UPDATE 10 May 2004 (Day 3):
We made an early start today and headed off from Hassell Green at about 8.30 am shrouded in mist. We almost immediately went under the M6 and with each bridge and lock the canal was transformed from the scenic route we had become used to into a bleak and industrial landscape. Even the water was a horrible dark grey colour, like it was full of coal dust, and we decided that the Trent and Mersey was our least favorite canal so far. 

Last scenic bridge

Bleak

At our first short break we tried to get the remote control on the camera working. However, the battery in the remote switch seemed to be low, so unfortunately we could only get it to work in close-up!

Tired feet already?

Too close!

The canal became increasingly dull as we passed railway yards, chemical plants and industrial complexes of all kinds and it became just a slog to get this section over and done with. It was amusing when we went past the salt works though, as we thought it was a big pile of salt in front of the factory until we went a little further and spotted their salt mountain at the back of the works! 

British Salt Ltd

Salt Mountain

We were very pleased when we came to the point we were due to leave the Trent and Mersey Canal and were delighted by the instant transformation of character as we turned under the bridge that marks the start of the Wardle Canal. This is the shortest canal in the country, it starts at the bridge and ends at the first lock, no more than 100 yards further on. After this it becomes the Middlewich Branch of the Shrophire Union and the contrast with the T&M is amazing. 

Start of the Wardle Canal

End of the Wardle Canal

We made good progress to our lunchtime meeting point with John in the motorhome but at bridge 26 we met with a barrier placed across the tow path. Very inconsiderately the Waterways were laying new paths and had just laid fresh concrete between bridge 26 and 27 and our route was completely blocked.

Middlewich Branch of the SUC

Tow Path closed

Fresh concrete

After lunch we overcame this problem by driving to bridge 27, where we were able to rejoin the tow path. This only cut out a couple of hundred yards, a distance more than made up by our detour on day one! 

The sun came out shortly after we restarted and the countryside became increasingly attractive, and the tow path more and more untouched. There was no beaten track anymore and we had to battle through ankle-length grass, which makes walking much harder. We were doing well though, until we spotted our next obstacle in the distance. A pair of swans had decided to build their nest right in the centre of the tow path. 

The views improve

Swan prepares for battle

We walked as close as we dared and the male swan began to display very aggressively. We realised that the only way we were going to get past them was likely to hurt us, the swans, their eggs, or possibly all of those. We decided to try and find a way onto the opposite bank and made our way back to the last bridge we had come under. At this point we got lucky and with immaculate timing a passing narrowboat reached the bridge. The couple on board were happy to carry us for 50 yards and get us  past the swans, who looked like they'd be happy to take the whole boat on!

It's our tow path

Our saviours!

Amazingly this wasn't our last encounter with wildlife as we soon met a Harris Hawk riding happily on a narrowboat as he basked in the sunshine. Then, to top it all, Peter stood on a snake! It was a least 3 feet long but thankfully was as startled as Peter and beat a hasty retreat to the opposite canal bank. We don't know if this was a Grass Snake or an Adder, but hope someone with more knowledge will be able to identify it from the picture below.

Harris Hawk

Snake

Venetian Marina

We were relieved when we finally reached today's stop-over point at Venetian Marina, although this wasn't the end of the day's walking. In order to get a few more miles under our belt we carried on to the end of the Middlewich Branch and joined the Shrophire Union main line.

Not much further is it?

End of the Middlewich Branch

As we reached Bridge 100, our final destination for day 3, we found one of the best views we'd seen so far - John with three excellent pints of Bombardier at the ready sitting outside the The Olde Barbridge Arms. At last we had fallen on our feet by finding a pub that served decent beer and good food. After eating, as it was a drive away from our overnight stop, we returned to Venetian Marina and did some damage to a bottle of Jack Daniels!  

Bridge 100 Shropshire Union

Best view of the day

Distance-wise we broke through several psychological barriers today, with 45 miles (halfway) passing earlier in the day and a final total of 52 miles on the pedometer, indicating only 38 miles to go, if estimates are correct.