Weaver Trip Day 11 - Anderton and New Recruits

Despite being near the salt works that are worked 24/7 we had a surprisingly quite night so we both slept well.

We rose at our usual time of 8.30am and prepared AmyJo for her trip up the lift.  Chris tidied through inside as today AmyJo was taking on 4 new recruits for the day so the boat had to be clean and tidy.  Meanwhile I cleared the well deck and packed away as much as I could into the bow lockers to give more room to sit out then prepared AmyJo for cruising.

We were booked on for 12:50 so had been told to be on the holding pontoon at 12:20.  At 12:10 we cast off and moved the short distance to the holding jetty.  Here AmyJo's new recruits in the form of Corinna,  her hubby Andy, and their two little boys Lucas and Nathan joined us.  Corinna works with Chris and her 4 year old Lucas really wanted to ride up in the lift.  As they live nearby Chris arranged for them to join us for the trip as a treat for him.

Having ascended this boat moved out onto the Trent and Mersey

Waiting for the signal to enter the lift

 Once everyone was aboard a lock keeper informed me that when the two boats come out onto the river from the lift we could move into the caisson that was waiting to receive AmyJo.

Making our way round to the lift

The iconic view of the lift as we approach

The port hand Caisson and guillotine door in the open position.

 We had to wait in the caisson for some time while two boats entered the other one above us.  The lock keeper apologised for the wait adding the other boaters were a bit slow getting ready and into their caisson.  We said we did not mind and this gave us the opportunity for a little photo shoot.

Boxed into the lift waiting to ascend

Our new recruits left to right, Andy, Nathan, Lucas, Corinna and yours truly.

The mass of gears and other caisson towers overhead.

 Finally with a very slight judder the lift started to lift us up.  The slow movement is so smooth and surprisingly quiet.  The views as we got to the top were stunning.

Start of the lifting process and we just clear the walling.

Passing the other caisson on the way down.  If felt like they were not moving and we were.

View from below the upper level, you can make out roof top and the foot of the picture

and below from the limit of the lift.

 Once we reached the summit the doors were released and we moved out onto the holding trough high above the ground.  This holding area has a second gate at its exit to stop the canal draining away if the lift has a severe leak or maintenance work is required.  Its a mammoth peice of engineering in its own right.  The gears in the earlier picture would have been used to pull the horse drawn boats into the lift along this section.

The upper holding trough with doors lowered

Caisson door lifts allowing AmyJo to exit the caisson onto the holding trough.

We were moored just in front of the boat seen below

Witth the caisson door closed and sealed the canal door can open to left us out onto the canal.

The exit onto the Trent and Mersey.  Be prepared to get a soaking as you pass under the door.

The lock keeper checks the way is clear to proceed and we thank him as we leave.

 Now we're back on normal canals they seem so narrow but, with the help of able seaman Lucas, AmyJo could work her way along with no problems.

AmyJo's youngest helmsman, Lucas takes charge

Assisted by Capt'n Steve the hat

 By now the weather had deteriorated and a drizzle had worsened into rain.  The crew retreated inside whilst Cap'n Hat took the helm.
Now now, I know what your thinking and its hat not pra.....

Leaving Anderton heading for Barnton Tunnel and a winding hole

We decided to give the boys a little more adventure and pass through Barnton tunnel then wind and retrace our steps back to Anderton to drop off the crew so they could go home for tea.  Young Lucas loved every minute of the trip and gave Chris and I a big hug and thank you as he left.  He may only 4 but already is such a gentlemen.  We really enjoyed having Lucas and his family on board and as he loved it on AmyJo we have promised him another trip and a visit to "our" ice cream farm at Tattenhall.

We then carried on in the rain for a few miles then called it a day near Marbury Hall footbridge just outside Northwich.

Coal boat Halsall passes just as we moored up but I was too late to stop him for a top up as I was down below.

