An "Interesting" Day.

 Wednesday 11th May 2022 in Wigan.

What a lovely surprise to see our friend Jon, who was the cabinet maker when MM was built, at Reading station on Tuesday! Quite by chance, he was on the same train as us. We arrived back at MM in Bridgewater late that evening after being somewhat delayed by a late running train and waiting in Manchester for more than an hour for a bus that is supposed to run twice an hour! It was fascinating "people watching" while waiting for the bus; Manchester is far more of a multi-cultural city than we had realised.  Back at Bridgewater, it was lovely to look down and see MM waiting for us in the marina.

 MM had been moved by the staff while we had been away but her new mooring was very nicely appointed with plants and "grass". Quite posh, in fact!

When we woke up on Wednesday morning, the rain had set in and was falling hard. We pulled over to the service bay and filled up with (expensive) diesel and (free) water before setting off. The rain was not forecast to last beyond the morning, but it showed little sign of easing off: We carried on nonetheless, although M grizzled that her bottom was wet from sitting on the stern!

In Leigh, we moored up and went to get a "few bits" in the local Tesco. The rain had stopped but the sky still looked very threatening and the wind was still chilling us to the bone despite wearing several layers.

We decided that we definitely do not like cruising in the rain and are resolved never to do it in the future unless we absolutely have to! On the way to Tesco, we passed a well known coffee emporium (not entirely by chance!) and treated ourselves to a warming drink, M had hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows! Leigh is not the most inspiring of towns, we decided!

The bridge, where we moored, is the junction between the Bridgewater Canal (owned by the Bridgewater Canal Company) and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal (controlled by the Canal & River Trust). The two notices welcoming you to the appropriate canal were a hundred yards apart on either side of our mooring. We speculated that if we stayed where we were, we might get away with never having to pay a licence fee to either. Don't think it would work though!

Just after Leigh is a large lift bridge. Having hardly seen another boat moving all day, we saw that there was a boat waiting to come through the other way and a lady trying to work out the control box.. Perfect timing!, They opened the bridge, came through and then waited for us to pass through. M was delighted that she didn't have to operate the bridge.

We carried on towards Wigan, but our progress was rudely interrupted by a very loud banging noise from the stern. We had picked up something substantial on the propeller. R stopped the engine and waited until MM drifted into the side with the wind. Having moored up, it was down the weed hatch for R.

The culprit turned out to be large knotted rope attached to a grappling hook and a railway rail clamp. It took a while to work out how it was wound round the propeller and then how to unwind it bit by bit. Always awkward as you have to work in a narrow space in cold water at full arm stretch without being able to see anything, as the water is so murky. Everything has to be done by feel.

There are two locks just before Wigan and we remembered, from our previous trip along here in 2015, that they are difficult. They did not disappoint! Every bit as hard as we remembered.

 The first lock was in our favour but was very slow to fill and the bottom gates were so heavy that there were winches to help you to close them.

Between the two of us, we managed it, but it took a lot longer than normal.

Unfortunately, there was no winch to help you close the top gates but M received very welcome help from a passing walker.

M took this lovely photograph of MM cruising between the two locks. You would never think this is Wigan, would you?

What you cannot see is that the "pound" between the two locks was a good two feet lower than it should be. M walked up to the second lock, which was also set for us, and opened the gates. Unfortunately, MM ran firmly aground about a boat's length before the lock. M had to open the top paddles to flush enough water down to refloat the boat so that she (MM not M!) could get into the lock. Even then, she (MM!) was sitting on the bottom of the lock.

Getting through those two locks took us well over an hour. No photographs as we were both rather concentrating on keeping MM safe and afloat.

Only a few hundred yards further on is the T-junction at the bottom of the Wigan 21 flight of locks and we moored up just below the bottom lock of the flight for the night. Tomorrow we tackle the flight.

Today: 11 miles, 2 locks and 4.8 hours.

Trip: 91 miles, 57 locks and 45.7 hours.

Boothstown Marina and the New RHS Garden

 Tuesday 3rd May 2022 in Boothstown Marina.

Opposite our mooring there is tree with a nesting box and we watched a pair of Great Tits flying in and out. As both parents were off hunting, we presume that their brood has hatched but we couldn't hear them.

