Monday, 24 July 2017

Chapter 18 – Goodbye, Liverpool!


The sky was a bright blue, and the air was already warm.


As we approached Mann Island Lock, it was clear that our ascent
wasn't going to be as quick as our way down had been a week ago.









And so it was through the rest of the locks up to the canal...





It was mid-afternoon by the time we stopped at Melling



...we set off into the headwind towards Hoscar



It was a day of swing-bridges



Back at Hoscar



We left at around noon the next day





...if the battle against Himalayan Balsam has ever been engaged here,
it has most certainly been lost


...we moored for the night at Crooke



Our first delay was at the very first lock


..we joined the queue of those waiting for the bridge to be opened


...a convoy of nine going east through the bridge



It really looked as if we were all at a canal festival.



Fourteen boats were waiting on the other side


At the delightful Pennington Flash, we pulled over for the night while the other eight carried on.


Worsley is a colourful, characterful corner of the Bridgewater Canal.









Trafford Park was a potential stopping-place for us 


...an attractive spot in Dunham Massey



Friday morning saw us heading into Lymm






...lunch at the San Fairy Ann narrowboat café




(Moored boats can't slow down!)


At Preston Brook Tunnel, we joined On Reflection again.


...after a search for good mooring at the end of the day


we tied up in Dutton, between bridges 212 and 211



(Sorry, that was the best I could do!)


The Saltersford and Barnton Tunnels were first on Saturday morning.




...the amazing Anderton Lift 













...a stretch of gentle countryside through Marston and Wincham






Northwich and its ugly salt-processing plants, steam and noise






...the stark yet picturesque Croxton Flash





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