The Downs family arrived at 9:15. As soon as they had unpacked and had a coffee we set off towards Middlewich. We hadn’t gone far when it started to pour with rain. Paul and I stayed outside getting wet whilst the others remained dry. We stopped at Bramble Cuttings until the rain stopped, then carried on. Just above Big Lock we moored up for lunch and a walk to ‘Jacks’ for supplies.

Then through the three locks, round the junction, through Wardle lock and on along the Middlewich branch. Paul, as a civil engineer, was most impressed on the work done to repair last year’s breach. After turning in Polstead winding hole we returned to the visitors moorings above Wardle lock.