Friday - its the sun! Well, for about an hour!

After last night's stop in Barbridge, we got going this morning and first up on the gaenda was a right turn off the 'Shroppie' and onto thew Middlewich Branch which joins the Shropshire Union Canal (to give it it's full name) and the Trent and Mersey. The Middlewich Branch is roughly 10 miles long and travels east.

Last night we made the decision, that, as we are well ahead on schedule for completing the Four Counties Ring by next Friday, we will not turn south on the Trent and Mersey (which heads us back in the direction of Stoke), but north up the Trent and Mersey so that we can visit the Anderton Boat Lift. John and I passed this wasy five years ago when we did the Cheshire Ring and we felt that Stan must see it. Depending on time, cost, etc we might even take a ride on the lift and take a quick look at the River Weaver Navigation.

Once on the Middlewich Branch we negotiated the Cholmondeston and Minshull Locks - both very deep locks at 11 feet each - and then pulled in at the Aqueduct Marina for the very mundane task of being "pumped out". I suppose it is one of the most frequently asked questions we have - the answer is that we have sewerage tanks - two in fact, as we have two loos. These have to be pumped out once a week. So we did that.

The Marina boasts a small restaurant "The Galley" which does a special on breakfasts. These specials are served up to 11.00. True to our form we arrived at 11.08! Anyway we had a great breakfast of beans on tast, fried eggs and bacon accompanied by a very good cup of coffee.

While in the Marina the sun shone and it was wonderfully warm for a while as we wandered amongst the boats-for-sale and made knowledgable remarks about tillers, kitchens, etc. As I write the rain has returned and we are all in rain-gear.

Note to Elly - Stan is keeping dry!

Mention must be made at this point that Stan is doing very well as a helmsman and had the helm as we entered the Marina. Piloting a 69ft boat is not easy and we had to maneuver quite a bit to turn the boat. (I will use names this time). John was in the bows and jumped onto the bank to give a good shove off, overstretched and took a 'paddle' up to his calves.

Note to Elly - Stan is keeping dry!