Etiquette of waterpoints and sani-stations

Friday, 09 April 2010 18:20

Before leaving Maesbury Marsh on the Montgomery we planned to use the sani-station

Maesbury Marsh BW sani-station

We arrived there just after 11am to find a hire boat moored there. There was no hose pipe to be seen and apparently no life on board as we approached!

It is open to question whether they had been there all night or whether they had reversed back from the 48H moorings beyond the bridge. I gave them them the benefit of the doubt but needed to go over the bridge to rouse them to action, so that we could get in! It seemed they had to leave their breakfast to move, which they did fairly quickly and moored beyond the bridge.

It is worth noting that there are no rubbish facilities at this sani-station, but there is a book swap (Our Book Swap list has duly been updated!). There is rubbish at the bottom of Frankton Locks, so save it up until then! The necessaries completed, we set off towards Aston Locks.

John was hailed by a walker as we passed Park Mill Bridge - she reads our blog! Hello Elsie and Ben (her dog) - thanks for introducing yourselves via our comments on yesterday's blog! It is always encouraging to hear from our readers and that you enjoy our blog.

The trip was pretty uneventful except the hire boat caught us up - what speed was he doing? We were keeping to the speed limit of 2MPH! There was also a narrowboat in front of us, so all the locks were against us.

At Aston Middle Lock John decided to take shelter!

He chatted to one of the hire boat crew who were booked to go up the Frankton Locks that day. It was now nearly half past 12 and the locks close at 2pm. He had over four miles and 2 locks to do before Frankton Bottom Lock! Once past Queens Head the speed limit increases to 3MPH so it would be a tight schedule, to say the least!

There are good (unofficial) moorings above Aston Middle Lock, so we pulled in and moored. The lads who were in charge of the hire boat were "learning" but did an excellent job of passing us and two other moored boats in a narrow channel and with a stiff breeze. We both congratulated the helmsman!

Moored below Aston top lock

Montgomery Canal, Spiggots Bridge to below Aston Top Lock

1 hour 59 minutes, 2.03 miles, 2 locks