Back To Chester and a meeting of good friends

We stayed four nights in all at Ellesmere Port museum and whilst there on the Saturday working historic boat Shad was giving demonstrations of locking up and down passing our mooring each time to turn round.  This gave me a prime photo opportunity and a chance to play with the camera settings a little.

The impressive and high bow of an unladen Shad

Pin hole camera setting in black and white.  Could almost be an old photo I guess

Time to move on Sunday and so I took AmyJo back down stream to Caughal bridge near the Chester Zoo.

I have to say I was disappointed this time round visiting the museum for several reasons.  Due to lack of traffic the canal from Backford on is now silting up again and weed is a big issue as you approach the port.  I had to hold off whilst the museum trip boat winded and ended completely wrapping the prop in string weed that nearly stalled the engine.   I manage to limp into the port slowly and spent 20 minutes removing said weed when moored.

Further, the museum is now finding finance difficult and is beginning to run down.  I heard from staff that the submerged historic boats were due to be removed into warehouse storage to await their fate as funding for restoration simply was not available.  The manager wanting to use the pound they are in to raise income by allowing fishing to take place there instead.  There seems no enthusiasm to encourage visiting boats to go there either.

If you do want to visit you are faced with no facilities and using pins on the island moorings to moor up.  Be prepared to work hard hammering them in too as large concrete sections exist just below the grass so several replacing and hammering like hell is required.

Mooring rings are almost non existant and not well spaced,  usually located where a submerged wreck is positioned unknown to the unwary visitor, so a ring may look inviting but check with a pole first to avoid parking on top of one.  The levels do rise and fall so could catch you out.  

Only one water taps is available for use for the boater by the museum shop but is not easily accessed due to the trip boat which is usually moored just outside the top lock gate and leaves little room to get to the tap so a long hose is needed.  Oh and there appears no facility for elsan disposal or pump out visible too.

Sadly my advise now is, don't bother if time constrained.  The mooring fee is £19 for two people for the first night (though this is access for a year to be fair) and £4 a night there after but you do get to view the museum as much as you like during your stay, provided that is, there will be much left to see from the sound of it.

So, on with our cruise, and I moored up in a super little spot within walking distance of Chester Zoo in the countryside.  The weather now decidably hot made the spot even more saticfactory as we could let Smudge off to roam free on is long wire lead as often as he wanted.  I still don't fully trust him not to dart off again yet.  

We were prepared to stay here a week but an instant Facebook message from Del and Al on Derwent 6 (click) informing us they were headed for Chester changed that idea.

The mooring near Chester Zoo

 Most of us enjoyed some lovely hot weather and we were no exception.  In 30+C I moved AmyJo back to the Chester Basin and topped up my tan on the way. I love cruising in the sun and it makes all life's woes melt away when I do. I don't ask for more.   Even the shorts saw light of day for the first time this millenia!

Impressive 5 arch bridge near Backford carries the railway high above the canal

On arriving at the basin I was surprised to find it completely empty apart from one boat on the mooring opposite the dry dock.  I moored at the first visitor mooring within hose length of the water tap, bonus don't have to move to top up.

Next morning a familiar boat came through Northgate locks being Del and Al on Derwent6 who moored directly behind AmyJo.

Now call me daft if you will but seeing AmyJo and Derwent6 together is quite a big deal for me and something I always hoped I would see.  

If any of you have followed our blog from the early days will know Del and Al showed us around Derwent6 at Crick when we were first looking to have AmyJo built.  We then met them again the following year at Wrenbury on the Llangollen canal.  It was at this meeting that after talking to them our dream suddenly became a reality thanks to their advise

So seeing Derwent6 and AmyJo together for me represents the start of our journey towards living the dream and AmyJo the dream come true.

On Thursday Del and Al went off to explore the city as this was their first time here with Derwent6 so they wanted to make the most of it.

In the evening we found out there was live entertainment in Telford's Warehouse and being music lovers we went over and had a great night listening to Alex Green who was absolutely brilliant. 

All having a blast despite only having our phones and no camera
with us so not a good quality picture.

Today, Friday, Del and Al had to move on as they will be cruising further north to meet up with friends Mark and Sian on another lovely Fernwood boat.  We will cross paths again so have planned a stop over all together during our cruise later next month.

It was fab to see them again and we thoroughly enjoyed their company once again.  Hats of to them for keeping the boat immaculate.  Derwent6 gleams as good as new even though she is now 9 ears old.  Now where is that polish Chris?

Derwent6 departs and prepares to ascend the Northgate Locks 

As for us, we will be hanging around the Chester area until the end of the month as Chris has her end of term works do in Chester so we want to remain close by.  Also this weekend is the roving traders market up by Cow Lane Bridge, another reason to stay a little longer over the weekend.

