Last night was not the best mooring in the world, we were right under the flight path for planes coming into I suppose Manchester, they were coming straight down the length of the canal, right overhead. As one went over you could see the light from the next one following and this was just on midnight, I don’t know when they stopped but this morning the approach line had changed. Added to that the unit next to the towpath, just behind us had a refrigeration unit or air compressor that kicked in every now and then for a few minutes.
This morning started slightly overcast but that soon changed to bright sun. Big Lock was full and as we left a boat who had been on the water point wanted the lock and we wanted the water point.
The canal has been quite busy and we met over a dozen boats plus a stand up paddle boarder near Bramble Cutting.
There have ben a few changes since we last came this way. CRT have done a bit of offside dredging but not enough. it comes to an abrupt stop in a large offside reed bed. Our next surprise was a nice new rail bridge replacing one that looked as if it was about to crumble away, but I noticed that there is no longer a pedestrian access to it to cross the canal, just wide enough for the track bed.
As we came towards Whatcroft Flash the reflection was playing tricks on the eye and it looked as if there was a reed bank between the flash and the canal, there isn’t of course, you can just go straight out into the mud.
It wasn’t long before we were passing our old marina which unlike when were were there now looks quite full, they also look to have their fare share of wide beams. A little further on we passed Orchard Marina on the other side, last time we were this way they were pumping the water out to drain it, now they are installing the new jetties, it looks quite deep in places.
The new houses opposite The Old Broken Cross pub were just about finished when we left, today they are well established and lived in.
At Wincham Wharf I spotted this lovely little boat, what a lovely toy to own, that is a wide beam moored behind it.
A short way past Wincham Wharf there is some kind of chemical works on the offside, they have a nice canal side garden in front of some of their buildings with tables and seats under the trees, I spotted something whit in one of the bushes and thought maybe an escaped whit parrot, then it moved, it was an albino squirrel, something I have never seen before, I took loads of photos, but this was the best one.
We spotted a mooring right outside the salt museum garden entrance with handy rings, but there is a shelf just under the surface so the wheelbarrow wheel fenders are out again and I must say we have needed them the speed one or two boats have passed. Today has been a very slow day as we want to be at the entrance of Preston Brook tunnel tomorrow night.
Today’s Journey
8 miles, 1 lock in 4 hours.
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