Ellesmere Port to Anderton, River Weaver via Manchester Ship Canal
What a day!
We were ready for British Waterways to arrive to unlock the chain around the last lock gates to enable us to get down onto the Manchester Ship Canal. Unfortunately, the chap who turned up did not have the right key, so he had to use a hack saw instead. Then the local authority chap arrived and opened the road bridge over the lock, and we were off. Bob used the VHF radio to advise the shipping authority that we were about to leave Ellesmere Port, good job too, because as he was doing so, a massive ship passed across in front of us, from right to left moving at some speed, as our picture shows.
After that, we gingerly moved out into the wide water and kept our eyes peeled for another big craft we learned was coming our way. We passed huge refineries, cooling towers, smelled gassy air as we went, but saw very few people working in these vast sites.
The only ship we passed on the Ship Canal was the "Gina D", the Control Room had told him to look out for us as we were "only little". When we first saw him he was pushing an enormous bow wave and we were concerned that he may not have spotted us. He did slow down for us and captain and crew gave a very friendly wave as he opened the throttles after passing.
The same British Waterways man was at Weston Marsh Lock where we left the Ship Canal to join the Weaver Navigation. The lock is falling apart and the top gates have to be opened with a winch as the proper mechanism is broken. It's amazing they still allow pleasure boats through foc.
We passed through two more locks on the Weaver (very friendly lock-keepers) before mooring below the Anderton Lift (tomorrows excitement).Our crew girl Trindy will join us this evening, for a few days.
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