back button July 2010  
 
In July we have travelled up the Trent & Mersey to view Liverpool across the huge Manchester Ship Canal and started to travel south again down the Shropshire Union canal, known as the 'Shroppie'. We have had a great time and really like Cheshire with all its 'black and white' towns and quirky museums. The crew has also got one year older!


 
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  We moored up one night under some giant hogweed, it was the most spectacular stuff as you can see. Real Alice in Wonderland.   Coming into Chester by canal is quite impressive, through a wide stone chiselled cut. Gongoozlers are looking at my courgettes again.  
 
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  You can walk all around Chester town via the Medieval Walls that are still complete.   The shopping centre is the oldest in the country with the Rowes being over 700 years old. They are mainly this black and white traditional style.  
 
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  The Cathedral is fantastic with excellent Medieval carving. Also learnt that they are called cathedrals after the Bishop's seat called a Cathedra.   The Cathedral also had a very peaceful garden with lovely scented plants.  
 
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  The cloister garden also had a fountain with a statue calling to mind the circle of life.   The war memorial garden was laid out like a medal and medal ribbon which looked well from the walls.  
 
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  Inside the Cathedral was spectacular   There were also many fine windows.  
 
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  Chester was having a wierd art festival with these painted rhinos all over the place. This one was a Roman legionary positioned in the amphitheatre.   We also took in Chester Zoo with some real rhinos. This is their new baby black rhino who was really sweet.  
 
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  The giraffes were doing a good job at showing off their camouflage   At Nantwich we went to an excellent exhibition of rag rugs which were really superb. This was my favorite, over £1000!  
 
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  The weather has been mixed this month but we have still had some really excellent sunsets.   At Hack Green we went to an odd 'all weather' museum, the nuclear bunker.....  
 
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  This is the VLF communications equipment used to order the sinking of the Belgrano.   After leaving the XXXwiches finally we made our way up the 15 lock Adderley flight.