Middlewich + planning

Sunday 17 January 5 miles 
Jane, Tracey , Donna + Hilary

Snow had fallen over night, but it was beginning to melt at 9am. The pavements were wet and snowy but fortunately not too slippy. 

We met together at the junction of Eaton Drive and Hayhurst Avenue. We started on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal and stayed on the canal towpath for most of the walk. We went under Booth Lane joining the Trent and Mersey Canal. It was still a bit snowy under foot and we were a bit careful going down the cobbles by the locks.  Continuing along past the Big Lock we left the path at the dump walking along the rivers Dane and Wheelock. The water was running quite fast but seemed to have gone down a little from earlier in the week when the River Wheelock was almost as high as the path off the Chester Road by the bridge.

On Coalpit Lane there was the usual puddle in the dip. There was not too much traffic along this road stretch. We went back on the canal towpath, and walked around to the Big Lock, we did repeat our steps through this section.

Having arrived at the Big Lock at about 11.45 we had to sit and wait as the pub didn't open until 12. There was a nice warm welcome as the fire was roaring away.
We all had a small roast dinner at the pub then we did our planning meeting.

Mow Cop and the Macclesfield Canal

Saturday 28 July 5 miles

Donna, Jane, Hilary

Decisions, decisions will the weather be hot or cold  - and so what to put on? It turned out to be a bit cooler than the previous few days.

We started on the edge of Scholar Green and walked up to Mow Cop. We went up roads, through fields, under a bridge, through woods and up onto the higher ground where there was a fabulous view across the Cheshire Plain. We could see Jodrell Bank, the Salt Factory in Middlewich, Frodsham Hill, Beeston and the Peckforton Hills with the Welsh hills in the distance.

The breeze was quite cool but we managed to find a sheltered spot to have our lunch by the folly, the sun kept us warm and we had the view over Biddulph and into the Peak District.

On the way down we passed some very nice properties with great views. We stopped and spoke to a lady who had not long moved into a house on the hill. She was having problems with rain water coming into the house so she was trying to keep a channel free along the roadside side to take the water away, but some kids had pushed the stones back into the channel.

The path was a little muddy in places on the way down and the nettles have grown well this year. 

Rode Hall wasn't open and at Little Moreton Hall we would have had to pay to get in, so we went to the Astbury Garden Centre. The cafe has been extended since we were last there, the afternoon special (scone) had loads of cream with strawberries and jam. Yummy!

A walk around Middlewich

Saturday 4 February 8 miles
Hilary, Jane, Carol.

Brrrrr - cold, cold, cold!!! The forecast was for cold weather and it was very cold. It also forecast snow so we didn't want to go too far away and get stuck somewhere.

We set off from Hilary's house, down to Coalpit Lane, along to the canal and across the fields to Wimboldsley and up Sutton Lane.

An icy wind blew across the fields making our faces very cold.
Carol was hoping that the snow would come as Tracey had said, certainly it was showing signs of snow - very small flakes as we passed Tracey's house, but what came was icy rain.

Appleton Reservoir and Grappenhall

Saturday 5 November 8.5 miles

Tracey, Jane, Donna, Hilary and Carol (all 5 of us!)

We had good weather, and the sun even came out, the rain of the previous days meant it was a bit muddy underfoot.

We started at the reservoir walking around it, we followed the path, there was a field with some donkeys in it, the looked well looked after. Then we walked passed the cemetery and some large, expensive houses.

We walked through woods even though we were in the town. The autumn colours were beautiful and the sun came out at times showing off the colours. We meandered through The Lumb Brook Valley, the Woodland Trust owns this woodland.

We joined the Bridgewater Canal and there were two benches so we sat and had some lunch. The ducks came by very quickly to see if there were any scraps to eat but they soon lost interest and went away. There was a man fishing and he managed to catch fish!

We passed under the London Road Bridge and just along the path there are some Victorian Houses across the road and they looked very well kept with some nice window details.

There were horses in the fields along from Red Lane.

The Hollies Concept Cafe in Lower Stretton was very busy but we did manage to find a table, and drink cups of tea and share some cake - Victoria sponge, carrot cake and Bakewell tart. We could not decide why it was called the 'Concept Cafe'?
Hi Ian I am glad to hear that someone is reading this blog!

The Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver

Saturday 3 September 2011 8 miles 
Donna, Jane, Tracey, Hilary

The forecast was for rain so we were expecting to get wet, we had our waterproofs with us. It was a bit cloudy but there was no rain until later.

We started at the Anderton Boat Lift on the Trent and Mersey Canal, A couple of boats had just come up the lift and were coming out onto the canal. 

We walked along the canal, as there are a couple of tunnels along this stretch that do not have a foot path we walked along the path above. We stopped when we came to a bench and had a snack (too early for lunch!)

We left the canal where there was a footpath across a field and joined the River Weaver at Acton Bridge. The rowing club was at the river side.

We had lunch sitting by the river.

There was lots of fruit growing alongside the river. We picked and ate some!

Had tea and cake in the cafe at the Anderton Boat Lift Centre at a window table.

Walk along the canal

Saturday 17 October approx. 10 miles

Donna, Hilary, Jane, Tracey

Rode Heath to Middlewich along the canal.

Hilary forgot her boots - she remembered before we got all the way there.

Donna drove to Rode Heath and left her car there.

Followed the canal all the way back to Middlewich.

Stopped at Jane's house for a cup of tea, John had his feet up and was watching tv.

Along the Canal

Saturday 25 July 6.5 and 9.5 miles
Donna, Hilary and Jane

We set out from Hilary's house, it was really sunny day and very pleasant to walk along the canal.

As we came into Rudheath under the A556 there are houses on the opposite side of the canal, one of which was being extended and they had built a small deck on the canal's edge.

We thought we had better have our lunch so we sat on the grass beside the canal looking at the houses opposite deciding which we liked best!

A flying model helicopter came over the hedge, a kid was flying it from one of the gardens. Hilary thought he was flying it very well.

The canal shop at the Old Smithy was open so we had a look. Donna really liked the canal hats that the women used to wear!

We sat and had a coffee in the sunshine at the Italian restaurant on the canal side. Martin joined us. Donna went home.

Hilary and I decided to continue walking around to the Anderton Boat Lift. We spent some time watching the tourist boat as it was just coming up the lift when we arrived. It turned around and picked up more passengers and then we watched it going down. It seemed to take ages and from the cafe area we couldn't see a lot. But we did manage to see it reach the bottom when John came to pick us up!