Crick Boat Show 2010

Tickets booked, lets hope the weather is as good as last year.

All change at the last minute.

Back from our Holidays already.

It was slow to arrive and went so fast. We'd planned on a week cruising the Llangollen canal, or as far as the Pontscysyllte Aqueduct, but at the last minute we got cold feet and decided against it, would our trip to Llangollen and back be to ambitious for one week. we had big doubts and would have been very disappointed if time ran out on us and we had to turn around before reaching the aqueduct. So we opted for an alternative route and decided on the Cheshire Ring. 97 miles, 92 locks and 50 hours.

One other thing we planned to do on our trip was to write a daily blog, armed with laptop, camera and broadband dongle we set off, but as you can see that didn't happen either. And the reason why, well we were just to shattered by the end of each day, so I'm doing it no.

The big day arrived and we collect NB Cheshire Cat from Preston Brook at 15:00, loaded up our things and after all the safe checks and operating instructions we finally cast off at 16:00, latter than we would have liked but we always seem to be the last to leave, must remember to get there even earlier next time. Wasn't much progress done that first day, we only managed to reach Walton Hall Gardens before it started getting dark and we had to pull over for the night.

Walton Hall

Day two we were up bright and early, took Charlie for his walk and cast off around 07:00, it was a lovely morning.

Passing through Grappenhall

It wasn’t long before we were passing through Stockton Heath and then Lymm, parts of the canal we walk quite often.


What a lovely first day, twenty miles of lock free cruising, we both know tomorrow wasn't going to be quite so easy, twenty-six lock. Not sure what time we arrived at Castlefield junction but it wasn’t late, we found a spot for the night and tied up.

Castlefield Junction
Day 3. We were queued up at 08:00 and ready for the Rochdale Nine, a flight of wide beam locks and we paired up with the crew of Agatha for this section of locks, all went well except we found access on foot between locks wasn't easy in some sections.

Beetham Tower
Oxford Street

Oh I managed to smash my camera while in my pocket, not happy about that, it was a present last Christmas.
Soon finished the double locks and started down Ashton Canal,

locking and unlocking gates was a pain but obviously necessary on this section. Filled up with water at Fairfield Junction and happy to be away from this stretch of water, the canal was dirty and obviously not appreciated by the locals. One last push and we moored up for the night just around the corner from Portland Basin and the start of the Peak Forest canal.

Day 4. Up early again today as we need to keep on schedule. We had been so lucky with the weather and today was no exception. we stopped at Romiley to pick up food from the local Aldi, handy not much of a walk.

Time to pick up supplies

Setting off again and just through Hyde Bank Tunnel and we see NB Caxton and Matilda Rose moored up, didn't see anyone about but it was good to spot boats we knew.

Leaving Hyde Bank Tunnel

Passing over the Marple aqueduct as we got ready for the next sixteen locks, really missing my camera. After starting the locks we were soon caught up by NB Jessica with a crew of six who kindly gave us a hand with the remaining locks, and so glad they did as I was beginning to feel the strain on my bad knee. Marple junction was a good place to stop for a bite to eat now the hard bit of the day was over, the rest of the day was much easier.
Finally stopping for the night just before Lyme View Marina at bridge sixteen, a lovely quite spot.

Goyt Mill.

Day 5. This morning we cruised down through Bollington and Macclesfield and the Bosley locks, passed NB Sanity at bridge 25.

As we had done so well for time and the weather was glorious we decided to stop for lunch. This is when the thing we had dreaded most of all happened. Charlie decide to make a leap for the bank before we had actually reached yet, silly doggy so impatient, all six stone plus of him splashed half in and half out of the water, poor thing was left clinging to the bank, too far in the water to pull himself out, Corinne made a jump for the tow path when it was within reach and ran to try and help him, he doesn't wear his collar very often and for some reason we hadn't put his life jacket on this morning so there wasn't anything to grab hold of to pull him out, I managed to secure the boat and come help with Charlie, I got hold of him behind his front legs and managed to pull him out. He must have been so cold he was in the water for a good few minutes, and I know how cold the water was after clearing out the weed hatch a couple of days ago. Anyway everything was ok, he got dried off and life jacket put on. the rest of the day was pretty uneventful, we moored up near Little Moreton Hall for the night.

Day 6. Yet another dry day and we're on go again bright and early, everything was going well. We left the Macclesfield canal and joined the rusty waters of the Trent & Mersey when at lock 43 reverse gear stopped working on the Cheshire Cat, we pulled over at BW Red Bull and phoned for help, this was at 08:30, Time for a cup of tea. two hours later and we were underway again at 10:30 not bad service I thought. We worked our way through twenty-eight locks and surprisingly ended up not far for our intended destination before the breakdown, lock 68 just outside Middlewich.

