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Published: July 19th 2013
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Yesterday evening - a little further on from the mooring.
We were very isolated last night, which hasn't happened very often this trip. Usually there have been one or two other boats at least. 1 lock, 306 in total.
The forecast was for 30 C today so we decided to head off early and moor early. After 20 minutes we had a stop lock – this was used to stop one canal company using another's water in times of shortage or a breach. The lift was only a few inches. Next came the Preston Brook Tunnel, ¾ mile long, single file again and very narrow. Each way has a 10 minute slot per hour to enter the tunnel, which just allows time to get through at tickover speed. Entering the blackness of the tunnel from extremely bright sunlight to a few seconds to adjust, during which time I ran into the tunnel wall – the tunnel did not follow the same line as the approach run! Once against the side it is quite difficult to get off without help from your crew, which may take some living down. The only light in a tunnel is from the boat's bow and this lights the sides and top of the tunnel in an arc about 3 feet wide. Beyond that perhaps is the tiny light at the far end, which
is fine if the tunnel is straight – you just aim for it. With a few small kinks in the tunnel you can't afford to look at the end – you can only concentrate on that arc of light 50' in front of you – does one side of the tunnel look closer than the other? If yes, adjust your steering because the tunnel is probably curving - right now! With this tunnel even the 2 ventilation shafts, which let in a small shaft of light, were off-centre – disorientating. OK – no more about the intricacies of tunnels but how about this: you enter the Preston Brook tunnel on the Trent & Mersey canal and leave on the Bridgewater. The tunnel was extended when the two canals were joined and they've made almost a feature of it within the tunnel.
The Bridgewater canal is the largest-ever water project funded by an individual – the 3
rd Duke of Bridgewater. He wanted to link his coal mines at Worsley to Manchester. Whilst the canal was under construction, a remarkable system of underground canals (eventually 46 miles) was excavated to serve the Duke's mines, with
two exits onto the Bridgewater. Later he gained permission to build the southern arms to Runcorn and the Mersey and to Preston Brook. The scheme was to build a transhipment wharf at Middlewich where cargo could be unloaded/transferred; whether by accident or design, Preston Brook tunnel was just too narrow to take the Mersey Flats so the transhipment wharf was built at Preston Brook instead, bringing in a tidy income for the Duke.
The Bridgewater is a contour canal and has no locks so presumably it is easier to maintain water levels; even in the tunnel it was obvious that the Bridgewater was deeper than the Trent & Mersey as the tiller stopped juddering. The downside is that boaters do not realise quite how fast they are going when they pass moored boats. So far this canal has been rural with far-reaching views right across to the other side of the Mersey. There are towns and villages but not many by the canal. The railway is fairly close but it's a local line. The cooling towers of a power station to the north-west are a micro-blot but that is all. We passed a
Science Park at Darebury where I believe the emphasis is on nuclear; here is the world's largest tandem Van de Graaf generator, which must be quite a sight.
As we approached Moore the oak trees on either side of the canal rovided some shade – thank you, that'll do us nicely! We had lunch at the
Red Lion in Moore – more necessity than choice as shopping is proving difficult once again. We let Hattie swim in the canal after lunch – it seemed the kindest thing to do – killed a few horseflies and had a cup of tea (or two). There are a few black clouds building – we may move from these oaks if there's a storm.
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