Not a good night, it was quite windy when we went to bed and the boat was knocking, so got up and put wheelbarrow wheel fenders down, then the rudder was creaking, so out again and lashed that down, come 1-30 AM the police were out with a big light shining down from their helicopter somewhere over Frodsham way.
This morning we woke to light rain but it soon died away. The river has been busy again, one canoe and a few rowers out from the club, that plus two lads in swimming shorts who couldn’t decide whether to go in or not was the total activity.
We shoved off at about 11 AM heading for the very end of the river where the old Runcorn canal went off, what a shame its not still operational.
You can only go a few yards passed this and there is a bridge across the cut, I don’t know if there is a right of navigation passed it or not.
As you can see I have dropped back between a pair of gate, I think this was just an old stop lock protecting the Weaver from the Mersey when that stretch of the ship canal was tidal. I made bit of a hash of turning as I didn’t realise the wind coming down the river was so strong, dolling round the stone lock gate bullnose. Last time we were down here Eddy Stobbart was using the land between the river and the ship canal, now its just derelict.
We headed back upstream passed the chemical works, the works is about a mile and a half long with less steam leaks than last time we were this way. The two lads contemplating a swim were sitting on the landing stage by Sutton Swing Bridge. Continuing on our way we met the canoeist that we had seen going upstream earlier.
I had spotted a nice section of bank in the middle of nowhere about half a mile below Devils Elbow, we would have moored there but I didn’t fancy paying £10 to hammer two stakes in for the night.
Today’s Journey
8¼ miles with no locks in 2¼ hours
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