Preston Brook to Middlewich - (Direct: 17 miles and 4 locks. Us: 25 miles and 4 locks):
On 15th of May Peter took us through the 1,239 yard long Preston Brook Tunnel. Although it is fairly wide, two boats cannot pass each other and , having a slight bend in the middle, it is difficult to see through to the other end. The entry times are posted on a notice board but we still made sure that there were no boats in the tunnel. Just beyond the southern portal is a (stop) lock that has only one gate and, as the water level on both sides was the same, I generously volunteered for lock duty. We moored a short distance beyond the lock and that night one of our guests had an "interesting" experience.
Around two in the morning Peter decided to go for a moonlight stroll along the towpath and, being in a remote section of the canal, was appropriately dressed in his long white nightshirt and slippers. Just as he was about to return to the boat an apparition with six beady eyes appeared and started coming towards him; as it got closer he bravely ducked into the nearby bushes, held his breath and stood motionless. I still wonder what would have happened if he had suddenly jumped out in front of the six unsuspecting aliens/marines/fishermen as they marched by.
The next morning we travelled along a very nice rural section with excellent views of the River Weaver some 50 feet below. A mandatory stop is the Anderton Lift, an amazing piece of machinery that transferred boats between the Weaver Navigation and the Trent & Mersey. While in the area we picked up a copy of the "Anderton Boat Lift News" and made a small donation to the "Lift Restoration Fund". Hopefully it will not be too long before this impressive structure is fully restored and back in use. We found the short trip down to Northwich somewhat interesting with plenty of "donkey engines" nodding back and forth as they went about their job of pumping brine from the surrounding area. The impact of the local salt mining industry on the environment was very noticeable; in fact a new ½ mile stretch of canal had to be cut in 1958 because the old route was about to collapse into the underground workings. Northwich, with its massive chemical works, does not present a very good image of itself from the canal but I understand that the town is quite attractive and that a visit to the Salt Museum is well worthwhile. We had a pub lunch with the "Brinnands from Cheshire" at the "Old Broken Cross" and in the afternoon they joined us for a short cruise down the beautiful Dane Valley. Unfortunately it was pouring down with rain so they didn't get to see very much. (I will cover this picturesque area later). We turned around just before Croxten Aqueduct and headed back to Broken Cross where we said farewell to the Brinnands and Peter and Judith. We had to go back through Northwich to find a winding hole so became quite familiar with the procedure of giving a warning blast on the horn as we passed under the catwalk of the chemical works. Still pouring down with rain, we made a non-stop trip back down the Dane Valley and arrived in Macclesfield in the late afternoon.
We spent a couple of days moored at the old canal depot alongside "Middlewich Narrowboats". We had heard stories of vandalism to boats moored near the center of town but we had no problems and enjoyed our shopping trips into this old roman town. The folks at Middlewich Narrowboats were very accommodating and provided a laundry service as well as the usual amenities. While there, we gave CJ a spring cleaning in preparation for our travels along the Shropshire Union with our first visitors from the States; but that's another chapter in our "Ramblings": - The Llangollen & Northern Shropshire Union Canal.