Our mooring for the night

Total distance:0.32 miles Elapsed time:1h19m10s Locks:0 Bridges:1 

Average speed:0.24 mph (0.24 lock/mph) 

Total distance:1.53 miles Elapsed time:0h46m56s Locks:0 Bridges:6 

Average speed:1.95 mph (1.95 lock/mph) 

Total distance:2.74 miles Elapsed time:2h18m51s Locks:0 Bridges:12 

Average speed:1.19 mph (1.19 lock/mph) 

Weaver Trip Day 10 - Last day on the river

Today would be our last day on the river for tomorrow we ascend the Anderton Lift and rejoin the Trent and Mersey and everyone else on the four counties circuit.

This morning we were invited onto Oakapple for coffee before we left so I fired up AmyJo's engine to charge up the batteries and we went to say our fairwells.

An hour later and agreeing to catch up again one day we left just as Linda on nb Kanbedun Again came to say goodbye.  It was lovely to have a leaving party to see us off and a little sad as we have thoroughly enjoyed their company over the last few days.  Look forward to seeing you all again some day.

Linda (left), Richard and Sharon come to see us off.

The last we saw of our mooring before turning the corner

At Vale Royal lock the two lock keepers were especially cheerful today and were interested in whether we had enjoyed or stay, which of course, we did immensely.  They chatted all the while we were in the lift.

Ready to receive us and the two cheerful Lock keepers

Who you looking at....

 In one of the boat yards we spied these two old fire engines.  One hopes they are not the yards fire fighting equipment as we could not see them being much use

This stretch of river between Vale Royal and Hunts Lock downstream has several boat building yards along the banks.  One is Yarwoods who for years built many narrowboats and Brunners (they were the successors of the original Weaver steam packets and were sometimes known as ‘Brunners’ from the salt and chemical company ‘Brunner Mond’).

From 1920 W J Yarwood & Sons built barges & coasters and gave them local names like Hatchmere, Pickmere and Redesmere. These traded along the Weaver, Mersey & the west coast. In 1934 the company made the headlines when they undertook the construction of an aircraft supply vessel, 'Aquarius', under the supervision of Aircraftman Shaw, aka 'Lawrence of Arabia'

We last saw Abbott at the Northwich festival 4 years ago when Jo and Keith on Hadar were here.

After a brief stop in Northwich for water we finally moored up just round the corner from the Anderton lift. We then walked up to the exhibition centre had some lunch and then booked our slot to go up the lift tomorrow,.

Moored up at Carey Park moorings

 After I mentioned our battery problem in our last post Tom from Waiouru suggested I should remove the dead battery before it kills the others.  I discussed this with Fernwoods and then set about disconnecting them all.  Not a definitive test by any means but all I had to hand was an Avo meter.  I checked each one with the meter hoping the culprit would give a lower voltage reading than the others.  Unfortunately they all gave 12.92volt values which would seem to indicate they were all OK.  Tom would agree that this should be done as a drop test putting each individual battery under load but I cannot do that here so that will have to wait until we get back to Tattenhall.

One bank of 6 batteries wired for 24 volts

So far with careful use of the lights etc we have managed to maintain a reasonable charge so settled down to watch a lovely sunset over the lift tonight.

Our view from AmyJo of the lift this afternoon

The setting sun lights up the trees.

Our moorings seen from along the tow path

My favourite picture so far - the Anderton lift basks in the sunset.

Tomorrow we have company joining us for the ride up the Lift.  One of Chris's work mates is bringing her two young boys along to enjoy the lift as they have always wanted to have a go on it.  I'd better break out the pirates flag me thinks.

WeaverTrip Day 9 (I think) - Cruising in Company

Having discovered yesterday that one of our domestic batteries has died we did our best to conserve what power we had.  I ran the engine for a while whilst Chris baked some very yummy Vodka and Orange cakes that we later shared with Richard and Sharon (nb Oakapple) and Linda (nb Kanbedun again) in the late afternoon sat out on the tow path until the midges got the better of us so we took refuge back on the boats.  

This morning we planned to cruise the last leg of the Weaver but one obstacle stood in our way.  New Bridge, is shown in the Pearsons as having head room of 6ft 4ins.  We walked to it last night to find the height gauge showing 2m clearance.  Back at AmyJo we got the tape measure out and to the top of the new top box was roughly 1.9m.  It was going to be tight.

