Saturday 19th May 2012
The alarm went off at 7am!
We tidied and packed gave the boat a once over even though we were having a valet. Topped up the water tank as Alcedonia pulled up along side. We had the prime spot for pump outs and diesel so got seen to first. Time for chats with other boat owners, discussions of the virtues of having black gunwhales etc. Ken was doing the change overs elsewhere so wasn't on site this morning for us to explain that the bow thruster had mended itself, but been replaced by the heating being defunct! After we'd been filled with diesel the heating was tried again in case it fed from the tank higher than the engine. But still no joy. We really hope it's been fixed as the Tilburys are on this week and if they are anything like my Dad they'll want it cosy on board. Mick paid for diesel, valet and pump out, oh and the 50p handling charge . Handed in our form and we were off in the car for breakfast at Peppers in Sandbach, our little treat at the end of our holiday.
Smart gauge at start of day 72, 0 locks, 0 miles, 0 swing bridges, 132 litres diesel, 50p handling charge, 1 pump- out, 1 stove ready to light, 1 tea, 1 large coffee, 4 tomatoes, 4 rashers of bacon, 2 eggs, 2 sausages, 2 slices of black pudding, 4 slices of toast and 167 baked beans.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Friday 18th May 2012
Friday 18th May 2012
The day started with breakfast overlooking the flash. Our last day on WD usually involves trying to head to Elton Moss for part way through the afternoon to wash the boat and do the chores and start packing, go out for a meal to then be up early in the morning to pack the car and head for home. Today was going to be a little bit different!
The bow thruster had stopped working in one direction a couple of days ago, we'd reported it to Ken for him to have a look at on Saturday morning back at base. Mick was a bit concerned as he may need it going through the Middlewich locks later on today. He rang RCR (Canal version of the AA) to see if they covered bow thrusters, but they didn't, so he would just have to cope. We headed back towards Middlewich avoiding fallen trees in the cut and dropping most of our rubbish off at the recycling centre. At the water point just below The Big Lock we wanted to top up the water and wash one side of the boat, thus saving winding when we got to Elton Moss. The tow path here is really quite disgusting with dog pooh, so Mick cleared as much as possible and we washed the boat whilst waiting for an Anderson Hire Boat to fill up with water. It was quite pleasantly warm and the hard labour of washing the boat meant that excess layers were stripped. One side done, phew! water was topped up and then we were into the lock which had just been vacated by a hire boat.
Whilst filling Big Lock I had to keep an eye out more than normal for the bow of the boat, occasionally dropping the ground paddles as WD was heading for the top gates with force. After doing the Chester Locks last year, which can be quite forceful, I now raise paddles slower than I used to when filling a broad lock, but this wasn't helping. WD had lost most of her power both in reverse and forwards. So once raised we pulled in and moored up. Mick wondered if it was water in with the diesel so set about checking whilst I went off to Tescos to try and find some high ball glasses as one had broken in the dishwasher a few days earlier.
Middlewich seemed a bit more alive than normal, a nice patisserie and what looked like a refurbished pub that I'd not noticed before, but then we aren't normally in Middlewich mid afternoon, it's usually an evening when we go through. One choice of glasses at the big Tescos and I was back to the boat with Mick having rung RCR about the lack of power. They said they'd ring back. Lunchtime then.
We waited wondering if ringing Ken would have been better, but being RCR members we wouldn't get charged for the call out even if it was just Middlewich. After about an hour of waiting and starting to do chores we had a phone call from an engineer who said he'd be about 45 mins. So chores were started in earnest. I took all the windows out and gave them a good clean. I don't think this had been done for a while as some were almost stuck into the frames, cleaned the stove glass, whilst Mick started to give the oven and grill a good going over. When the chap turned up he checked that the diesel in the tank wasn't too low, phew that was okay! So he then set about changing the fuel filters, both of them. After a trip back to his van this was done and WD was back in working order, all for £8. As he walked away we wondered how much of a Marine Engineers life is spent walking along tow paths!
So we were off again at about 4.45pm, Hooray! Chores put on hold again, Hooray! Back to finishing our holiday. The bottom lock was just being vacated as we approached, so in we went. The second had slightly re-filled. There was a lady who'd only seen Narrowboats on Rosie and Jim so Mick had to explain about locks to her. I popped up to the top lock to open the gates but it was full, so emptied it before Mick was out of the middle lock hoping that that would help with the sharp turn and lack of bow thruster. A walk along to Kings Lock which was also full. The chandlers there actually had space to pull in! But for once we didn't want to stop as the day was getting on. As Micks head appeared above the sides of the lock he noticed the fish and chip shop was open. So we tied up at the lock moorings and he ran across the road. It was just starting to rain so we decided to eat them at the lock, keeping an eye out for boats of course. Not our normal last day evening meal somewhere in Sandbach but the day hadn't been normal.
Then off again, only 40 swans today. Every lock was set against us and one of the bottom paddles on lock 68 was very stiff and kept slipping. Back to Lock 67 (nasty lock!!!) this signals the last bit of holiday returning from the north. We came under bridge 160 to see quite a few boats moored up, but just the right space was left for us to wash the boat. It always seems weird washing a boat in the rain but it needed doing. It did mean that I wouldn't be able to touch up the gunwales on the port side which was a shame. Mick gave the bow thruster another go and it suddenly seemed to work. So what ever it was must have sorted itself. We tried the hookup cable but the power wasn't on so we'd have to save any hoovering for the engine being on in the morning .
Kallista, Festina Lente were there along with several Northwich Boats. Kallista was empty, but Festina Lente had people packing a car and sorting things. We were still going long after they stopped. We were very glad that we'd booked a valet for the morning so that we wouldn't be up til all hours. A glass of beer in our slightly soggy state and the heating put on. After a while there wasn't the familiar sound of knocking that the boiler makes. Mick tried again, and again, but no luck. No hook up, no heat and not wanting to light the clean stove we got the spare douvet from our car and went to bed before it got too chilly.
Smart Gauge at start of day 45! at end of day 96, 9 locks, 9 miles,1 breakdown, 2 fuel filters, 1way bow thruster, 2 way bow thruster, 56 piles of dog doo, 12 Herons, 40 Swans, 2 wet people, 2 fish and chips, 1 cold boat.
