We set off a little later this morning as a trip to get some fresh milk and bread, as well as some tackle gear from the fishing shop was called for. We had a slow climb up the start of the Cheshire Locks due to the amount of boats out and about - we should have expected this really as due to the fine weather (85 degrees inside the boat!) and the holiday season meant the cut was packed! We were delayed slightly, due to a school boy (or should that be girl?) error was made by one of the crew. A lock refuses to fill when you have the paddles up at both ends, and it was at this particular lock we should of hurried through, as a couple I’ve seen our and about before, needed to get to Middlewich to see a Doctor. The bloke had woke up that morning coughing up blood - not good at all! Anyway, all was going fairly well until, after keeping the boat ticking over in gear, to keep the button against the top gate, the engine slowed, until it nearly cut out before I knocked it out of gear. The engine picked up again so I tried reverse but the same thing happened - the engine slowed and nearly cut out so I knocked it out of gear again. I tried forward and a nightmare crunch came from the shafting underneath the back cabin area of the gearbox. I knocked it out of gear and with pained expressions on our faces, we filled the lock and then pulled the boat out passed the lock moorings. The sound which came from the boat in the lock sounded very much to me like gearbox failure. I took the short shaft off the cabin top and had a poke under the counter and was very pleased to find that the prop was fouled. When the lock was full, the gates were opened and we pulled the boat out just passed the lock moorings. It took us a full hour and a half down the weed hatch to remove about a 20sq. ft. piece of really thick industrial plastic sheeting. After that we locked up the two final locks for the day, finally resting opposite the Romping Donkey pub for the evening. After all that we had just missed the shop for fuel as they closed at 5.30. Just our luck!