We are now moored in the National Waterways Museum after a three hour cruise from our overnight mooring. Another bright and chilly day the cruise was uneventful, apart from the large clumps of weed floating in narrow channels where we had to use the boat hook to clear a path so we didn't foul the prop. The waterways staff were all out clearing the weed from the front of the lock gates, apparently it had all blown down to the end of the channel over night. The ever so helpful staff locked us down to the basin where we found a spot on one of the grassy islands, pins as all the rings were being used.
I used to work with Derek, he bought a boat about the same time as we bought FL, he moored it in this basin but I couldn't remember the name of the boat, so I asked around the staff here, one chap (who reads this blog) knew of him, his boat is called Wagtail. We had passed each other yesterday, Derek had a hat pulled down on his head, I did too. Although I thought he looked familiar the boat he was cruising, 'Wagtail', wasn't the scabby painted boat that Derek had told me about but a pristine liveried beauty in BW blue and yellow so I didn't realise it was him. Hopefully Wagtail will return before we leave.
We had a walk around the museum, it has some fabulous exhibits my favourite is Joe and Rose Skinner's boat 'Friendship'. The amount of boats the museum has acquired that need complete restoration is staggering. It's well worth doing the trip from Chester to Ellesmere Port to visit this fantastic museum.
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| Bolinder crude oil engine |
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| These tractors were used to tow boats on the River Lea |
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| Friendship boatman's cabin. |
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| Overnight mooring. |
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| Wagtail didn't show as it's having it's bum blacked, but Derek did. |
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| Manchester Ship Canal. |
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