The day started with breakfast overlooking the flash. Our last day on WD usually involves trying to head to Elton Moss for part way through the afternoon to wash the boat and do the chores and start packing, go out for a meal to then be up early in the morning to pack the car and head for home. Today was going to be a little bit different!
The bow thruster had stopped working in one direction a couple of days ago, we'd reported it to Ken for him to have a look at on Saturday morning back at base. Mick was a bit concerned as he may need it going through the Middlewich locks later on today. He rang RCR (Canal version of the AA) to see if they covered bow thrusters, but they didn't, so he would just have to cope. We headed back towards Middlewich avoiding fallen trees in the cut and dropping most of our rubbish off at the recycling centre. At the water point just below The Big Lock we wanted to top up the water and wash one side of the boat, thus saving winding when we got to Elton Moss. The tow path here is really quite disgusting with dog pooh, so Mick cleared as much as possible and we washed the boat whilst waiting for an Anderson Hire Boat to fill up with water. It was quite pleasantly warm and the hard labour of washing the boat meant that excess layers were stripped. One side done, phew! water was topped up and then we were into the lock which had just been vacated by a hire boat.
Whilst filling Big Lock I had to keep an eye out more than normal for the bow of the boat, occasionally dropping the ground paddles as WD was heading for the top gates with force. After doing the Chester Locks last year, which can be quite forceful, I now raise paddles slower than I used to when filling a broad lock, but this wasn't helping. WD had lost most of her power both in reverse and forwards. So once raised we pulled in and moored up. Mick wondered if it was water in with the diesel so set about checking whilst I went off to Tescos to try and find some high ball glasses as one had broken in the dishwasher a few days earlier.
Middlewich seemed a bit more alive than normal, a nice patisserie and what looked like a refurbished pub that I'd not noticed before, but then we aren't normally in Middlewich mid afternoon, it's usually an evening when we go through. One choice of glasses at the big Tescos and I was back to the boat with Mick having rung RCR about the lack of power. They said they'd ring back. Lunchtime then.
We waited wondering if ringing Ken would have been better, but being RCR members we wouldn't get charged for the call out even if it was just Middlewich. After about an hour of waiting and starting to do chores we had a phone call from an engineer who said he'd be about 45 mins. So chores were started in earnest. I took all the windows out and gave them a good clean. I don't think this had been done for a while as some were almost stuck into the frames, cleaned the stove glass, whilst Mick started to give the oven and grill a good going over. When the chap turned up he checked that the diesel in the tank wasn't too low, phew that was okay! So he then set about changing the fuel filters, both of them. After a trip back to his van this was done and WD was back in working order, all for £8. As he walked away we wondered how much of a Marine Engineers life is spent walking along tow paths!
So we were off again at about 4.45pm, Hooray! Chores put on hold again, Hooray! Back to finishing our holiday. The bottom lock was just being vacated as we approached, so in we went. The second had slightly re-filled. There was a lady who'd only seen Narrowboats on Rosie and Jim so Mick had to explain about locks to her. I popped up to the top lock to open the gates but it was full, so emptied it before Mick was out of the middle lock hoping that that would help with the sharp turn and lack of bow thruster. A walk along to Kings Lock which was also full. The chandlers there actually had space to pull in! But for once we didn't want to stop as the day was getting on. As Micks head appeared above the sides of the lock he noticed the fish and chip shop was open. So we tied up at the lock moorings and he ran across the road. It was just starting to rain so we decided to eat them at the lock, keeping an eye out for boats of course. Not our normal last day evening meal somewhere in Sandbach but the day hadn't been normal.
Then off again, only 40 swans today. Every lock was set against us and one of the bottom paddles on lock 68 was very stiff and kept slipping. Back to Lock 67 (nasty lock!!!) this signals the last bit of holiday returning from the north. We came under bridge 160 to see quite a few boats moored up, but just the right space was left for us to wash the boat. It always seems weird washing a boat in the rain but it needed doing. It did mean that I wouldn't be able to touch up the gunwales on the port side which was a shame. Mick gave the bow thruster another go and it suddenly seemed to work. So what ever it was must have sorted itself. We tried the hookup cable but the power wasn't on so we'd have to save any hoovering for the engine being on in the morning .
Kallista, Festina Lente were there along with several Northwich Boats. Kallista was empty, but Festina Lente had people packing a car and sorting things. We were still going long after they stopped. We were very glad that we'd booked a valet for the morning so that we wouldn't be up til all hours. A glass of beer in our slightly soggy state and the heating put on. After a while there wasn't the familiar sound of knocking that the boiler makes. Mick tried again, and again, but no luck. No hook up, no heat and not wanting to light the clean stove we got the spare douvet from our car and went to bed before it got too chilly.
Smart Gauge at start of day 45! at end of day 96, 9 locks, 9 miles,1 breakdown, 2 fuel filters, 1way bow thruster, 2 way bow thruster, 56 piles of dog doo, 12 Herons, 40 Swans, 2 wet people, 2 fish and chips, 1 cold boat.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Thursday 17th May 2012
Thursday 17th May 2012
Mick came back from the shops this morning with the Guardian that we were getting messages about. There was a photo of the Queen on a wide beam called The Pride of Sefton 2, We'd seen this boat last Thursday near Scarisbrick. It had headed to Burnley where it surely must have been repainted before her majesty got on board.
We had a big breakfast, it's time to start eating up supplies. As the drizzle came down we set off. My Dad has spent some of this week unexpectantly in hospital but returned home yesterday so it was time to check up on him at home then relay the info to my brother. All seemed as well as it can be when you are 87.
Numerous Herons escorted us today as we pootled along the remains of the Bridgewater Canal as the weather dried up. Just what do they do in that secret building other than secret handshakes, drink secret milkshakes and keep secret squirrels?
We stopped off at Midland Chandlers by the M56 for some nuts and sandpaper. It's a big shop with an awful lot of boat toys, so we spent sometime browsing. By this time we'd realised that we'd missed Preston Brook Tunnel for a while, so stopped and had a cuppa and I sanded down the gunwhales on the starboard side to touch them up later on if the weather held. Everyone makes scratches on the gunwhales, but we seemed to have managed to aquire a T and an F from somewhere.
