Weaverham to Marsh Lock

Friday 17 May

Return journey to Hartford where we did some shopping before Jerry picked us up to go back to the boat. Since I last wrote this blog, our plans have had to be revised. Saltersford Lock is now closed indefinitely because of the failure of the dam of metal girders, which had been put in place to hold back the water so that work could be carried out inside the lock. Fortunately this happened at 2 o’clock in the morning and not when men were working in the lock, but there will have to be all sorts of enquiries and investigations before work is restarted. So we are going back to Middlewich via Ellesmere Port.

But back to Friday; we had a quiet afternoon before walking to the Leigh Arms to meet my sister and brother-in-law. We had a very good meal there and then we all went to the boat for coffee.

Saturday 18 May

We decided to boat up to Saltersford Lock just to be able to say we had boated as much of the Weaver as possible, and also to have a look at the lock that is causing us so much trouble! 

Approaching Saltersford

Workboats and equipment at Saltersford

We then did a circular walk, along the Weaver Way, up to the Trent and Mersey Canal, along the towpath and back down to the river and the boat. We took the boat back to the mooring at Jerry and Sue’s as we were expecting friends to collect us to take us to a concert at Lymm Baptist Church. The soloists (and our lift givers) are friends from New English Orchestra days and it was great to see them again, and to enjoy an evening of superb music.

Locks 0   Miles 3.25                                        Total Locks 117   Total Miles 159.75

Sunday 19 May

We went to church with Jerry and Sue and in the afternoon we started our journey.

Farewell to our Weaverham mooring

We went through Dutton Lock where the lock keeper worked us through. We shared the lock with a cruiser – we have seen half a dozen boats moving on the river today which is several more than we saw earlier in the month. We continued as far as Marsh Lock where we moored for the night. The SS Daniel Adamson was in the lock ready to take its passengers back to Ellesmere Port. 

The Daniel Adamson is a trip boat and its bookings have been have been disrupted by the closure of Saltersford Lock.

Our mooring is actually on the Weston Canal which doesn't go anywhere except Weston Point Docks where you can turn round and come back again. 

Moored lower left hand side opposite Ineos chemical works.

We are booked to go through Marsh Lock at 8.30 a.m. tomorrow and then we will be back on the Manchester Ship Canal.

Locks 1   Miles 8.50                                        Total Locks 118   Total Miles 168.25