Sunday 17th July
We were going to continue today. When got up this morning the sky was overcast but at least it wasn't raining so we made plans to meander southwards for a few hours.
I started preparing to go, and guess what? It started raining! A quick look at the local weather forecast and a change of plan. The forecast was just horrendous, promising heavy rain all day so it looks as if we'll be here another night, we aren't pushed for time so there's no need to sit out getting soaked.more pics of trip if you want.

Northwich Town Sculpture

A view of Winsford Flash

Me looking at Winsford Flash

Thursday 14th July

 We travelled on down to Winsford Flash this morning, it's a lake formed by the subsidence of the land due to salt extraction. The flash isn't deemed fit for navigation by BW but there are boats moored on it. We ventured out into the open water before turning around and heading back onto the river.

Friday 15th July
This morning we set off down river hoping to get an early ride up on the lift. Arriving at the mooring at about 10.15 I went up to the booking office to see when the first free space was. The lady in there said we could have a slot at 12.45. No hurry there then, so I wandered up stairs to get an ice cream.
Getting back to the boat there's one of the lift operators asking if we wanted to take the ride now, if so hurry up. We hurried! What a service, dead lucky, turn up and straight in.
At the top we turned south as we've decided to change our original plan to go to Manchester next. It's now to head for the Macclesfield Canal and on to the Peak Forest Canal. The last time we came this way 4 years ago our cat Timmy jumped ship at a bridge and we got all the way to Bugsworth Basin before finding him gone. It was too late to turn around and get back that night so we didn't get much of a chance to explore and had to go back next morning. Sure enough, he was where we thought he would be and was glad to be back in the warmth.
The plan now is to get to Bugsworth Basin and have a look around, then head for Manchester on the Ashton Canal.
The weather tomorrow is supposed to be foul so we may stay here, overlooking Billinge Green Flash, it's quite calm and the scenery is good.

7 boats pack into Vale Royal Lock

And all stream out again

Wednesday 13th July

Yesterday we once again dropped down onto the River Weaver and headed for Northwich. On the way we came across a stranded boater who had strayed too close to the edge and become stuck. We drew up to his bow and pulled him off easily. Luckily when we got to town we found a good mooring spot, sometimes they're in short supply around here.

This morning I wandered up to the local medical centre to see if I could get a prescription signed. It's amazing how the different PCTs and practices deal with visitors. In some places they they can be very unhelpful while in others, like here, the receptionist got me in within 30 minutes, and I didn't even have to produce my old scrip, he just asked if I could remember what I needed and he wrote it out then and there.

With that sorted out we set off for Winsford, passing through Hunt's Lock and Vale Royal Lock before mooring at Newbridge swingbridge for the night.

After a frustrating time trying to find a replacement photo stitching programme I think I've found a good one. I tried several free offerings, but they were hopeless, then I found a surprise. Microsoft do a free programme called Microsoft ICE, and not only does it work but it works well. the results can be seen in the pictures above.

Monday 11th July
We're back! After your's truly pulled a stupid trick we were left without a computer or internet connection. I moved one of our chairs and the computer power lead was wrapped around the stand, this dragged the laptop off the cupboard where it was standing, it bounced off the floor doing it no good at all.
Paul and Jacqui were visiting over the weekend so once again to the rescue Paul ran me around the shops looking for a new replacement and after a browse around PC World I choose this one. Now the problem of trying to recover the data from the old one. I'm managing to get most of it but the photo stitching programme isn't playing ball. The website says that I bought it before 2009 so my product key is no longer valid as they've upgraded it and I'll have to pay for the new version. I went through this same thing in about 2008 where I had to purchase a newer version when I changed computers so I damned if I'm doing it again.
Anyway rant over. We had a fine weekend, and, as promised our guests brought fine weather with them, at least for Saturday. We cruised the River Weaver, taking in some of its glorious scenery. On Saturday night we moored up at Dutton Locks and had a BBQ, and too much to drink as usual.
Sunday the mojo deserted us, and as we made our way towards the Anderton Lift the rain persisted down. Luckily it stopped for our ride up. At the top we moored up at The Stanley Arms pub while Paul ran me back into Northwich to pick up the new computer. Lunch in the pub followed by an afternoon of trying to sort out the toy. All too soon it was time for them to head for home, something about work I think.
This morning we meandered down to the services area to do all the usual things, then a bit further on to find somewhere to wind (turn around) and now we're back at the lift and will go down to the river again tomorrow to do some more exploring.
I don't know why but Blogger seems to have put the pictures at the bottom this time

Northwich town Bridge
Wednesday 6th July
On Tuesday we motored up river through Hunt's Lock and then Vale Royal Locks. Hunt's is open to passage as required during working hours, but Vale Royal is timed and there are only 4 up and 4 down passages per day.
Just after Vale Royal was passed it started to rain again so we decided to moor up for the night. We picked what we thought was a nice quiet spot, but which turned out to be a bit noisy. Not hooligans, but the swing bridge nearby was unbelievably noisy when a vehicle passed over it.
This morning dawned wet, and we thought we would need our rain gear through the day. Just after breakfast it seemed to clear up and the sun even put in an appearance. We decided not to go all the way to the end this time so we turned around and headed back for Vale Royal Locks. The weather behaved itself, and we only got a few drops all morning. Just as we arrived at Northwich and were preparing to moor up the heavens opened with rain and hail. Some of the ice even managed to bounce into the boat through vent mushrooms and window hoppers.
After a short stay in Northwich we continued on as far as Anderton where we have moored up near a picnic area for the night.

Monday 4th July
Happy Independence Day to any Americans reading this.
We've now had a couple of glorious days of wall to wall sunshine. The weatherman is giving dire predictions of rain to come.
Sunday we moved off from Middlewich and chugged along enjoying the sunshine to near Wincham where we moored up, once again out in the quiet countryside. For Cath the men's final at Wimbledon was the order of the afternoon, while I stuck another coat of paint on the box at the back. I had thought that the cream colour would blend in better than it has but it's too late now, I certainly won't be redoing it in blue for a long time yet.
This morning was once again full sunshine as we made our way to the Anderton Lift. A quick visit to the booking office and I was told we could have the next slot which was only 30 minutes away so there was only time to stuff an ice cream down me before we were loading into the caisson and on our way.
As always, to someone with a love of mechanical things the trip was fascinating and we're now down on the river and moored up in Northwich.
If we ever get a decent fast internet connection around here I will post some pics of Northwich. The town has some interesting features in that many of the buildings look Tudor, but there is a solid reason for the style. Because of centuries of salt extraction from underground there is a lot of subsidence causing the collapse of may conventional buildings. Timber framing allows the building to be shored up if the ground starts to fall away.

Saturday 2nd July

Yesterday we set off again heading south, past the Anderton Lift. The weather wasn't too bad as we cruised along through the countryside. There's a lot of boats out travelling these days and it's not unusual to meet oncoming traffic at a bridge and one of you has to stop to allow passage. It usually is an easy decision, but occasionally you both end up stopping and then there's a competition to see who can be the most polite as you wave each other through.

Last night we moored out in the country, lovely and quiet. I got some painting done on the tool box/seat on the back deck. The varnish has been in a poor state for some time now and I've finally plucked up the go, drive and ambition to do something about it.

This morning, in bright sunshine, we set off for Middlewich. The journey was done in just over 2 hours and the sun has continued to shine for a change. After arriving I got stuck in to applying another coat of paint to the box and then went into town for a bit of a wander around. Cath has settled in front of the tele for the Wimbledon Ladies final, while I sit in the shade and type this.