Off through the tunnel taking 15 minutes and to Dutton Stop Lock. I heated up some pain de chocolate that we'd bought yesterday as a snack and on we pootled to Saltersford Tunnel where we arrived just as it was our turn to go, perfect timing. There were so many more boats all of a sudden on the Trent & Mersey than had been on the Bridgewater or Leeds and Liverpool Canals. Going into Liverpool was unusual as there are no moored boats on the outskirts that go on and on and on as they do elsewhere. Also we have spent the last week amongst boat owners and no hirers, we've had comments such as "Well you're doing a dash, we only do two hours a day!" We are now so used to seeing the hire boats go out from Middlewich knowing that most are dashing to Llangollen or doing the Cheshire ring in a week that we don't concider ourselves dashing anywhere, But it's all comparative. We are very jealous of the Continuous Cruisers that we've come across, it will be us one day.
At Barnton Tunnel we nearly met a boat part way through but luckily he
heard our horn as he was entering from the east so backed out. After
passing the Anderton Boat lift I started to touch up the paint on the
bow as we went along, then I put a stew in the oven for tonight. We
stopped off at the services to drop rubbish off and carried on to
Billinge Green Flash where two other boats were moored. Tied up Mick had
a shower as I finished touching up the gunwhales on the starboard side.
Stew was ready with a glass or two of wine. On the news tonight we watched the Queen in Liverpool on a yellow marine duck. Ashley and Sam had told us that she would be on one today, but really didn't expect her to be launched into the dock where we had moored for three nights! Bet she didn't sing " We're all sitting in a Yellow Duck Marine, a Yellow Duck Marine, a Yellow Duck Marine".
The rooks have mooved on mass into a tree next to us bickering away as the sun goes down and geese keep squabbling. Just hope we manage to get some sleep tonight!
Smart gauge at start of day 51 at end of day 100, 1 lock, 0 swing bridges, 3 tunnels, 23 miles, about 20 herons, 2 birds of prey, 5 bats, 6 cygnets, 2 maybe more glasses of wine, 1 secret milkshake.
Wednesday 16th May 2012
Wednesday 16th May 2012This morning we had breakfast and then Mick wanted to check that the bitumen wouldn't cause any problems.So he opened up the engine bay, got the fire extinguisher from the galley and started the engine up. We really didn't want to set anything on fire so we waited about half an hour, Mick checking the exhaust and it stayed really quite cool. Decision made that we were safe to continue with our journey, but the fire extinguisher was kept near by just incase.
As we neared Plank Lane the bridge was up but just starting to close, phew I hadn't missed my chance for a new record! Kath and I went and took our positions at the control panel. We waited until there were no cars in sight and turned the key. A bus arrived, stopped at the lights and then was let through before the barriers were lowered. As this happened a lady in a car came from our left and stopped at the lights, she must have a problem with her brakes being attached to her horn as it went off and didn't stop for quite sometime! The bridge had started to do it's thing so we let it carry on. Mick brought the boat through and we lowered the bridge, The lady with a problematic horn got to go over the bridge first and seemed to be thanking us as she went! We did a quick count up of cars which was 38, not a new record unfortunatly. We checked to see if we could see the mallet that Frank had left amongst the fishermen last week, but nothing was there.
Pootleing on we were aiming for The Bridgwater Marina hoping for a pump out. Mick tried ringing several times and left a message. Legs were crossed that someone would be there and they were, Hooray! Tied off to other boats I took the opportunity to use the onboard facilities before we were emptied just as Mick needed the boat moving, I wasn't able to assist but it was sorted out and it cost £12.. So onto Worsley to top up with water. As we turned the corner there were two boats at the water point next to the tupperware from yesterday. Luckily the narrowboats were just setting off so we managed to do a little dance with them and got moored up. Topped up and postcards posted we were off again. Kath took a turn at the tiller so Mick could eat his sandwich, this meant that Kath got to drive over the Barton Swing Aquaduct at which she was very excited. Mick and I noticed that there are gates under little huts at either end of the bridge which is where they must close off the water when it needs to be swung.
On past the Trafford Centre again, there was a boat moored there this time, a chap having a cuppa possibly whilst his wife was shopping, he just needed a newspaper to make the scene complete. Straight on towards Sale, not enough time to drop off in Castelfield. Then it was time to drop Kath off at Timperley Bridge where she could get a tram. She was heading back to Liverpool for the night which took her about two hours! Traveling alone for the first time since last Monday morning was a little strange at first, I had to keep checking to see if anyone was on board, but I found no stowaways. Our aim was to reach Lymm for the night which we successfully did after emptying the ash pan in the hedges on the outskirts and lighting the fire.
As we pulled up between Lymm Bridge and Brookfield Bridge I said Good Evening to a chap looking at hanging baskets outside the house by Lymm Bridge. I did a double take and looked at the windows of the house,but there was no Sooty and Sweep peeking out. The chap was Matthew Corbett and he seemed quite peturbed by his baskets for some reason, they looked newish to me and quite posh, just not in flower yet.
We went shopping for the next two nights when I got a phone call from my 5year old nephew who seemed to want to carry on talking, but hadn't anything to say so I ended up telling him what our cat was doing on her holiday, catching an Elephant in India to bring home of course.
The fire made the boat very cosy whilst we had our tea and a Crabbies Ginger Beer.
Smart gauge at start of day 71, at end of day 100, 0 locks, 1 swing/ lift bridge, 23.5 miles, 1 aquaduct, 1 heron, 1 loud car horn, 38 cars, 0 mallets, 0 Sootty, 0 Sweep, 0 fires in the engine.
Tuesday 15th May 2012
Tuesday 15th May 2012
Today the weather was meant to be a bit rainy and chilly, so long johns and fleecy waterproof trousers were the order of the day. We pootled along towards Scarisbrick ringing ahead to see if we could have a pump out, but no-one would be there so we'd have to find somewhere further on. All the visitors over the weekend had moved the gauge on the tank so we weren't confident on getting back to Elton Moss without the use of bushes!
