Lyra's Travels

Beeston Stone Lock

Tuesday 7th June

Woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof. by the time breakfast was finished it had stopped and there was even a hint of sunshine.

We soon passed the junction where the Middlewich Branch goes off to link with the Trent and Mersey Canal, we'll be taking that when we come back this way.

It's very noticeable that we're on a main line canal again, it's wide and our speed has increased even though I don't rev the engine any more because the bottom isn't dragging us back.

First work of the day came when we arrived at Bunbury Staircase Locks. These are the first double locks we have encountered since leaving the River Thames, and it's a shock to the system moving the heavy gates. Luckily we had company and two crews really make life easier. The canal is broad from here to Ellesmere Port, the end of the line.

The weather was very changeable today, sunshine and showers so the brolly was up and down like.... I''ll leave that to the imagination.

We saw our first cygnets of the year today, 7 little cuties, shepherded by mum and dad.