Jaq is studying while the cruise goes on

Jaq finds herself back studying to pass her exam to obtain a `leave to remain` visa in her passport. Jaq has until late 2013 to pass the exam but decided to get the book and absorb as much as possible before the exam. I have had a read through the book and have my doubts if I would pass. I do not know the differences in the education systems of England, Wales and Scotland. As for the questions on politics, we won`t go there. Then there are questions such as;                                                                                     What are the percentages of the UK population that say they are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish etc. Based on the 2001 census Jaq`s study book states that 71% are Christian (including 10% Roman Catholic. Hindu 1%, and so it goes on. Anyway I  have no doubt Jaq will pass the exam.

Cruising the Bridgewater you have to be aware that services ie rubbish, elsan and water are few and far between. We turned into the Runcorn arm to use the service block marked in the Nicholson guide but leaving the boater to guess the exact location. For reference it`s on the right hidden by heavy greenery just past the marina entrance. I didn`t see a rubbish bin. 
In fact I have no knowledge of any rubbish disposal sites on this canal. There is no site at Dunham school bridge even though Nicholsons has one marked.
We topped up with diesel and a new gas bottle at Claymoore navigation on the way back through Preston Brook. They allowed us to dump the 3 black bags of rubbish we had accumalated.

Overnight mooring at  Lymm and the village could not be closer. The picture below is the view from the boat. The fish and chip shop is within casting distance but I was not keen on the fact the fish was not Cod but in fact I suspect Hake.

One of many old canal buildings that make the journey interesting

Good blog, were waiting for you in Manchester was the conversation as we passed each other.  Sorry I don`t know your names but it was a pleasure to meet a reader and  so maybe next time we can chat.

Onto the Bridgewater canal

Saltersford Tunnel left, is 424 yards long. Due to bends within the tunnel it is impossible to see boats coming in the opposite direction. In order to make passage safe entry into the tunnel is timed. Northbound boats can enter on the hour until 20 min. after; boats southbound can enter on the half hour until 10 min. to the hour. By comparison Barnton Tunnel, above right, has no deep curves to obstruct your view. This means with care boaters can use the tunnel anytime.

The next tunnel before the Trent and Mersey becomes the Bridgewater canal is Preston Brook and again it has timed access.

 After passing through Preston Brook Tunnel the Bridgewater canal begins. The first thing you notice is the wide canal and bridge holes. Some idea of this width can be judged by the extra long stop planks and the crane to install them.

Up the Trent and Mersey

The blog needs updating although I think most readers know it is not a live blog so we could be far from the blogged subject. At the moment we have been into Manchester where Jaq treated herself to a Toshiba laptop so she can get work done separate from the captain, ok 2nd in command, I know my place.
 Anyway more about Manchester in another blog as at the moment we are moving to a suitable place where I can get a train for a Doctors appointment.
About 18 months ago I had a small lump on my neck and the doc said what it was but I have forgotten. The diagnosis was it would probably stay the same size and cause no problems. What ever it was called it was common. Trouble is the last 3 weeks it has grown so now it will be a referral to the hospital and a little surgery.
Trust me to have one that grows instead of staying small, must be all the good food Jaq cooks me. Still can`t complain as in the 6+ years with this doctor I have been once and now this will be the second. Previous to this when in the house I hadn`t seen a doctor for 5 years so all in all pretty healthy.


The smelly works that stretches over and along both banks at Northwich. I did ask someone peering over the fence a few years back and from memory I believe they make Phosphate.

This looks to be a lifeboat from a cruise liner. It had a prop at the rear. It was out of the water at Wincham Wharf where Harral boat brokerage operated until they went bust. I believe the Wharf`s owners are now operating boat sales.

The Anderton boat lift and the journey down to the River Weaver will have to wait. We did stop off and walk down and show Jaq the exhibition. As this is the 10th anniversary of the reopening after restoration entry to the grounds and exhibition is free.  I wonder how much that has cost BW/CART/Boaters. A lot of work on the system could have been implemented with those lost takings.
Ok so just going to hit publish and the thunder and lightning is across the fields and now the rain is pouring down. A wet summer for sure.

