Trips to Nantwich, Market Drayton and Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker

Tuesday 1^st July

We are off to Nantwich today.  Walked up to the market square to get the bus, it came on time and off we went to Market Drayton.  All the people who caught the bus knew the bus driver, Jeff,  and he seemed to know lots of people walking and driving by.  It is the first bus I have ever  been on that there is music playing and the bus driver singing along!  We got to Nantwich and had a walk around the town, it is a very nice place with lots of old buildings.  We did some shopping and then caught the bus back.  We were just going up the narrow street in Audlem to where we get off and a huge tractor came down the street, he saw the bus but carried on regardless and so the bus had to back all the way down the street, but Jeff took it in his stride, luckily.  We got off and headed back to the canal and the boat.  Nantwich is a very nice town and well worth a visit.

Wednesday 2^nd July

Today we are off to Market Drayton for the market and a few more provisions.  We walked up to the square and there was already about 20 people waiting for the bus, we thought we would never get on.  Most of the people waiting for the bus were only going to Adderley, not far up the road, then they were walking back. The bus came and they let us who were going on to Market  Drayton get on first, very nice of them.  By the time we got on, there was only one seat left, so poor old Kev had to stand all the way, lucky its only about a half hour journey.  All the walkers piled on the bus and we set off, they got off at Adderley.  The chap sat next to me said he had never seen the bus so packed, usually you were lucky to get half a dozen on there, they must have known we wanted to catch the bus!   Got to Market Drayton and walked around the market, as it was a lovely sunny day, it was a good turnout with stalls, we bought a few supplies, then went to catch the bus back.  From Audlem there is only one bus a week on a Wednesday to Market Drayton and one bus back so didn’t want to miss it.  It wasn’t so busy on the way back, just as well as we had our shopping trolley full and wondered if it would fit on a full bus.  Got back to Audlem and walked back to the boat.  Sat down for a bit, then decided to walk back up to the village and try the third coffee shop in the village, called The Pinfold, it was very nice.

As we are now moored at the bottom of the locks, there are no services down there, so if we need water we would have to fetch it.  We did need to top up our water, so we set off yet again up the tow path with our plastic foldup water carrier and our shopping trolley and a few empty bottles.  We walked to the tap above lock 14 and filled up.  Luckily our water carrier fitted into our shopping trolley, so we trotted back down the tow path to the boat, poured the water into our tank and back up again for another lot.  I hate to say this, but I think we have become proper water gypsies!!

After all that walking, we chilled out for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Thursday 3^rd July

Today we are walking to Hankelow for the third time in two weeks!  We are going to try and have lunch at the pub if it open!  It was another warm, sunny day.  We walked the same way as before, up Mill Lane, then Monks Lane, then  Longhill Lane and to the pub, hurray it was open, so in we went,  it is a really nice pub and the food was excellent, we had a really nice lunch and good value, two courses for £6.95.  All the food is home made and the produce is locally sourced.  We would definitely recommend trying this pub.

We decided to walk back along the main road for a change, there is a pavement for most of way, there is just one small bit you have to walk on the road, but it was okay as the road is not too busy.  Got back to Audlem and walked back to the boat.  Then chilled out.  Our friend Jane came down to see us in the evening and stayed for a few drinkkies which was nice.   We walked back up the tow path with her as it was getting dark and her husband Malcolm who had been working late walked down to meet her.  It was nice to see Malcolm, we chatted for a bit, then they headed home and we headed back to the boat. We will see them on Saturday for the Party on the Park, looking forward to that.

Friday 4^th July

My new job as a Telephonist!

About 2½ miles up  the canal, there is Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, it was built years ago in case there was a nuclear attack.  It was manned by about 100 of the the Royal Observatory Corp, who were all volunteers.  They monitored for a nuclear attack during the Cold War.  It is now a tourist attraction, so we decided to walk up there today as we have been past it a few times, but never stopped, so we decided to go today.  It was a bit cloudy but dry and warm, so we got our rain coats, just in case and set off.  It was an easy walk on the flat up the tow path, but not sure if we would find it, as it is secret!! It took us about 50 mins, and we were lucky, we did find it and in we went.  It was really good and such an eye opener and some of films they showed were very graphic, most of it was underground, you saw all the communication rooms and even a nuclear bomb, really interesting.  There was a nuclear shelter which was very small and confined.  We sat in there and there was lights flashing and then an explosion goes off simulating a nuclear explosion so you can see how it would feel.  We really enjoyed looking around there.  It is well worth visiting as it brings home how real the threat of a nuclear attack was several years ago.

Nuclear Bomb

Where the volunteers slept

 

Can't get away from the Typing!

 

When we came out, it was spitting to rain, so we set off back down the canal, luckily the rain didn’t get any harder and we got back to the boat without getting very wet.  We hadn’t been back long and it rained harder and for most of the afternoon and evening, but we didn’t worry as we were back inside and not planning to go out again today.