A busy few days since my last post!  we had a lazy day on Sunday with a lovely roast lunch at the Bleeding Wolf.  A good pub with decent beer, Robinson's.  Very busy at Sunday lunchtime so just as well we booked.  This was followed by a bit of a nap and omelet and baked beans for tea.  Given the amount consumed at lunch time shouldn't really have needed tea.

Monday morning we got a reasonably early start and headed of back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal.  A busy day working down the Chesire Locks, also known as Heartbreak Hill.  This is something like 18 locks in 5 miles.  We completed 14 locks before mooring for the night.  Sounds like hard work but it wasn't too bad as they are all single chamber locks.  Also they are in pairs which increases the chance of one of them being in your favour.  We had a lucky day a made good time, taking 4.5 hours to complete this section.  Hakuna Matata a boat we know from Welford moored behind us.  We have seen them several times this trip!  Always a pleasure to pass the time of day with old and new boating friends.

Hard at work locking up and down Heartbreak Hill!

Jeanie Deans and Damsel passing in one of the short lock pounds

Tuesday morning a slightly later start although still quite a few locks to negotiate today.  Arrived at the first lock behind a hire boat, who told us they were busy doing the Four Counties Ring.  This is approximately 110 miles and 94 locks.  This is doable in a week especially for experienced crews.  However these guys told us they were putting in 11 hour days. Does not sound like a chilled out holiday to me, but then I moan if I have to do 8 hour days.  Made much slower progress today probably due to the number of boats using the locks.  Boats in front of us and behind caused congestion at locks and plenty of boats coming the other way to.  12 locks today and another 4.5 hours travelling.  Graham spotted a bloke on the towpath eating chips and got directions for the chip shop.  Made it in time just before they closed and had fish and chips for lunch.  Bloody lovely it was too!!

A tranquil setting to live in

Wednesday and still more locks to descend.  Hakuna Matata are behind us today so a chance for a chat at the locks.  Both boats will be stopping in Middlewich for shopping, at the conveniently situated Tesco's and then on to find a mooring for the evening.  Apparently there is a folk festival in Middlewich this weekend so it may be busy.  Apparently this is a good weekend but not really able to stay this time.  Might make a note in the diary and return another year for this.  Found a good mooring for the evening just beyond Middlewich with some good walks for the dogs.

This morning (Thursday) is a bit on the cloudy side.  We have a few days in hand so no need for an early start this morning.  Took the dogs for a walk over the fields and let them have a swim in the River Dane, which they loved.  Then set of for Anderton, as we have decided to go down in the Anderton Boat Lift onto the River Weaver.  This was a trip we enjoyed last year and when we are down there we can visit Northwich and get some chili's, which I forgot when I did the Tesco shop.

Entering the Anderton Boat Lift

Looking back

Three of us going down

And one going up

Getting ready to leave onto the Weaver

The Anderton Boat Lift is an amazing piece of engineering which was built in 1875.  It lifts and lowers boats between the Trent and Mersey Canal and the River Weaver and was built to speed up the movement of cargoes of salt and coal.  It was closed in 1983 but following Lottery funding was restored and re-opened in 2002.

We are now moored not far from the bottom of the lift and enjoying a pleasant sunny evening after a wet and windy day.