Preston Brook

Here I am Rune

Distance 11.9 miles

Total 1136 Locks 62 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1579.8 miles

We have kept to our plan from yesterday and gone from last night’s mooring to the Runcorn end of the Bridgewater Canal and have now returned to Preston Brook for the night. We took the 11.00am passage through Preston Brook Tunnel which went without any real incident. Interestingly you can actually see the opposite end of the tunnel when you enter so the timed entry system is clearly just for convenience so that you know no-one will try to come in from the opposite direction whilst you are in the tunnel since you would be unable to pass. 

Preston Brook Tunnel

The Bridgewater canal, known as the first ‘true’ canal opened in 1761(the Exeter Ship Canal although completed by 1567 is actually a ‘canalised’ river) and it has to be said that for the first effort it is pretty good. The width and depth are great and progress was at the full 3.5mph as we went to Runcorn. If it stays like this all the way to Manchester we’ll be there in double quick time. 

The Runcorn end of the Bridgewater Canal (there used to be a flight of locks to take you down onto the Manchester Ship Canal under that bridge)

Tomorrow we press on towards Lymm on the Bridgewater Canal.

The standard of 'graffiti' is........

.....so much better in Runcorn!