17th-19th August 2016. Out of Manchester.

On Wednesday we travelled 11 miles around Manchester, with short shop stops at the Trafford Centre and in Sale. We passed the turn into Manchester and crossed the Manchester Ship canal.

The Manchester Ship Canal looking towards the centre of Manchester

and towards Liverpool.

This young Heron stayed stock still as we went past, and also as a cyclist sped along right next to him on the towpath. Obviously a city bird.

It was slow going past many moored boats but we didn't mind on such a beautiful day. The straight and made-up towpath of the Bridgewater canal were awash with people enjoying the weather and the water.

 
We moored once we were outside the city in a rural spot where there were several other boats. It was warm by now and we settled down to sit in the sun. Gradually all the other boats left bar one and we wondered.... However, another joined us and we had a safe and peaceful night.
In the morning we set off for Lymm, a pretty village just 3 miles away. We took the last mooring spot in glorious sunshine and spent 24 hours enjoying the shops and cafes. We used our barbeque for only the second time this year - its not been that sort of summer. In the afternoon Iris turned up and we went for a drink with Roger, her captain.

On Friday it poured with rain. We set off anyway, Robin in his Musto gear and Jo hoovering and faffing about inside. We stopped at Midland Chandlers for grommits and then went through the Preston Brook tunnel. After the tunnel, a floodlock marks where the Bridgewater canal becomes the Trent and Mersey. After 12 soggy miles, we moored at a spot Robin spotted with a lovely view across to a viaduct over the river Weaver. Then the rain stopped and the sun came out :)

The view.