The 1995 Tour Page 3

Manchester Ship Canal, River Weaver, Chesterfield Canal, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation and Erewash Canal.

3- Acton Bridge to Castlefields - Manchester, including Runcorn Arm. Trent and Mersey Canal and Bridgewater Canal.

Left Acton Bridge at 07.45. Held up for 10 minutes as we had to rescue and moor up a 60ft narrowboat that had come adrift and was stuck against Bridge 210, bridge hole. Arrived at Preston Brook Tunnel at 08.40 and had to wait 20 minutes for the timing for going North (on the hour for 10 minutes) Came out north portal at 09.15. Preston Brook Junction at 09.30.
Decided to do the Runcorn Arm as we had plenty of time. We were booked down the Pomona Link Lock to the Upper Reaches of the Manchester Ship Canal at 11.00 the next day. First time down to Runcorn, a bit weedy, but still deep and no problems. At 10.50 we touched the end, under Waterloo Bridge. No stop in Runcorn and we winded and headed back. Back to Preston Brook Junction at 12.05.
The normal fairly speedy traverse of the Bridgewater Canal. Passed through Lymm at 14.50 and Waters Meeting Junction at 17.55 (junction with the Leigh branch of the Bridgewater / Leeds and Liverpool Canals.) Passed the Pomona Link Lock at 18.15 and stopped overnight in the Kenworthy Arm – under the arches at Castlefields, Manchester (06.35.) That night Colin and Neil went out to the Harry Ramsden’s Fish and Chip Emporium and attempted the mega “certificated” huge plate of fish and chips. Certificates were collected!

Looking down at Saltersford locks from the Trent and Mersey Canal.	Dutton Stop Lock, just before Preston Brook Tunnel. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Dutton Stop Lock, Looking back at the dry dock. Trent and Mersey Canal.	Preston Brook Tunnel. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Leaving Preston Brook Tunnel. Trent and Mersey Canal.	The second refurbishment of the warehouse at Preston Brook. Last time it was a pub / club that burnt out. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Junction with the Runcorn Arm. Bridgewater Canal.	Norton Arm. Bridgewater Canal, Runcorn Arm.

View across to the Runcorn Bridge, over the River Mersey and M.S.C. Bridgewater Canal, Runcorn Arm.	Astmoor and Runcorn Old Bridge. Bridgewater Canal, Runcorn Arm.

Waterloo Bridge. Bridgewater Canal, Runcorn Arm.	Chester Road Bridge No 10. Bridgewater Canal.

Thorn Marine and London Bridge No15. Bridgewater Canal.	The London Bridge pub at London Bridge No 15, Stockton Heath. Bridgewater Canal.

Lymm Cruising Club. Bridgewater Canal.	Bridgewater Canal.

Bay Malton pub, by Bridge No29. Oldfield Brow, just before Altrincham / Sale. Bridgewater Canal.	Barford Aqueduct over the River Mersey. Bridgewater Canal.

Watch House Cruising Club, just before Stretford. Bridgewater Canal.	Waters meeting Junction. Leigh Branch to the left. Bridgewater Canal.

Man U's Old Trafford Stadium is undergoing stand reconstruction. Bridgewater Canal.	Throstle Nest footbridge in Old Trafford. Bridgewater Canal.

looking down on the abandoned Pomona Docks on the M.S.C. from the Bridgewater Canal.	The new Pomona Link Lock to M.S.C. Bridgewater Canal.

The new Pomona Link Lock to M.S.C. Bridgewater Canal.	Railway Bridge No 98. Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.

Bridgewater Canal.	The now abandoned Hulme link locks from the Bridgewater Canal to the Upper Reaches of the M.S.C.

Hulme Locks, Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.	Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.

Giant's Basin. Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.	Staffordshire Arm to left, Kenworthy Arm to the right. Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.

Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.	Kenworthy Arm. Castlefields, Manchester. Bridgewater Canal.