Five Minutes Too Late - Monday 6th May 2019

Hassall Green to Kings Lock, Middlewich
7.75 miles, 14 locks

We were just about to untie our ropes and head off when a runner came past carrying a windlass with his boat not far behind, hence the title.  I have to say that they must have been very efficient as we never saw them again, so our bad timing could have been a whole lot worse.

Today just seemed to be one lock after another.  Most were walkable, some meant taken a ride, but once again there was no chance of a cuppa until we got to Wheelock, where we stopped to use the services and get the paper.  We had a lunch stop at before Rookery Railway bridge - we had thought of stopping there for the night, but it was very windy, open and bleak, so we pressed on.

It was at the second lock of the day that the M6 was at its closest.  I have to say it did not disturb us in the night.

We also had some interested observers making sure we did it right.

There is a livery near to lock 59 - I was very taken with this magnificent stallion.

Always a welcome sight 

A little further on there is this rather out of date sign! 

At lock 62 there is only one working chamber - they want to ensure you don't try to enter the wrong one.

 and from the other end

and as you walk from there to 63 there is small arm with moored working boats and

a rather nice play park next door.

There was sufficient traffic around to mean some locks were ready or nearly so, but not enough to cause any queues.  I rather suspect the weather has put a lot of people off.  We had some periods of sun, a few showers, one of hail, but the main feature was the unrelenting cold wind.

As we approached Middlewich we could see a large factory of some sort, but it was only when we got closer that the huge piles of salt gave away its purpose.

At the last lock is this rather imposing building - the Kinderton Arms.  I gather it closed quite a long time ago and was then an Indian Spice Restaurant for a while, but that venture failed as well.

After 14 locks we had had enough, so have moored just before Kings Lock - not somewhere I would chose to moor again due to the adjacent noisy road.  I am sure it will quieten down overnight and we will proceed into Middlewich tomorrow and beyond.