Early Wednesday morning we set off from Nantwich to head back to Middlewich.

We spent a good part of the day “counting down” the 30 bridge numbers from Nantwich to Middlewich.

There are a series of 4 locks in Middlewich. Three are very close together, like stair steps & then the 4th lock, “The Big Lock” is about a kilometer further down the canal.

There were several boats preparing to go up through the locks & we were headed down. The canal etiquette is for boaters to take turns passing through. A boat will go down and then a boat will go up and that “taking turns” routine continues until all boats have passed through the locks.

As the last boat was coming up I started a conversation with a gentleman & his daughter & they helped us out when it was our turn to pass down through the 3 locks. When we were done I offered to help them go “up” but they said that they were already moored further down the canal near the Big Lock Pub & were headed in the same direction as us.

We commented to each other about our canal trips & I mentioned that this trip was part of our 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

Our new friends Chris & Jennifer joined us later that evening for drinks on board Walton Hall. To our great surprise & delight they showed up with a wedding anniversary card & a bottle of Champagne for us.

How special is that!? I’ve said it many times before, it’s amazing how many great people you meet on the water.

We all enjoyed a glass of Champagne & got to know each other a bit better. I explained to Chris & Jennifer that our get together on the boat was a “gamming” session, i.e. boaters getting together having a great conversation & telling each other stories over a few drinks.

As we were all headed in the same direction over the next few days we agreed to watch for each other & have another gam or two.

Cheers & thanks again Chris & Jennifer for your thoughtfulness!

Cheers!