To Chester in the wind

Rather blowy out there today!  Dave lost his wig (old joke but still funny).  The lock gates on these double locks are really hard to shift, so Dave was elected to do the locks and I did the boat.  Not easy in the wind, but no disasters.  As we approached Christleton, we could see that Blue Boar were dredging, and sure enough, there was our next door neighbour from our moorings operating the dredger, so we stopped for a quick chat.

This will be the third of the three remaining lock keepers huts from the Chester Canal Co days, the first is at Tilstone Lock, second at Beeston stone lock and this one at Tarvin Road lock. Unfortunately this one has lost its roof.

Beautiful old water tower as you meander through Chester

This tower is now in the middle of a building site - hope it'll still be there next time we visit

On to Northgate staircase locks, with the views stretching out infront of you. 

Not for the feint hearted!

Beefur just visible at the top of the lock gates with the water cascading over.

The walls.

We took a walk back up the towpath to The Old Harkers Arms, canalside, as we passed it on our way to Chester Basin.  Again a great pub, and again a Brunning & Price pub co pub (Corn Mill, Dyserth Arms) we're not Brunning & Price groupies, but we keep stumbling upon them, and they certainly know how to run a great pub, and look after their beer, a great birthday treat for Dave.  We had planned to visit 3 or 4 pubs on the Chester CAMRA list, but we stayed in the Harkers Arms for a couple, before moving on to the Pied Bull for some food.  Not as pricey as some Chester pubs, cheap and cheerful you might say, I had a steak which was very good.  We waddled home just before their quiz night kicked off.  Fair play, they're doing their best to attract customers & the staff were very friendly.