We are a retired couple who after living abroad for 5 years are now living in Levin, New Zealand. From October 2006 we cruised the inland waterways of Britain. We sold Narrowboat Gypsy Rover in July 2010 and continued our travels around the UK in our new Motorhome. In August 2011 we returned to New Zealand ahead of our motorhome which arrived in October. Although now land based we will be continuing our travels throughout New Zealand when time allows.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Return to Northwich.
2 Locks, 10 miles. Now moored at Northwich town moorings.
We thought that we would get a quiet night last night being out in the country but no such luck. What with the strong winds and water lapping around the stern it was still a disturbed night.
Despite the weather forecasts for heavy rain it was only a light drizzle as we headed off back up river. As the morning progressed the wind got stronger but the rain never eventuated to much. After Dot had a long chat with Bryn at Saltersford lock we had a change of plans and decided to return to Northwich to do some shopping at the market and visit the Salt Museum. Again we had the river to ourselves except for 1 boat travelling in the opposite direction.
When we arrived in Northwich there was only one other boat on the moorings but by late this afternoon we have been joined by 4 other boats that presumably have come down the Anderton lift because we haven't seen them anywhere else.
This afternoon we wandered off up London Road to find the Salt Museum which turned out to be well worth the effort. We saw 2 short films on salt production and it's by products which are innumerable and another about the boatmen on the River Weaver. The old film footage taken within one of the factories showed men stripped to the waist working in the hot steamy conditions and there wasn't an ounce of fat on any of them. The speed at which they were working would make a 21st century worker cringe in horror.
The main display about the production of salt and the effect it had on the district was very enlightening, covering the subsidence of land due to many decades of mining and many buildings being rebuilt with wooden frames so that they could be re-levelled should minor subsidence occur again. However with wealth came squalor and sickness with many chimneys in the district pumping out acrid smoke from the use of low grade coal to heat the evaporating trays, the atmosphere wasn't exactly pristine. Also the coal burning ships that came up river added to the pollution.
One interesting display was the business in India prior to Independence. Salt was exported from the UK to India because of a shortage over there but the Indians had a Salt tax put on them which caused no end of hardship with many dying of the lack of salt in the diet and saw Mahatma Ghandi stir up a revolt with locals collecting salt from the beach against British orders.
There was also a temporary display of what is known as trench art by a soldier in the 1st World War and many press cuttings reporting on the war and its tragic stories. The artist had attended Art college prior to volunteering for service. He drew when ever the opportunity arose and filled many note books with pencil drawings.
The museum is a credit to the area and is well worth a visit but allow at least a couple of hours to take it all in.
1471 locks, 3091 miles, 51 Tunnels, 42 swing bridges and 39 lift bridges since Nov 2006
Northwich Town Bridge over the River Weaver
Erected by the Weaver Navigation Trustees in 1899, this is the first road swing bridge on floating pontoons and the first electrically operated swing bridge in Britain.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Ferry, on the Mersey.
0 Locks, 11 ½ Miles. Now moored at Devil's Garden.
Despite a light shower of rain this morning we left Dutton Lock and headed down river towards Weston Marsh Lock. For a while the weather stayed dry but the further down river we got the situation began to change quite rapidly. By the time we reached Weston Marsh lock we had had quite a few good down pours.
Despite this we moored against the wall above the lock and very gingerly went ashore. The reason I say gingerly was because the wall was higher than our roof and the only ladder was 4 rungs recessed into the wall and a hand rail on the top of the wall. It wasn't the easiest of lock ladders to climb especially in the wet conditions.
After having a good look at the Manchester Ship Canal and taking some photo's we returned to the boat for a warm drink and check out the Internet. As it was a good signal we stayed for a while to update the blog before setting off back up stream. We decided not to stay over night because the smell/fumes from the ICI plant was upsetting Dot's breathing even though we were up wind of the place. Just as we started to back away from the wall to turn upstream we caught site of what was presumably a Mersey ferry boat heading up the Ship Canal towards Runcorn and neither of us had our camera to hand. Damn!
As we neared Frodsham Cut we spotted another narrowboat winding and heading back up stream. We followed him to Devil's Garden where he also moored. Initially I tried to moor in front of this other boat but found submerged rocks in the way so I had to go about again and come in behind him which proved successful but only just, as we can see submerged rocks just under the bow.
1469 locks, 3081 miles, 51 Tunnels, 42 swing bridges and 39 lift bridges since Nov 2006
Monday, 29 September 2008
Back Against the Wall
At Weston Marsh Lock overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal, ICI Chemicals in the background.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)