Two Tunnels and a Drunken Boat.

 Tuesday 29th August 2023 at Barton.

Today we need to go through two tunnels, each of which has timed entries as they are not wide enough for two boats to pass and they are either too long or crooked to see from one end to the other. Any boat going north enters the tunnels on the hour and any boat going south enters the tunnels on the half hour. As the first tunnel is three miles away, we started at 10:15 so as to arrive just before the half hour.

On the way we saw three herons standing on the bank very close to each other, which is unusual because they tend to be solitary birds. They always look so humpy! Doubtless because we've disturbed their fishing.

Sadly, the three herons took to the wing before we could get a group photograph. However, looking at this one fly away it is quite easy to believe in dragons! A mini Smaug?

We arrived at the tunnel mouth on time and, on the half hour, the boat in front of us moved up to the tunnel mouth only to find that there was a boat coming the other way in the tunnel, so he had to back away again. We could clearly hear singing and shouting from the tunnel and after about 15 minutes the boat came out and it was clear that those on board had been drinking. When we went through the tunnel the people at the other end said that the drunken boat had been told that they needed to wait but they went through anyway. The rules don't seem to apply to some people.

At the second tunnel, we waited for the half hour in a very pleasant spot overlooking the River Weaver in the valley below.

After the second tunnel we moored up for the night. There is a third tunnel but we will tackle that tomorrow morning.

We need to leave early tomorrow as MM is booked into Uplands Marina at Anderton in the morning; we plan to go home for a week for the Gershwin Nocturne Supper Club on Saturday and R's birthday next week. So, we plan to be back on board next Wednesday, 6th September.

Today: 9 miles, 1 lock and 3.8 hours.

Trip: 208 miles, 81 locks and 106.2 hours.