5th canal in 5 days!

A grey start after a wet and noisy night! We decided to have a morning off, so had a brief walk around Castlefield - no shops to speak of, but an interesting area. The Science and Industry museum was well worth a visit - particularly as it was free,

We eventually left the Staffordshire Arm at Castlefield basin around 11.30.

A quiet cruise up the Bridgewater canal which is very wide and deep so we made brisk progress - We passed Old Trafford, then turned North up the Leigh branch. It was sunshine interspersed with grey skies today - but we kept dry all day!!

We cruised over the Manchester Ship Canal on the Barton swing aqueduct - fortunately no swinging whilst we were on it!

We passed the very grand house, at Worsley, which belonged to Duke of Bridgewater - who built the original canal to get the coal out of his mines and down to Manchester to the Ship Canal . We passed the RHS gardens Bridgewater which looked busy but we might try and visit on our return trip.

We've hardly seen any boats cruising - but loads of runners, cyclists and families out walking in the sunshine.

Moored up for night at Leigh Bridge 11, had a walk down to a huge Tesco to top up on supplies. Pub opposite was/is closed so we enjoyed a stir fry on board.