Bramble Cuttings

Today's Canal - Trent and Mersey

Yesterday's rain continued after dark but we awoke this morning to a very different scene. The sky was blue, the sun was warm and it stayed that way for most of the day, with just a short period when the cloud covered much of the sky.

Just after leaving we passed the excellent moorings at the site of the Dutton breach. All of the overnight moorers, bar one, had left well before 9.30. We had a very clear view down across the Weaver, here just a able to see the Dutton Railway Viaduct. Mike last crossed this when doing the car shuffle from Runcorn!

We have not had much opportunity in the last few days to include pictures just for the glory of the scene so to correct the balance here are a couple more. The second above is again looking down towards the Weaver with a road bridge in the middle (a barely visible white blob!)

Oh, and another for good measure.

We were pressing on as we were aware of the window for entry into Saltersford Tunnel - 30 - 50 mins after the hour. Our estimate was that we would arrive there just as the window was closing which would mean a wait of 39 mins. We made it (well as close as a boating timetable allows) and so sped through the tunnel and out before the start of entry from the other end. This tunnel is very kinky (oh, yes!) and so it is not possible to see through from start to the end.

After a very short distance comes the second tunnel. This one is much straighter and as a result, with a transit time of around 5 minutes, there is no set timing. You just have to wait until the way is clear. There is a shar[bend as the canal approached the tunnel portal and so it is necessary almost to start entering in order to see. Alas there was obviously one in and they told us that there were two more behind. The third but then told us that the tunnel was clear so we started again. Again, alas, another boat arrived at the same time as we were entering and it appeared not to have noticed us so back we went once more. Finally, we were able to have the tunnel clear for us.

The transit was somewhat unnerving as at times we slowed right down, almost to a standstill. We did manage to get out again, thanks to some increased engine power. It felt as if we might have picked up something on the prop midway.

As can be seen from the above, traffic had now built up and we saw today far more boats in one day than for a long time. This did lead to several close encounters on blind bends under bridges.

The cliff fall on the stretch between the tunnels and Anderton does not seem to have had any work done. The footbridge remains closed as it carries a path that leads up the cliff just where the slip has occurred.

We passed the entrance to Anderton Lift, normally a popular place both for day visitors and boats travelling between the canal and the river. Sadly it is closed for the rest of the season as technical difficulties are taking a long time to fix.

We stopped at the services for the usual water, elsan and rubbish but also to give Mike the chance to check the prop. There was only a little bit of plastic caught there but it felt as though something else dropped away when the first part had been pulled out.

We had a stop for lunch before continuing on through the chemical industrial area.  But first, at Wincham Bend, we noted again this attempt to emulate the Tower of Babel. Not checked with photos from June but we are sure that it has grown since then!

As we neared the large works at Lostock, the dark cloud and the sunshine combined with the water vapour from the plant to make an almost surreal image.

This industry has undergone quite a bit of reorganisation and simplification with the result that this site is being developed extensively. The high fence keeps prying eyes from seeing too much when we passed closest.

From a distance we could see a bit more of the new facility.

When we came this way in June we noted that much of the upgrade to orchard Marina had been done. Since then, however, we had heard a suggestion that work had stopped and, indeed, we could not detect any visible progress. The newer, Park Farm Marina still stays that it has vacancies so perhaps this project is on hold until demand picks up again. 

We also noted that the marinas here are berthing a growing number of wide beam boats. This had become a controversial issue on the North Oxford near Braunston, as the wide boats from a marina there do try to cruise out onto the canal with concern about what happens when they obstruct the navigation. But here there is no opportunity for going anywhere even though at one time barges wider than narrowboats did ply as far south as Middlewich Big Lock. To the north, the tunnels are narrow as well as the stop lock at the start of the Trent and Mersey. To the south, a rebuild of an aqueduct just below Middlewich only takes narrow boats. No doubt we shall hear more of this story in the future.

It was not a surprise to find Bramble Cuttings full but the place just beyond where we moored on the way up was empty. It is a good mooring, with a few rings, but rather poor internet connections.

13.2 Miles - 0 Locks