This is Steve & Viv Carter's log of the trips and travails on the narrowboat Adagio – liveaboards from October 2015. Then back to the shore, in Trefin, Wales from November 2019. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)” narrowboatadagio@gmail.com cranog5@gmail.com
Bimbling Home
We left Nantwich on Monday, 1st July. Swung the boat and chugged back to the wharf for a pump out – because it was sooo nice! The chap does it all for you and spends about 40 minutes doing a very thorough job. Recommend the place. We then went on Barbridge junction to cruise the short arm to Middlewich – passing through a few pretty big locks – the first had a queue but three volunteers were on hand to help (Cholmoldeston Lock). More queues at Minshull lock, well, I suppose it is July now. And to moor at a quiet spot, just beyond Aqueduct marina and near the aqueduct over the Weaver, where a certain dog went for a swim. Tuesday was on to Middlewich. And then it was on to the Trent & Mersey canal and the long cruise south.
The cygnets are all growing upBarbridge junction – not quite raining and yet, not quite dry eitherCheerful chaps at Cholmondeston (“Chom’ston”)Big, deep locks. Venetian marina just afterMinshull lockAh, a boat called VivienThis bit looks nice and shiny . . .oh, this is where the big breach occurred! All fixed now.Brief stop in Middlewich, overnight, shop in Morrison’s . . then out through Wardle lock and into King’s Lock early at 0750! The Trent & Mersey does have some picturesque bits.Six locks and some twisty bits of canal and we’re in Wheelock. Always passed this canalside bistro – tonight – we’re going in! And it wasn’t too bad – early bird menu (£7 for one course or £12 for two). A good mixture of Italian/Mediterranean food.Off early to begin the infamous Heartbreak Hill – 14 locks today to Rode Heath. To be honest, it’s not that bad – you get to see all the locks in one go, like Hatton, which can sap the morale a bit. Here they are grouped in twos and the landscape is very pretty. It was very sunny & warm. We did swap over – Steve did the first 8 locks and Viv the last 6. A single hander (on Ebenezer) was in front of us but he was most gracious in re-opening paddles or even gates after he had ascended. Thanks mate! It all helps.Hassall Green locks and the M6 in the backgroundPierpoint Locks – note most of these are duplicated – making passage faster if there’s lots of boats. Not much traffic today.Arriving around lunchtime – Rode Heath. A nice stop, we tried mooring in the shade this time, see if it makes the boat cooler. There are two pubs here plus a Chinese, an Off Licence and a small shop.Looks like some decent walking for the dog too.