Shropshire Union Canal:Tower Wharf

Only an hour and a quarter today and we were in Tower Wharf moored above the locks of the Dee Branch which goes down to the River Dee.  Unfortunately the bottom Lock has been neglected and is silted up, so access is no longer possible.   We were befriended by a local "resident", an ex soldier who sleeps rough on the canal side and makes a living from the tourists.  A nearby nesting swan was a worry because of Alfie, but he kept well away.  We wanted the opportunity of exploring Chester and went up into the walled part of the city and immediately found a cheese shop.   It is always our game to see if they have Garstang Blue on sale which they did.   That meant fresh bread - all we need for a great lunch.   The centre is pretty with original buildings, small fronted shops and lots to see.  The walls encircling the city are complete and can be walked all round giving views over the race course, the river and then through the town, past the cathedral and then overlooking the deep rock cutting of the canal.

The weir gate that effectively stops craft getting from the locks onto the tidal section up onto the non-tidal river.

Bridge on city wall