The first swing bridge had been swung by a hotel boat so we passed through saying Thank you. The next we did holding up 3 cars, it now started to rain. Were we going to get a major down pour at Burscough Bridge? No the sun came out as we pulled up. The smell from the bakery hit my nostrils and we all started to drewl. But first things first, rubbish and water. Chores done Kath and I ventured round the corner, a few loafs on the shelves and cakes on the counter, but a sign on the door "Closed due to staff illness" WHAT!!! We could smell the wonderous smells but not sample their lovely pies. Disappointed two trips were then made to the Co-op for bread and their pies ( nice but nowhere near as good). An ice-cream each banished the sulks, so we headed on in the sunshine.
Straight on past the Rufford branch, one day we'll do the Ribble
Link. It was now alternating between being wet and sunny, We swung a
bridge and at another a chap was looking at the screen and not
doing anything. I jumped off to see if I could help. It was one with
manual barriers and I think he didn't realise he had to do them
himself. The sun looked like it was shining straight onto the screen
which does make it very hard to read. So I closed the towpath side
barrier for him and we went through onto the locks.
At Appley Locks we had to empty it, 12ft of water. Kath had
difficulty with the handcuff key, but we got up the lock in the end.
We had almost constant rain with a little bit of hail thrown in for
good measure as we came to each lock in turn. Most of them were
against us . The kettle was put on for a cuppa and a slice of
chocolate bananna cake, but someone had moved a lock closer than we had remembered, so tea
was put on hold. On through Wigan past the waiting lady, who from
the cut looks like a man, and the little chap stood peering over the
bridge. When we reached the bottom lock a chap in a white shabby
tupperware wanted to lock up with us, so we waited for him. Up the
next one to the service station where we all used the facilities and
had our long awaited for cup of tea and cake. We turned the corner
to now head down Poolstock Locks. The tupperware was waiting for us
there, so we locked down with him.
In the Bottom Lock Mick had the tale of how Tupperware man had fallen out with a mate he'd been travelling with and didn't want to catch him up as his mate really didn't get locks. The tuperware had a really noisy outboard motor and we could tell that Mick was hoping that he was making the right noises to the chap. We carried on hoping to get to near Dover Bridge for the night before stopping, the sun came out and it turned into a lovely evening, slightly burning Micks ears.
On arriving at Dover Kath wanted a go on Micks Brompton bike as the tow path was in good condition. I thought I would check what paint we had to try touching up the gunwales. Pulling out items from the rear locker I came across an almost dried puddle of Bitumen. So I started to pull everything out of the locker to find the offending tin. When I eventually reached it I picked it up and it had no bottom to it, but still plenty of Bitumen which increased the puddle by three! The locker was emptied a whole roll of kitchen roll used to mop up as much as I could reach. Laytex gloves found when it was too late and my right hand had turned dark brown. In the rear locker there is a wide pipe that the cables from the controls go through, Bitumen was gradually dribbling down to below. I managed to stop the flow of black gooey stuff down into the engine bay. By this time it was getting quite late so Kath started to prepare our tea as Mick and I cleaned off tins of paint and trottle cables. The engine bay was inspected and the bitumen had been dribbling onto the exhaust. So Mick did his best to clear as much up as possible, the locker lid was left off so that hopefully the puddle that still remained would eventually dry up. Then we set about cleaning ourselves up.
I finished cooking our chicken tagliatelli avoiding touching any food. It was really quite late by the time we got to bed.
Smart gauge at start of day 49, at end of day 100, 8 locks, 5 swing bridges, 18 miles, 4 cars held up, 1 bike held up, 1 bike ride, 1 noisy tupperware, 1 bottomless tin of bitumen, 1 very black hand, 0 herons.
Today the weather was meant to be a bit rainy and chilly, so long johns and fleecy waterproof trousers were the order of the day. We pootled along towards Scarisbrick ringing ahead to see if we could have a pump out, but no-one would be there so we'd have to find somewhere further on. All the visitors over the weekend had moved the gauge on the tank so we weren't confident on getting back to Elton Moss without the use of bushes!
The first swing bridge had been swung by a hotel boat so we passed through saying Thank you. The next we did holding up 3 cars, it now started to rain. Were we going to get a major down pour at Burscough Bridge? No the sun came out as we pulled up. The smell from the bakery hit my nostrils and we all started to drewl. But first things first, rubbish and water. Chores done Kath and I ventured round the corner, a few loafs on the shelves and cakes on the counter, but a sign on the door "Closed due to staff illness" WHAT!!! We could smell the wonderous smells but not sample their lovely pies. Disappointed two trips were then made to the Co-op for bread and their pies ( nice but nowhere near as good). An ice-cream each banished the sulks, so we headed on in the sunshine.
Straight on past the Rufford branch, one day we'll do the Ribble
Link. It was now alternating between being wet and sunny, We swung a
bridge and at another a chap was looking at the screen and not
doing anything. I jumped off to see if I could help. It was one with
manual barriers and I think he didn't realise he had to do them
himself. The sun looked like it was shining straight onto the screen
which does make it very hard to read. So I closed the towpath side
barrier for him and we went through onto the locks.
At Appley Locks we had to empty it, 12ft of water. Kath had
difficulty with the handcuff key, but we got up the lock in the end.
We had almost constant rain with a little bit of hail thrown in for
good measure as we came to each lock in turn. Most of them were
against us . The kettle was put on for a cuppa and a slice of
chocolate bananna cake, but someone had moved a lock closer than we had remembered, so tea
was put on hold. On through Wigan past the waiting lady, who from
the cut looks like a man, and the little chap stood peering over the
bridge. When we reached the bottom lock a chap in a white shabby
tupperware wanted to lock up with us, so we waited for him. Up the
next one to the service station where we all used the facilities and
had our long awaited for cup of tea and cake. We turned the corner
to now head down Poolstock Locks. The tupperware was waiting for us
there, so we locked down with him.In the Bottom Lock Mick had the tale of how Tupperware man had fallen out with a mate he'd been travelling with and didn't want to catch him up as his mate really didn't get locks. The tuperware had a really noisy outboard motor and we could tell that Mick was hoping that he was making the right noises to the chap. We carried on hoping to get to near Dover Bridge for the night before stopping, the sun came out and it turned into a lovely evening, slightly burning Micks ears.
