Tuesday, May 13, 2014

When does a shower become rain?

According to Collins English Dictionary online :-
“A brief period of rain, hail, sleet or snow.” Note the “brief period”
The Met Office predicted “Showers, some heavy” for today, but frankly it’s been chucking it down most of the day!

It started as we set off from Moore, paused for a few minutes while I loaded a couple of bags of solid fuel at Thorn Marine, started again as I was taking the rubbish and recycling to the tip near London Road Bridge in Stockton Heath, we got a brief interlude as we cruised through Lymm, then got thoroughly soaked again for another three-quarters of an hour till we got to the moorings near Ye Olde Number 3 pub. Brief it wasn’t!

Needless to say, it stopped almost as soon as we arrived, and we’ve bright sunshine now!
So I didn’t take many photos today, here’s a few…

Cock pheasant in a rare patch of sunshine. SAM_9550
He was very unconcerned at us passing, in fact if it’s the same one, he ran alongside me for several paces when I was out on my run this morning!

The unusual concrete bridge carrying Chester RoadSAM_9552

The rhododendrons at Walton Hall are just coming nicely into flower…
SAM_9557

Just past Walton Lea Bridge, a regular on this stretch, NB Harry with it’s astroturf roof.SAM_9562

And a little further on, someone’s attempting to hide from the mooring enforcement officers. (Do they have those on The Bridgewater?)SAM_9564

I was pleased to see that Thorn Marine is still here, but still hand-to-mouth with the lease from Peel Holdings. They want to redevelop the site, but the Hamiltons, owners of Thorn Marina are determined to stay put. The downturn in the property market is helping their case, but that is showing signs of change now.

Thorn MarineSAM_9567
I'm surprised that the canal-side buildings they use aren’t listed. At one time this was the terminus of this leg of the canal, while the Duke’s agents negotiated a route through the grounds of Walton Hall. The buildings were offices and warehousing, built around 1770 when the Runcorn section of the canal was constructed.

Looking over the rooftops of Stockton Heath towards a grey horizon, Christ Church visible in the murk.
SAM_9569

After a damp four miles, the sun came out briefly as we cruised through Lymm. The popular moorings on the town side of the canal were full, but there was space on the towpath side.

Lymm moorings
SAM_9573
Not for us though, we pushed on, heading out of town for another 2½ miles.

The towpath was being excavated just out of town by National Grid. They had this mechanical elephant, a giant vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and rubble from the hole.SAM_9574
It wasn’t being used, though. I was told it doesn’t work in the wet…

We pulled over on the moorings alongside the main road near Ye Olde Number 3. A bit noisy here, but it’s only for one night. Tescoman is delivering to us here in the morning.

Locks 0,  miles 9½

2 comments:

Sue said...

Coo.. That thing would do my pump out a bit quick! :D

Geoff and Mags said...

Aye, but like the man said, it doesn't do wet!