Telfords Warehouse Chester aboard Consall Forge
This is the third day of sunshine, already at 9.00 am it is hot. Last night as I walked the towpath to look at some of the sites it was just like a Mediterranean evening, the heat from the large solid stone walls of buildings hitting me in waves. From the 5 live forecast the Northwest seems the best place to be.
I had forgotten just how picturesque it was in Cheshire on the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union once away from the Industrial areas. We are to have a day in Chester, certainly the easiest trip I can remember, I think this reflects the ageing of the crew.
Its a very comfortable boat with an easy to use galley with loads of storage space. Food so far has been Hilary's Chicken curry, I did some stirred fried veg with a separate sauce for Mike, Ted's Spaghetti bolognaise (without the Chicken Livers on Adrian's insistence) and last night various pastas with sauces and of course Colslaw and mixed salad. We are certainly eating less, no puddings so far, although we have aboard a tone of tinned stuff. John was shopping from an old list, about 15 years old, which was split into three so that 3 people did the shop You can imagine the complications that resulted from this.
At this point the letter refers to difficulties with regard to supermarket shopping and trolleys along with shopping bags or the lack of same. I go on to say that I was reminded of the time when Mike Newport had to use a Launderette for the first time. ( I am sure that Steve has the hang of it by now Ed). The crew are in reasonable health but Steve and Mike have their third weeks of nasty colds and coughs and Martin is starting a cold nicely. But all in all a good humored trip so far.
Chester is a very interesting city and we will walk the wall today, it reminds me a lot of York.
The locks are of the staircase type and very deep, perhaps 30 feet each drop. We got into a mess going down upsetting a crew coming up, communications difficulties it is called, the educated ones on the boat having problems understanding the mere mortals on the towpath, very funny to view.
Sorry you cannot open the e-mails and photos, we will try to send some more soon.