our small section of the Shipping canal safely and were now heading out onto the river Weaver but we could not celebrate just yet.  We still had to find a mooring.  Mo had advised us a good place to stop was the Devil's Garden some 40 minutes distant so of we went in search of it.

Leaving Marsh lock and the view up to Weston Point docks in the distance

 This section of the river is somewhat industrial as one runs alongside the ICI plant.  The overhead cloud added to the gloominess of the scene.  Not long after entering the river we come across the M56 skyway bridge high up above us.

The elevated M56 that we have driven over countless times.

Signs the scenery will improve appear as one cruises past the Runcorn Rowing Club just before the bridge.  We intended to stop on the public moorings just before the club so pulled into a nicely manicured section of the bank believing this was the moorings only to discover the Pearson's has them on the wrong side of the club and they were in fact upstream of the club not downstream as printed.

Runcorn Rowing Club

Three bridges in close succession span the river herabouts.  A water point is located between them so we winded AmyJo and reversed onto it to top up.

After passing under the M56 the next two bridges are found with water point on the right

Reversing onto the water point seen on the right of frame by pathway.

Once clear of the hustle and bustle of the bridges rush hour traffic things calm down and one finds oneself in delightful tree  lined section of the river.  After a while we took the Pearson guide's advise, killed the engine and drifted along.  Not a sound could be heard except bird call.  So peaceful it was it was a shame to restart the engine again.

Simply beautiful

Frodsham cut isunnavigable as it leads to a weir to the tide section of the river.
buoys block the way and Arrows ward off travellers to go right.

Finally we found our mooring for the night, Devil's garden, moored up and  then felt a real sense of achievement and thanked our lucky stars for such a great trip.  Despite all my research on the tinterweb I cannot find out why this place is called Devil's Garden.  Anyone?

Our mooring at the delightful Devil's Garden

Time for a celebration drink

 The late afternoon was warm and bathed in sunshine so we got out the chairs and sat out on the bank.  Whilst enjoying the peace this little chap put in an appearance and proceeded to fish right across from us on the other bank for a full 30 minutes.  We managed to capture a few shots and these are the best we could get from them.

You can just make out the kingfisher if you look closely

And here he is in plain view

 We have plenty of time on our hands so tomorrow will be a rest day.  Weather permitting I hope to get a bit more done on the roof box and a few other jobs done around AmyJo then Wednesday we'll continue the cruise up river.

Our solitude is taken by a late arrival.  Well this is a favourite mooring along here so we cannot complain.