What a fantastic day we have had . The sail into Manchester was really good the sun was out the wind was calm and the canal quiet . As you navigate from Leigh through to Manchester is amazing you first traverse the open country now reclaimed from the once thriving mining industry which brought great prosperity to the canal owners, of course we all know that the Bridgewater was the first commercial canal in the country
Over 200 years ago. Having left Leigh and Astley you again pass some lovely open countryside through Worsley woods where I once did an awful lot of scouting at Middlewood camp site, under the M60 you then pass the famous Worlsey court house
Here the canal is a very strange ochre colour caused by the iron ore in the mines seeping into the canal, once through Worsley you soon pass though Apricot I am not sure if it is a suburb of Manchester or Salford though I think the later. After Patricroft you pass over the famous Barton Swinging Aqueduct this construction which at one time was one off the wonders of the industrial age swings the canal over the Manchester ship Canal so to allow ocean going ships to pass, even though now it rarely moves and would look better for a lick of paint it still remains for me one of the wonders of the water world.
Its then time to pass the Trafford centre on your right and the first industrial park in the world on your left that of Trafford park. Turn left at Waters meeting and pass the Old Trafford we passed at 2.30 and had some good crack with the 1000s of United fans they also run some quite large boat trips to the ground which today were full of screaming fans all having a great time As we pulled into Castle field basin we were greeted by the usual Saturday afternoon drinkers But as the sun was shining they were all out on the wharfs singing and merry making inst it strange how the sun effects the drinkers I think its great as I just watch the antics and wait for them to fall in and then watch the drunken mates attempt to get them out, I never interfere unless I see that the situations is getting out of control then I do my life saving routine (without getting wet)
We are here now and settled in, we have looked around for a place to park the car for the next 10 days or so but at £80 a week we have decided to leave it at Toms and when needed we will catch a tram to Stretford
Keep Smiling
Big Al
Over 200 years ago. Having left Leigh and Astley you again pass some lovely open countryside through Worsley woods where I once did an awful lot of scouting at Middlewood camp site, under the M60 you then pass the famous Worlsey court house
Here the canal is a very strange ochre colour caused by the iron ore in the mines seeping into the canal, once through Worsley you soon pass though Apricot I am not sure if it is a suburb of Manchester or Salford though I think the later. After Patricroft you pass over the famous Barton Swinging Aqueduct this construction which at one time was one off the wonders of the industrial age swings the canal over the Manchester ship Canal so to allow ocean going ships to pass, even though now it rarely moves and would look better for a lick of paint it still remains for me one of the wonders of the water world.
Its then time to pass the Trafford centre on your right and the first industrial park in the world on your left that of Trafford park. Turn left at Waters meeting and pass the Old Trafford we passed at 2.30 and had some good crack with the 1000s of United fans they also run some quite large boat trips to the ground which today were full of screaming fans all having a great time As we pulled into Castle field basin we were greeted by the usual Saturday afternoon drinkers But as the sun was shining they were all out on the wharfs singing and merry making inst it strange how the sun effects the drinkers I think its great as I just watch the antics and wait for them to fall in and then watch the drunken mates attempt to get them out, I never interfere unless I see that the situations is getting out of control then I do my life saving routine (without getting wet)
We are here now and settled in, we have looked around for a place to park the car for the next 10 days or so but at £80 a week we have decided to leave it at Toms and when needed we will catch a tram to Stretford
Keep Smiling
Big Al
1 comment:
or you could always get your son to pick you up and drop you off again
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