Friday 11th September, 2015 in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Another bright morning; we like this weather!
We had a quiet morning, M did a wash and hung it out to dry. We were almost reluctant to leave Stalybridge and its friendly folk. After the 1944 abandonment of the canal, the line of the canal was compromised by car parks and buildings. Happily with local authority approval and involvement, these obstructions were removed, four locks rebuilt - in three cases resited - and five road bridges built. It transformed a seedy neighbourhood of wastegrounds and industrial premises into a showcase for urban renewal.
Furthermore, Stalybridge has taken to its "new" canal with enthusiasm. A perfect example of how a restored canal can revitalise a whole town.
We set off after lunch.
Sadly, this was the last we saw of the high, heather-clad moorland that you can see in the background.
At Lock 4W, the last one in Stalybridge, R sailed MM into the lock and closed the top gates while M walked back up to Lock 5W (which you can see MM leaving in the photo above) to close those gates. As R turned away from the gates, a mink jumped up from the towpath about ten feet away. Would you believe it? It stopped dead when it saw R and they then had a conversation for a couple of minutes, (eyeing each other up suspiciously!) while the mink decided what to do next. Eventually, it walked slowly past R, watching him carefully but not particularly worried, and jumped into the canal above the lock gate. Poor M missed all the excitement! R didn't have his camera on him, but looked up mink on the internet and found this picture of a mink taken at this same lock on this canal! So it was obviously the resident one!
Henceforth, the surroundings became more industrial, reflecting the proximity of "Greater" Manchester, as evidenced by the litter on the paths and the detritus in the canal. Also by the lack of maintenance on some of the paddle gear. Even R struggled with it in places and occasionally resorted to jumping on top of the windlass to turn it!
The Tame Aqueduct is very narrow; it is so called because it crosses the River Tame, not because it's cute and friendly!.
This former mill, now the headquarters of the Stamford Group that makes plastic mouldings, has been clad in red boarding to give it a more modern look at the front, although the sides were still the original brick.
The last three locks had recently been repainted and were much better maintained, although still very hard work.
Another surprise - a boat appeared going in the opposite direction. We have only seen three boats moving in over a week!
Finally, the last lock on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal after 20 miles and 74 locks. What a fabulous canal it has been, utterly marvellous.
We moored up by Portland Basin, where the Huddersfield Narrow meets the Ashton Canal and the Peak Forest Canal, which we will take tomorrow.
There is a brilliant museum next to the basin and M walked across to enquire what time their Café opens for breakfast tomorrow. M photographed the junction over one of the museum's historic wooden boat collection, nb "Lilith", in need of some TLC.
Meanwhile, R was down the weed hatch yet - again. The canal is so shallow that we keep picking up stuff on the propellor.
Tomorrow, after second breakfast at the Museum Café, we will turn left at the junction and under the bridge on to the Peak Forest Canal.
Today: 2 miles, 6 locks and 4.0 hours.
Trip: 296 miles, 247 locks and 221.3 hours.
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