During our stay near Cholmondeston lock we spoke to a boater who had his boat broken into when he left it unattended overnight at Middlewich, very upsetting and inconvenient for him of course, at this point Ali felt unsettled but thought it was probably a one off. On arriving in Middlewich on Sunday we were just mooring up when a friendly chap from the neighbouring boat regaled Baz with the sorry tale of the break in of his boat. He too had left the boat unattended (had to go to a funeral in Lancashire) on his return he found that his batteries had been stolen along with a long list of other items including his Tiller Arm! The Police are involved and will try to find the culprit(s) but a very nasty experience for Taff - Ali by now had gone into mini meltdown at the thought that something similar would happen to us if we stayed in Middlewich another second. Luckily Baz talked her down from Micky Jay's ceiling fairly quickly but a compromise had to be reached as we had planned a 2 night stay so that the boat could have it's scheduled oil change. Baz phoned Richard and he agreed to meet us on the Trent and Mersey about lunchtime Monday - peace was restored,and as Baz said we couldn't move on and leave Taff on his own in a going nowhere boat, Taff was near a chandlers and hoped he could get sorted Monday morning when they re opened.
We cruised out of Middlewich at 7.30 a.m. - the earliest start we've had so far. Just before King's Lock there is a water point so we filled up then pressed on to Stud Green Bridge and phoned Richard to let him know our location. The weather has been beautifully sunny and warm for most of the day - really helpful when the engine 'ole has to be open for an hour or so!
During the oil change we were moored in a very average spot with a view of the back of a factory, so service completed we continued down the Trent and Mersey to Wheelock which is described in one of our canal info books as a place that 'still endures more than it's fair share of traffic, but is a useful pitstop'. Well the journey today has seen the least attractive scenery to date and quite alot of industry but like Baz said, it is part of what the canal is about - history and heritage - not all chocolate box cottages and rolling fields.
Miles of industrial landscape, we still must produce something in Britain !
Micky get a drink of fresh oil and a check up.
So here we are in Wheelock and we will almost certainly take advantage of one of it's facilities, a chippy, the joint of lamb can stay in the fridge for another day, because this evening we are very tired.
We are looking forward to the Macclesfield canal, quite a few people have said how nice it is.
Bye for now
Ali and Baz
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