alafloat : Into Manchester THE HARD WAY??

After such a wonderful start, yesterday and today has been horrendous. We spent two very pleasant days in Leigh (yes that is not a contradiction in terms) we managed to catch up will old friends and do a little entertaining plus being entertained, We also did a bit of Boat sitting as Kath and John nipped home John was finishing off a bedroom for his daughter ( just as we dads do)

We left Leigh yesterday morning in a force ten gale both John and I looked at each other with trepidation hoping one or the other would crack and decide it would be best leaving it until tomorrow but in true macho style neither would admit to being a whimp so off we set we travelled a good two hrs almost sideways crab style until we reached the sanctity of Bridgewater Marina at Boothstown were we both willingly admitted defeat and called it a day, by the time we had moored up, got dried off and read the sign on the pub saying 2 for £10 that was us for the night I decided to go against the laws of nature and take Noreen out for a slap up Meal (2 for £10) Anyway the night was very good, When the Pub Quiz started we decided that Boothstown was not ready for the boating Egg Heads and John was already known to this group as a ringer so we all decided that we had had enough excitement for one day.

We awoke this morning to find that the gales had past we were left with a stiff breeze and light rain. As we were at Bridgewater Marina it was decided that I would take on and a pump-out pump out and John took on water and Diesel. Now here again you must know that I very rarely give compliments for service you are paying for (that’s in the cost) However Dave at the Marina is one of the nicest guys on the canal Helpful, Funny, Knowledgeable, “A REET GOOD BLOKE” Call in keep the independent traders going they need our support.

Having done all our purchases and readied the boats for the next haul we said our goodbyes and set off for Castlefields Manchester. It only took two hrs I never thought my hands could get so cold and my body so wet in such a short time, Barton bridge had just opened so that was good timing, the cruise through Worsley , Patricroft, and Monton though not the prettiest places on the system were by any standards neat and tidy and even in such awful weather looked quite very nice, soon we were turning up at waters meet and were soon in Castlefields, once in the basin we politely asked everyone to close up and made enough room for our boats (I read the book on how to make friends and influence people) but when moorings are in such short supply it is ridicules to leave 30 ft between boats.

We are now here until at least Monday morning or until the sun comes out. Here we are within walking distance of church, Our Keith is coming tomorrow Mat on Sunday and everyone else who know we are here

Did everyone enjoy the summer we experience over the weekend I think that may have been it??????????

Keep smiling

Buggerlugs

PS the spots on the pics are rain drops there was plenty of them