The towpath was on the L.H.S. of the canal and 10 minutes further along the canal embankment was built up and reinforced unlike anything we've seen before. Sadly we had no time to investigate.
For the first half hour the surroundings were urban but that was to change markedly. So much so that we found nowhere near the canal to go for refreshment until Congleton!
We learnt one new thing about the canal today. Basically we found out why some bridges were built the way they were. Like the one shown below. The side from which I am taking the photograph is curved similarly to Shiel's side. This cunning construction was so the horses pulling the barges could get from the towpath on one side to the towpath on the other side without the harness having to be removed, when the towpath changed sides.
About an hour further along we came across the first swing bridge on this year's walk. However as it was only a footpath bridge there were no barrier arms to block off traffic.
A little further on we came across a similar swing bridge across a road. You can see the barrier arms standing vertcally at either side of the canal. These have to be lowered to stop traffic before the swing bridge is opened! We were hoping to cross the bridge to go to a pub called 'Fools Nook' but it was closed. It has been for 3 years!
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