Scouring the news for glimmers of positivity seems an exhausting process – but we all need these to give us hope, not just about the current situation, but for our own wellbeing.
Looking around us and making our contribution to improving the world around us can be one way to help us get through bleak times. It’s a way that works for me, and has always worked, whether the tough times fall at home, at work, or in the wider world. I’ve been doing what I can – fishing out rubbish as we travel, baking so we have fresh tasty bread (pummelling dough as way to vent my fury at politicians), distracting myself with work, and learning about the world on my ever-changing doorstep. All activities guaranteed to generate positivity. What do you do?
This week the world around us has offered us a tantalising glimpse of Spring with sunshine that warms, plus a series of miserable downpours but we’ve moved on, finally tackling the last wide locks we shall face for months.
Wide locks are great if you have others to share them with – we were lucky to have a family on holiday to share the huge Chester Northgate triple Staircase locks (32ft), and subsequent Hoole Lane (8ft 3) Chemistry (8ft 9), Tarvin (8ft 4), Greenfield (9ft) and Christleton (9ft) locks with us. It makes the mechanics easier. Two boats in a lock fit snugly, they don’t need tying up to stop them crashing about as the water flows and swirls. Opening and closing paddles and gates is much easier with another pair of hands or two, and conversation whilst waiting for locks to fill or empty makes time fly.
We are seeing holiday boats appearing on the cut now, so company won’t be in short supply for long but the final wide locks on this stretch of the Shropshire Union have been lone affairs for us. These last 6 locks are approached through stunning scenery with wide reaching views across to the Peckforton Hills and the turrets of the castle there, and moorings at the foot of Beeston Crag, topped by the medieval ruined keep built by Ranulph de Blundeville no less. Part of the 34-mile-long Sandstone Trail winds its way in sight of both fortresses as they guard the Cheshire Plain.
So to the final big 6 – Wharton’s (7ft 8), Beeston Iron (7ft), Beeston Stone (8ft 6), Tilstone (9ft 8) and the double Bunbury Staircase (15ft 7 in total). Each lock is unique, and each has its own stories to tell, some dramatic, some courageous, some poignant and some celebratory. Tilstone for example is surrounded not just by trees in its wooded glade but by history and memories. The lock itself was constructed out of sandstone in 1772 and is now an historic listed structure, as is the Mill, now converted into a house. It overlooks the lock, right by the listed single span bridge dating from 1767 that takes the road to Bunbury. At the other end of the lock is the circular Linkman’s Hut which is also listed. I wonder if the lengthsmen who had responsibility for set lengths of canal were also ‘linksmen’?
There are modern memories recorded here too, of people who loved this spot, remembered by plaques on a sturdy seat where loved ones can sit to remember them and watch boats navigating the lock. A well kept rose bed was created by the family of Jane Morris in her memory after she chose this peaceful spot to end her suffering from illness and depression in 2014.
These wide locks are on what was originally the Chester Canal, linking Nantwich to the River Dee at Chester. It is now part of the Shropshire Union Canal.
We’ve made it now through the Bunbury Staircase and now we shall be ferried up and down hills by narrow locks – bliss! They will take us along the Llangollen Canal, the Montgomery Canal and then back to the Shroppie to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal where we have an appointment at Kinver at the end of March or beginning of April (canal time you see).
By the time we get to Kinver we will be nearing the end of Lent which started on Tuesday with pancakes for us on board. So it appears I’ve given up alcohol, chocolate and wide locks for Lent! Two of those will fuel my contribution to the aid efforts for Ukraine.
Pickingupducks 