And, they're off!

Saturday and good news. The tree has been cut in half and passage is possible. 

In the morning we walked along to Barnton to get some shopping. Luckily, Brigid had the good sense to take the umbrella as it tipped it down while we were walking, stopped when we're in the Co-op and started again when we came out. Nevertheless, it was a good walk and we got the essentials we needed. 

Have been watching all afternoon as hire boats at the wrong location are cleaned, refuelled and turned around ready for new holidaymakers to be shipped in to start their holidays from a different location. It's good to see that the marinas help each other out to ensure that holidays are not spoiled. 

So, a short reverse along the canal to take on water and empty the loo - I always seem to get that particular job! And then, off we set. Two tunnels today, the first being Barnton Tunnel. 572 yards long with a kink in the middle. 

This is a house near the start of the tunnel. 

Next, the tunnel entrance. The book says to make sure the tunnel is clear before you enter but the only way to do that is to line the boat up with the entrance (as if you're going through) and then take a peek. The only problem is that if anything is coming through, you've somehow got to back off to get your boat out of the way. Luckily, all clear and through we went. 

At Saltersford Tunnel, I wasn't that lucky. Regrettably, because it was starting to rain and because I was trying to avoid 3 or 4 oncoming boats I missed the sign, about 100 yards before the tunnel, telling you that entrance was on the hour from our end. So, I stuck my nose round the corner to see if anyone was coming through only to meet 2 boats coming my way. I thought I got out of their way quite quickly but one of them would keep going on about entry on the hour, even though I apologised much more than I usually do. Even when we tied up to wait for the appropriate time, I still couldn't see the notice that I'd missed. 

The tunnel was horrible in that it twisted this way and that and when we got through, I turned round and saw their sign, clear as mud! However, I did manage to stop another boater making the same mistake as I had, so I felt a little better after that. 

After that it rained continuously until we moored somewhere above Acton Swing Bridge on the River Weaver. 

Brigid is now cooking while I dry out.