It was not to be! 21st and 22nd July 2019

21^st July 2019

Cheshire Cat to Chester

3 miles, 8 locks

As you will find out in tomorrow's post below, (I am writing this on 22^nd July) today has been rather stressful which has expunged much of yesterday from my mind! 

I could not fail to notice this amazing construction – the lucky children who live here either have a very clever parent (I was going to say Dad, but our daughter does the DIY in their house!) or parents with deep pockets

 All I really seem to remember were locks – 8 big ones!  The gearing on the bottom gates means winding and winding and winding to open and then close the paddles

 What a quintessentially English scene

At most of the locks Monty and I were walking ahead leaving Ken to finish off the one the boats were in.  As I walked to one, a boat came towards me which meant the lock should be full and ready for us.  Well I am sure all you boaters will know that sinking feeling when you hear paddles being wound to empty the lock for a boat waiting to come up.  To be fair to them I was too far off for them to realise what I was doing, so there was nothing for it, but to wait.  Had we not waited I would have missed an interesting tale.

The boat was a hire boat from Nantwich carrying a family group headed by Octogenarian Mum and Dad (he was 88) plus two sons and their partners.  One of the brothers told me this was a very special trip for Dad as he was born on a boat (Spade) (https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/spade) somewhere along this stretch of water, quite possibly near Bunbury.  He was one of 14 siblings.  So yes, it was worth the wait.  It is not often that one meets waterway history in the flesh.

 We eventually reached the outskirts of Chester

  and pulled in at Waitrose to stock up.

 Somewhere along there on the non tow path side there must be a Peregrine nest, but we saw no action today – maybe on the way back

 A little further you are awarded your first sight of the City Walls

 The last three locks to Tower Wharf where we hoped to moor are a staircase and today with a volunteer lock keeper on duty.  We also got a lot of help from eager children – always a bonus and to be encouraged.

 Lock keeper’s lunch!

 Under the railway bridge at the bottom and you emerge into Tower Wharf Basin

 Space was at a premium (the gap you can see is too small for either of us), so we are bit stuck at the end

 right opposite the pub

But it will do us fine for a couple of nights and I am glad to report that despite many people sat outside at the pub until late the noise was not intrusive. 

Monday 22^nd July 2019

Chester

The day dawned dry and sunny.  The bed was stripped and bedding washed and pegged out very securely and we left to explore a bit of Chester (hoping the pegs stood up to the wind and that the sheets would not end up back in Bromsgrove before we did!).

It was too hot to leave Monty in the boat, so it was always going to be a curtailed trip.  We walked the Walls and did the open top bus trip in 2016, so a leisurely stroll was in order.  First stop was the Cathedral.  Monty and Chris found a bench in the shade and I made a whistle stop tour

Just outside the Cathedral is this statue that was erected in 1992 as part of the 900^th anniversary celebrations of the Cathedral.

 Beside the Cathedral is this rather splendid branch of Barclays Bank

I noticed this manatee in the Cloisters which I think is one of the exhibits made from ‘rubbish’

 So do now join me on my very fast tour!  Not so fast that I could not appreciate what a magnificent building it is

Magnificent stained-glass windows both traditional

 and modern

 A few other highlights

 On the left as you enter are some magnificent murals to which my camera has not done justice

 Then tucked away at the end on the right they are raising funds by creating a lego replica of the Cathedral

 As I did in St Botolphs in Boston in 2014, I purchased five bricks – one for each grandchild.  I helped create the top right hand side of this window

 And this is the actual window above the choir stalls

 To finish off just a few photos of the outside

We wandered back into the main street where there is a good view of the Eastgate clock (the picture was taken after the events as outlined below! 

The next step was to find somewhere for lunch that would take dogs, either inside or had shade outside.  We opted for a pub called The Victoria.

So far, so good – I mentioned earlier that today did not go as planned.  Well this is where is all went wrong.  We found a table, erected the umbrella and Chris turned to go inside to order a drink and get some menus.  He tripped and stubbed his toe again, but this time comprehensively and there was a large pool of blood.  What to do?  I went in to see if they had a first-aider.  They did and Lorna arrived with a large box of kit.  She was very professional and applied a lot of dressing to the entire front part of Chris’ foot.  She advised a trip to A&E.  When we explained we were on a boat and had no car and would a taxi take Chris whilst he was bleeding, she went off to get her car and took him herself.  So we have no idea what the food or drinks are like in that pub, but the service could not be beaten.

Monty and I returned via part of the city walls to the boat for an afternoon of waiting and swapping text messages with Chris.  He was in and out well within the four hour time limit and felt he had been well looked after.  The x-ray showed that he has dislocated his toe and needs to have it checked when we get home to check if there has been any tendon damage.  I gave instructions of where the taxi could stop which worked perfectly.   He is mobile and not in pain, but it was a stressful day for both of us in different ways.

So what was not to be?  The visit to the Cheese Shop.  Another time maybe.

I am sure tomorrow will be better!