I knew that today was going to be a bit of a slog. But that wasn’t truly going to start until later. We were moored, last night, somewhere near Paddy’s Wood, just short of Wheelock. This is another very familiar part of the canal network. That’s why I know there is another one of those random personal landmarks on the way into Wheelock. It’s the spot where another boater told us that you could moor overnight and watch badgers. The kids were massively interested in badgers, having seen the ones that visit my mum and dad’s back garden. So we moored at the spot. It was obvious. You could see several sets by the characteristic spray of sandy soil from the entrances. We watched. We didn’t see anything! The badger sets are still there. Still very clear to see. But I don’t think they will be there for long. You see, the field behind is yet another place where they are building more new houses.
The dog and I pulled in at Wheelock to offload some rubbish and admire this souped up old Ford that was parked there. I would have got her some more treats, but the pet food superstore just next to the canal doesn’t open on Sundays.
Having just passed the last possible place to moor in Wheelock, that was the point when I noticed the dark, ominous clouds. Too late.
Just round the corner is the bottom of the Wheelock flight. This is the start of the Cheshire Locks, also known as Heartbreak Hill. Most of the locks between here and Hardings Wood Junction are double locks. These pairs of locks helped to improve throughput through this heavily locked length. The slog would have begun immediately, but it started raining. So we sheltered for a while under a road bridge waiting for it to stop. It didn’t stop, but it wasn’t proper rain, not like yesterday, so we carried on.
The bottom few pounds (spaces between locks) were very low. It was actually quite difficult to get into and out of the locks. At the bottom of one lock, I couldn’t even get Heron all the way into the bank. The situation improved as we ascended through Malkins Bank, a community that only exists because of the canal.
The canal then crosses an open field and under a solitary, lonely bridge. It is painted white, well usually, it looks like it needs a repaint right now. This is one of my canal landmarks that you can spot when screaming past on the M6. It’s easier to spot if you are heading north. If you are heading south, you can just glimpse the next pair of locks.
The canal then passes Hassall Green. By lock 57, there used to be a rather nice cafe. We’ve had everything from meals to ice creams from there. It is no more. It’s been converted to a house, and looks to have been on the market for most of this year. Sounds like they were asking too much money for it. Or perhaps it’s all the worries about the EU Referendum?
Hassall Green was also the location for the Romping Donkey. It was only a short walk from the canal and did a mean Sunday carvery. Apparently it had been closed for a few years, then they were doing some renovations and managed to demolish part of the listed structure. Now it seems it’s in limbo. Viewed from the canal, it looks like quite a bit of it has gone. I wouldn’t be too hopeful about it re-opening.
The Pierpoint Locks appear to be in splendid isolation, despite being only a short distance away from the M6. This pair of single locks were the last two for the day. We had only done 12 locks. But they are all deep and most of them were set against us. Climbing the ladders out of these deep locks is hard work, especially in the rain. Only 12 locks, but still a bit of a slog.
The only problem with where we are moored now is these intimidating cows. They are freaking Sam out, standing there staring at her intently.
