Before setting off, Mike popped to the nearby Tesco for a newspaper, milk and a couple of other larger items. We then set off in good time as we want to have two or three days getting some distance under our belts. We have an appointment to meet up with Andrew on Monday somewhere near the other end of the Llangollen Canal as this is one of the few that he has not yet been able to do.
Just before we set off there was a heavy shower but that was the last of the rain for today. Whilst the sky was generally overcast, the temperature was unseasonably warm.
It is not far along the long straight past the Steam Mill. According to historic England,
"This former steam-powered flour mill was built in 1785. The mill was significant as it was one of the first steam-powered canal-side flour mills. The mill is now used as a warehouse and workshop."
Just above one of the first locks is a former Mission Room which was built in 1908 to serve the working class residents of this part of the growing city. It has now been converted to a private residence.
This is probably the last day this year working through wide locks - these out of Chester do need crew to be alert as the design of the top gate culverts varies quite considerably, requiring different operating techniques.
At Egg Bridge in Waverton there used to be a wharf and mill alongside the canal and it seems likely that this enlarged area was a winding hole and part of that wharf. Unlike some such No Winding signs that are put up by aggrieved residents (who ought to know what they were moving next to) this one does seem official and is replicated on No Mooring signs on the opposite bank (which reserve the most convenient mooring in the village for a CaRT work boat!). However, we were left wondering what the story might be behind this restriction. All too often, persistent complaints do lead to a loss of facility for boaters.
Another issue is the long line of in-line moorings at Golden Nook. There are signs demanding that boats slow down for them but, as a result, it took us over half an hour to pass them. We were so bored that we forgot to take a decent photo of the problem but they can be seen just beyond this bridge which is in the middle of the length. Too many of the boats are moored against staging that protrudes out into the navigation. There is a new marina just south but this does not seem to have diminished the demand for these on-line moorings - perhaps price comes into it.
Just before the Beeston locks the railway line comes very close - this signal box is called Beeston Castle and Tarporley. Mike spotted the canal at this point as he passed on the train yesterday morning.
Alongside Beeston Stone lock we saw a coupe of less common fungi. By this stage we were being chased by Duke and Duchess, the hotel boats which had passed shortly before, just getting going again after having had to source a replacement gear box overnight! They followed us up through Bunbury Staircase. We pulled in for the full range of services at Calverley but as we were just ready to leave, the hotel boats overtook us and we followed them, passing Barbridge Junction (Where another boat popped out of the junction just in front of us) until we moored up at Hurleston.
16.6 Miles - 11 Locks
No comments:
Post a Comment