New territory!

We left Hurleston Junction at 8.00am and made our way onto new territory when we passed Barbridge Junction and the Middlewich Branch.

It started alongside the A51 for a couple of miles, but to be honest you didn't even know it was there.
We have got to say that the canal seems more interesting with more twist and turns then on some of the long stretches of lower sections on the Shroppie.

We got to Bunbury Staircase lock and met up with another boat, but when draining the first lock we tipped right over to one side and Al had to fill us with more water to right us.. More paintwork!

After that scare, we took it easy onto Tilstone lock which was easy with the two boats. On the next lock at Beeston we had to go single file as one of the locks had subsiding walls and when lowered it would have tipped us over.. Maybe this was the fault on the Staircase?

We had one more lock at Wharton's bridge and then we decided to moor up.

This was a cracking mooring with views of Beeston Castle on your left and the pub in the distance on your right..

We were at Bates Mill which is still a working mill and you can see the waterwheel still working under the workshop.
At this point it was so hot, we're not moaning but we couldn't cruise in the heat, we were burning up..
After a cold shower Del took a walk up to the castle, and for £7.00 went in..

It was a fair climb to the top after going through the castles outer walls, but when you get through the inner walls the view is stunning.

So stunning you can see Chester, Liverpool, the Pennines, Welsh Mountains, and Jodrell Bank, Oh! and of course Derwent6.
They also have caves running under the castle and you can see some of them.

After the walk back we set off to the Shady Oak pub for eats. It was a lovely summer evening and we could watch the sun setting over the fields.