Summer Cruise 2017 ❺

Summer Cruise 2017 (5)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb Letters and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.
 
Bennett's Bridge (80) to Stanthorne Bridge (27)

Date:  25/07/2017

Overnight the weather was clear and cool with stars putting on a fine display as we were well away from any major conurbations. By morning it was grey and overcast again.

Morning:  8:30 start saw us all off in a group. Not much in the way of any other boats on the move. We started to spread out as we descended down the Hack green locks.

Afternoon:  Early afternoon we stopped to take on water and have a shower at the Nantwich Facilities.  Then we turned right onto the Middlewich Branch. Soon we were at the Cholmondeston Lock. Where we also loaded up on a free supply of cooking apples and plums. Now we need to find some ripe blackberries.
 
Evening: 


Wildlife:  One very fleeting glimpse and the 'plop' of a water vole.

Birds: House Sparrow, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull,  Swallow, House Martin and Pheasant the highlight being a pair of buzzards performing Aariel acrobatics.  .

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Common White, Small White Skipper, Comma and Tortoiseshell.

Bats: Pipistrelle, Daubentons,

Dragonflies: Four Spot Chaser.

Today's Total:
Miles: 17.4
Locks: 4
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 8.9

Accumulated Total:  
Miles: 2802.0
Locks: 1799
Swing / Lift Bridges: 362
Tunnels: 68
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3835.6