On arriving at Dover Kath wanted a go on Micks Brompton bike as the tow path was in good condition. I thought I would check what paint we had to try touching up the gunwales. Pulling out items from the rear locker I came across an almost dried puddle of Bitumen. So I started to pull everything out of the locker to find the offending tin. When I eventually reached it I picked it up and it had no bottom to it, but still plenty of Bitumen which increased the puddle by three! The locker was emptied a whole roll of kitchen roll used to mop up as much as I could reach. Laytex gloves found when it was too late and my right hand had turned dark brown. In the rear locker there is a wide pipe that the cables from the controls go through, Bitumen was gradually dribbling down to below. I managed to stop the flow of black gooey stuff down into the engine bay. By this time it was getting quite late so Kath started to prepare our tea as Mick and I cleaned off tins of paint and trottle cables. The engine bay was inspected and the bitumen had been dribbling onto the exhaust. So Mick did his best to clear as much up as possible, the locker lid was left off so that hopefully the puddle that still remained would eventually dry up. Then we set about cleaning ourselves up.
I finished cooking our chicken tagliatelli avoiding touching any food. It was really quite late by the time we got to bed.
Smart gauge at start of day 49, at end of day 100, 8 locks, 5 swing bridges, 18 miles, 4 cars held up, 1 bike held up, 1 bike ride, 1 noisy tupperware, 1 bottomless tin of bitumen, 1 very black hand, 0 herons.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Monday 14th May 2012
Monday 14th May 2012
We woke early for us and filled the water tank. Sam timed his arrival just as cheese scones had been warmed up for breakfast. We were just about ready to set off when other boats started to pull out from their mooringsat 9am. There were six boats due to leave this morning ( we had booked the last slot 2months ago) we ended up being fifth out of the dock.
Each boat left in turn blasting their horn as they entered Albert Dock. We turned right out of Albert Dock and into Canning Dock where we joined the holding pattern of narrowboats waiting for the Lock Keepers to arrive. At about 9.25am the lock was opened and the first two boats entered it leaving the rest of us to continue circling in the wind. Then it was our turn to enter the lock along with the last boat. Sam had brought lots of serious camera equipment with him and after five minutes decided that putting things off for the morning had been well worth while. He has lived in Liverpool for around twenty years and was seeing things from angles he'd never seen before, going places you can't go on foot and some of the views made him feel that he was in a different city. As we headed through the docks there were bubbles rising from the depths, not sure what it was but it was slightly unnerving. It was just as good going back through the docks as it had been on Friday coming in. Kathy came to join us at Stanley Locks on her bike. I helped a lady from the other boat we shared the locks with to fill them, Kathy helped with the gates, whilst Mick, Sam and Kath stayed onboard. At the top we put Kathys bike on the roof and followed the other boats out of Liverpool, towards Litherland. Here we said our farewells to Kathy, Sam had decided to stay with us for an hour or so longer. The other boats were well out of sight and we thought that we'd be holding them up at Netherton Swing Bridge. When we arrived they were all sat waiting in line, but no BW staff to let them through. It gave us the opportunity to have a bite to eat and check the prop which had collected several plastic bags.
The BW chaps turned up and off we went again. Sam was wanting to jump off where he could get a cab back to Waterloo so we tried identifying a suitable bridge, which turned out not to have a way up to the road, so he stayed on til the next one, where he jumped off in style heading straight into a hedge. He regained his stance quickly and waved us farewell. When we reached Hancocks Swing Bridge we joined the queue to go through which gave Mick a chance to give the lock keepers a tip. It's really hard at this bridge to count how many cars you hold up due to the road bending, but there were an awful lot of patient drivers as we all passed through.
So we were now three on board and free from the British Waterways Lock Keepers. On we headed playing leapfrog with the other boats at the swingbridges. The wind was quite strong and gradually there were only two boats left. We headed on to Halsall to moor up for the night. I cooked us meatballs with carrots instead of celeriac which worked okay.
We went to sleep as the heavens opened.
Smart guage at start of day 100, at end of day 100, 6 locks, 8 swing bridges, 19.5 miles, 0 herons, 3 stowaways, 1 bike, 1 hedge, lots of photos taken.
Sunday 13th May 2012
I apologise for
delays in writing, this is due to lots of visitors and stowaways!
Sunday 13th May 2012
The dock was quiet this morning and our
view from the kitchen window was better as our neighbours had left
yesterday morning. The duck boats didn't start until well after
10.30am so we had a very calm start to the day.
Being on mains power you just have to use the washing machine! So it was put on and plans for showers to follow, but oh dear, the water pump wasn't making the right noise. We turned the tap on in the kitchen and we'd run out of water. Hose pipe out and with a handy tap we filled the tank to the top, this took approximatly 30 mins. Then the washing could commence. We realised that we must have had 5 showers, 4 dishwashers, and numerous kettle fulls of water since last filling, so not really a surprise to be empty, but being near to a tap had made us a little complacent.
Whilst waiting for the washing to finish we counted 6 jellyfish around our boat of various sizes. The water is so clear you can see the bottom of the dock which must be around 6m deep. We had a full cooked breakfast and then decide to go shopping to stock up for our return journey which is two days shorter. We went on the hunt for celeriac and goats yoghurt, which I don't think have hit Liverpool as we had no luck, carrots would have to do. Whilst shopping I had a phone call from a friend of Kathys we'd shared a villa with for a few days in Lanzarote last year. We had bored Ashley and our other house mates with tales about WD, so he and his partner wanted to come and have a look. We had an hour to finish shopping before more visitors. We got back to WD to watch 4 narrowboats and 1 widebeam arrive into the dock.
