Ellesmere to Willeymoor lock

Tuesday 7th August

Before we left Ellesmere we had a look around the town. We bought some wonderful pork pies, quiche and cakes in the local deli. Also bought some amazing sausages in the butchers. I had a look around the charity shops and bought 2 dresses and a coach bag!

We set off late morning, John walked Dex and I was steering.

 We passed the beautiful lakes (meres)

 I had lots of hire boats to navigate around. I got stuck on a tree root at one point, trying to avoid a hire boat coming too close around the corner. Luckily I managed to reverse off it.

 Somehow you always meet a boat at a bridge or a bend, never in a nice wide straight bit! 

 We came to the first lift bridge but luckily it was already open. 

 The owners of this boat had let us pass through so we said we would open the next one for them.

 We were amazed to see this Highland cattle at the waters edge! 

 Another lift bridge but again it was already open for us. 

 The crew of the boat that had let us through the first bridge were walking ahead with their dog. Their little girl opened the bridge, she put me to shame as she was only about 8 and did it with no problems!

 We were now approaching Whitchurch. 

 We had a brief stop at Whitchurch as John had to get the car and move it to Grindley Brook locks about 2 miles away. He then walked back and when we arrived at Grindley Brook locks in Prairie there was a queue. There are staircase locks here and the lock keeper had about 10 boats waiting to come up. We would have to wait at least half an hour. Time to do some chores!

 We eventually started to go through. It was now about 6.15pm. 

 John was helping the lock keeper and the other boaters. 

 We went through the last lock and then Dex and I got off and walked along the towpath. 

 We went through Povey's lock. 

 We found a mooring spot just before the lock at Willeymoor. There is a nice canalside pub there so we went for a drink before dinner. We met some other boaters inside and shared boating tales. It had been a long day. We didn't eat our dinner until 10.15pm!