Middlewich

We travelled down to Middlewich today, a glorious day and only six locks to do. One bridge coming into Middlewich has suffered damage from a boat - bet they felt that! We took the advice of Bob Cadawaller, (who came to do the BSS and passed Gracie, now the wiring in the engine room is done and the vents cleaned, meaning the pilot light finally works properly on the water heater!) and came through Kings Lock, turned left up Wardle Lock and found a lovely 48 hour mooring just before Bridge 31.
We arrived just before the showers and so didn't need to cruise in the rain!
Middlewich is where Stella's Mum was born and where her great grandfather, Josiah Preston, was born on a narrowboat. Her grandfather, Wilfred Faulkner, was Mayor of Middlewich in the 1970's and apparently has a street named after him. We are going into the Town Hall to meet the Town Clerk, who will be able to fill in family history.
Tomorrow,  a friend is picking Stella's daughter up from the airport and bringing her here and then we will continue our cruise to the Llangollen Canal.
The boys are really enjoying themselves,  supervising the locks and enjoying lying by the boat on the towpath,  which would have been difficult on the moorings up to Kings Lock, due to its proximity to the main road. Kings Lock Inn is,in the process of being refurbished, but people were still sat enjoying a drink in the sun.
There are also a big number of swans,  so will try to get a photo tomorrow. We are now sat in the dry, I am going to the water point to get the animals drinking water - a good day.