I was glad that I'd made more biscuit dough on Saturday so popped biscuits in the oven which had just cooled before they arrived with Kathy. Tea, chats, guided tour of WD and lots of biscuit eating later and we were left by two very envious boys, Sam trying to work out if he could come with us out of Liverpool in the morning. So what could we cram in of the museums before they closed?! Museum of Liverpool had about half an hour left open when we walked in, we only managed to wander around the groundfloor and shop before they started to kick people out. Then we tried the Tate, they closed at 5.50pm so we should have a bit more time in there. The first Gallery had an exibition by Martin Creed. The four TV screens with people vomiting kind of put us off his exhibition, so we headed upstairs to "This is Scupture" exhibit. This was less stomach churning than the ground floor and had a varied mix of work. Announcements started that they were closing the gallery, so our cultural hour was up!
We wandered back towards WD around Albert Dock and found a new way into the moorings at the bottom of the slipway the Ducks use. We were half expecting to return to a stowaway (Kath, Micks sister) but she hadn't arrived. We retied the ropes as the wind had got up again and adjusted the button at the back. Kath arrived, cups of tea and showers, and then to try out The Baltic Fleet for a pint and some food.
The pub is a micro brewery and the beer was very nice, unfortunatly they only had three pies left from the day, so we decided to try elsewhere. Sam rang during the evening and said he would join us in the morning before 9am.
A walk around the corner brought us to The Hub, which had a varied menu and seemed quite busy. We enjoyed duck, hot pot and a pie between us and a pint followed by puddings. The wind on our return to the boat had really got up so we checked the ropes again.
Luckily Kath is quite happy sleeping on the sofa with both cushions on top of each other, so no bed masterclass was needed.
Smart Gauge at start of day 100, at end 100, 0 locks, 0 miles, 6 jellyfish, 1 stowaway, 3 visitors, 1 museum and 1 gallery needing to be revisited,16 biscuits baked and consumed.
Sunday 13th May 2012
The dock was quiet this morning and our
view from the kitchen window was better as our neighbours had left
yesterday morning. The duck boats didn't start until well after
10.30am so we had a very calm start to the day.Being on mains power you just have to use the washing machine! So it was put on and plans for showers to follow, but oh dear, the water pump wasn't making the right noise. We turned the tap on in the kitchen and we'd run out of water. Hose pipe out and with a handy tap we filled the tank to the top, this took approximatly 30 mins. Then the washing could commence. We realised that we must have had 5 showers, 4 dishwashers, and numerous kettle fulls of water since last filling, so not really a surprise to be empty, but being near to a tap had made us a little complacent.
Whilst waiting for the washing to finish we counted 6 jellyfish around our boat of various sizes. The water is so clear you can see the bottom of the dock which must be around 6m deep. We had a full cooked breakfast and then decide to go shopping to stock up for our return journey which is two days shorter. We went on the hunt for celeriac and goats yoghurt, which I don't think have hit Liverpool as we had no luck, carrots would have to do. Whilst shopping I had a phone call from a friend of Kathys we'd shared a villa with for a few days in Lanzarote last year. We had bored Ashley and our other house mates with tales about WD, so he and his partner wanted to come and have a look. We had an hour to finish shopping before more visitors. We got back to WD to watch 4 narrowboats and 1 widebeam arrive into the dock.
I was glad that I'd made more biscuit dough on Saturday so popped biscuits in the oven which had just cooled before they arrived with Kathy. Tea, chats, guided tour of WD and lots of biscuit eating later and we were left by two very envious boys, Sam trying to work out if he could come with us out of Liverpool in the morning. So what could we cram in of the museums before they closed?! Museum of Liverpool had about half an hour left open when we walked in, we only managed to wander around the groundfloor and shop before they started to kick people out. Then we tried the Tate, they closed at 5.50pm so we should have a bit more time in there. The first Gallery had an exibition by Martin Creed. The four TV screens with people vomiting kind of put us off his exhibition, so we headed upstairs to "This is Scupture" exhibit. This was less stomach churning than the ground floor and had a varied mix of work. Announcements started that they were closing the gallery, so our cultural hour was up!
We wandered back towards WD around Albert Dock and found a new way into the moorings at the bottom of the slipway the Ducks use. We were half expecting to return to a stowaway (Kath, Micks sister) but she hadn't arrived. We retied the ropes as the wind had got up again and adjusted the button at the back. Kath arrived, cups of tea and showers, and then to try out The Baltic Fleet for a pint and some food.
The pub is a micro brewery and the beer was very nice, unfortunatly they only had three pies left from the day, so we decided to try elsewhere. Sam rang during the evening and said he would join us in the morning before 9am.
A walk around the corner brought us to The Hub, which had a varied menu and seemed quite busy. We enjoyed duck, hot pot and a pie between us and a pint followed by puddings. The wind on our return to the boat had really got up so we checked the ropes again.
Luckily Kath is quite happy sleeping on the sofa with both cushions on top of each other, so no bed masterclass was needed.
Smart Gauge at start of day 100, at end 100, 0 locks, 0 miles, 6 jellyfish, 1 stowaway, 3 visitors, 1 museum and 1 gallery needing to be revisited,16 biscuits baked and consumed.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Saturday 12th May 2012
Saturday 12th May 2012
I woke quite early today after the night had been really quite quiet. The whole area seemed to calm down at about 11.30pm last night so we slept well. After showers we waited for todays boats to leave, at bang on 9am the first boat reversed out nearly into a rowing boat, but luckily missed it. Then another four boats headed out under the bridge into Albert Dock all sounding their horns as they went.
Had poached eggs for breakfast then Mick went to get a paper and
bread for lunch today as I prepared some food for friends who would
be joining us. We then had about an hour and a half before people
arrived so headed to the Maritime Museum as it was free and we'd be
able to go back if we wanted to. We headed straight for their normal
exhibition on the Titanic, Empress of Ireland disasters. Micks Great
Grandmother had died on the sinking of the Empress of Ireland in
1914 just before war broke out. After looking at the small amount on
it we remembered we'd seen this all before on a previous visit, so
headed for the special exhibition on the Titanic which was all very
interesting and just enough to keep us occupied before heading back
to the boat.
