What a rough few weeks it's been. Since our little diversion up the Caldon, we got 'Ellis' back to where we needed to be to pick up the next cuntstomers.
It was supposed to be a trip from Middlewich to Anderton... DOWN the boat lift and then ending in Northwich Quays... a simple 3 night trip with a time to visit Lion Salt Works and the final afternoon free to explore Northwich.
Of course, despite assuming the boat lift would have re-opened at the time of planning (2 years previously), it wasn't - ergo, we had to do 'something' - whilst still ending in Northwich to pick up the next guests.. (albeit not the marina as planned but the Broken Cross).
The best option seemed to be pick up the punters as planned in Middlewich, chug down the locks and towards Anderton. The guests hadn't arrived by the planned 1.30 start but HAD Made it to Kings lock pub... I went to find them and direct them to where we were moored. Luckily just up Wardle lock and after the 1st bridge.
It all seemed fine when they arrived and after the usual blah blah and glass of bubbly, we chugged off down the locks. American couple, friendly, engaging all happy to be on a boat. The next day (after a quiet evening at Brambles Cutting) we chugged on to Lion Salt works for a lunchtime visit. Our guests didn't seem too enthralled by the museum and only spent an hour in there. Hey ho. Anyway, we then went on to Anderton before the boat lift visitor centre closed so they could at least have a quick look around there too. The original plan would have been to moor in Anderton, go down the lift first thing, chug up the Weaver and be tied up by lunchtime.
Obviously, as this wasn't going to happened, there didn't seem much point hanging around Anderton so we had a late finish instead and went on through the tunnels towards Dutton. Weather wise it was miserable and the rain pretty much didn't stop. We made the best of it and thought the tunnels would have been appreciated as a bonus.
During dinner (which was one of my best if I DO say so myself) the guests expressed their desire to take us OUT for dinner the next night to show their appreciation. Sometimes we decline such offers so as not to waste food already allocated... on this occasion, we accepted and we agreed to go to the Broken Cross Pub (which was the now planned final destination) and next morning we chugged on to the winding hole, back through the tunnels and re-traced our chugs. Everything seemed ok... the weather had improved and we stopped for lunch about 12. During lunch, I explained we'd have to go past the Broken Cross pub to the winding hole and return so as to be pointing the right way to go for services once they'd left the following day... HE seemed a bit anxious to double check we would still be ending at the Pub - presumably to arrange their transport for the following day and I reassured him we would.
Anyway - we arrived outside the pub (well ish) about 1.45. Having moored up, I nipped off to eh Coop down the road to get some fresh bread rolls for the next mornings sausage sarnies. Once back aboard I noticed the fella had gone a bit quiet and they were sitting in separate parts of the boat. This isn't unusual - couples OFTEN have squabbles so I put it down to that and went out the back to lay in the sun and read.
The bosun did the same and periodically we nipped inside to offer drinks. The atmosphere was decidedly frosty but we kept out of the way. Anyways, around 5.30 after a couple of bottles of wine, things had improved and we all went off to the pub. The food was ok - nothing special but everything seemed friendly by the end of the meal and on return to the boat, we shared another couple of bottles before retiring.
It came as quite a shock on departure when, having carried their bags off the boat, hugged the woman and went to shake the fellas hand, he got agitated and (I'll have to paraphrase 'cause I can't remember the exact wording) said "I'm really not happy with you because you stopped working yesterday afternoon far too early and on short trips we would expect more time chugging".
I have to admit I was totally taken aback and annoyed on several levels... I apologised and explained there wasn't anywhere else we COULD have chugged without having to go a long way passed the planned ending point and also pointed out we HAD chugged a lot longer the previous day towards Dutton through the tunnels which we wouldn't have done, had the boat lift been open.
This didn't seem to placate him and we parted company on sour terms.
I ruminated for an hour or so whilst stripping the bedding and beginning the laundry etc but couldn't get it out of my head. I'm really not easily offended but his passive aggressive strike on departure had really gotten under my skin.
Anyways - I emailed him to further explain ... without being overly apologetic but for me, actually quite diplomatic. The content basically being I was sorry that he hadn't brought it up AT THE TIME when I could have actually DONE something about it... we COULD have chugged on for a few more hours and come back... and more to the point, if he'd asked at the time, we WOULD have.
Naively, I thought there might be a reply thanking me or at least acknowledging our miscommunication . SILENCE. Hey ho. it's done now and I doubt they'll be back. It STILL left a sour taste and I can honestly say they were the first American guests who weren't happy with our offering.
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Moving on - The next couple of days were spent loitering near Anderton - walking down to Northwich and back to restock the boat a few times... usually in the rain. It's a nice walk down by the river through the woods on the way THERE but the return journey with full back packs and carrying a couple of carriers each, it gets a bit tiring. Still, we made the best of it despite grumbling that when the trip was planned, we would have been moored on the riverside NEAR Asda rather than1.6 miles asway.
Our next visitors - ALSO from America couldn't BE any nicer. This was their 3rd return trip and once again, even though disappointed not to be going up the boat lift, we made the best of things by going towards Dutton again before setting off to Nantwich on the planned trip.
Weather wise, things were generally improved with only a little bit of drizzle. As we got a bit ahead of schedule with them, we decided to detour towards Bunbury and chug up to Beeston Castle... this was fun as we palled up with a hire boat and shared the staircase with them - really good company.
ON the return leg, we went a bit too far so ended up over-nighting on the Cheese shop moorings where we had a lovely sunset.
Our trip with (the nice) Americans ended in Nantwich as planned after lunch and the Bosun cooked a Bulgarian special of his for our final dinner.
Another few days were spent around Nantwich restocking the boat etc. before our next guests (Aussies this time) joined us for yet ANOTHER revised trip... Nantwich to Chester and back. We HAD originally planned to go to Llangollen with them but due to the breach, that was no longer an option. Instead, Chester and back seemed a good plan and HEAT wave a side, it was.
For the Aussies, the heat was normal... for us, well me in particular, it's been awful. Maybe it's a ginger thing I don't know but I've been liquifying pretty much 24 hours a day for the duration. Even finding shade to moor under was difficult due to the blooming shelf on the shroppie. One night it got up t 34 degrees inside!
On return from Chester, we decided to take them up to Wrenbury and back so as to have least been on SOME of the Llangollen Canal. Nice enough journey but WAY too hot a day to be working the locks... and once up them, the horseflies were horrendous. I've been eaten alive. Truly the worst they've ever been. I don't know if it's due to the new medication (statins/blood pressure/thinners) but my body's reaction TO the bites has also been much worse than usual. Luckily for everyone else, they only seem to seek ME out!
In fact, as I type this, I'm sitting covered in cream, doped up on Piriton trying NOT to scratch...it's a killer.
Thankfully, the heat has calmed down for a few days but the weather forecasters are warning of more heat to come . At least this time we'll be on our own so won't HAVE to move from under a tree OR cook meals... that's a killer having to put the oven on in an already baking boat. For now, we've moved on to Middlewich for a few days to meet friends and play pool (badly) before a trip back to Northwich for more shopping. Only 2 more sets of guests to go this year and nearly 4 weeks on our own until the 1st trip. I hope the water holds out (as in canal) cause we plan on going from Nantwich to Stone up Heartbreak Hill rather than the boring way.
Until next time...
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