Richard very kindly offered to give us a ride on Oakapple if we could not get AmyJo through as they too wanted to do the trip but were concerned about running aground in the flash.  At least travelling together one can help the other if we went aground.

We set off at 10am as arranged and Richard and Sharon followed.

The Oakapples get underway with us

 The run down to New bridge was straight forward with no wind and the sun trying to peek through the light cloud.  When the bridge appeared I slowed AmyJo to almost a stop and drifted up to the bridge.  Would she go under?  The height gauge showed the same level so we inched forward very slowly.  

New Bridge and the low head room becomes apparent

Level gauge showing the levels had not risen overnight

First the horn went under with six inches to spare.  This meant it was touch and go for the top box.  Inch by inch the bridge beam  got closer to the box.  With just 2 inches spare we eventually cleared the bridge.

Just through and the relief evident.  The lady on the bridge actually congratulated us.

No problem for Richard and Sharon, all they did was drop the engine chimney.

 From here on in the skyline was dominated by the salt works.  I did hear this works provides nearly 90% of all salt spread on Britain's roads.  Its easy to see why with endless mountains of salt lining the banks.

The mine lift towers above and is visible for miles

Salt leaving the lift ends up here and is carted away to huge mountains of salt.

One of several Salt "mountains"

 The local pub, the Red Lion had been staging a music festival all weekend and the stage was right on the canal side.  We could just hear the music on the wind last night but was deserted as we passed.

Must have been a great music feastival

The Red Lion is to the left of the bridge shown below.  The bridge also marks the end of C&RT's jurisdiction and lock keeper Mo had warned us we would be on our own if we ran aground.  We knew we would be OK as Mike, one of our mooring neighbours in our marina, used to be based in these parts and had given me good advise on how to proceed.

The bridge marking the C&RT end of navigation

 From here the river does narrow somewhat so winding is no longer an option.  Once past the bridge one is committed.  A few pleasant turns and Winsford flash comes into view around the corner. 

Mike's advise here was to keep left and wind in front of the moored boats and was spot on.  This we both did and did not run aground. 

Once facing the opposite way a small cutting off to Starboard presents itself.  Here new staging and a water tap could be found.  The moorings look quite nice but I do not know what it would be like to stay overnight as the nearby grounds are littered with empty beer cans and other detritus.  Though it has to be said the moorings were clean.

The entrance to Winsford flash looks inviting to the un-aware

Winsford sailing club in the far end of the flash.  We used to sail here a few years ago.

Winsford Flash moorings look quite nice and the water tap is just behind
the centre railings on the right in front of the red car.

 Both the Oakapples, and us, needed water so we pulled in and breasted up to top up both tanks while the sun made a welcome appearance making it quite warm.  Whilst filling up the decision to celebrate with a drink in the Red Lion was made.

Filling up on the new looking moorings

Oakapple leads the way to the Red Lion

Back to the safety of C&RT control

 After a lovely hour or two drinking a great cask ale we headed back to the Vale Royal moorings where we set off this morning with Oakapple leading the way

Lorry dwarfed by the salt mountain adds its load to the pile.

 We still had to negotiate New Bridge but even with more confidence we did not rush but  took it just as carefully in case the levels had risen due to the locks being worked.

Oakapple clears with plenty of room.

Very little room for us but we still get through

So now with a bit of charge in the batteries we are settled for the night. Tomorrow we'll head downstream to Anderton ready to go on the lift for Wednesday.  We may have to call into one of the marinas there see what can be done about the dead battery.

We just this minute got a text from C&RT warning that Wardle lock is closed due to a sunken vessel in the lock.  We do hope the crew are safe and unharmed and that the lock is working by time we get there or our return home may be delayed.

Total distance:2.61 miles Elapsed time:1h55m52s Locks:0 Bridges:3 

Average speed:1.35 mph (1.35 lock/mph) 

 Total distance:0.12 miles Elapsed time:0h15m34s Locks:0 Bridges:1 

Average speed:0.47 mph (0.47 lock/mph) 

Total distance:2.45 miles Elapsed time:1h11m15s Locks:0 Bridges:1 

Average speed:2.06 mph (2.06 lock/mph)