A Glorious Day

0 Locks, 5 Miles. Now moored at Nantwich aqueduct moorings.

Well last night's sunset was most certainly an indicator of good weather to follow. There had been an overnight frost and mist rising off the water as we ventured forth this morning. It was cold but gloriously sunny as we headed back to Nantwich.

At Hurleston junction we came across our first what can only be described as canal hogs. As we approached the junction he had just untied and was reversing back towards the junction, I slowed but kept moving. He then reversed right back into the bridge hole blocking my way and at the same time put his hand up in a stop sign fashion. At this point I had no option but to stop. He then spent the next 10 minutes trying to turn his boat so that he could get onto the Llangollen canal. If the nincompoop had waited until I had passed before attempting his manoeuvring he could have spent all day trying to turn without affecting anybody else.

The second canal hog was at the Nantwich junction where the Basin arm veers off at a 45 deg angle to the canal. To get out of the basin it is best to head north and if you wish to travel south merely go a mile to the nearest winding hole, turn and return. Well this gentleman decided he could turn his 65/70 footer and head south straight out of the arm. He appeared to be completely unaware that there were other boats on the move and managed to wedge himself bank to bank across the canal. It took some pole work by one of his crew to extricate himself and eventually get round. It wasn't until he had nearly completed his manoeuvring that he used his bow thruster which if he had used sooner may not have got himself wedged in the first place. Another nincompoop and he never even acknowledged our presence or the fact that he had inconvenienced anybody.

Ah well,  it's a beautiful day and the sun is shining and we are safely moored for the next 48 hours.

1479 locks, 3115 miles, 51 Tunnels, 42 swing bridges and 39 lift bridges since Nov 2006