Heading Straight for a Lighthouse!

 Saturday 8th July 2023 at RHS Bridgewater.

The weather was rather dull and overcast today. After a quick trip into the Trafford Centre for breakfast in M&S and a "few bits", we set off towards Bridgewater. Soon after leaving, we passed through the Barton Swing Aqueduct that carries the Bridgewater canal over the Manchester Ship Canal. Before the Manchester Ship Canal was built, this was the site of James Brindley's 1761 aqueduct (or "river in the sky") over the River Irwell. Apparently James Brindley created a model of the aqueduct (in cheese!) in front of incredulous Members of Parliament to prove that the idea worked - how we wish we could have been a fly on the wall!

Looking down on the Manchester Ship Canal with the road swing bridge behind. Both bridges had to be able to swing to one side to let large ships through. We don't think either bridge has been opened for a very long time now.

Approaching Worsley is a sharp left turn overlooked by a rather incongruous lighthouse. In the middle of the turn we met a hire boat that tried to pass on the left instead of the right. The only way to avoid a collision was to put MM hard into reverse and head straight for the lighthouse! We managed to sort it out but running hard in reverse, MM picked up a load of plastic on the propellor, so we had to stop and moor up to get it off. By this time, it was raining hard.

Soon after, we arrived at RHS Bridgewater and moored up opposite the footpath that leads down to the gardens. It's a pretty mooring along here and you can moor either side of the wide canal.

As it was still early in the afternoon, we went down to the gardens and into the cafe for tea, coffee and snacks. Tomorrow, we are expecting Charles, Emma, Penny and Minnie, so we will explore the gardens then.

As we walked back to MM, the sky darkened and became very threatening. We just made it back to MM before the heavens opened and treated us to a very violent thunderstorm!

After the storm abated, we saw the local trip boat go up and down with a very happy 30th birthday party on board. We toasted them as they passed.

 Today: 4 miles, 0 locks and 1.4 hours.

Trip: 87 miles, 53 locks and 51.3 hours.