As sad sight on the way into Sale, the handsome but derelict 1897 Linotype building. A whole thriving industry overtaken by technology.

Considerable redevelopment has taken place along the canal as typified by these two huge and very striking apartment blocks.

The canal through Sale runs in a dead straight line for over two miles and the Tramway from Altrincham to Piccadilly runs alongside it.

The straight canal was ideal for rowers and we met several as we passed through. The canal is only just wide enough for the rowers to pass us.

This is "Waters Meeting" where we joined the original "Duke of Bridgewater" canal, opened in 1765. Our route this time will take us straight ahead towards Worsley and the Duke's coal mines.

To the left, the original canal goes into Manchester to join the Rochdale and Ashton canals. Less than one mile along there is Trafford Park stadium, home to Manchester United FC.

This is the Barton Swing Aqueduct which replaced Brindley's original aqueduct over, what is now, the Manchester Ship Canal. However, it doesn't look as if it has been opened since we were here seven years ago!

The view to the south along the Manchester Ship Canal.

You don't expect to see a lighthouse on a canal! It was built by "Barnacle" Phil Austin and took him five years to complete. It is 14ft wide, 40ft high and does have a light on top, which is illuminated on special occasions. Not sure if it will save many narrowboats from running on to the imaginary rocks!

Worsley, the site of the Duke of Bridgewater's mines (to the right) and the beginning of the original canal which resulted in "canal mania" as everyone tried to cash in on his hugely successful idea.

We arrived at Boothstown Marina to a warm welcome. We moored up briefly at the entrance as they made room for us, then R had to spin MM round almost in her own length in order to back into our allotted space. In order to start MM turning, R pushed the bow right out. Speculation (hope) was that he might fall in, but he managed to cling on! He was laughing as he did it, so clearly had no intention of falling in!

Luckily there was no wind, so MM went into her berth without touching the sides, while Dave and Les from the marina grabbed her ropes and helped her in.

We had passed a large new development just before the marina and assumed it was just a garden centre but it turned out to be the new northern RHS garden. M knew all about it, but hadn't realised it was right here. And it was just a 10 minute walk away, so we walked there along the towpath.

Work on the garden and centre only started seven years ago but it has been a roaring success. Visitor numbers have been eight times higher than predicted, as evidenced by a packed car park.

As ever, we started with coffee, "ginger" tea and cupcakes in the excellent cafe. We will certainly spend a full day here on our way back in the summer and, looking at the fare on offer, M has decided that we will definitely have lunch here!

The RHS Garden is built on the grounds of Worsley New Hall, built by the descendants of the Duke of Bridgewater. Sadly, the magnificent house was demolished in 1949 but the walled garden and cottages remained, although in very poor condition.

This is "Garden Cottage", which was originally the home of the Head Gardener. Quite something!

There is a lovely towpath on both sides of the canal with access to the RHS Garden from the north side.

On our way to the garden, we met a gentleman exercising his dog, or should we say, watching his dog exercise! As we arrived at the garden some ten minutes later, we could still hear the dog trying to pull down the tree!

And so back to MM in her berth. Tomorrow, we will go home for a few days so watch this space - "Back Soon"!

Today: 14 miles, 0 locks and 4.5 hours.

Trip: 80 miles, 55 locks and 40.9 hours.

On to the Bridgewater Canal.

 Monday 2nd May 2022 in Little Bollington.

It was overcast this morning and rather misty but thankfully the rain held off all day.

Eighteen miles to go today, so we set off early. Our first tunnel, Barnton Tunnel, loomed almost immediately.

 It was relatively short and easy to see through it in order to make sure it was clear.

A second short tunnel, Saltersford, follows very quickly but it is crooked, so you cannot see through to the other end. Loud blasts on the horn warned others of our coming (luckily, there was no reply!).

This heron took off indignantly when we disturbed him fishing for his breakfast.

For some reason, this family of ducklings decided to give chase to us, paddling as fast as their little webbed feet could go. Their panic stricken mother was forced into the air to catch them up and stop them. In the distance, a sad sight, a sunken boat.

The Peloton! A happy group doing a "Town Run" on the towpath. They all waved cheerily.

Dutton Tunnel is 1,239 yards long, narrow and one-way only. Northbound passage is restricted to the first ten minutes of each hour, so we had to wait for about 40 minutes to go through but the time passed very quickly and happily.

