Under Piccadilly, all the paining in the world cannot hide the smell
One of the very awkward locks at the end of Canal Street in Manchester. Note the lack of gate beam, because of the lack of space the lock has to be opened and closed useing a winder and chains. ( not the things to be involved with on Canal street)
Going towards Piccadilly
Going towards Piccadilly
Out in the open air Away from the city
Yellow Wagtail on the beam of lock 15 Marple (the lock goes under the main road)
Well we arrived in Manchester on Sunday evening after spending a very nice quiet weekend at Noreen’s dads, the whole weekend went very quietly except for me doing an engine service, this time I did manage to get the right filters and everything went according to plan.
Manchester or Castlefield basin is always a buzzing place to be, they had big scenes up for the world cup; Manchester having its fair share of Spanish and Dutch it was a fantastic atmosphere. In the afternoon, Thomas arrived and we all went to the MOSI (museum of science and industry) great time Thomas was awe struck with the planes and old cars but not too bothered about the Lego exhibition as he wasn't allowed to play with the displays. Sunday evening Danny arrived to help us through to Marple.
Monday morning arrived damp and drizzly, and a canal littered with dutch hats and rubber clogs from a very disgruntled Dutch supporters, so we set off to conquer the Manchester eight locks, as Normal they were a bitch I know I moan a lot but anyone who has attempted those locks knows what I am talking about, having conquered the eight it was time to face the Ashton canal under normal circumstances the canal is shallow but the locks are easy, so its not too difficult.
However yesterday everything was against us, the canal was very short of water and in places we actually had to tow the boat, in one lock there was not enough water to let me in the chamber so we had to tow it out and then get water down from the upper lock this process we had to repeat at every lock. We set off at 07.45 and moored up last night at 19.45 a very long day. Tuesday we tackled the Marple flight but we had extra crew as Rach joined us Monday night in Ashton we were going to moor in Ashton but there was a massive row going on between two boaters about mooring, something that is unusual; it was just that people had had a very bad day and tempers were getting frayed, we just moved on and found a quieter place to moor, after a hard day you can not cope with petty squabbles. The Marple flight was the same as the Ashton, the same happened here just not enough water to fill the locks. Because of the water shortage, traveling is becoming very slow and very hazardous job.
We arrived in Marple and wondered what to do next; we have just heard about the Leeds and Liverpool but cannot find out that 60 miles between Wigan and Gargrave are being closed. Not that it matters we cannot get there anyway if things get any worse we may have to find a mooring near by. We are meeting people all the time that are worse off than we are at least we are not tied to any time scale. Some people are trying to get back to get to work.
I am as normal very optimistic and hoping we get enough rain and water this weekend to get us moving again.
Its Thursday night and we are now in Buxsworth Basin we can hang around here for a few days and take stock of the situation do a few running repairs and enjoy my birthday.
All this sounds very daunting and dangerous but its not, it is all part of boating, we are still enjoying it and finding these little difficulties a new challenge. ???????
Manchester or Castlefield basin is always a buzzing place to be, they had big scenes up for the world cup; Manchester having its fair share of Spanish and Dutch it was a fantastic atmosphere. In the afternoon, Thomas arrived and we all went to the MOSI (museum of science and industry) great time Thomas was awe struck with the planes and old cars but not too bothered about the Lego exhibition as he wasn't allowed to play with the displays. Sunday evening Danny arrived to help us through to Marple.
Monday morning arrived damp and drizzly, and a canal littered with dutch hats and rubber clogs from a very disgruntled Dutch supporters, so we set off to conquer the Manchester eight locks, as Normal they were a bitch I know I moan a lot but anyone who has attempted those locks knows what I am talking about, having conquered the eight it was time to face the Ashton canal under normal circumstances the canal is shallow but the locks are easy, so its not too difficult.
However yesterday everything was against us, the canal was very short of water and in places we actually had to tow the boat, in one lock there was not enough water to let me in the chamber so we had to tow it out and then get water down from the upper lock this process we had to repeat at every lock. We set off at 07.45 and moored up last night at 19.45 a very long day. Tuesday we tackled the Marple flight but we had extra crew as Rach joined us Monday night in Ashton we were going to moor in Ashton but there was a massive row going on between two boaters about mooring, something that is unusual; it was just that people had had a very bad day and tempers were getting frayed, we just moved on and found a quieter place to moor, after a hard day you can not cope with petty squabbles. The Marple flight was the same as the Ashton, the same happened here just not enough water to fill the locks. Because of the water shortage, traveling is becoming very slow and very hazardous job.
We arrived in Marple and wondered what to do next; we have just heard about the Leeds and Liverpool but cannot find out that 60 miles between Wigan and Gargrave are being closed. Not that it matters we cannot get there anyway if things get any worse we may have to find a mooring near by. We are meeting people all the time that are worse off than we are at least we are not tied to any time scale. Some people are trying to get back to get to work.
I am as normal very optimistic and hoping we get enough rain and water this weekend to get us moving again.
Its Thursday night and we are now in Buxsworth Basin we can hang around here for a few days and take stock of the situation do a few running repairs and enjoy my birthday.
All this sounds very daunting and dangerous but its not, it is all part of boating, we are still enjoying it and finding these little difficulties a new challenge. ???????
Keep smiling and when it starts pouring down this weekend please don't moan We really need the wet stuff
God bless keep smiling
Buggerlugs
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