Chester 3.....

Strong winds and a  biting wind early  meant the  day did'nt officially start until about 2pm, the need for a water fill was the reason to move about half a mile which meant going down the Northgate staircase Locks. Halfway there and it rained on us then stopped as we moored. Brian from Renaissance, NB Alton, gave us a call of our where abouts as he was on his way by van to drop off our new FR and rear crash bars,  rope fenders. I'll fit them tomorrow.

Seen in Chester, the very Original T120 Triumph Bonneville, ( Heaven on Wheels). Had 21,000 miles on clock, could be original mileage...

So much Power, 649cc, (650), 46 BHP, look at those Twin, Inch & Three Sixteenth AMAL carburettors,
No "Rice Burners" had the SOUNDS or CLASS to compete...

Some  sights as we headed for water, looking up at the Roman Wall section with a Tower incorporated...

The wall formed a formidable fortress...

 This part of the canal has been "Carved" out of solid rock.....

 No heavy machinery to help in those days.. Imagine how many Wheel Barrows of rubble to remove...

Looking down from 1st lock of 3 Northgate Staircase with railway bridge going over top of third..

I look back and often wonder," that lock behind is 70 foot long, water filled to the top of that Lock Gate, what would happen if the gates burst open"?, END OF ADVENTURE......

Everything in Chester is OLD, if your house is going to Burn Down on Thursday it pays to ring the Fire Brigade on the Tuesday before.........

 Nice extension ladder.....

Looks like it Drove Into the Roman Wall at speed....

Nice forecast for tomorrow,might catch a couple of Races from the Wall.....

Chester 2......

Back on the streets and wall of Chester, the canal passes through one side of town and the River Dee the other.

 Leonie on the suspension bridge over the River Dee, didn't like it in the middle,moves around a bit...

 In Grosvenor Park the squirrels are cheeky and come down on the ground to scrounge food from visitors....

A local called them "Tree Rats"......

The Eastgate Clock, built to celebrate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, 1897.....

 

 

Street view showing the Eastgate  entrance to the city through the wall.....

Anglo Saxon ruins at the rear of St John's church, the church is 900 yrs old, these ruins were 3 story, can see hollowed out squares in walls where floor joist's were for each story..

Chester Racecourse, oldest in Britian, raced since 1539, this site was a huge harbor and  Roman port then it silted up.
This is  the view from the wall, '' The Scotsman,s Grandstand". A lot of vechicles on course getting ready for big meeting this Saturday...

Looking up the straight, about MY viewing position....

Couple of interesting sculptures on entering racecourse....

Old bridge over River Dee...

Outside a Flame Grille  restaurant, Jay  the " Hurricane" must be close......

A bit "quirky" with their placement of stone them Romans...

A Good Reason not to take a NB on the DEE.......

Bank Holiday on Monday so will stay around town abit longer for the action...

SEE New Blog Below...

 

 
 

 

SOLLY..............

Had no internet for 3 days so been out of touch with the "modern world" but being in Chester that's appropriate as a lot of this place is very old. Today dawned wet with strong winds so spent most of the day confined to the NB.. although the sun made a brief show late in the day.. Chester was a Roman town and the original wall, 2,ooo yrs old, still surrounds the town on which you can walk and see so many  many interesting sights.

1494 for this bulding and no "Leaky Home " problem...

Town Hall and Vintage tourist sight seeing bus....

               Nice Window detail .....

 

Typical collection of buidings in town...

 

Entrance to Chester Cathederal court yard, 1,000 yrs old.... those blocks in the arches hold themselves "up" there.... Went to show Leonie a "Short Cut" through the yard, found ourselves in a small court yard, opened a door, UH OH into a someones office, luckily he had his back to me putting a folder up on a shelf, Retreat...

The "Rows" are 1st level covered shopping galleries unique to chester at the time, only 700 yrs old....

Looking down the Verandah of the "rows"...

Looking from the street the 1st level "Rows" run the length of two sides of the street...about 250 mtrs...

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Solid timber Old Door, make me feel Tall.....

The City within the walls is compact and would be no more than 1.5 km in either direction...
 

Chester...

Sunday morning and no sleep in, cruising on the cut by 9am toward Chester. The stretch by Golden Nook is tedious with over a mile and quarter of moored  permanents meaning a big Go Slow. the 5 locks were mostly set for us but had leaked a third out so had to top them all up before entering. Arrived in Chester bout 1pm, had a stroll round town centre but never took camera for blog photo's. It was 18 - 20 degress and down by and on  the River Dee was busy as with stroller's, sitter's, café go'ers, and pedal power boat hirers...

9.20am very mild, sunny and the Beeston Castle remains being left behind..

Chemistry Lock waiting for lock to empty so Leonie can move NB out,,,,

Approaching town centre and some nice brick buildings, least they would've been until the Add On's

Fire Escape or Laundry Shute....

Down by the River Dee amongst a few Harley's, old BSA, I call a Café Racer...  Class...

Tomorrow a good look around town and we'll take the camera...