We set off just after 9am just as nb. Elizabeth came by, so we followed them all the way to marsh Lock. Our arrival coincided with Steam Boat Daniel Adamson coming up in the lock from the Manchester Ship Canal.
Her passage was slightly slower than expected as one of the bottom gates wont shut under its own power so the chaps have to use a Terfor and pull it shut from the far side, fitting the strop is not without its difficulties.
Once the gate was shut the lock only needed to lift a few inches before the Daniel Adamson could get out onto the River Weaver and head upstream.
You will find more photos of Daniel Adamson in my Drop Box .
We then carried on down to Western Point to wind at the entrance to the now derelict Runcorn Canal, it only needs some new gates for the first section to be put back in use.
Eddy Stobard now has the use of the land at Western point and boats cant get passed the low swing bridge, I don't know what's in all these white pallets but there are lots of them.
On our way back up stream we spied a nice spot at an old weir to take photos of the boats heading for Ellesmere Port for Easter. We are not sure if there were 14 or 15 in the end. I like it when I spot old waterway working furniture, This is an old mooring ring, but what is unusual is that it has a pin attached to it, so the eye of the rope was passed through the ring and then the pin through the eye of the rope behind the ring. This results in the rope being attached just like a belt buckle.
When we reached Sutton Swing Bridge the main body of them were coming down so we waited for the last and followed them down to the lock. Following the arrival of Daniel Adamson CRT left the top lock gates open so the boats could go straight in as they arrived. 
It wasn't long before they came streaming out, I am not sure how but Ilford went last but came out in the middle. Again all the photos are in my Drop Box.
Much to our surprise not only were this lot leaving but a single Narrowboat was coming in from the Port.
Once they had all gone we again headed upstream past the chemical works, I font know what causes this foam but it was also bubbling up through the ground.
The banks of the river further upstream are covered with Wild Garlic, I expect it will be in flower shortly.
We then met the Daniel Adamson coming back down the river to return to Ellesmere Port, the CRT boys are having a busy day today.
On to Dutton Lock where most of the flotilla spent the night with only 4 locking down this morning, but we were going up alone. Once the Lady lock keeper had seen us on our way it was up to Acton Bridge for the night, we just managed to squeeze on to the back end of the visitor mooring, front rope on a bollard and stern chained to the piling.
Today's Journey
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