Castlefield Basin

Monday 30 June 2014 – Manchester (Castlefield Basin), Bridgewater Canal

We started at 07:45 (are you noticing a pattern?) and headed towards Manchester, Graham needed to visit the facilities at Oughtrington and I headed on to fill with water (on this run don’t pass a water point without filling up) where they caught up with me as they would’ve had to wait until 09:00.  Boats line the first two miles out of Lymm so that was done at tick-over but once we got to ‘Ye Olde No 3’ we both filled up then headed off through lovely rural countryside on a very wide canal.  This gave way to urban and industrial areas then in Sale the canal runs straight for two miles, passes under the M60 then heads to ‘Waters Meeting’ where the Leigh Branch heads off to join the Leeds & Liverpool while we continue on to the Castlefield basin where we are moored.  We arrived at 13:00 to good news – G&B have managed to sell their house and have headed off to fill in paperwork, they will be back tomorrow.  I took the opportunity to head into the town to do some window shopping, and get my feet looked at as they are giving me gyp.  This has confirmed that I do not have loss of colour, pulse or sensitivity in either foot.

Today’s boats were a Fellowes, Morton and Clayton working boat which has had a modern cabin top fitted, others called ‘There and Back Again’, ‘Tuksumgetin’ and ‘Lerrit B’.

The weather has been sunny but there has been some cloudy patches – chatting with a local apparently there was heavy rain here yesterday.

We are not moving on until Wednesday when we tackle the Rochdale 9 (sounds like a gang!).

Lymm

Sunday 29 June 2014 – Lymm, Bridgewater Canal

Woke this morning with clear blue skies.  We started at 07:45 for the run to Lymm which is one lock, three tunnels and seventeen miles.  First part is through the winding hole for the Anderton Boat Lift, the Barnton Tunnel which is followed by the Saltersford Tunnel and its time control (if going North, as we were, you start on the hour) which meant that we had a wait.  Then a five mile run through wooded scenery until Dutton Stop Lock (the rise is almost non-existent as the canal level was over both top and bottom gates) and Preston Brook Tunnel where we had another wait until the hour.

After that the canal goes under the M56 and the Runcorn Arm heads off on the Port side.  The bridges have names instead of numbers and the scenery becomes urban or agricultural.

As we approached Lymm I started looking for moorings but there were none where we expected, just loads of working boats, so we went past the village centre and moored there with Graham hammering in the spikes.  It turned out that we had chosen Lymm’s historic Transport Day so the village was decked out with bunting, with steam engines, military vehicles, classic cars, motorbikes and buses all around.  People had also dressed in the styles of the 40s, 50s and 60s including GIs with girlfriends.  While we were exploring we met ‘Winston Churchill with Clementine’.  The finale was a fly-past by two bi-planes.

Today’s boats are ‘Jensabi’ of Poynton, ‘Augurs Well’ of Victoria Pit, ‘Home James’ and ‘Thingy’.  There was also a boat completely covered with military camouflage netting.  When we had moored we saw ‘Ventura’ which is a modern top on a 1905 Ice Breaker!

The weather was cloudy while we travelled but has warmed up since we stopped.

Anderton

Saturday 28 June 2014 – Anderton, Trent and Mersey Canal

Yesterday I missed reporting a couple of things: first I managed to pick up a builders glass fibre rubbish sack around the propeller which took a while to remove.  Then there were some interesting boat names – ‘Shackleton, Ice Breaker No 2’ and ‘Brandywine’ which is registered in ‘The Shire’.  Interesting boat names keep me amused even if not you lot out there. (I know I’m only writing this rubbish for myself).

Anyway on to today:

We started out at 08:45 as we had ten miles and five locks to cover.  The first four locks were singles but there were boats coming up which improved our running time.  The next lock was the Middlewich Big Lock where two boats can fit.  After that it was just distance.  At this point the canal follows the contour line so on one side the ground rises and is heavily wooded and the other falls away into the valley.  It also goes through a heavily industrialised part where salt used to be produced, then reverts to pleasant scenery.

At about 13:00 we moored near the Anderton Boat Lift and have had a quiet afternoon.  We were passed by Braidbar No 64 ‘Nuggler’ who I shared a lock with back in April.  Today’s fun boat name is ‘Chas Pooter - Brickfield Terrace, Holloway’.

The weather has been miserable and cold so this afternoon I have been using the fire to warm the boat.

Middlewich

Friday 27 June 2014 – Middlewich, Trent and Mersey Cana

A miserable day, we started off at 07:45 in low cloud which rapidly turned to persistent drizzle.  It was not enough to get soaked through but unpleasant all the same.  Patches of the sky were brighter than others so perhaps the sun was trying!

We continued with yesterday’s system as it seemed to work and today’s run from Rode Heath to Middlewich (17 locks and 9 miles) was completed by 13:55 when we moored up.  There were very few boats about although ‘Paws 4 Thought’ was just ahead of us for the last bit.  Graham and Beryl have gone into town while I’ve got on with tightening my stern gland (the one on the boat not what you are thinking) and this evening we’re off to the pub as Graham is hoping to do quality checks as we go along.

Rode Heath

Thursday 26 June 2014 – Rode Heath, Trent and Mersey Canal

A non-travelling day for me.  I walked back up to Kidsgrove (roughly three miles) and had a break reading whilst sitting outside a pub next to the Red Bull Top Lock while I waited for Graham and Beryl as they came off the Macclesfield Canal, helping them through the top lock.  We then had a trip to the local Tesco for last minute stores and back onto ‘Priscilla ii’ for lunch.  Then it was down heartbreak Hill starting at about 14:00 and we quickly got into a rhythm – I went ahead to set locks and open upper gates then Graham ran the boat in and shut the gate while Beryl emptied the lock, opening and closing the lower gates.  We were down through the 11 locks to Rode Heath by 15:30.  G&B have moored up and I have headed home for the night – we meet up at 08:00 to start in earnest our journey.

There have been sunny patches but mostly it has been cloudy but warm.