Social: walk and pub meal on 9th August 2018

This evening seven of us met at the Leigh Arms just off the A49 in Bartington to do a walk along the Trent & Mersey canal, to Dutton Locks and the River Weaver and then have dinner in the pub.  We all arrived by car except John who rode up on one of his nine (yes, you read that correctly!) motorbikes.

We started in the shadow of the white Bartington Bridge over the River Weaver and walked half a mile to reach the T&M canal.  John told us that a few years ago a stretch of canal bank near here collapsed, emptying the canal!  After taking a group selfie on a bridge above the canal we turned left through fields to the River Weaver.  On the path we saw a tiny frog, no more than thumbnail size.

The Magnificent Seven

Alongside Dutton Locks was a row of immaculate Lockkeepers' cottages.  One set of lock gates was very leaky...

Dutton Locks and leaky lock gates

The third mile back to the Leigh Arms was along the River Weaver - peaceful and slow moving in the bright evening sunshine.  The Daniel Adamson (an ex-River Mersey ferry) was berthed near Bartington Bridge and was all set up for this weekend's 'open house'.

Bartington Bridge & the Daniel Adamson ferry

Back at the pub we all had a good appetite and, having pre-ordered food before we began the walk, tucked into platefuls of food at 8:30, enjoying each others conversation until a very noisy band struck up at 9 and deafened us all (!).

Thanks to Denise and Paul for organising the walk/evening and to everyone for their company.

Daniel