It was very still and quite, although a rather grey day, as we set from Devil's Garden, leaving the other moorers behind.
We continued along the Weaver Navigation, still very slow moving water but we could, for us, speed along in the deeper water.
Before long we could see the chemical works at Weston clearly in the distance but we still had plenty of rural waters to pass along.
Nicholsons not only suggests going down the short Frodsham Cut, down to where a lock once connected to the River Weaver, but also recommends it for a good mooring. So it was both a surprise and a sight disappointment when we were faced with the above sign!
We passed under Sutton Swing Bridge, noticing good moorings both above and below the bridge. Compared with the other swing bridges on the Weaver, this one is looking rather spruce. After a strong public campaign, money was raised to renovate the bridge and, especially, to provide the paint needed. It was completed last year.
Shortly after came the railway bridge - amused to note that even some of the railways still have semaphore signals but at least these are still working! In the distance is the M56 road bridge with traffic in the westbound direction almost at a standstill.
That T-Max lorry was already on the viaduct when we first had a good look at it!
From here onwards the right hand bank of the navigation is occupied by a variety of chemical works, which once used ships coming up from the ship canal to take its products away. Alas no more. However, we were pleased to note that there were no noxious smells nor pollution appearing from the works.
No alkalis allowed here!
We passed the entrance to Weston Marsh Lock but decided to stop on the way back, noticing that there is a new pontoon to make landing from narrowboats a bit more practical. From here, the navigation is called the Weston Canal, originally linking with the ship canal a mile or so further on.
Just beyond the chemical works a former canal branched off to the right - the first lock can still be seen.
And then a bridge too low to pass under. We gently nosed up almost to the bridge. Pity it was not built just a couple of feet higher and then at least narrowboats could have cruised the very final section! It does look as if it was meant to be a retractable bridge but perhaps that function has ceased to work.
On the way back we headed for the pontoon at Weston Marsh, only to find it already occupied by one of the boats that moored close to us last night. Fortunately they saw us arriving and kindly signalled for us to breast up alongside them.
The place was eerily silent - the main waterway in the photos is the ship canal but the River Weaver enters from the left at this point with excess water let out in the far distance via some huge sluices.
We set off once more - and carried on to the Sutton Weaver Visitor Moorings just before the swing bridge. We stopped here for lunch. At the end of the landing area was an unusual marker stone.
We also filled the water tank and, not expected from the guides, found a fairly new elsan point as well.
It was also an opportunity to see how the bridges are turned - although this is probably rather infrequent these days! A steel rope is attached around the circular base and pulls one way or the other to open and close. The motor that provides the power is in the control box alongside.
The weather was not conducive to good photos so not bothered to include any as we made our way back up both Dutton and Saltersford Locks and then back to Anderton where we found probably the last available mooring space just below the lift.
After we moored, Christine went for a walk along the riverside and around a dragonfly lake, taking a number of wildlife shots along the way. Apparently, this is a good location for dragon and damsel flies as the water is slightly salty which discourages frogs and toads which would otherwise prey on them.
18.8 Miles - 2 Locks
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