Three Tunnels and a Lock.

 Tuesday 12th July 2022 at the Anderton Lift.

We moved on early and had our breakfast as we cruised so that we could get to the Anderton Lift in time to peg out the washing to dry.

We were quite surprised to see that the speed limit on this bit of the canal had been raised to 30mph. Not sure that MM could achieve that!

In 2011 when MM was being built, next to her in Kingsground's workshop was nb "Barneswood". We knew that Barneswood had subsequently been sold on, and so were delighted to meet Wendy and Alan, her new owners, and to see Barneswood's beautiful new paintwork. They were moored beside the canal and we stopped for quite a while, hovering in the middle, and chatted.  What a lovely couple! They moor at Great Haywood and we have promised to get together for breakfast at the Canalside Restaurant there in the not too distant future.

Preston Brook Tunnel is one way and transits southwards are restricted to "on the half hour for ten minutes". It takes about twenty minutes to travel through.

Just by chance, we arrived at the entrance to the tunnel at exactly half past ten, to the second, so we could go straight in!

Just after the tunnel is a six inch deep "stop lock" designed to stop the Trent & Mersey Canal from stealing water from the Bridgewater Canal, a relic of the days of intense rivalry between different canal companies who fiercely protected their individual water supplies. This was also our first lock in over a month as there are no locks on the Bridgewater Canal.

Our second tunnel today was Saltersford; it is short and only takes about ten minutes. The entrance to this is also timed because there is a kink in the tunnel and you cannot see through to the other end. Again, we arrived at exactly the right moment to proceed.

The third tunnel of the day was Barnton tunnel. It is also one way but is uncontrolled as you can clearly see through to the far end. When we arrived there was another boat waiting to go through in front of us, as there was a boat coming the other way.

Inside, it is always very dark and cold and it is quite difficult to avoid bouncing off the walls, not least because the shadows and the light from the boat play funny tricks on your eyes.

All these tunnels were built by sinkng multiple shafts down through the hill to the canal level and then digging in either direction until the tunnels met up. Many of the original shafts are still there to provide ventilation and, if the weather is wet, plenty of falling water as you pass underneath. We were glad of the ventilation, as the boat in front was stinky - and noisy!

Finally, we emerged from the last of the three tunnels into the sunlight.

At the Anderton Lift, we moored up at the same spot that we had used when we had Ivona, Boris and family on board in May.

The area below the Anderton Lift is a large nature reserve full of wild flowers and a haven for wild life.

As ever, the Lift looks very imposing from beneath. Sadly, we couldn't stay long as both the Lift and visitor attraction were closing early for a private party.

In 2015, we had taken MM down the Lift on to the River Weaver. Sadly this time there is not time to do it again. Perhaps next year if we come this way again. M is already compiling a list of "Things to do Next Time"!

Across the far side of the Weaver are huge production plants whirring away until late into the night. Such a contrast to the beautiful nature reserve on this side.

Today: 11 miles, 1 lock and 4.8 hours.

Trip: 265 miles, 162 locks and 140.2 hours.