Our first task today was to travel the short distance back to Anderton Marina. When we arose, there was quite heavy mist but by the time we had tied up in the marina it had all burnt off and the day was turning out as hot as promised.
After a short initial confusion - the engineer on this morning had been off for a couple of days and had not picked up that we were due in (and yes, it was written in the book!) However, after sorting out a day boat that happily departed with two families obviously intent on having a good day, with stacks of food and what looked like a disposable BBQ, he was ready to give us his largely undivided attention!
The only hitch was that Beta have switch to a different air filter which they did not have in stock so that will have to be changed later, hopefully as we pass by again on the way back. In any event, that is something we can do ourselves. Since there was no-one in the shop yet, he was unable to work what, if anything , we owed them - he was not sure whether they billed Beta for the first service!
Whilst this was happening, Christine walked into the village for milk, bread and newspaper. She went along the towpath, past the lift, underneath the main road bridge and then up at the following black and wide footbridge, up a zig zag path to the village.
By 10:15 we were able to return back to the Anderton Lift just as two other boats moved off the holding mooring to go down. This meant, with a brief 'hover' we could pull straight onto the mooring and Christine went immediately to book us in. There is no charge or using the lift but only if you wish to book a passage ahead of time - it seems that few bother! However, because the next passage was for the trip boat, we were not scheduled until 12:10 - in the end it was just a few minutes after that before we given the signal to pull around the corner into the transit section.
There are two lift gates - the first isolates the lift from the main canal and then the second marks the end of the actual caisson. In fact there are two gates at this point - one to keep the water in the transit section an the other to keep it in he caisson during the passage.
It took some time before we set off - it seems that the two caissons are currently used as counterbalances - various changes over the years have switched between balanced and independent operation. In any case, the whole operation is computer controlled and only when the computer says go can the operator let us down.
Half way and we pass the other, empty, caisson on its way up. And then look back up to see reach the upper level.
Leaving the lower level is less complicated. There is still the double gate but no transit section. By the time we were released we were ready to make a swift right turn and join the River Weaver Navigation. This more properly called a navigation as several lengths are 'cuts' which straightened out winding or shallow river parts.
There were certainly staff in evidence at the chemical works immediately opposite the lift (despite what we thought we had discovered a couple of days ago). However, a few minutes later we passed another works which definitely did look as if it was about to be abandoned.
We continued down the river for about 20 minutes expecting to moor for lunch just before Saltersford Locks. We had been told to look for a stretch that was well mown and we pulled in at one such ace, just abut where we thought it should be. It was fine although we did have to use mooring pins.
When we set of again an hour later we quickly came to where we should have moored, complete with softer edge and plenty of bollards. At least we have a GPS location for next time! Just before leaving we called the lock keeper who came out of his house just as we rounded the corner. Only the larger of the two locks is now maintained so it looks vast with only one narrowboat in it!
On again and we soon reached the furthest point we made it four years ago when we did not have sufficient time to do any more - we had already been to the top end.
Half an hour later - giving the engine a chance to show a bit more of its capabilities than is normal on a canal - we arrived at Dutton Locks. And, yes, the wreck is still there. Although we have walked down to here a couple of times in the past - the Trent and Mersey is just a coule of fields away but at a much higher level - this was our first time actually through the lock. We probably learnt rather more about the lock on those occasions as we did not have time time to get off the boat and explore!
The semaphore signals were a precursor to electric traffic lights - which some locks have but not these - but they have longs since been discarded.
The winding handles were what the keepers had to use before the locks were mechanised!
Just below the locks is the well known Dutton Railway Viaduct which stretches right across the valley.
The next section was equally attractive and we made an instant decision to look for a mooring at a spot called The Devil's Garden. Although marked as a mooring in Nicholdson's it was not listed on the CRT leaflet we were given. There are two more later on but they are more likely to be in an industrial area whereas Devil's Garden is definitely rural.
As we rounded the previous bend we could see three boats, two long narrowboats and a cruiser already moored and it looked as if they were well spread out leaving not a full length for a boat in between! However, we did manage to come alongside just ahead of these boats and moor again with pins. It is definitely quiet!
15.9 Miles - 2 Locks - 1 Lift
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