At 1.30pm we were joined by Jeremy and his family, Jeremy had been
at school with Mick and lives on the other side of the Mersey. We
provided a good buffet and sat and chatted for hours with the boat
doors wide open looking out on a really beautiful day. A perfect
boating day, but we are booked here until Monday morning when it is
guarenteed to rain again! We aren't allowed to go anywhere in the
docks on the boat other than when arriving or leaving. Today we had
rowers and the amphibius buses doing a Yellow Duck Tour of the
docks would make it hard. The buses beep their horn and then drive
down the slipway into Salthouse Dock creating a wave, which is
broken up slightly by pontoons.
During the afternoon Kath Micks sister joined us and more reminiscing was done. After they left we decided to sort the rear button out as it had slipped and wasn't really protecting the rudder and with the ducks launching themselves in every 20 mins this might cause a problem. After straightening everything out and forcing it downwards it was then sat more or less where it should be, but I suspect it'll need to have an eye kept on it.
We then headed off into town to find fish and chips, Mick sure knows how to show a girl a good time! Gosh town was very busy and I felt ever so underdressed! Then we found our way to The Dispensary pub which had been highly recommended. The beer was very nice indeed, a little too busy inside so we stood on the pavement which would have been pleasant apart from the Karaoke at the pub opposite. Where is Andy Hall when you need him? So we decided to head back to the boat trying to avoid dodgy looking roads which we did in the end.
Smart guage reading at start and end of day 100, 0 locks, 0 miles, 0 herons, 5 visitors, at least 25 yellow Duck Tour buses, 1 pint of Mild and 1 very sunny day
I woke quite early today after the night had been really quite quiet. The whole area seemed to calm down at about 11.30pm last night so we slept well. After showers we waited for todays boats to leave, at bang on 9am the first boat reversed out nearly into a rowing boat, but luckily missed it. Then another four boats headed out under the bridge into Albert Dock all sounding their horns as they went.
Had poached eggs for breakfast then Mick went to get a paper and
bread for lunch today as I prepared some food for friends who would
be joining us. We then had about an hour and a half before people
arrived so headed to the Maritime Museum as it was free and we'd be
able to go back if we wanted to. We headed straight for their normal
exhibition on the Titanic, Empress of Ireland disasters. Micks Great
Grandmother had died on the sinking of the Empress of Ireland in
1914 just before war broke out. After looking at the small amount on
it we remembered we'd seen this all before on a previous visit, so
headed for the special exhibition on the Titanic which was all very
interesting and just enough to keep us occupied before heading back
to the boat.
At 1.30pm we were joined by Jeremy and his family, Jeremy had been
at school with Mick and lives on the other side of the Mersey. We
provided a good buffet and sat and chatted for hours with the boat
doors wide open looking out on a really beautiful day. A perfect
boating day, but we are booked here until Monday morning when it is
guarenteed to rain again! We aren't allowed to go anywhere in the
docks on the boat other than when arriving or leaving. Today we had
rowers and the amphibius buses doing a Yellow Duck Tour of the
docks would make it hard. The buses beep their horn and then drive
down the slipway into Salthouse Dock creating a wave, which is
broken up slightly by pontoons.During the afternoon Kath Micks sister joined us and more reminiscing was done. After they left we decided to sort the rear button out as it had slipped and wasn't really protecting the rudder and with the ducks launching themselves in every 20 mins this might cause a problem. After straightening everything out and forcing it downwards it was then sat more or less where it should be, but I suspect it'll need to have an eye kept on it.
We then headed off into town to find fish and chips, Mick sure knows how to show a girl a good time! Gosh town was very busy and I felt ever so underdressed! Then we found our way to The Dispensary pub which had been highly recommended. The beer was very nice indeed, a little too busy inside so we stood on the pavement which would have been pleasant apart from the Karaoke at the pub opposite. Where is Andy Hall when you need him? So we decided to head back to the boat trying to avoid dodgy looking roads which we did in the end.
Smart guage reading at start and end of day 100, 0 locks, 0 miles, 0 herons, 5 visitors, at least 25 yellow Duck Tour buses, 1 pint of Mild and 1 very sunny day
Friday 11th May 2012
Friday 11th May 2012
Frank just can't cope with out a newspaper in the mornings, so even though the nearest shop looked like it was 2 miles away he set forth in search of a newsagent with 35 minutes before we were due to be picked up by BW,
He returned with some time to spare and even though we'd been told to meet at Bridge 9 at 9am, the chaps didn't turn up until about 9.15. We were off in convoy through the bridge holding up traffic further than the eye could see.
We were second in line of three boats swinging round Canal Turn of Aintree Race course pooteling along. Gradually the canal became fuller of litter. We waited in line at Netherton Swing Bridge for BW to open it up, then on went the convoy.
My friend Kathy who lives near by came to meet us being picked up before
we reached Litherland Bridges Services. Here the other boats stopped to
use the Elsan disposal point, we dropped rubbish onto the pontoon and
carried on to Stanley Locks eating freshly made cheese scones.A turn right to the top of the locks where we were met by a volunteer lock keeper. He was very nice and said that we could fill all the locks and enter the top lock, but unfotunatly he wouldn't be able to let us down as he hadn't got the special windlass for the top paddles. The full time BW chaps had been called away as a swing bridge had stuck open holding up traffic.
Kathy has been recording water going through locks for an art exhibition
as part of the cultural olympiad and wanted to record us. So she put
her microphone in above the second lock, I told her to hold on very
tightly as I opened the paddle. She soon understood why! As the water
levels evened out the microphone became slacker in the water but seemed
to be caught somehow on the paddle. After jiggling it around for some
time she eventually got it free.Whilst waiting for BW the volunteer lock keeper had a very good chat with us. He even gave me his own recording of the Giant girl and her uncle that were in Liverpool a few weeks ago. I was really disappointed that we hadn't been in Liverpool for it so it will be nice to see his footage of the day.
Eventually the chaps turned up and started to let the boats down. We
were allowed to help until the final lock where we had to get on, then
through a short tunnel beeping our horn to be hit by really strong wind
head on. We were now in Stanley Dock and it is totally amazing. There is
a building to your right that is very similar to Albert Dock, opposite
is the collosal Tobacco Warehouse, it has to be seen to be believed. We
headed straight on towards the Victoria clock tower where we turned left
into a new channel which links Stanley Dock to West Waterloo Docks.
