It was markedly colder this morning with just a little mist lingering over the surface of the canal. Mike walked down the arm to Tesco for a newspaper. The short journey took longer than it could as a result of stopping to chat to other boaters!
Alongside the canal close to Ellesmere are various sculptures and we saw signs offering guide books that explain what each one is meant to indicate. It would make interesting reading for these two in the field opposite our overnight mooring!
The junction was quiet and very calm - Beech House (we learnt from the information sculpture) was designed by Telford as the headquarters of the canal company.
The morning's cruise - familiar territory passing the various meres - was largely uneventful apart from getting stuck on mud a couple of times. It was close to lunch time when we arrived at Whixall Junction where the Prees Branch goes off to the south.
There are thee bridges on the navigable section - the first is a lift bridge which was restored a few years ago. Our guidebook (perhaps a little out of date) warns that as a result it is hard to operate. In fact we found it to be one of the easiest on the whole Welsh canal system!
Last year we saw that the second bridge had been dismantled and the pieces were lying alongside the crossing. Today work is progressing well on re-building it so perhaps next time will have another bridge to lift. The third bridge is a more conventional stone arch structure.
At the end of the present navigation is a mid sized marina that looks very pleasant - definitely very rural! We turned in the entrance and moored immediately for our lunch. The season has definitely changed as we were treated to the first of Christine's famous warming soups.
Lunch over we decided to explore the next part of the branch which is no longer navigable but, according to our maps, is still 'in water'.
There was a good towpath alongside. At the point where the second bridge would have been, the water ends and the remainder is dry, although its route can still be seen.
Rather than return the way we came we plotted a route along a country lane, a footpath and a track that would bring us back to the canal close to the marina. Sadly, the landowner of the footpath section has removed much indication of where it leaves the road at either end. Where we expected to come out now has a house garden between the path and the road! No-one around so we hopped over a couple fences!
Back at the boat we set off back up the branch and then turned left at the junction. We continued for about a miles before mooring once more at a newly improved (earlier this spring) visitor mooring so that we could take a walk to explore the fens.
Another circular route (actually mostly fours sides of a quadrilateral!) took us across the former peat cutting area.
At one point there was a striking brilliant green patch that stood out amongst everything else that had already taken on its autumn, almost winter, hue.
We continued following the waymarked path (apart from a short unwise detour - we had to back track!) we came out onto the towpath just before Whixall Junction - with about a mile to walk back to the boat.
The first walk was about 2.3 miles and the second was three miles.
9.5 Miles - 0 locks
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