England on the Sharp's narrow boat Hawkeye, Day 9, May 23.
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Today, we leave Ellesmere Port, take the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC) to the locks onto the River Weaver Navigation. But before we can do that, we have to get out of the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum basin!!!.
The Manchester Ship Canal, Ellesmere Port, Stropshire Union Canal and the River Weaver Navigation are each governed and maintained by different authorities. In order to get out of the Ellesmere Port Basin, we had to get someone from the Ellesmere Borough to open the small swing bridge at the upper end (in the Google Earth photo) of the Holiday Inn and from British Waterways to open the gates of the lock (operation of this lock by the boaters isn't allowed) below it, allowing access to the MSC. It was a while before all this came together but finally, we cleared the Ellesmere Port lighthouse and were on the Manchester Ship Canal. Unfortunately, during the wait, one of the alternators on the boat broke loose and we lost the house battery charger.
So we're off. When you remember that Hawkeye only has about a couple of feet of freeboard, this is a bit intimidating to us landlubbers.
And this is why. While these ships are docked, they had to get here - and others go all the way to Manchester. Big ships make big wakes (grin).
We saw a lot of these ducks on the MSC. These were an new species that we didn't see on the Stropshire Union. We were able to identify them in a bird book in England but I can't remember what they were and I can't find them in our US bird books. Interestingly, both these ducks and the Canada geese, below, flew before we got very close to them - unlike their counterparts on the Stropshire Union.
The Canada Geese are a bit comical when they go into flight. They sort of walk on the water for a way before achieving "lift off".
We encountered only three boats on our trip up the Manchester Ship Canal. The first was a large cargo boat which didn't put out as much wake as Hawkeye (grin). The second was a small "run about" that can be seen in the two left hand Canada Goose Takeoff photos above. The third was a narrow boat, Lochlorien, which can be seen in the distance in the left photo here. This boat is significant because the captain took the second picture (right) as he passed. I had my camera but it didn't occur to me to take a photo of the only other narrow boat on the MSC (sigh). Frank and Christy ran across the boat and its captain, Bob Scott, later and he emailed them the photo. Thank you Bob Scott!!!
Between the Ship Canal and River Mersey is a narrow strip of non-marshy land. This structure was on this narrow strip. I wonder what it was and what it was used for?
The other side of the Ship Canal was either industrial, associated with the shipping activity, or farming. These sheep seemed a little out of place having just passed a few miles of industrial works.
At the end of our jaunt on the Manchester Ship Canal is the River Weaver Lock. This lock moves us up to the level of the River Weaver Navigation.
These locks, also, have to be operated by the British Waterways Personnel. This very pleasant gentleman (left) opened the lock for us at Ellesmere Port, and then again here to let us onto the River Weaver Navigation. On the right, working the device that opens the gates or paddles.
After exiting the lock, we followed the River Weaver Navigation to the River Weaver to Acton Bridge. Along the way we passed through the Dutton Locks which have to be operated by Canal personnel. We moored for the night at Acton Bridge. Frank and I (mostly Frank) repaired the alternator, we all walked over to the Trent & Mersey Canal (which runs sort of parallel to the River Weaver at this point) to the chandlery at a Black Prince Hireboat yard to pick up some parts. After a ralaxed hour or so at the Leigh Arms Inn, we went back to Hawkeye for dinner, some music and eventually to bed. Tomorrow we transfer via the Anderton Boat Lift onto the Trent & Mersey Canal.
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England on the Sharp's narrow boat Hawkeye, Day 9, May 23.