Hall Green Lock 13

Day 7. Once again we were on the go nice and early but this time as we were casting off NB Jessica and her crew joined us down the first couple of locks and then again through Big Lock at Middlewich, that was the last time we met up with them along the way. we followed behind another boat all the way though to Anderton were we made use of the BW rubbish disposal.

Passing Anderton Boat Lift

We did all three tunnels today Barnton, Saltersford and Preston Brook. When we entered Preston Brook the exit could see, but it never seemed to get any closer, took twenty minutes to pass through. We moored up for the night and went for a walk to find a shop for something to eat and a bottle of wine to celebrate us finishing on time.

Waiting for access to Preston Brook Tunnel

Day 8. Our last morning on Cheshire Cat, all that is left to do was drop the boat back of at Preston Brook, we packed and got all our things together had breakfast a cruised as slow as possible back to base, making the most of the last minutes aboard. We had to be back for 9 am but we had easily done it with time to spare, the car was loaded and we were on our way home.

The week aboard Cheshire Cat had been a good one, some hard work but that's something we ain't scared of, even Charlie enjoyed it and he wasnt eager to get in the car to come home, now that isnt like him. We were planning our next canal holiday before we had reached home. The Cheshire Ring was a good choice and we would definately do it again. Maybe two weeks next time so we can spend more time exploring.

Datawind, Free Internet

The wireless technology company Datawind today upped the stakes in the highly competitive netbook market by launching a new portable PC that offers free access to the internet from anywhere in the UK, .
The Datawind UbiSurfer is available now, at a price of £159.99, which includes 30 hours per month of internet surfing via the Vodafone network. The netbook can also connect using standard wi-fi or ethernet connections.


Times Online article


Datawind, UbiSurfer Webite

Narrowboat Books

Our Narrowboat library is growing, we received ‘The Inland Boat Owners Book’ free with our subscription to Waterways magazine today.

Anderton Boat Lift.

Our day on the Trent and Mersey canal and River Weaver at Anderton, our first time on the boat lift.

Weather was good today, Trent and Mersey Canal.

Looking down at Anderton Boat Lift with Winnington works in the background.

Entering the lift at the top.

Leaving the lift.

Looking back towards Anderton boat lift from the river Weaver.

Crick Boat Show (Sunday)

At last a boat show. Neither of us have ever been to one before so we’ve been looking forward to this one, Saturday night and the alarm clock was set for 6 a.m the next day, camera batteries charged and bags pack ready for an early start in the morning, we planned on setting off early to miss the rush.
6 o’clock came around too fast, I was just getting off to sleep! Hit the snooze button for ten more minutes and we both got up, peeking through the curtain just hoping it wasn’t raining, looks like it could be an alright day, took Charlie for a walk, we had decided not to take him with us as we planned on seeing inside as many NB’s as possible. I’m so glad we didn’t as it was such a hot day and the 240+ miles round trip wouldn’t have been fair on him. The journey was a good one and we arrived just after nine, time for a cup of tea and relax in the car before the show opens at ten.





Nearly ten o'clock and the queues were getting larger, so glad we decided to get there early, the gates opened and the first boat we came to was a wide beam buit by Viking canal boats Ltd, not what we want but we took a look anyway as we had never been on a WB before. Heading on down to the marina all the NB's came into view, what a choice. We saw 'Caxton' with the layout and portholes just as we like it. 68' 'Scarpa' too long for us but a lovely boat. 'Miss behavin' based at Bridgewater canal not far from us and lots more, disappointed not to see on Northwich Nb's but I dont like the appointment system, but we both thoroughly enjoyed the show it was excellent, very well organized, weather was fantastic, got to look around quite a few boats that confirmed our choice of layout and our decision to go with portholes instead of windows. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful.

Charlie got his lifejacket that fitted him perfect when we got home, We have always been worried about him falling in the water and not being able to lift him out without one of us jumping in after him, he’s a big lad so hopefully the handle on the back of this jacket will ease the worry.


Oh! We couldn’t resist getting him a bandana, all the dogs we saw at the show had one on and they looked so cute, now he will look the part on any NB.


A fantastic show, so glad we decided to go.

Church Minshull

We went for a walk along the canal at Church Minshull today to see the new marina, and watch the boats at Minshull Lock. The new marina looks very nice, not sure if the empty spaces are still to be filled or maybe people are out and about taking advantage of the long weekend and good weather, it was a bit breezy today but the sun did put in an appearance every now and then to warm us all up. Quite busy at the lock too, it was good to sit and watch everyone coming and going.

New Marina.


Busy day at Minshull Lock.




Need to take a pack lunch next time.