We've postponed our trip up the Leeds Liverpool canal and its heavy double locks due to a heavy dose of the lurgy. So after a week recuperating at Anderton, we set off last Thursday and headed towards Middlewich. On Friday we met our first locks - Big Lock at Middlewich (so called for being the only double lock on a canal of single width locks) - a notoriously heavy lock that almost killed us. Incidentally, Big Lock is the first lock I ever did - and every time I've done it since I am surprised that that first experience didn't but me off locking!
After Big Lock, we did another 8 locks, although these were all single locks.
Here is G with Domino leaving the first in a flight of 3 locks imaginatively names "The Middlewich 3".
After the Middlewich 3, the canal splits - off to right is the "Middlewich Branch", towards Wales and Chester, or straight ahead towards Stoke-on-Trent. (We carried straight on).
King's Lock pub is a popular stopping place with boaters, and on a sunny summer's day the beer garden gets very busy with on-lookers. Opposite the pub is an excellent fish and chippy, and in days gone by we've enjoyed fish & chips by this lock.
Middlewich, like Northwich, Leftwich and Nantwich are all connected to the salt industry. At Northwich for example there are 2 salt museums (although one is undergoing substantial works to make it safe). As we cruised along the canal, leaving Middlewich behind, we passed British Salt, which is sold as the Saxa brand for putting on food.
Eventually we reached the small village of Wheelock, where after 9 locks we moored up and collapsed, exhausted and took a day to recover.
And for those of you wanting to see how Tonni is doing.....
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