Finally, after four boats had come south through the tunnel, it was our turn to leave.

Looking up one of the few air shafts in the tunnel. They were used during construction but still provide ventilation.

As we left the tunnel, we also left Canal & River Trust waters and entered the Bridgewater Canal. A separate licence is required if we stay more than 7 days on the Bridgewater. Hopefully that will not apply to us as we are mooring up in a private marina over next weekend.

This is a very handsome bridge. All the bridges on the Bridgewater Canal are wide and there are no locks.

A lovely sight, proud parents with their very young cygnets.

At this point we needed to find a mooring for the night. We had originally planned to stop in the lovely little town of Lymm where we moored in 2015, but there was no space available. 

The Bridgewater Canal has been delightful but one downside is the almost total lack of good moorings. Even popular moorings, marked at being "48 hours and no return within seven days" are still on pins. There are virtually no rings and no "armco" siding, where you can use hooks or chains.

Eventually we found a single space near Little Bollington. We moored between two other boats and found a single rondom ring for the bow rope, but the middle and stern ropes were on pins.

Just round the corner was "Ye Olde No. 3" pub, so named because it apparently had three ghosts!

Despite being close to a road, it ended up being a lovely quiet mooring.

After a very grey day, the sun finally broke through the cloud and gave us a pretty sunset.

Today: 18 miles, 1 lock and 6.5 hours.

Trip: 66 miles, 55 locks and 36.4 hours.

More Fun with our Friends and a Rare Picnic Spot.

Sunday 1st May 2022 at the Anderton Lift.

Our friends returned early on Sunday morning. M had been concerned about the weather forecast, which had earlier predicted some rain but, thankfully, it stayed dry all day and brighter than expected.

We set off through Wardle lock and turned north on the Trent & Mersey Canal. M had walked ahead to check that no boats were coming as the junction beyond the bridge is completely blind and has apparently led to some "interesting" encounters in the past!

R is used to M chatting up people on the towpath. As we went through the four Middlewich locks, we met dozens of people all "magnet" fishing from the towpath. This smiling chap was called Tim and he told M some fascinating tales of things that they had dragged up from the canal bottom, some of which would make one blush!!

Some of his "booty" from today. Now we know where all the lost windlasses go!

The last of the four locks is called "Big Lock" as it is a wide lock, unlike all the other locks on the Trent & Mersey, which are narrow. It was part of a scheme to make all the T&M locks wide, but the scheme never got further than this. Alex and young Boris helped to do the lock.

This sign was covered with lovely depictions of local industries to welcome you to Middlewich. In our case, we were going the other way and so it was "Goodbye" to Middlewich.

Alex was shown the way that a paddle works by his Dad.

Then Boris Senior took the tiller, and very competently too.

This was a real find, a proper dedicated picnic site with moorings, tables and benches on the off-side. We had seen it before in 2015 but had not been able to stop as all the moorings were occupied. This time, there was nobody else moored up, so we stopped and moored up for lunch.

It is called Bramble Cutting and used to be a clay pit, from which came the clay to line the bottom of the canal. It proved to be the perfect place for another very large and relaxed lunch.

In the afternoon, Ivona took the tiller and appeared to enjoy it immensly! Unfortunately, there wasn't really time to visit the Lion Salt Works as we had hoped.  On the other hand, however, we (especially M) were relieved to find that the unattractive chemical works sites north of Middlewich were soon past us and gave way to lovely countryside.

We moored up directly outside the entrance to the Anderton Lift and went into the Visitors' Centre. Unfortunately, as it was late in the afternoon, operation of the lift had stopped, but our friends were able to see the Centre and we all walked down to the viewing area where there was this large picture frame. A perfect opportunity for a photograph of our motley crew!

A final group photograph with the Lift in the background.

 By now it was 5:30 and our friends were keen to get back to their hotel. We called a taxi for them, which picked them up at the nearby Stanley Arms pub to take them back to their car in Middlewich.

It was a brilliant couple of days, which hopefully will leave them with many happy memories. We think that a narrowboat holiday is probably a "must" in their future plans. Their parting words were "Thank you so much and can we come again please?" Of course!!!

Today: 11 miles, 5 locks and 4.4 hours.

Trip: 48 miles, 54 locks and 29.9 hours.