Through the tunnel and onto the Bridgewater

We’ve coped with the heat a bit better today; rising at six, we were boating by seven and reached Dutton Stop half an hour later. Sheila worked the lock; like all stop locks, it always seems amazingly hard work for such a small change of level.

We then pottered about whilst tied on the tunnel waiting mooring until the stroke of eight, when I aimed Sanity Again into the tunnel mouth, was completely blinded by the bright sun reflected off the whitewashed portal and clouted the starboard bow against the wall just inside the tunnel.

No damage was done except to my self esteem, but it just shows how tricky even the simplest manoeuvre becomes in the wrong conditions.

Just under twenty minutes chugging took us to the other end. I left Sheila holding the boat by the road bridge and the centre line whilst I nipped off and got a paper, then off we went again along the broad deep canal that is the Bridgewater mainline.

There’s been a fair bit of traffic about, but nothing to cause any problems. Notable amongst  it after we’d tied was Braidbar 74, Maple, steered by Peter. He’s off the leash for a week whilst Elaine attends to family matters so watch out for him and have a chat!

We’ve found a mooring spot at Moore which is now shaded by some lovely tall poplars, bringing the hope of a cooler night tonight.

Tomorrow, a lazy start will see us carrying on through Stockton Heath to Grappenhall, where we are meeting Sheila’s brother and sister in law, Peter and Jan, for a pub lunch and family catch up.

After that we shall amble gently along to Dunham Massey, turn round and amble back.