A trip to the big city

Here's me and Her on our July trip to Manchester. I had to make it clear to her that she wasn't welcome on my lookout post. Of course, any seat is mine. He's okay with that. She isn't!

After negotiating the Middlewich Arm and going through the locks at Middlewich (including the notorious Big Lock - see my earlier blog) we headed north along the Trent and Mersey Canal towards the Bridgwater Canal.

We stopped for lunch at Bramble Cutting and passed the lakes where the heron ignored us.

Then, we went through a winding dark tunnel to emerge in an idyllic spot where kingfishers flashed past then posed in the trees (sadly no zoom lens so no proof).

The next day, aften anothe dark crooked tunnel, we went past a dry dock that looked like a railway awning and then into a big tunnel nearly a mile long.

We were now on the Bridgewater Canal and our next stop was Lymm. This canal proved to be very attractive with lots of wild flowers along the tow paths and pretty villages and towns.

In Sale we were joined by Her schoolfriend and young grandchildren who helped with the steering.

Then it was onto Manchester passing interesting architecture and Old Trafford before entering Castlefields where we spent a noisy night. After the nightclub noise and the sirens came the geese.

There was a lot to see in the city - Piccadilly Circus (good food!), Viaduct National Trust Gardens (dogs not allowed) and a suffragette statue - but I was glad to get back to the boat.

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Wet and windy walk to Abersoch

We left Hell's Mouth and looked back at the waves crashing on the beach. It wasn't promising. As we walked over the top of the headland we got close to the edge. It was steep. 'I don't think I want to go any further.' She didn't listen. We headed on in the wind and the rain. Sometimes we nearly got blown over. See that headland? That's where we were heading. Oh no! That's miles away. 'Please can we go back,' I woofed as the wind blew me against the fence. She didn't listen. Then we reached this field. I couldn't see 'breeding bulls' anywhere so we continued. Notice I'm the one in front. Eventually we reached the top and started walking in the direction of Abersoch. We never actually got there. Ian was waiting in the first carpark by the sea. I enjoyed having a rub down and a drink. She had to wait to get back to get out of her wet things.

Penmon Point to Pentraeth beach

We're back on Anglesey and he's joining us for the first bit through these paths between wild flowers and by the high walls of the priory fields. I'm still trying to get this off my nose but nobody's taking any notice of me. Through the gate there's views of the mountains of Eryri and more sheep with lambs. Then he heads back to the car part (and a coffee) while we continue along lanes passing more fields and houses. We pass a herd of belted Galloways who had a lovely view of the sea looking back from where we'd come from. We passed lots of gorze bushes (with the scent of coconut) and eventually dropped down fields and steps to reach the rocky sea shore. Luckily the path went along a lane for a while until the signpost led us to the shore path which was clear. I wasn't happy walking along the decking but that was better than walking along the top of the wall that seemed to last for miles. We got to the end and then I saw him coming towards us. Only ano...

The Good, the Bad and the Windy

It was a bright sunny day when we took the boat from Ellesmere on the next adventure. I wasn't to know, (they don't include me in their plans) but we were heading for Tattenhall Marina on the Shropshire Union Canal. It all started well. We left the car on a layby and turned round on the arm of the canal by the old wharf buildings. Our first stop was for lunch at Blakemere, a pretty little spot with lots of ducks (didn't catch any). They had lunch (didn't share) then we set off and followed the familiar towpath all the way to the bridge near Welshampton. It was just over three miles from the start so we walked back and collected the car which would spend the next night in the Sun Inn carpark. I had hoped to join them there for dinner but they left me in the car. Fortunately, I'd already eaten and, once they'd finished their meal, we walked back in the dark under starry skies to the boat. Day two involved a trip along...

Life's a Bitch by Stitch

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