Billinge Green Flash to Marston

Friday 1^st August

Evening in Billinge Green Flash

It was raining when we got up and it rained for most of the morning and some of the afternoon, so we just chilled out and waited for a window to go for a walk.  Eventually, the rain stopped and it brightened up, so we set off up the tow path to the villages of Broken Cross and Rudheath which were about 1½ miles or so away.  We got to the Broken Cross pub and could see the Co-op right down the end of the road, so walked down there, got a few things, then walked back up and back along the tow path.  There is a new marina being built on this stretch, so at the moment there is a diversion of about ½ a mile in around it to get back on the tow path, eventually when it is finished, there will be a bridge to walk up over the marina entrance, so that added a bit more our journey!!  Got back to the boat and within about 15 to 20 minutes, it started raining, so we had timed that really well.  The rain went over and it was a lovely evening.


Saturday 2nd August

Rain during the thunder storm

Rain on the canal during the Thunder Storm

It was raining when we got up again and the forecast was not too good for today, so we decided to stay put again.  Pat and Patrick who we have been travelling with for a while moved on as they wanted to get up to Anderton to get ready to go down the Anderton lift onto  the River Weaver, we said goodbye to them, but I am sure we will meet up with them again as we are going that way too.  We did some cleaning and some jobs on the boat.   In the afternoon, it went very dark and we had a thunder storm with heavy rain.  It went over quite quickly and the sun came out, but a couple of hours later, we had another thunder storm, this time this one was overhead and boy did it rain, it was bouncing off the canal and the thunder went on for ages, we had a few flashes of lightening as well.  It went over and then the sun came out and it was a nice evening.


Sunday 3rd August
 

We are on the move today, so got up and set off nice and early, the sun was shining again, but rather windy today.  The canal was quite busy with boats in front of us and coming the other way, you can tell it is school holidays!!

ICI Works

We chugged past the unfinished new marina and the Broken Cross pub where we walked  yesterday, there is not much mooring on this stretch, and the only moorings we saw with rings was right by the ICI works, what a lovely place to moor!!  

On past there and moored up at Marston by Bridge 193.  We chugged nearly four miles today, thats a long way for us!!  We remembered from the last time we were here, six years ago when we first picked up our boat that there was an Aldi we had walked to, so we set off to find it.  It is about 1½ miles away, but we found it easy enough.  Got the things we needed, then walked back to the canal and stopped for a drink in the Salt Barge pub near the canal, it’s a very nice pub.  Back to the boat and just chilled out for the rest of the day.  Staying here tonight, and moving on tomorrow. 

Moored at Marston