Weaver fever!

Thursday 9th. 

What a fabulous day on the River Weaver. Sunny all day and motoring for between 5 and 6 hours - that certainly topped up the batteries. 

Approaching Dutton Locks with the weir race under the bridge to the right. 

A reminder of a past era, left to rot at the edge of the riverbank. 

Here we are approaching Dutton Viaduct. It was nice to be able to motor along without worrying about creating a wash. On the canals you have to take care passing other boats so that you don't drag out their pins or set them rocking violently accompanied by cries of 'slow down.' 

Even Brigid looked happy to be in charge today. 

We are now approaching Sutton Swing Bridge, followed by the railway bridge. 

In the distance you can just see the M56 crossing the river. A modern concrete structure, hence no picture! 

After that came about two miles of industrial buildings. 

And then, at the furthest point we could reach by boat, standing alone on a spit of land bordered by the River Weaver, the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, the island church, Christ Church. 

Now boarded up and closed, stonework blackened by years of being in the heart of an industrial area, but still an iconic landmark in its own right. 

Then, having turned round, a repeat trip back to where we started. We had been intending to stop earlier in our travels but the forecast for Friday indicated rain, so we thought we would get as far as we could while the sun was shining. 

A brief look through to the Manchester Ship Canal. 

A fabulous day on the river. Tomorrow, back to the boat lift. 

Oh, nearly forgot, right opposite our mooring was a family of grebe sitting on their nest. We did see another family with a young chick, also some curlew, heron, thrush, Canada geese (with young), swans but, unfortunately, no sight of the kingfisher.