Thursday saw us heading for the 1,239yd Preston Brook Tunnel. This tunnel is time controlled like Foulridge. We arrived just after the hour so while we waited for our time slot on the half hour we had coffee. At the appointed time we set off through in a convoy of six boats, we were third in. Coming out the other end twenty minutes later we then jioned the que to go through Dutton stop lock. Around lunch time we moored sixty foot above the river Weaver, the view was wonderful. In the afternoon we walked down a track to take a look at Dutton locks on the Weaver, these locks are huge the largest is forty two foot wide and long enough for a large ship.The sun set was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Today, two more tunnels, the first, Saltersford tunnel(424yds).It must be the worst tunnel in the system,it bends all over the place and we were nearly through before we saw the light at the other end.Luckily this is also time controlled. The second is the 572yd Barnton Tunnel,not quite as bent but not straight either. Next we arrived at the Anderton lift, which lifts two narrow boats 50ft from the river Weaver to the Trent and Mersey canal, a great piece of engineering.
This afternoon we passed the boat yard where we bought Doublefracture,although she was unnamed then.Tonight we are moored at Billinge Green Flash, over looking wide stretches of water with alot of water birds.
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