The 1995 Tour Page 7

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

7- Chester to Wheelock. Shropshire Union Canal, Middlewich Branch, Trent and Mersey Canal.

The rattley day – busted engine mount getting worse! Started off at 07.22, from below Northgate Locks. Old knowledge told us to avoid these locks at peak time! We got off with a really together Gaily Marine hire boat and were soon at the top (08.00). Shared locks with them all the way to Barbridge.
Christleton Top Lock, 09.40, (Colin) Wharton Lock – 12.15. Stopped (12.40 to 13.05) at Chas Harden boatyard for a service, pump out, 26 galls of diesel (£1 / gallon) and a water top up. No luck with engine mount, but they told Neil that David Piper at Red Bull Junction would be able to help. Arrived at Bunbury Bottom at 14.05 and out of the top of the staircase at 14.20. This was after freaking out a down bound pair of hire narrowboat, by swapping places!
Determined to get to one of our old haunts, we ploughed on! Barbridge Junction to Middlewich Arm (again!) at 15.05 and right at Middlewich Junction (18.40) down the Trent and Mersey. Eventually stopped at Wheelock (20.50), after bridge 154 and dived into Cheshire Cheese pub, just in time to order food. (Did not make the Broughton Arms!)

The old barge building sheds at Tower Wharf. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Tower Wharf. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tower Wharf. The dry dock. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Dee Branch Locks - River Dee beyond. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Dee Branch Locks. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tower Wharf. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	The right angled bend at the bottom of Northgate Staircase. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Northgate Staircase. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Northgate Staircase. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Northgate Staircase. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	In the Moat at Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

In the Moat at Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	In the Moat at Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Chester. Iceland with Slow Boat Chinese restaurant above, beyond bridge. Shropshire Union Canal.	The Steam Mill pub in old mill. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

The characteristic round water tower. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Hoole Lane Lock. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tarvin Lock. Chester. Shropshire Union Canal.	Christleton Lock. Shropshire Union Canal.

Danny, Colin and Julian at the helm. Shropshire Union Canal.	Beeston Iron Lock. Shropshire Union Canal.

Looking down from Beeston Stone Lock. Shropshire Union Canal.	Beeston Stone Lock. Shropshire Union Canal.

Bunbury Staircase Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.	Bunbury Staircase Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.

Calveley. Shropshire Union Canal.	Manchester University Radio Telescope. Shropshire Union Canal.

Wardle Farm Bridge No 102. Shropshire Union Canal.	Barbridge Junction. Shropshire Union Canal.

Kings Lock. Middlewich. Trent and Mersey Canal.	Kings Lock. Middlewich. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Kings Lock. Middlewich. The first shop to the left is a fish and chip shop. Trent and Mersey Canal.	Kinderton Arms pub, by Rumps Lock No 70. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Trent and Mersey Canal.	Lock No69. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Lock No 69. Trent and Mersey Canal.	Lock No 69. Trent and Mersey Canal.

The Cheshire Cheese pub (centre). Wheelock. Trent and Mersey Canal.