Monday morning an early start and I walked the dogs to Preston Brook tunnel.  We arrived just too late to enter so had to wait for 45 minutes before we could go through.  Had a chat with the people on the hire boat behind, who made a big fuss of Truly.  She jumped onto their boat and was reluctant to leave when it was time to go.  She is such a floozy!!

Preston Brook Tunnel marks the end of the Trent and Mersey Canal and the beginning of the Bridgewater Canal.  This is not run by CRT but by the Bridgewater Canal Co. Which is part of the company which Manages the Manchester Ship Canal.

Waiting to enter Preston Brook Tunnel

Almost time to go!

Boat entering the tunnel behind us

Inside Preston Brook Tunnel

A quiet, lazy day with some beautiful countryside.  Stopped for water at the facilities marked on the map.  No water though!  Found some about a mile further on and stopped and filled up the tank.  Chatted with some boaters who are based locally and they recommended good moorings places and places to visit.

Cranes to lift stop planks are a feature of the Bridgewater Canal

Two of the many picturesque bridges on this stretch

Rhododendrons in flower

We moored for the evening at Dunham with a whole fleet of other boats.  This is unusual for us as we generally try to moor away from other people because of the dogs.

Another early start this morning and we stopped at Sale to do some shopping.  Sale is a busy town with a good town centre.  The canal today goes through countryside and more industrial areas, with modern and old buildings in close proximity with each other.

Old and modern architecture all within around 300 meters of each other

Today we crossed the Barton Lane Swing Aqueduct, which takes the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal.  An impressive structure and apparently it is still in working order.

Crossing the aqueduct and views over the Manchester Ship Canal

At Parrin Lane Bridge the canal takes a sharp turn, as we rounded the turn we were confronted by two huge barges coming through the bridge.  A sharp reversing maneuver was called for!

Its a rule of boating that you only meet other boats in bridge 'oles

Massive work boats on this canal

The canal is very picturesque around Worsley

Moored up overnight near Astley and walked to the pub.  Sat outside and had a beer as we had the dogs with us.  Tomorrow we will be finishing the Bridgewater Canal and going onto the Leeds and Liverpool.