Originally the plan was to head over to Norbury Junction for the Boaters Gathering at the end of the month. I got as far as Henhull where I tied alongside a friend on their mooring. I was then going to get as far as Goldstone where I would leave the boat for 2 weeks before finally heading over to Norbury once the Shebdon embankment had been re-opened. However, Waterways in their infinite wisdom have decided to shut the canal at Middlewich, effectively cutting off my route home. I reluctantly decided to return on Ariel so the boat would be local during the months of November and December.
I arrived at Henhull on the Friday afternoon at just before 5PM. After stowing my gear and sorting out the boat I left shortly after 5 and headed down the Wardle arm where I had planned to moor above Wardle Lock for the night. After a quiet run down the arm, and through the locks I arrived at 10PM.
The following morning at 4.30AM found me walking up to set Wardle Lock before heading down the Middlewich Three and finally Big Lock. A brief stop at Anderton to use the services and to get water at 10AM, before continuing north and passing through Saltesford and Barnton tunnels at 11AM and Preston Brook tunnel at 1PM with only a 10 minute wait at Preston Brook - just in time for a cup of tea. I then had a good run north on the wide and deep Bridgewater Canal, heading through Daresbury, Moore, Walton, Stockton Heath, Grappenhall, Thelwall and then finally into Lymm at just before 5PM where I stopped for the night to meet my parents and friends on their boats.
On the Sunday it was a relaxing morning with a midday trip back to my moorings at Sale.