More un-published pictures

This is a caraboat that used with the wheels out of sight below water can be at home behind a car as well as afloat. The weird thing is when I googled Mirage Caraboat it turned up a for sale post on a Caraboat forum. So click here and view the photos of it on dry land and the interior. Sixty four were built from 1971 and they are now quite rare. Some more info can be found here.




 This post box is in the wall of the Anglo-Welsh hire base reception at Bunbury locks. This box signified the reign of Edward VII 1901-1910. The box is sealed now but I guess it must have been in service here at some time and perhapsused by passing boats. The box was in the side wall
(picture above) at this end so I can only assume the position is original being near the road.
 

 Alpacas grazing near Calverly. They come mainly from Peru and Chile and have a lifespan of 20yrs. They produce between 2-5 kilos of fleece per year that will be sorted and used for luxury garments.

Tacet stops for tea

Fellow bloggers Ian and Karen on Nb Tacet broke their journey to come aboard for tea/coffee and a good old natter.
It gave Jaq a chance to meet some fellow bloggers that  I last met at Weedon back in late March 2011. I think from memory they had just set off on their travels and Nb Valerie was their 1st blogger invite.
Nice to see you are both still enjoying the canals and have a nice trip on the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

A look back through the photos

The bridge of Sighs, not in Venice but in Chester, UK. The bridge was built to enable prisoners to cross from the prison in the Northgate across to the chapel to receive their last rites. The old Northgate was a main entrance to Chester. It was replaced in 1808 by a Geogian arch. Now it is a arch going nowhere. The bridge cost £20 ($30) to build in 1793. During WWII the metal railings were removed and melted down.

I liked the wide walk board on this Chester lock. It makes avoiding the greasy winding gears easier.



The locks through Chester out to the River Dee look a little neglected, right. Access to the Dee can only be made at certain tide levels but it`s been a good few years since a narrowboat made the trip. The Tuesday night club I believe did the trip but I could not find a link to the report; a search box on the site would help. Anyway the narrowboat above found it`s way onto the Dee albeit with the help of a crane further up stream.

The Alaskan frontier woman has a dubious meeting with local aliens at a very quiet mooring between Chester and Ellesmere Port.

The Airbus Beluga is a regular site around Chester as it flies into Hawarden airport and the Broughton Airbus factory. It flies parts between Airbus manufacturers around the globe. The Broughton factory produces A380 wings that are transported by road and then by barge along the River Dee to be shipped from Mostyn aboard roll-on-roll-off ferries to France. The A380 can carry 555 passengers in three classes spread over two decks. I can just hear the hostesses saying "no standing downstairs; please use the top deck." If the flight was all economy the passenger total could be 840. They have talked of a three deck cargo version. My design--and I have patented this so beware--is a twin cabin, four deck version. Like a catamaran`s twin hulls, it will have five jet engines; two on each wing and one between the cabins to carry all those greedy w bankers. I reckon we could get at least 2,000 on board sitting on laps and in the gangways, landing them on some remote island.

The end to another perfect day!

Moving on.

We finally have as Jaq has just posted moved on off the Shropshire Union along the Middlewich arm and onto the Wardle canal. The Wardle is  the little length of canal as you leave what every boater knows as Maureens lock even though it`s official name is Wardle lock. The journey through this time was very sad as Maureen pictured by me back in 2009 sadly passed away in March. I have over the years spent a few evenings in the pub with Maureen listening to her tales of her life as a child and adult on the working canal boats. Now the cottage has been sold and that side door no longer bears the weight of all the brass. So after passing through the locks leaving Middlewich town and passing through Big lock on the Trent and Mersey I left Jaq with the boat while I walked to the Cemetary.  Maureen is now with her husband Jack. RIP

LINK to Wardle and Maureen.

So now we are on the Bridgewater canal heading for Manchester and will moor in the heart of the city. The route we could use to the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals involves 40+ locks most of wich are through Manchester and it`s suburbs. Now this is not my idea of boating if a more rural route is available and so we will return back down the Trent and Mersey with a similar amount of locks but spread through the countryside.

