Today we had ten participants, four more than usual.  This would normally mean that we were about to go on a very short flat walk, but not on this occasion, today we were going on a boat trip down the Bridgewater Canal.  Meeting at Claymoore Navigation (on the A56 road at Preston Brook) at  9.30am we spent the 15 minutes normally taken in booting up by having instruction in how to start, steer, and stop the narrowboat that we had rented for the day.  At 9.30am we were off.  We were lucky that the weather was good as rain would have meant a definite lack of volunteers to take the helm.  The boat had to be back at 5pm and since the maximum speed was only 4 mph we decided that our original objective of trying to reach Altrincham was a little excessive and even Lymm was probably too far.  After checking the available pubs on the map a decision was made that Grappenhall was our destination and this would give us extra time for our pub lunch. The stretch of the canal to Grappenhall covered some beautiful countryside and some interesting locations. We first passed by Daresbury (the birthplace of Lewis Carroll) and the site of the Darebury laboratories, and then to Moore.  Moored on the river here was a barge (like a narrowboat but much bigger) and we wondered how it passed through the locks, until we remembered that there are no locks on the Bridgewater and that was why we had picked it for our boat trip. A Heron watched us from the bank and in the reeds on the other side of the canal six baby coots stayed in their floating nest as we slowly passed.  After moving through the attractive cutting by Walton Hall we were now running through the long but interesting urban stretch of Stockton Heath.  Calculations were made and we confirmed that Lymm was too far and we would reach Grappenhall by about 12.15pm.   Different members of our party took turns in steering and all proved very capable helped by the fact that we only met one boat coming towards us.  In this situation the person currently steering promptly stopped our boat until the other had passed.  Not being certain exactly where we had to moor for the pub we then practiced emergency stops to ensure we did not pass it.  This proved unproductive for on reaching Grappenhall we could not see any of the two pubs on the canal and it was lucky that we met a chap on the bank who informed us that we had passed our mooring  place by 200 yards.  After stopping the boat we practiced our ten point turn and set off  back.  A professional glide into the bank, some quick work with mooring pins and lump hammer, and we were off to find the pub. One of our group volunteered to stay which meant that we felt safe in leaving all our gear on board.  This was great as it was now sunny and very warm and we did not have to carry our masses of clothes, camera equipment, and binoculars to the pub.  Leaving the canal we walked over the bridge and then along a pretty cobbled road which led us firstly past the church, then past the Parr Arms Pub (looked very crowded), and within a few more yards we came to the Rams Head.  A charming and cosy interior with two tables near the window, just perfect.  The next 1¼ hours were spent in eating, drinking, and recovering from our arduous trip down the canal. (I will not dwell on the food except to mention that the Steak and Ale pie was both massive and tasty and very good value at £6.25)  Finally it was back to our boat and off on the return journey.  The member of our group now steering the boat was doing a very smooth job, possibly now having had more practice but more likely the after effects of 1½ pints of ale. On the way back a stroke of inspiration.  On seeing a picnic table on the bank side we did our emergency stop and moored the boat.  The picture shows our benefactor pouring the wine.  We stayed for a very enjoyable 20 minutes, took a quick group photo, and then it was full steam back to Preston Brook.  On reaching claymore Navigation at 4.15pm it was into the cars and back home after a superb day with excellent weather.

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