Crooked Tunnels on the Trent and Mersey

Wednesday, 06 May 2009 18:45

Barnton tunnel has a kink in it, so it is hard to see if another boat is coming. It is only one way working, so we approached cautiously.

Barnton Tunnel entrance "ellipse"

For some reason I was not happy in the tunnel, maybe because I couldn't see the light at the end, so I was glad when we finally came out into the open.

Barnton Tunnel exit

The Trent and Mersey Canal travels along the top of the Weaver Valley and affords glimpses of the Weaver Navigation down below. At Saltersford Tunnel we had to wait as boats going west/north have to wait for the "o'clock" and then have a twenty minute window to go into the tunnel.

There are some permanent moorings on the off side of the winding hole and we spotted Nb Bilbo Baggins of the Baggin Man booklets fame! We had actually chatted to him when we saw him moored on the Middlewich Arm but hadn't put two and two together!

As we waited, Working Boat Swallow came out of the tunnel and crossed the winding hole towards Barnton.

Saltersford Tunnel is also crooked but is slightly shorter

When we emerged it was to some lovely countryside and more glimpses of the Weaver. It all seemed very familiar but very far away!

This blackbird was singing his heart out; his perch a new use for a BW mooring sign!

Black Prince has an hire base at Bartington and had a fair number of boats moored: a sure sign that the Bank Holiday is over and the summer is yet to come.

There were some elegant bridges too:

Dutton Wharf bridge (212) had an elegant number, someone took a bit of trouble!

Lodge Lane bridge 213

We moored not long after Lodge Lane as we saw some rings in a fairly remote spot. There was only one other boat moored ahead and quite a way away.

Since we moored we have been joined by two other boats - all of us obviously of the same opinion that, despite the wind, this is a nice mooring! The sun shone for an hour or so after 5pm, so I cut down the rest of the leaves from my bulbs. Another few weeks and I will have to think about planting out some summer bedding plants to replace the rather sad Winter Pansies.

>>> View Next Post		View Previous Post <<<