Day 16: back onto the Bridgewater.

1st September. I could not believe that it was now September. We had been out on this trip since mid-August. It was now becoming a way of life! That was one of my plans. To see how we live on a boat for a prolonged period. Yes, only 3 weeks but longer than ever before. Questions like: could we do it? How would we live together in a confined space? Provisions? Breakdowns? Family? Plus lots of other questions.

Well back onto the trip. Today we would pass through Dutton stop lock with a rise of 6 inches! Wow! Soon after the 1200+yd Preston Brook Tunnel. Our last big tunnel. We had the scars of 'tunnel battle' to carry home. A knackered tv aerial ( but it still worked!). A bent and twister stove chimney! A loose boiler chimney. Lost glasses and a lot of scrapes to the cabin sides. Especially the grab rails. All would need attention when we finally get home.

We were back on the wide lock free Bridgewater canal. Yet again we made good progress in sunny conditions but it was turning a little cooler. We were going to moor just before the long boring stretch through Sale and in open countryside. Almost there we past a pub with a very inviting mooring right outside. We did a 180 and moored outside. We had a nice carvery with beef, pork and all the trimmings. A nice change from baked beans!

Next day we would be back in Manchester but we did not know of the problems that lay ahead of us!