Chester

We had a fairly long day by our standards today. We left Hurleston mid morning and reached the outskirts of Chester late afternoon. Compared to our normal three hourish days that was a lot.

We stopped twice en route, once at Barbridge to post Mikey's birthday card, the again at Calverley to top up our water tank.

The canals are really quiet now the school holidays are over, there were twelve Anglo Welsh hire boats moored two abreast at their base below the locks at Bunbury and we only saw about six boats on the move all day. It's a good thing there isn't a water shortage as we had a boat ahead of us who obviously didn't want to share locks and twice went through a lock although we were in sight. Oh well, it takes all sorts!

Apart from the inevitable slow trek past the over a mile of moored boats at Gold Nook there were no other delays.

After a cuppa we did the usual trip to Sainsburys and plan a trip into Chester tomorrow. The cats aren't happy because the canal is right beside the A41 here so they have to stay in.

Today's journey 14.6 miles and 6 locks


So far this year we have travelled 586.9 miles, 478 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 24 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1832.7 miles 1564 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 64 tunnels