The Cat, Crick, Chester and beyond

Well reader,

I've been really lazy the last few weeks where the blog is concerned, in fact, now the nice weather is here I've actually been very lazy full stop!

We have, however, been on the move since our last post so time for a catch up.  

If you recall we were moored on our favorite mooring at Waverton for a week.  On the Wednesday it was time to move AmyJo so we (the royal we that is) cruised all of one mile up stream to the Cheshire Cat Pub and hotel.

The moorings here are quite pleasant and the Cat does a lovely menu, well being moored outside it would be rude not to wouldn't it?

Its been working out that we stop 7 days at each location before getting itchy feet to move so after a week at the cat and needing water I moved up to the water point by the Old Trooper some 800 yards further up the canal from the cat and stopped there for another 7 days after reversing back off the water point..

Of course, like everyone else we had booked into Crick show so cruised AmyJo back to Tattenhall marina to stop whilst we were away.  As always the show was packed with boats and people and for once the weather behaved whilst we were there.

It was also interesting to see that our two tone Grey colour scheme seemed to be popular with some of the show boats this year.  These were the same colour shades but in reverse.  They looked superb.

On the second day the crowds were bigger so we decided to take a stroll along the towpath.  Up to now Smudge had behaved impeccably and was handling the sea of legs and other dogs really well considering we spend most of the time out in the country.  Poor chap was having a sensory overload but he never complained once.  His fave stall just happened to be the Fernwood stall as he received a lot of doggy treats from the girls on the stand! 

Not looking as busy this year on the cut

 Poor Smudge could not managed the temporary bridge across the cut.  The pressed out grip holes in the flooring beams clearly hurt his paws so a carry was in order.  For being a good doggy he was awarded a snazzy bandanna to wear afterwards.

Enjoying having the weight off his paws and his new bandanna

No canal boat show would be complete without an appearance from these two!

 This boat had its roof covered in toy ducks.  It would appear the owners were looking for a suitable duck to place over the mooring pins but could not find one suitable.  So many friends donated toy ducks they became a feature of the boat when moored.

These are but a tiny part of the collection

Once more we went to Crick with a small shopping list but once again came away having spent far more than we should have.

After the show we took ourselves off to Essex for a brief visit to the parents and then returned to AmyJo.  After a night in the marina club house for the not to be missed open mike night we (yes all three of us this time) headed out and cruised back to the Cheshire Cat for a few days.

To be honest nothing noteworthy was done for the following days apart from regular walks for Smudge, though with the settled weather I did manage to get some rust treated and painted on the gunwale Starboard deck.

From here we moved up to Chester spending a few days by Cow Lane bridge then moved down into the basin via the Northgate Staircase after a quick stop at Tower Gardens moorings for a spot of lunch.  Its quite interesting single handing down this staircase best done roping the boat down but I don't think I'd want to try going up on my own.

Once in the basin I found a handy mooring opposite the dry dock that was not a visitor mooring so managed to stay there for a week.  The basin has new apartment blocks and one nearby has C&RT showers and toilets built into it.  It also has a hidden water point at the other end to give us drinking water to fill the tank without having to move (note a long hose is needed).  This spot is normally reserved for C&RT working boats but after a chat with the guys crewing the work boat was given the OK to moor there as it would mean the mooring would be kept free for them on their return later next week.   We do just fit behind the work boat when it there to be honest so have moored there before.

Once again after our 7 days of chilling out and visiting the town I filled the water tank, winded AmyJo, and headed up stream towards Ellesmere Port.  The plan was to stop near Chester zoo and when I got there the moorings were deserted.  It was a lovely sunny day so after a bit of early lunch and a walk for Smudge I decided to head on into the canal boat museum.  

Mooring is relatively cheap there although the only amenities are toilets (during open hours) and a water tap outside the shop.  Parking is a bit hit and miss as the car park is locked between 5pm and 8am so if you need a car during that time you need to park outside the car park. 

Your first night fee is your visit fee per person for the museum (£19.50 for two) then its only £4 pound per night there after.  For the fee you get an annual pass to visit the museum any time and as often as you like too.  So good value I reckon.

AmyJo moored in exactly the same spot when
we did the Shipping Canal trip a few years ago.

View of the Mersey estuary

The forecast over the next few days is for a mini heat wave.  If this is the case we intend to give the cratch cover a good scrub to remove the green winter rime and re waterproof it.  Its not done too bad for the last three years so it will do it some good.  I also want to get a bit more painting done where one or two small rust spots are appearing on the bow and stern decks.