Incidents and Encounters

Thursday, 16 April 2009 16:08

Not quite an incident free day!

Our Webasto (a diesel boiler that supplies heating and hot water) decided to play up this morning. Despite all John's tried and tested methods of getting it going again it refused to start. It is time for it to be serviced, we suspect! It is pretty good timing as not only is it much warmer now, but there will be a Webasto Agent right on our doorstep, so to speak, at Middlewich.

A phone call to Kings Lock Chandlery, who would call us back to arrange it. Later in the day, all was arranged for Friday. As the engine also heats the water we were not deprived. The Morso Squirrel (solid fuel fire) is still in and so the boat was warm anyway!

At least the wind had dropped in the night, but it was very overcast when we set off. It is interesting to note that there are lots of designated visitor moorings on the Middlewich Branch - all courtesy of the Shropshire Union Canal Association. It was also interesting to see that most of them were empty, despite the canal seeming busy yesterday.

Sykes Hollow moorings and picnic area

As we passed one boat he told us that it was very busy in Middlewich, so all the boats were hiding there! My photos definitely lack blue skies today and short of spending hours playing with them I am showing you like it was!

Imagine Brickyard Bridge 18 with blue sky behind it!

Our first lock was Minshull lock

Soon after this is the new Church Minshull Marina. It looked pretty full but still lacks a bit of landscaping! 147 berths and WiFi!

Church Minshull was in the misty distance

L. T. C. Rolt spent sometime hereabouts on his boat Cressy. See his book "Narrowboat" chapter 25, page 133 onwards!

The canal winds its way under the narrow Shroppie bridges, through lovely countryside with views of the un-navigable bit of the River Weaver off to the west.

River Weaver Top Flash

As the Glasgow to London train thundered over bridge 22a we had an Encounter. It is worth the capital E as you will see!

A boat was coming under the bridge which is angled across the canal;  we were a wee bit back from the bridge. As he cleared the bridge he veered towards our bow  ......and continued coming towards us. John threw Epiphany into reverse but the little hire boat crashed right into our bows with an almighty thud.

Suddenly we were diagonally across the canal and had no steerage whatsoever. John got off at the stern and pulled very hard on the mid rope to bring Epiphany in. The hire boat also managed to moor as we inspected the damage.

Inside all the port drawers were open, fire irons splayed on the floor, ornaments disarrayed (thank goodness for fiddle rails!) and books moved out on, but still on, all the shelves. No breakages, thank goodness. The bow was relatively undamaged as he hit us with his button fender on our top rubbing strake. There is just a mark of the button and some paint lacking!

Poor chap he was most apologetic, he said he had panicked! They were on their way back to Bunbury as they "hadn't really got the hang of things". His words not mine! We stayed very good humoured (we could as there was no damage!) and wished him well. I did mention the wisdom of reverse gear in such a situation!

After that we motored on and met a boat coming up the next lock - Standthorne lock and then we started to look for a mooring. Finally settling on one not far from Wardle lock, the last one on the Middlewich Branch. Since we have moored it seems to have become busy again!

So tomorrow we go down onto the Trent and Mersey and turn riight - not left as we expected! Hopefully by Friday evening we will be moving again, with the Webasto working!

We may have to re-think the pick up point for John, so he can get to the NABO meeting!

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