A visit to the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port

Knoll’s Bridge (131) to Ellesmere and return via Chester to Waverton, Shropshire Union Canal, 18 miles 8 locks

A busy weekend as we continue north to Ellesmere Port. 

The Boat Museum is a sprawling exhibition in many buildings depicting the trading past of the port.  It was a special weekend for enthusiasts of the model boat variety, even the lock was full of all sorts of craft..

No Problem is in the far background.  We thought it would be better if we didn’t share this lock with tugs and warships and the like!

The Museum as I said has lots of different and interesting areas to brouse around.. the blacksmiths shop next to the stables has some lovely old tools, and I was surprised to see not one but 4 forges.  The work they did in there did not only just cover shoeing the odd horse but ironwork for boatbuilding was carried out here.  I was very interested to in the concrete.. yes concrete boat tied in a quiet part of the museum which was used by working narrowboats for a rest haven when children were born to the women who worked the boats.

The canal between Chester to Ellesmere Port has a great towpath with a hard surface and all the way along there are geocaches to be found.  Most are just 35mm film canisters that contain a paper log book to record a visit, so a good eye is needed.  14 out of 15 were found over the weekend.. I was miffed that I couldn’t find that particular one.

The Manchester Ship Canal..

While we were there a huge boat went up this very slowly.  For sure it would be very scarey to go along that in a narrowboat with those massive ships, but it can be done.  Permission needs to be sort though to cruise along this bit to the River Weaver.

About turn on Sunday evening to moor at Stoak to get some respite from the relentless M53 that runs alongside the canal in this area.

Today we went on through Chester. 

We had thought of stopping by the city walls again, it is a place I want to return to.  I just thought if we stopped today it might spoil any return visit.  There is still more I want to see.

We did stop for a short while though while we untangled a pair of jogging trousers from the prop.. I was pleased that there was nobody wearing them too!   It has been a very long time since we opened the weed hatch to clear the prop!

A bit further on a huge twig/log jammed itself around the prop and stopped it from turning altogether.  I couldn’t understand why the engine didn’t cut out.. there was no drive at all.  We were heading towards a wall much faster than I would like.. the wind pushing me there, so I tried a high reverse thrust and bang, out it came.. such a noise, but the prop was clear for a second time.

A long day today in the wind, but just after 4pm the pins went in just short of Waverton.  It is very quiet here, and with the light holding up well I was able to take Lucy and Meg for a couple of miles across the footpaths before tea.