From Nantwich Visitor Moorings (south) to Ladybird Moorings, a distance of 11 miles, 4¼ flg and 22 locks.
When we were at Audlem on our way out on the Friday one of the single handed boats was stopping on the visitor moorings and told us that “tomorrow is going going to be really hot”. Of course it wasn’t and the Sunday started off pretty grim too although it did turn nice in the afternoon.
Monday started off bright and it was already quite warm when we cast off, and it just got hotter and hotter.
Start : Nantwich Visitor Moorings (south)
Finish : Ladybird Moorings
There were very few boats moving, actually make that none at all, and we arrived at Hack Green Bottom Lock No 29 and worked through without anyone else around – not even one of the boats moored above the locks showed any signs of life. Of course that was too good to last and as we approached Moss Hall Aqueduct a couple of boats cast off in front of us and, of course, they were rather slow which is just what you’d expect.
So we slowly made our way up the flight and there was a lot of sitting around waiting, and standing round holding ropes and it was hard to find any shade so with the sun shining down it started getting rather warm.
Adderley Locks were even slower than Audlem – I suspect it was one of our slowest passages ever but eventually we arrived at Adderley Top Lock No 8 where Nick picked up some supplies for home from the farm shop.
We got back to the moorings, backed in and had a bite to eat before packing up and heading home.