Northern Exposure: Day 13

Dutton is another lovely peaceful mooring, with the only sounds being the distant trains over the viaduct across the valley, and birdsong.  This morning we set off just before 8.15 — knowing that Preston Brook Tunnel is timed entry, which going north is the first ten minutes of the hour.  Just before the tunnel we had the stop lock to negotiate, with its fall of two inches.  Then we had about ten minutes to wait before we could go through the tunnel.

Going through takes about fifteen minutes, and when you come out the other end you’re on the Bridgewater Canal, having switched from the Trent and Mersey.  There’s then nearly a mile before the junction with the Runcorn Arm (although apparently this used to be the mainline, and it was the connection to the T&M which was built as an arm).  We took the left hand turn towards Runcorn, new water for us (the first new water of the trip).

At the start of the arm you cross the railway line on an aqueduct, then get the best view of the water tower.  It was only when I downloaded the photo I realised there was a man on top of the tower.

Most of the arm is bordered by housing, but there are also wooded sections near Norton Priory.  Further into Runcorn there are big road bridges, and you get glimpses of the suspension bridge and the new Mersey Gateway Bridge, with is numerous cables.

We passed the neat base of the Bridgewater Motor Cruising Club, which occupies two arms and the basin at the end of the canal.  The canal comes to an abrupt end at Waterloo Bridge.  We turned and moored up.

We had hoped to follow the course of the locks which used to go from Waterloo Bridge down to the docks and the Ship Canal, but there are massive works going on, seemingly to demolish some of the elevated roads leading to the suspension bridge, and each way we tried we found our way blocked.  Instead we walked into town and followed signs for the Promenade, which gives views of the suspension bridge as it crosses the Ship Canal and the Mersey beyond.

We went to the Co-op in town for some fresh food.  It was quite busy with lots of empty shelves, but we got enough for meals for a few more days.  Back at the boat we had lunch, then set off back down the arm.  Mooring options are few on the arm itself, so as it was early we carried on back to the junction and turned left towards Manchester.  Having been down the arm, you have a whole new perspective on the views over the valley.  Soon we were passing the Daresbury Research lab with its distinctive tower, which we’d been able to see from the arm.

We moored up on the approach to Moore, in a nice open spot next to a stables.  We’ve had to deploy the tyre fenders, as the boat was scraping against the stone bank under the water.

14 miles, 1 lock.  (161 miles, 96 locks)