Tuesday 18th February 2014
OK, so to adopt Chester as part of the Peak District might be a little presumptuous but it was only a half-term holiday day-trip & I did give it all back at the end of the day!
Les, Jamie, Kirstie, Lee, Andy & Abner all spent the day taking in the city sights but I set out from Cheshire Oaks Shopping Outlet & geocached my way down the Shropshire Union canal as far as Chester Canal Basin!
Probably the only visitor to Cheshire Oaks never to even venture into a shop!
The M53, the M56 & the North Cheshire way all meet up above the Shropshire Union at a tiny village called Stoak.... wasn't very busy at all!
The footpath runs for 70 miles & links The Wirral Way with The Gritstone Trail at Disley
Opened in September 2006, its creator did not live to see its completion - this memorial is beside Cloughton Bridge
The motorways are really just part of a giant outer ring-road for Chester!
Very colourful stretch through the moorings between Cloughton & Caughall Bridges
Some of these are obviously lived-in - others looked as if they were enjoying their first visit in a few weeks after the prolonged wet weather
This apparently quiet section is only a few hundred yards away from the busy A41
Never really escaped from the sound of cars, trains or aeroplanes today... but the walking was quite tranquil!
Could write loads about the link with , Chirk & Llanymynech from LeJog, the Ellesmere, the Trent & Mersey.... but I'll save it for a more political rather than pleasurable visit!
Modern bridges & new flats beside the old entrance to Chester Canal Basin
I'd not heard of Rolt before finding this plaque - I've ordered his 'Narrow Boat' book about his travels aboard 'Cressy' immediately pre-World War II. From what I've read I think I'll find it interesting but don't expect to like him too much - I'll keep you posted!
... and these are just a few of the beautiful old working buildings around the Basin!
I'd done the walls, the castle & the Roodee before - this was a first!
Oh Dear, industrial archaeology again!
