We awoke and found out the shocking news that the bigoted, xenophobic public had voted us out of the EU. 75% of the youngest voters wanted in but their elders thought better. The pound sank to its lowest value ever and millions were wiped off shares & pensions. All very depressing but it’s made us reconsider our plans and a future living back in the Canaries seems more promising now. But on with the blog . . . a so-called day of rest, turned into a day of clean up & reorganise everything! The fuel tank was dipped, the stern gland was re-greased. A fender was lovingly re-attached (see piccie with Steve’s expert whipping) and the whole place tidied up. We then had soup for lunch and marched off 1.5 miles to the Anderton Lift – one of the Seven Wonders of the inland waterways.
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These mini fenders tend to get ripped off in locks so it was time for new rope and fittings.
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Our very pleasant mooring despite the rain. And on to that boat lift. They’ve had a huge refurbishment to get the lift working again and have built a massive visitor centre on two levels – disappointingly, no dogs! They could have built access to the outside area but no. You can’t see the lift or anything if you have a dog!
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I marched in alone and took a few piccies (this is the only view from the towpath)
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Here’s a sneaky view of the control room
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and here’s the dog unfriendly view from their gardens
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Here are two lots of boats passing
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And out on to the river Weaver – with the huge chemical works opposite (formerly Brunner Mond, then ICI and now Tata I think, making Sodium Carbonate??)
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On the left are the visitor moorings (river Weaver)
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Back up on the towpath we saw this little boat, Bogwoppit !
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We decided to walk back through the parkland and the Dragonfly path, nice views of the Weaver plus deciduous woodland.
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It’s a wonderful place for birders!
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A whole silver birch woodland plus plenty of chances for a dog swim …
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Altogether a lovely area to spend a few days. Tomorrow, a few more chores and we must sit down and plan the next leg of our journey, then another walk this time over the footbridge to Marbury country park.