Toilet Problems as We Head for Nantwich

We headed off from Anderton around 9:30 under bleak skies, just a five minute trip around the corner to Anderton Marina for fuel and a pump-out (holding tank). Not the best price for diesel on the cut 0.71p (domestic) but fuel prices here have dropped like those in Australia so quite bearable. I find it easy to do both if the price is right and with me helping they can usually be done together. It also helps to keep the fuel tank topped up to reduce the amount of condensation being produced while it is still cool overnight.

The rain didn't hold off for too long, I was ready for showers with my wet weather gear on just in case. It wasn't going to be a long cruise today, just a few hours. We had passed a couple of large (ish) flashes on the way up and had ear marked them as a possible mooring to take in the scenery, avoiding the hustle and bustle of the towns. By the time we arrived at the largest of the two flashes the rain was starting up again so we had done well to avoid the showers although it was rather brisk on the back of the boat. After banging in some mooring pins and tying up it was nice to go down into the cabin and warm up. I was in such a hurry to get inside I didn't take any photos.

Another short hop in the morning and we were mooring in Middlewich, a place we know fairly well although this is the first time back in nearly two years. Turning at the junction on to the Shropshire Union (SU) Middlewich Arm, once again plenty of moorings available this early in the season at a usually busy stop.

The Middlewich stop gave me an opportunity to dismantle the on-board mascerator toilet that had stopped working this morning.

I have spared you a blow by blow exposé as the next job was to open the box containing the blades to find the blockage which turned out to be a cleaning cloth. Not sure how it got there but it is out now although all is still not well with toilet! 

Because we plan on coming back this way Rachael took the opportunity to order a blind for the galley window, the curtains are getting in the way. While she was there she sprung an extra blind on me so it was a more expensive visit than I anticipated. On Saturday morning we wandered down to the main shopping street of Middlewich to check out the street market, we found plenty of beautiful food and wine, too much to take home.

We stayed for an hour then it was back to the boat to head off after a couple of days here. Another short hop today, a couple of hours to Church Minshull, another rural mooring.  (Saw this interesting dutch barge on the way out of Middlewich, might be for sale at the right price Mel! lol)
 

It took a little longer than expected, we spent the last half hour at tick-over behind a sight-seeing hire boat not prepared to call me through. Anyway we did get there in time to watch the local farmer herd his cows by tractor.

Plenty of bunnies around too!

Reaching Barbridge the next morning was made a little easier by the Shropshire Union Canal Society operating one of the two locks on the way for a small donation.

I had only commented to Rachael a little earlier what good condition the SU Middlewich Arm was looking with all the facilities and signs in such good condition. It was just the right time to moor and head to Venician Marina Cafe for morning tea.

Plenty of moorings at Barbridge for our one night stay. We are on schedule to arrive in Nantwich on Monday ready for our booking at Nantwich Canal Centre. It has been enjoyable moving even slower and in shorter hops than we usually do, it's been a very relaxing trip.