Pottering

Wednesday: 8 miles and 1 lock
Thursday: 2.5 miles
Friday: 4.5 miles and 2 tunnels

Wednesday morning was fine. After a celebratory breakfast and visit to Tesco's in Middlewich, we decided to do some boating while the rain held off. The industrial landscape continued, including a passage through the TATA chemical works.

We found a mooring near the Lion Salt Works in Marsden and had a nice but unremarkable anniversary dinner at The Salt Barge.

On Thursday morning we went on a tour of The Lion Salt Works museum and learned a lot more about the history of a major industry of this part of the world. In the afternoon we pootled up to Anderton and moored by the boat lift. We had breakfast at the boat lift café in the morning and watched a group of narrow boats going up and down. After heavy early rain, the sun shone as we set off. We had some headlight issues in the first of the tunnels but it all went smoothly after that.

After the tunnels we left the industry behind and the landscape opens out. The canal is high on the hillside of the river weaver valley and commands some lovely views.

In no hurry as we get nearer our destination, we moored with a lovely view and good walk down to the river. When we were last here a kingfisher ate a fish on our roof and there was a rainbow.

The view from the boat this afternoon. 

Robin fished in the sun and the washing dried. A steam boat chugged past.