Tuesday 31st July
2018
We all slept until 8am and so had to leave very soon after to catch
the 9am opening of Royal Vale Locks. To conserve water, the locks on the Weaver
are only operating every hour, once up and an hour later, one down.
The weed at the top of the lock was very thick, about 2ins, but we
were third boat in line and so were around the corner from the lock and subject
to the wind, it was difficult to hold the boat.
We were first out of the lock and so led down to Hunt’s Lock with
Manny steering all the way.
Beyond Hunt’s, we stopped for our breakfast before cruising down to
Northwich, passing Yarwood’s Yard on the way, seeing some interesting old
vessels again, and dumping rubbish in the waste disposal at the old BW Workshop
site. This looks to be an interesting place that I wouldn’t have minded exploring
but there is no access.
The old Yarwood’s Shipbuilding
site in Northwich
Older Ship Types at Yarwood’s
Parfield,part
of the Kellogg’s fleet
Severn, a surviving Weaver Flat
Entering Northwich Town
Centre
under the swing
bridges
From there it was a short hop into Northwich itself. Brenda got off to
do some shopping and we waited for ages at the service point to water and empty
the toilet cassette.
From there we again cruised past Anderton Boat Lift and the chemical plant
at Winnington. There was a dredging operation in place just beyond Winnington
and after passing this, on the instruction of the lock keeper at Hunt’s, we
rang the next lock at Saltersford. The keeper there told us there was a tug and
barge just leaving the lock that would be coming towards us. We met him on the
straight leading to Saltersford and, with moored boats on one side, Manny kept
his cool when he navigated us passed him.
Saltersford Lock, and indeed the whole of the Weaver we have yet seen,
is very rural once clear of the hustle and bustle of the river through Northwich,
which is very busy, Winsford and Winnington, with few roads or houses except
perhaps at Acton Bridge.
From Saltersford we cruised a further two miles before reaching Acton
Bridge and mooring up just in front of the Daniel Adamson.
Daniel Adamson and Acton Swing Bridge
the
River Weaver.
Miles from Weston Point
The Acton
Swing Bridge is a fascinating structure. Built in 1933 and extensively refurbished
in 1999, it weighs 650 tons but only uses a very small amount of electricity to
open it as the whole thing is supported in the centre. However, this only
becomes apparent if it is viewed from below.
The Daniel Adamson is a 1903 built steam tug that belonged to the
Manchester Ship Canal Company and was used by them as a tug and inspection
vessel. She lay for years, in a dilapidated state, in the lower basin at the
Boat Museum in Ellesmere Port before being sold for £1 and from 1984 until 2017
she was renovated to her former glory. She now undertakes pleasure cruises and
hosts corporate events. Earlier this year, she damaged the lock at the end of
the River Weaver that leads onto the Manchester Ship Canal. This lock is now
out of commission, possibly into next year and so prevents any access to the
Ship Canal from the river. Manny and myself were lucky enough to get a tour of the
engine and boiler rooms from a guy who served his apprenticeship with the same
shipping company as myself. It was very interesting. A single Scotch boiler and
twin steam compound engines with open cranks and crossheads and many steam
auxiliary pumps and other equipment. It would be a privilege to be a part of
this.
We saw four kingfishers today, Eva’s first, and a heron and cormorant
catching and eating a fish. The fishing tally finished at Manny 4; Grandad 3;
Eva 1.
We had our dinner at the Leigh Arms in Acton Bridge and, on returning
to the boat played a few games of Scrabble. Neither of the kids won.
Day Total: 3 locks; 8 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Boat Lift; engine running
hours 4.3
Overall Total: 104 locks; 237 miles; 8 tunnels; 1 Boat Lift; engine
running hours 131.8
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