I was just looking through my pictures and it`s amazing how many pictures never make the blogs, I say blogs as it must be the same for all bloggers. Anyway if I can find time I will post some with small captions. Time is a funny thing and Jaq is just coming to terms with that old saying "how did I find time to work".

Still on time, I have for a while had a countdown clock on the blog that will slowly but surely arrive at the day i get my State Pension. Be nice to have an income.

The clock idea came from Derek and Carrie on their blog Uccello

Muggy Weather on the Bridgewater Canal

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses
put in order.” ~John Burroughs

   We rose mid-morning after a lovely night of dozing with the windows open, waking mid-sleep to a light rain on the roof soothing our sense and cooling things down briefly. After a breakfast chat we decided to move on from our mooring spot at Bridge 206 overlooking the River Weaver. After nearly eight weeks of waiting around in the general vicinity of Nantwich for an initial dentist's appointment and the follow up appointments which took a month and half all together, we are antsy to be on the move while summer is in full swing--especially because we have to figure out soon where to moor the boat for our November trip to America and head in that general direction.
   We went into the Preston Brook tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal under the auspices of British Waterways, and came out the other end on the Bridgewater Canal under the authority of the Manchester Ship Canal! The Bridgewater was England's first official canal and it is lovely!
   An seventy-something woman followed into the tunnel aboard her boat NB Safari. She was single handing it. She told Les it does take longer to travel on one's own but it's doable. Everything just takes more time but that's fine--she was in no hurry!
   The last two says have been very muggy! I had no idea it was this humid in Great Britain. 99% humidity with no rain yesterday was a killer. We both wore sheens of sweat as it sweltered around seventy degrees Fahrenheit. (Ya--I hear you my lovely favourite first-born daughter, laughing at me for wilting in seventy degrees. What can I say? I am an Alaskan through to the marrow of every bone and anything over sixty six degrees Fahrenheit is redundant and unnecessary in my humble opinion!)
   For our American audience I will say it is not like the heavy blanket of moisture that drops form the atmosphere after crossing the Ohio River and heading full tilt into the Midwest of the U.S. where it just keeps getting wetter and heavier the further south one travels. It is less than that and a bit more than one experiences on a muggy day in Pullman, WA when dry lightning will flicker amongst the clouds at eventide.
   As we travelled along from the tunnel towards the village of Preston Brook itself, we passed under green cathedrals formed by the overhanging boughs of Oak, Ash, and Willow trees, finally coming to rest outside the village of Moore on a bend in the canal which offers lovely views all around, and some great wild crafting ahead as the tow path here is awash in red clover which has strong anti-cancer properties. I will dry the flower heads and mix them with rose hips collected later in the fall, and some mint, for a healthy winter tea.
   Just after we moored and set up the wind genny a thunderstorm passed and cooled it right down! Another hour and I can remove my BBQ Pork roast from the oven and commence making BBQ pulled Pork on ciabatta rolls, lemonade, and coleslaw for dinner. I am hoping to finally pull it together and make a Bacardi rum cake for dessert.
   As we came to rest here I grew teary eyed. Today's cruise touched my soul: the green of passing woodlands, the serenity of the green cathedrals, lit by sun from above, filled with birdsong, small fairy groves marked by spires of foxglove glowing pink in shady nooks.
   I am surrounded by beauty all the time now and it feeds and heals my soul. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature changes us as surely as eking out survival surrounded by nothing but manmade structures, poverty and filth. I am expanding inside; it's timely too as I am so filled by rushes of HUGE emotions--the deepest joy, the widest happiness, and inner peace which all feels so much bigger than my little body can possible contain. I wonder if this is what it feels like before the dragonfly bursts forth from the skin of its nymph self: from utilitarian existence to unparalleled beauty.

Hunkered Down at Calveley

"You have to sniff out joy. Keep your nose to the joy trail." ~Buffy Sainte-Marie

   We took the opportunity of a break in the rainy weather and left Chester behind once and for all on Monday afternoon (June 18th), cruising along through the willow curtains which obscure one's view across the canals, allowing a game of chicken with moored boats as well as those on the move!

