Finding the old line Runcorn locks

Sunday 15th

The noise from those overhead planes started around 6ish this morning but thankfully Liverpool Airport isn't as busy as Heathrow, I mean one a minute for hours on end must drive those living around Heathrow insane! No, we had one an hour, a much more acceptable situation so in my opinion this is still a recommend this mooring. Plenty of joggers going past even at that time but none to cause us any bother.

Some planes were lower than this one

Getting up early our aim today was to go walkabout and find the Runcorn staircase locks.
We had seen a notice board when we winded yesterday showing the route so our first port of call, walk back and study the map.

We did find the old line of the locks, the new line no longer visible having been obliterated by new builds. Restoration of the old line is on the cards and to read about the proposal click here

Looking down the old line staircase locks towards the Manchester Ship canal

Gate recess

Bottom lock onto the ship canal

Before the development.

On the walk back to the town centre and in what looked like a car park, a highly decorated alter with a Buddhist. Now, this intrigued us so, being invited in, we went and asked one of the ladies behind the stall what was going on. She mentioned something about birth and enlightenment and I just had to find out more. This festival is called Visakha Puja.and looking online found this exert from  Graduate School Chiang Mai University.   Have included the exert after the photos.

Strange place to hold it right by a road bridge.

Food available as part of the celebration

 This is the holiest day of all Buddhist days marking the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of the Lord Buddha. Buddhists will make merits and attend sermons at the temples (Wat).

Visakha Puja, the year's greatest religious holiday, which commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, comes during seeding and plowing. Village elders attend temple celebrations and sermons during the day. Those who have been working all day in the fields return at dusk to join the lovely candle or torchlit procession that circumambulates the temple chapel three times. Enacted in every village, town and city wat, each person carries flowers, three glowing incense sticks and a lighted candle in silent homage to the Buddha, his teaching and his disciples 

Onwards toward the town centre making use of the new high rise walkways along the ship canal where we got some decent views of Runcorn Bridge, Ship canal and River Weaver. A lock from the canal to the river looks as if it's disused now but not found anything online to tell me different.

Runcorn Bridge and the lock in the foreground. Not sure if this lock is still in working order.

Returning to FS after a lunchtime meal in Wetherspoons, we set off back along the Runcorn Branch to rejoin the Bridgewater canal. I was puzzled by several pillar type structures as we cruised back and have no idea what they are or what use they may have had. Maybe one of my readers will know?

Not all by bridge 'oles. Some along the opposite bank and much bigger.

Before we reached the junction, and at what looked like a small hut by Preston Brook Marina, was a facility block. Not one mentioned in Nicholsons but water is available as well as an elsan point. Worth putting in your books for future reference. Here we made use of emptying the loo as the next one is beyond Lymm and this is where we hope to stay for a day or two (depending if a mooring is available).

Runcorn and Bridgewater junction. Here we turned left.

And the wildlife,

Ducklings suddenly appeared an attacked my float. I was that worried that they may get hooked.

Wise mum led them away