Anderton

Here I am Rune

Distance 10.1 miles

Total 2922 Locks  136 Tunnels

Running total mileage 4165.3 miles

After several days of dithering around with the alternator, we are finally mobile again. It seems that the problem (not identified by the marine engineer) was that the regulator/brushes on the original alternator were faulty/worn. The replacement alternator that I fitted is a dud! I found this out whilst waiting for the boatyard’s electrician to become available. The replacement alternator did not light up any of the warning lights on the dashboard whilst the problem with the original alternator was that it did light up the warning lights, so there is obviously nothing wrong with that circuit. I replaced the original alternator and once again the lights came on when the ignition was turned on, and even better, they went out when the engine was started. We reversed back to a mooring for the night and the lights remained out until the batteries were almost charged, when they both came back on again and it stopped charging altogether. My original plan was going to be to take the regulator off the replacement alternator and fit it to the old one, this plan unravelled when I found I didn’t have a 5.5mm socket spanner and there was nowhere that I could source one. In a local Jewson shop a member of staff recommended a guy in Sandbach who repairs alternators. Duly biked off to his place and for £20 the alternator has been fixed (apparently). 

We have cruised up here to Anderton and so far there has been no further lighting of warning lights, let’s hope it stays that way!

Just to help matters, when we woke up this morning the canal had frozen so we have had a bit of ice-breaking to get here to Anderton although it was a very thin layer of ice and 90% was clear. I’m hoping that it doesn’t substantially re-freeze before we get ourselves back to Nantwich.

Middlewich (still)

Here I am Rune

Distance 0.2 miles

Total 2917 Locks  136 Tunnels

Running total mileage 4155.2 miles

Well our stay in Middlewich is going to be a bit longer than anticipated since we now have a bit of a problem with the domestic alternator which, for some reason, has stopped charging. As luck would have it we are only a short distance from a boatyard so we moved up this morning to let the engineer have a look at it. I did my best over the weekend changing over the possibly defective alternator for a spare that we carry, but it was to no effect, it still wont charge. It seems to have puzzled the marine engineer a bit as well as he has called up an electrician to see if they can sort out the problem. There is no real urgency to move on yet, other than the fact that out Elsan cassettes run out on Thursday. I did manage to take one to empty at the CRT sanitary station at Wheelock but that is a few miles away and not something I’m wanting to have to do that often. We’ll have to see what the electrician says as to how long we are going to have to stay here. 

The mileage for today was added just for completeness since it was less than a quarter of a mile!

Middlewich

Here I am Rune

Distance 6.2 miles

Total 2916 Locks  136 Tunnels

Running total mileage 4155.0 miles

Today was a really pleasant trip along the Middlewich Branch to our current mooring in Middlewich. It was the ideal autumnal day, clear blue sky, little or no wind and bright sunshine to enjoy the last of the autumn colours in the trees. You just feel better for being out in the countryside in these conditions.

Having checked with Midland Chandlers, they have a coal delivery coming in on Monday so there is no real rush to get there, we may stay here tomorrow, or we may hold off at Anderton if we do decide to move on. It looks as though things may get a bit colder over the next couple of days, with a clear sky tonight I would imagine we will be waking up to a frost tomorrow morning.