Explanations and a "Shroppie" open secret

Tuesday, 31 March 2009 17:15

Before leaving Audlem we explored the village - more of that later! I am still surprised how many boats are moving, even today, a Monday. John's theory is that everyone is using their 2008 holiday allowances before April 1st!

As we took on water (again!), I was asked by someone the usual questions.  "Do you live on the boat?" "Is it cold in the winter?" "We are thinking of doing the same as we are fed up with the cost of household bills". Now that was a new one on me! I gave all the usual answers but gently explained that boating is not a cheap option. Rising costs and continual maintenance mean that if you require all the mod-cons and a boat that will last a "lifetime" it is not cheap!

Yes, it is a fantastic lifestyle: the ability to move when you like, to find wonderful moorings and to explore the countryside at leisure. As we say - one of the best decisions we ever made!

As we went down the last three locks of the Audlem flight I remembered that I had mentioned "cills" and "by washes" and that some of our readers are non-boaters. So by way of explanation here are two photos.

A cill at the base of the top lock gate

Looking back at lock 14, the bywash is running well on the right

At the bottom of the locks there is a restored horse stable, once home of a theatre company. After the flight the canal enters beautiful Cheshire countryside - grazing land for the herds that produce Cheshire milk for Cheshire cheese! Only, we saw more sheep than cows!

I could have moored up here for a few days, it was so lovely

A favourite mooring place is just after Austins Bridge. Coole moorings have picnic tables and barbeque stands. It is quiet this time of year, but in the summer it may be very noisy and convivial on a warm day.

Nb Jen Lee was moored here. We met Eric and his wife in the Fly last night

In the photo above you can see how straight this section is - click on the photo to see the two bridges in detail! We carried on for a couple of more bridges, mooring after Burrows bridge (85) on the moorings before Hack Green locks.

There is a not-so-secret war bunker 200 hundred yards from here

Again, click on the photo to read the "open secret". We hope it opens tomorrow as we have passed this way so many times and not  yet visited it.

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