Lived on-board Hadar

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Chester Zoo to Ellesmere Port.

Map picture

 

Ellesmere Port (2)

A dismal start to the day, as we set off for Ellesmere Port.

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The Cheshire countryside gave way to the industrialized approach to Ellesmere Port.

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The very first view of the National Waterways Museum.

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We pulled in alongside a moored boat outside the reception, and I went to book in. Unfortunately everyone was in a meeting so whilst we waited we topped up with water. It wasn’t long before Martyn arrived and saw us down through the locks to the bottom basin, and a mooring. Whether this will be our mooring for the Easter weekend, we will have to see, as we may get moved around a bit.

After some lunch we took what was supposed to be a brief walk around the museum, to get our bearings, which ended up be more or less a full tour. There are many boats of all descriptions, in various states of disrepair, being restored and completely restored.

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This is the wide beam trip boat, which we had to wait to be moved so we could get into the top lock.

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We found ourselves alongside the Manchester Ship Canal.

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This ship was unloading, it looked like coal from this distance, but could have been anything really.

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The Lighthouse.

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Back to the locks within the museum, and the Holiday Inn.

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Hadar moored on the island opposite the Holiday Inn.

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SAM_1623A concrete barge, like the Purton Hulks we saw on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal last year.SAM_1624

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Inside the Island Warehouse we came across Friendship, the mule drawn narrow boat which belonged to Joe & Rose Skinner. We both wondered what they would think of their boat being inside the museum?

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There are some cottages you can visit called Potters Row.

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And finally I came across both a  National 2DM, and a Russell Newbery DM2 and from the two photos the differences between the two engines can be seen.

National 2DM

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Russell Newbery DM2

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No doubt whilst we are here for Easter we will get to see lots more, as this was only supposed to be a brief tour!

Keith.

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