The view from our window at Christleton

   We stopped for the evening at Christleton near the water point and took the bus back into Chester Tuesday morning to pick up my wedding ring from the jewelers, where the band was being repaired.
   Ring on hand once more, we cruised off again and made it as far as Beeston, just before the locks. Next time we come this way we will climb up to the castle; we knew the warm, partly sunny weather wouldn't hold out long and we wanted to put some miles between us and Chester.

Near our Tuesday evening mooring; Beeston Castle on the hill

A lone Pen with five of her six cygnets. One was nearer the cut. Where is her Cobb? We didn't see her partner at all. Swans mate for life. I wonder what happened to him?

   By Wednesday we found ourselves once again back at Calveley, moored up in one of our favorite spots between bridge 104 on the Shroppie and the winding hole before Bunbury staircase locks.

    We chose to hang out here after our second foray into Nantwich for Les' dentist at the end of May. Back then we clipped back the grass and hung our laundry out to dry in the sun, enjoying the quiet and privacy.
    We found our old spot empty on our way back from Chester and did the same thing again this past Wednesday, shortly after mooring up. We managed to dry three loads of laundry before the skies opened up and poured; now however the cut all along here is rammed nut to butt with other boats. Traffic entertains us coming and going from the winding hole behind us to the water point and services at Calveley, below us beyond the bridge.
    Why are we back here again and will we ever move on? Well, Les needed some DIY stuff to build a cabinet for our computer and a couple of bits and bobs to wire electrical 12 v plug-ins on the port side of NB Valerie near the dinette.
    Once these projects are complete we will no longer have computers cluttering the table and cables strung thither and yon. Trying to get up and walk to the loo while the computer is plugged in and the pointer is charging is a bit like trying to negotiate a giant game of Cat's Cradle!

Views above and below, of the cut at Calvely today

   We were being held hostage by the heavy rain and high winds anyway. The Met weather office issued an amber weather alert for the area around and just below Manchester--which included this part of the cut. Heavy flooding, pouring rain, and high winds to fifty MPH are forecast so we will stay hunkered down until a break in the weather allows us to cruise back onto the Middlewich arm and head towards The Anderton boat lift and the river Weaver.
   As I type this I am listening to a streaming of WDRV radio out of Chicago, Illinois; classical hard rock. The Stones are entertaining me with "Waiting For a Friend." This is one of three stations I listened to back in Pullman, Washington. The others were NPR (National Public Radio) and Martini in the Morning which broadcasts 50's and 60's Rat Pack music out of California.
    A nod of thanks to Rita and Scooby Talbot (NB Festina Lente) for inspiring last night's dinner. We had the best boneless Pork steaks I've been able to procure over here. Tesco's had giant Pork leg joints available. Too much meat for two people, they are an excellent buy for four to share. Scooby had the scathingly brilliant idea to split one with us. From our half we have four lovely boneless steaks, some chunks to make a stew, and a large roast from which I will make BBQ pulled Pork once we get another spell of hot weather.
   We enjoyed sauteed Pork steaks rubbed with Beau Monde, garlic, and lemon pepper, with a dark brown crust outside; tender and juicy inside. Accompanying our chops, I decided to attempt Risotto. For this I must thank Rita who served mushroom Risotto when they invited us aboard for dinner back in Chester.
    I am not a fan of rice. I don't like the sticky oriental variety, and regular white rice reminds me of insipid school lunches from childhood. Risotto is in another class all by itself but for some reason I've always been intimidated by the apparent finickiness of Arborio rice.
    Rita's excellent dinner inspired me and I made a delicious Cheddar Cheese Risotto ala Nigella Lawson. In this recipe I used Vermouth for the white wine and I whipped up some stock with Knorr's Vegetable stockpots.
   For dessert we had N.L.'s Chocolate Guinness cake--also inspired by my North American correspondent aka Rita Talbot (she's Canadian) who has baking this cake down to a fine art. After tasting hers I knew I had to try it.

    I also knew it would never cook in the tiny boat oven if I put it in a single spring form pan so I divided the batter into two silicone nine inch round cake pans. I spread cherry jam between the layers and frosted the top with Nigella's recipe for Cream Cheese frosting made with whipping cream. Deelish!!!

