Tattenhall - my second home

My last blog left you wondering if they were going to sell Knot-a-Yot after a difficult passage.  Luckily for me, they decided to keep it and base it in this lovely marina about an hour from home. 

We made a few trips back and to to sniff out the area, do a few jobs like putting a new door on the back to stop me escaping!  But then came the opportunity to go further afield and they headed for Chester on a very pleasant spring day.

We passed over a mile of moored up boats before entering the attractive suburbs of Chester which we'd only previously seen from the A41.  What a difference!  Gardens swept down to the canalside adding a fair price to what must be expensive property.  I was more interested in the wildlife - ducks and moorhens. We soon found ourselves at the turning point near to a pub, The Cheshire Cat, and somewhere to moor up for the night.  Now I'm not keen on cats but I put up with this location (even though they didn't take me with them when they had a meal there that evening).  

Our next adventure was to walk into the city along the towpath passing a number of locks.  We found a pub on the side of the canal that welcomed dogs and I behaved so I could get a titbit and a stroke.  

They we walked back and, I'm ashamed to admit, I walked a but too close to the canal edge and suddenly I'm underwater.  I felt myself being yanked out by the collar (I wasn't wearing my lifejacket).  The indignity was made worse by the passers by who laughed as I shook myself dry.  I made a mental note to be more careful when trying to catch an unwary coot.

It was back to Tattenhall the next day but I didn't have to wait long for another adventure over Easter weekend.  I guessed we were off somewhere when the bags were put in the back of the car and we headed out of Wales watching nose to tail traffic trying to get in - including lots of motorcycles!

We'd hardly emptied the car and stowed away the food and clothes when we were off and, in less than an hour, we were mooring up between a couple of other boats close to Beeston Castle.  We took a walk to the lock that we'd last seen on that fateful trip back from the Llangollen Canal.  It looked idyllic in the sunshine with children playing and adults commenting on the beautiful weather.

They left me on the boat and went for a meal in the Shady Oak and then watched the sun go down listening to the ducks.  

The next morning was sunny (hence the shorts) and we were going a long walk.  Although I had to put up with the nose restraint (I'd have been off without it as there were so many interesting smells to follow) it didn't bother me too much.

We followed the Sandstone Trail passing round Beeston Castle (built in the 13th Century) then through the woods beneath Peckforton Castle (a mock castle used as a hotel) and emerged near a village where we stopped for a rest at a very pleasant Pheasant Inn with views across the countryside beyond the canal.  

That evening they took me to the pub but we stayed away from the Easter Sunday Stag Party that had drunk all the lager and eaten most of the food.  The next morning there was no sign of them as, in a cool breeze, we turned round and set off back to Tattenhall passing a working barge on route.  As we sailed through the bridge to marina, I spotted a family of mallard: mum, dad and chicks.  Next time we visit they'll be big enough to chase.