19th May 2013 - Backford to Beeston

Slightly cooler but nevertheless a lovely morning as we left the Wirral.  We needed to top up with water in Chester, but there was a narrowboat moored on the water point.  This is rather bad mannered as there was plenty of room elsewhere and boats should not moor in front of water points.  However we managed to squeeze in.

Whilst we were filling, I walked down the 'Dee Branch' - a several hundred yard length of canal that connects the Shropshire Union Canal with the tidal river Dee.  I found two fully working locks and a lift bridge, almost hidden from view. The cut crossed beneath a main road then.... stopped.  Two gates dated 2006 were lying there and had never been completed.  The cut was boarded across at its entrance.  It was such a shame to see this fine but short section of canal falling into dis-use.  Pleased to see that there is a campaign to do something about it.

With the tank full (it took well over an hour!) we moved off, only to bump into (almost literally) Nb The Pearl whom we had met back at Ellesmere Port and got talking to.  They moved onto their boat permanently last September and rented out their house.  Ceilidh and The Pearl travelled together for the rest of the day through all the double width locks along this section of canal - two boats moving together is much easier with two crews sharing the work.

Moored up for the evening at Beeston and I walked up to Beeston Castle while Annie got tea ready.  Sadly the gates were closed as English Heritage look after the site.  I didnt feel like storming the walls, so returned back down.

Bright morning sun, but threatening clouds as we left the Wirral

The unused Dee Branch in Chester

Filling up the water tank

Travelling with Nb The Pearl

18th May 2013 - Ellesmere Port and back to Backford

Woke a bit groggy from a poor nights sleep.  My pal Paul Cracknell said he would pop over today so I walked up to the entrance building to meet him at 11am.  When I got there the building was full of VIPs who had come to the unveiling of a bronze horse.... So Paul was welcomed by both the Mayor and Tony Hales, the Chairman of the Canal and River Trust.

We had a look around the museum then back to the boat for some lunch.  Paul then helped us turn and take the boat through the locks on our way out.  It was quite windy and a bit of a mission.  Dropped Paul off at a bridge to collect his car, and continued out into the Country.  It was nice to be back out - the museum had been slightly depressing with sunken and rotting boats.  Surely we can celebrate out waterway heritage in a more inspirational way than this.

Moored up at exactly the same place we left 3 days ago and collected more wood.

Catching up with Paul

Paul & Ceilidh

Rotting....

...and sunken boats

We shared moorings with one or two bigger craft....

17th May 2013 - Remained at Ellesmere Port

Annie cleaned the boat and made a cake (bless her) ready for my Aunt & Uncle coming over to visit us From Ness.  This was one of our aims in getting to Ellesmere Port as its the closest we can get on the canals to my family still on the Wirral, and several friends.

Met Aunt & Uncle and had lunch with them in the cafe, then retired to the boat for a cup of tea and cake.  It was lovely to see them.

Aunty Jean, Uncle Gerry and cake

During the afternoon we noticed the hotel (which we were right outside) setting up for a wedding reception.  The wedding photos of the top table will have had Ceilidh planted firmly in the background.  Unfortunately the subsequent disco was a) loud and b) continued until 1am.  So a late night....

A passing tanker on the ship canal

16th May 2013 - Backford to Ellesmere Port

Set off after breakfast heading in towards Ellesmere Port.  The canal terminates at a series of basins and wharves that are now the National Waterways Museum.  The canal does junction with the Manchester Ship Canal, but we wont be going that way this trip.

The trip into Ellesmere Port was surprisingly pleasant.  For the last mile or so it becomes very industrial.  The visitor moorings are right alongside the historic boat collection which sounds good.  In practice its all a little depressing with sunken boats all over the place and most of the rest mouldering away into oblivion.  We were told where to moor in front of the Holiday Inn hotel, but to be careful as there was a sunken boat there.   Managed to locate the wreck with the boat pole and avoided parking on top of it.

Once moored up we went for a walk around the museum and along the sea front.

Swan chicks are now appearing along the banks

Reception said "down the locks, turn left at the first sunken boat and moor  just in front of the next sunken boat" Jeez!

15th May 2013 - Chester to Backford

As John and Jess left us last night it was raining hard. (Hope you didn't get too wet guys!)  But after we went to bed it was hard to get to sleep with the sound of heavy rain on the roof.  The wind got up too and the boat started banging against the wharf.  As we were on pins, not rings, movement is not a good thing.  Each time the boat moves forward and back it pulls against the pins, with the surrounding ground now saturated with water.  The movement got so bad that at 4.30am we both had to get dressed and re-moor the boat as the pins were right out.

With the rain stopped later in the morning, Annie did the shop, whilst I caught up with the blog - now 5 days out of date (shock-horror!)

Lots of Police appeared to seal off the towpath next to the boat during the morning, which was interesting.  It transpired that a retaining wall a bit further along had collapsed and they were waiting for Engineers to assess it.  The felt sorry for the bobby stationed next to us to turn people around, so made him a cuppa and heard about his 'illness' UAS - Ukulele acquisition syndrome. 

After lunch we set off once more towards Ellesmere Port.  Had fun going down the Northgate Staircase which has huge chambers and really makes you think - not good after an interrupted nights sleep!  North of Chester and into the Wirral the canal scenery resumes being drop-dead gorgeous.  Decided to stop for the evening while we were still out in the country before we got into the industrial bits around Ellesmere Port.  Needed some wood as its chilly so cut a tree down.

Council, C&RT and Police all scratching heads at the collapse.  Blocked weep holes guys! rebuild with decent filter media and new drain holes, it will be fine!

Telford Wharf on the way out of Chester

Tonights moorings

14th May 2013 - Remained at Chester

I walked across town and went round the Grosvenor Museum and the Military museum.  Museums aren't Annie's first choice for a fun day, so she went to the Launderette!  She had planned to go swimming too, but when she got back to the boat she found a couple of student types jumping around on it - one on the back and one on the roof!  After roundly bollocking them but she didnt feel she could leave the boat again, so sadly did not get swimming.

Old friend John Fogg came over in the evening with his daughter Jess.  We all had a meal at the Lock Keeper Inn then coffee and lots of chat back on Ceilidh.

John, Jess and yours truly.  Note to self: bring tripod next time so we can all get in group photos.

13th May 2013 - Remained at Chester

Made the most of having decent shops to hand, and went in to 'upgrade' Annie's phone.  She decided to take a chance on a windows phone. as the graphic interface suits her way of working. Spent most of the rest of the day trying to get it to work....  Then went back to the shop and they had forgotten to activate it.

Moved the boat a few yards from beneath the trees.  Then spent a happy couple of hours cleaning all the pigeon dirt off the roof from the birds that roosted in the aforementioned trees..... Decided to try marketing the stuff as an alternative to araldite!

Colin and Anne came over in the evening and we went a lovely walk around the walls as far as Chester racecourse.

Our mooring in Chester City Centre