The happy captain of NB Valerie and my heart!

   In the evening a small wood fire kept us warm as rain came and went, poured and slackened, and the wind genny purred atop our boat.
    Every time I think I cannot be happier, I find I am delirious with joy; all the more surprising for me because I chose to be single for so long, convinced marriage was a trap for women and a failure for me. Les too has been having "pinch me" moments, overwhelmed with happiness; our lives our simple, uncomplicated, and we are filled with gratitude.  Led Zep calls me now with "Cashmere." Stay dry, warm, and may you be as blessed as we two. Happy cruising wherever you are!

Inside the walls of Chester and the water is not hot!

Rain is pouring down as I sit here typing and I have no intention of cruising in such miserable conditions. Instead I spent 3 hours trying to discover why HOT water decided not to flow through our galley tap. Since the water is heated by the engine, my first thoughts were of a possible air lock in the pipe work from the engine to the hot water storage tank. Some time back I had installed a bleed valve to make releasing air from the system easier.

I discovered this valve fitting was leaking and I wondered if it was allowing air to enter the system. With a new fitting in place and the engine running hot I bled the system. Still no hot water. I removed the pipework in several places to check for a good flow of water; all  was okay and very hot in the pipes but NOT in the galley.

So I went back inside to see just how far the water pipes were hot on their way to the storage tank under the bed. After removing the mattress and top boards,I gained access to the tank. I discovered very hot pipes all the way to the tank as well as the hot water pipe supplying the boat.

I asked Jaq to try the bathroom tap and hey--we have scalding hot water there but still none in the galley further along. Now I was puzzled. I could find no sign of leaks so I visualised the pipe work through the boat system. Then it hit me: the washing machine is plumbed in before the galley sink! I felt sure somehow an air lock had occurred here, stopping the hot water flowing to the galley. I hit the washing machine "on" button and after a cough and splutter, hot water flowed into the machine. Air lock cleared. This allowed the hot water to flow through the galley tap. 

From the walls of Chester can be seen these small houses dominated by the larger one. Both look old but in fact the large one dates back to 1881, whereby it`s smaller neighbours date from 1650. They were Almshouses built for the poor and needy and were a block of 9 but only 6 survive after being restored in 1969.

Sedan House on the left, so called because of the porch that enabled the rich arriving by Sedan coach (pic. right) to arrive warm and dry.  Each side of the porch had an entrance door. The coachmen would enter either side, stopping to allow their passenger to exit directly inside the building.

The Chester Rows are covered galleries above the street level shops with access at each end and steps at intervals from the pavement; additional row of shops are above.

These shops are located above the ones in the top picture. Was this an inspiration to our present day indoor shopping centres?

A day on the walls of Chester

The Romans built wooden defences around Deva (Chester) and later rebuilt in stone. The Saxons then used a lot of the Roman walls to defend against the Vikings. Norman Earls repaired the walls in the period 1120-1350 and towers and gateways were added in the Middle ages. By the 18th century the walls no longer being used for military defences, they became walkways. The gated entrances to the City were pulled down and replaced with stone arches. The walk around the walls is almost 2 miles long and a very enjoyable day can be had if you stop for Coffee and Ice cream!

This is Kaleyards gate built in 1275 when the Cathedral was an Abbey. The Monks used this gate to access their Vegetable garden outside the walls and locked it each evening. The gate is of such a size that a Knight on horseback was unable to enter. Well you wouldn`t want Boris to ride in and take over as Mayor.  Over 700 years later the gate is still locked each night.

(US readers; Boris is Mayor of London.)

Jaq up on the walls above Kaleyards gate. The cathedral is to the left inside the city walls.

Steps over Eastgate arch

The Eastgate arch was built in 1768 and replaced a medieval gate.

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View from the clock along Eastgate street.

The clock was set in motion on Queen Victoria`s 80th birthday in 1899 after missing the date of her Diamond jubilee. I wonder if someone ended up in the Tower of London after that mess up.

A lovely walk and as you can see the sun was shining and most of all Jaq looks very happy so after a year of marriage I must be doing something right. If you want a virtual walk around the walls click here.