Lots of photos

I don't normally put loads of photos on this blog; there are lots of other canal blogs that do, so I largely leave it up to them, but just once in a while it's nice to show that the camera does get some use around here. As we've not been this way since I started blogging, I thought that I'd try and show why we reckon this is just as scenic a canal as the more popular ones like the Llangollen or the Caldon.

First off is this superb garden we saw whilst walking to Bunbury village, where we had a pint in the Dysart Arms.

Then this is the canal just below Bunbury Staircase Locks, and this

is the approach to Tilstone Lock, probably one of the best locations on the system. Mind you, the locks were quite tricky in a 70' boat, only just long enough. It was easier to work Sanity Again down on the diagonal, and in a couple of cases, we had to fiddle around a bit with the gates to get her out.

Just below Tilstone is this really different boat; she has a slipper stern and wheel steering

These deer appear to be grazing on one of the rolling hillsides that make the canal so attractive, but in fact underneath there is a huge underground oil storage depot.

And this isn't really a house; it's the control centre for the WWII Operation PLUTO (PipeLine Under The Ocean). The oil stored safe underground here was piped all the way south to the Channel coast, and thence under the Channel to supply fuel to the D-Day invasion forces' beachheads.

Yesterday, we climbed up to Beeston Castle:

It's about 400 feet above the canal, and can be reached from Wharton's Lock. It costs over a fiver to get in, as it's run by English Heritage, but the views from up there are stunning:

That's the Cheshire Plain, obviously.

For something built in the 14th Century, the quarrying is quite remarkable. This is literally the last ditch, a final line of defence between the outer ward and the inner bailey.

It's a long, long way down the steepest side.

The path approaches from the south, and there are easier routes and slightly steeper ones.

Nearby Peckforton castle is a Victorian imitation, but still pretty convincing…

And that's the canal in the distance, about a mile away. You can just see Wharton's Lock. The railway in between is the line from Crewe to Chester and on to Holyhead.

Today, we've carried on to Christleton, which is as near to Chester we'll bring the boat this time. It's just not worth slogging down the final six locks. We've been to Sainsbury's, about 30 minutes walk away.

Tomorrow, we'll walk down into Chester, do a bit of retail therapy at Lakeland and possibly catch the bus back.