MONDAY 25TH MAY
Back up to and through Dutton Lock and another easy day. Chatting to Fred and to various passers by.
Nb.S.K.I. arrived below the lock and as they put the kettle on, we got chatting. After supper, they joined us on Martlet and we had a good old natter until quite late. This, for us, is what boating is all about.
TUESDAY 25th May
To enable us to go shopping in Northwich, We moved off early next day so as to be ready to enter Saltersford lock at 8am. We moored against the wall at Northwich and had to return with rucksacs full of fruit and veg from the market before hitting Sainsburys.
Then up to Hunts lock where three boats were waiting for the lock. One had been waiting since 8am, the others since 9am. It was now 11.40am!
Apparently BW had a meeting to which lock keepers were required to attend. Had BW made suitable alternative arrangements? Of couse not, after all we are only boaters.
Onward and upward through Vale Royal lock and moored opposite the weir.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY
Back to Northwich town moorings. We had made contact with Carl and Jane, boating friends who have now left the water. Carl will pick us up and take us to their house for tea; via the laundrette at Weaverham. Myra sat inside reading her book as the washing was being done; Carl and I sat in his car and chatted about railways. Carl had been a driver at Northwich steam shed and I could listen to his interesting stories for hours. Back to their house for tea and swopping our latest news with Jane. All too soon it was time to return to Martlet; another good time in the company of friends.
A telephone call after supper discovered that cruiser 'Miss D Mena' with Duncan and Pauline were now moored at the Anderton visitor moorings. We moved down and soon were engaged in more chatting until midnight, assisted by some malt whisky.
