Refined 11.

I've not been down here very often recently as the water level has been a good 1.5m lower than normal revealing Ellesmere Port's very own 'beach,' which has been the source of much amusement on the local social media groups with people taking deckchairs down for picnics. 'El Porto has never looked finer,' and 'Who needs Benidorm?' type posts.

 

I asked on the ship canal FB group why it was so low and the replies were another source of much amusement. A full on argument ensued where the majority insisted it was lack of rain and the streams and brooks that feed the canal were low too. The sensible amongst us pointed out we have had much longer periods without rain, such as the hot spell during lockdown but nope....it was definitely due to lack of rain. One person even extended an offer of fisticuffs, 'I'll fight anyone that tries to say it's for any other reason than lack of rain. The level of stupidity being shown in this group staggers me!'

 

It descended further until Godwin's Law happened and one person accused another of being a Nazi and a vicious Brexiteer.

 

I'd bowed out but remained firmly in the camp of there must be another reason other than lack of rain.

 

This is an older shot but I went down yesterday and the water level was back to normal....overnight! And we hadn't suddenly had a biblical downpour to make 20 odd miles of canal rise 1.5m.

 

After a little more research I discovered there had been embankment repair works upstream at Warrington. Go figure.....

 

Social media was alive with many 'RIP El Porto beach, you will be sorely missed,' type posts:)

 

 

Done