Journey through Cheshire

From the western fringe of Cheshire, at Ellsemere Port on the Mersey,  we have travelled east back through Chester, walking the walls, visiting museums,  shopping. In a fotunate accident of history, Roman grave stones were used to repair the interior of the walls in the latter period of Roman occupation. This preserved  the inscriptions from weathering, and provides fascinating glimpses into who was there, where they were from, their wives....

From Chester the Shroppie took us further east, and we moored up near Beeston Castle, a medieval pile built on a crag affording 360° views, handy when watching for nasty attackers. A short walk from the canal, across fields on rights of way - the right to roam is an enormous asset to this country.

We were last there with the children in 1999, again visiting from a boat.

The castle was defended by Royalists in the Civil War, but after capture by the Parliamentarians, was 'slighted', partially destroyed.

From the Shroppie we turned north towards Middlewich, the area still being mined for salt, with the consequent subsidence affecting canal banks and bridges, adorned with 'mind your head' signs. When we forget to remove the chimney, one of us will scamper forward and heave it down on approach to such a bridge.

At Middlewich we turned right onto the Trent and Mersey Canal, heading east once more, At the Red Bull junction the Trent meets the Macclesfield canal, in a lovely piece of engineering, similar to a modern freeway junction. An aqueduct carries the Macc over the Trent, which continues on its busy route south east, a major link for those heading to London. 

Now we are travelling north, heading to the boat's winter mooring.  Last weekend was Halloween, so I took my first selfie. I look like a witch, dressed against the wintry chill which descends around 4.30. Jeffrey's coal fired heater keeps us marvellously snug, but standing outside steering requires my witch outfit.

Tomorrow is Guy Fawkes day, which we'll celebrate with cousins.

Counting down now till home time!