A Visit with Martin and Brenda.

 Thursday 21st July 2022 in Chester.

When we moored up yesterday, nb "Odessey" was moored up just behind us. This is a shared ownership boat in which our friends Martin and Brenda have a share, although they were not on her this week. As we knew they live just outside Chester and we had promised to let them know if we were ever in the area, we gave them a call. Not only did they come to visit us on MM this morning but they also took us back to see their lovely house in Broxton. We had a wonderful catch up as we had not seen them since they moved here from Godstone before the pandemic. They kindly provided a magnificent feast for lunch, which we enjoyed in their garden with its views to the Welsh hills.

Martin kindly ran us back to MM. Given that rain is forecast tomorrow, we decided to walk the City Walls this evening at sunset, a distance of about two miles. As we set off, we looked down on MM moored below.

Just above our mooring is "King Charles' Tower"(below). According to tradition, it was from this corner tower that King Charles I watched the defeat of his army at Rowton Heath during the Civil War. Clearly not leading from the front! And he certainly wouldn't be able to see the Heath these days, as all around is now built up!

It was a lovely walk around the walls high above the city as the sun set.

On the southern side of the city, the River Dee once came right up to the walls and tall ships bringing exotic goods from all around the world would moor next to the city gate. What a sight that must have been!

What was once a thriving harbour is now the race course.

Looking in towards the city centre are a number of rows of terraced houses with small back yards, each with its own "privy", backing on to a shared narrow passageway. Such a contrast to the magnificent mediaeval architecture for which Chester is renowned.

Looking down from a part of the wall that overlooks what was once a Roman Temple, we spotted a local resident watching us with curiosity.

The bridge over Eastgate is adorned wth a magnificent clock tower, erected in honour of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The main shopping street runs underneath.

Just on the other side of the wall from MM's mooring, a film was being shown on a large screen in front of a small crowd. We could see that it was "Sister Act". No chance of a free viewing as we couldn't hear anything - the sound is transmitted through headphones only!

Today, MM had the day off.