There are so many sights that you can only see from the water it is
amazing. Through Princes Dock to the new lock and down. We then went
through three tunnels each opening out onto a different view. It's very
strange being in a tunnel with a flat ceiling you can hear conversations
from the back of the boat. On to the last lock of the day. This looks
strange from up above, we'd come to Liverpool last year and had a walk
along the new link, but you can't get near to the locks, this one looked
like the water level was the same as above and below it and the gates
didn't look like they would hold back water. But when you are there it
has a height difference of about 9 inches, beyond this is a set of gates
mitered in the opposite way to normal, which are used to hold back the
water in the docks from going up the canal. Out of here a sharp u turn
through Canning Dock and a turn to the left into Albert Dock just
infront of the sea lock. On through to Salthouse Dock where we spotted
our designated mooring. The wind was really quite strong Mick
managed to pull up quite convincingly, impressing Kathy and Frank . He
said it was pure fluke.
We waved Goodbye to Frank and headed to the Tate for a bite to eat. Kathy then headed off home and we decided to turn the boat round as the Hook up wouldn't reach. This took a little bit of doing as the wind was still very strong, but we succeeded. We'd bought a 10KWH electric card but found that our hook up was still in credit, so made use of it, Thank you someone!
We were expecting visitors for lunch tomorrow so did some shopping and
then headed to Pizza Express for tea, had a very windy walk around the
docks which are beautifully flood lit at night. A glass of wine and then
to bed.
It really is amazing that you can do this journey and stay in the centre of the docks for 14 days for free. We would quite happily have paid to come through the docks and feel quite privileged to have done the journey. A Maximum of 16 boats can go into liverpool in a week and the same leave. It really is wonderful.
Smart gauge at start of day 52, end of cruising day 100. 6 Locks, 2 swing bridges, 11 miles, 1 heron, 2 swans on nests,1 saved microphone, so many amazing sights, you just have to do it!
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Thursday 10th May 2012
Thursday 10th May 2012
It was a bit drizzly when we got up this morning. Frank headed off for a newspaper with Brolli in hand. As I was assessing the weather a streak of blue flew by, wow a Kingfisher. Where did it go? Straight down the cut. Breakfast and then onto the first swing bridge of the day, first of many!
The rain started to be harder as we pootled along, we dropped our
rubbish off in a skip at Moss Bridge and carried on. At Burscough Bridge
the heavens opened, we waited for it to calm down before filling up
with water and checking out the shops there. A very nice bakery selling
fresh hot pies which Steve bought us all as a thank you. Unfortunatly he
had to be back at work tomorrow so climbed the steps in a sulk to catch
a train.
Gradually the weather cleared up as we pootled along with swing bridges to add interest. Each one is slightly different, some fully automated, others push, some with barriers to move. As we approached Scarisbrick Marina we rang to check if they did pump outs to be told that people normally book them in advance but there might still be a chap there. So we pulled in and hunted for the punp out station, round to the right a bit. NB Catriona was moored up there and a chap headed out from his van to see to us. Pump out and a bag of coal were £21.50 not bad, and the chap was very cheery and told us about putting natural yoghurt down the loo to kill any smells. We turned round and headed back out onto the cut.
There was another chap dredgeing the canal for scrap by one of the bridges, better than stealing cables!
Another six swing bridges as we made our way through Lydiate to Maghull, under the M58 and M57 to moor behind NB Lyra just before bridge 9 Hancock's Swing Bridge. We had only seen one other boat facing towards Liverpool most of the day, so reconned that there would be only three of us being picked up by BW in the morning.
Settled down for the evening as lots of people walked their dogs, had sausage and mash for tea some more of Franks wine and watched the TV for a while before heading to bed.
Smart guage at start of day 56, at end of cruising day 100, 0 locks, 16 miles, 9 swing bridges,0 herons, 1 kingfisher, 54 cars held up, 2 turned round, 4 pedestrians held up, out of biscuits!
It was a bit drizzly when we got up this morning. Frank headed off for a newspaper with Brolli in hand. As I was assessing the weather a streak of blue flew by, wow a Kingfisher. Where did it go? Straight down the cut. Breakfast and then onto the first swing bridge of the day, first of many!
The rain started to be harder as we pootled along, we dropped our
rubbish off in a skip at Moss Bridge and carried on. At Burscough Bridge
the heavens opened, we waited for it to calm down before filling up
with water and checking out the shops there. A very nice bakery selling
fresh hot pies which Steve bought us all as a thank you. Unfortunatly he
had to be back at work tomorrow so climbed the steps in a sulk to catch
a train.Gradually the weather cleared up as we pootled along with swing bridges to add interest. Each one is slightly different, some fully automated, others push, some with barriers to move. As we approached Scarisbrick Marina we rang to check if they did pump outs to be told that people normally book them in advance but there might still be a chap there. So we pulled in and hunted for the punp out station, round to the right a bit. NB Catriona was moored up there and a chap headed out from his van to see to us. Pump out and a bag of coal were £21.50 not bad, and the chap was very cheery and told us about putting natural yoghurt down the loo to kill any smells. We turned round and headed back out onto the cut.
There was another chap dredgeing the canal for scrap by one of the bridges, better than stealing cables!
Another six swing bridges as we made our way through Lydiate to Maghull, under the M58 and M57 to moor behind NB Lyra just before bridge 9 Hancock's Swing Bridge. We had only seen one other boat facing towards Liverpool most of the day, so reconned that there would be only three of us being picked up by BW in the morning.
Settled down for the evening as lots of people walked their dogs, had sausage and mash for tea some more of Franks wine and watched the TV for a while before heading to bed.
Smart guage at start of day 56, at end of cruising day 100, 0 locks, 16 miles, 9 swing bridges,0 herons, 1 kingfisher, 54 cars held up, 2 turned round, 4 pedestrians held up, out of biscuits!
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Wednesday 9th May 2012
Wednesday 9th May 2012
Whilst having breakfast this morning there was a chap pacing the towpath and marking the bank. He turned out to be marking up fishing pitches for a match, They had paid £1500 to fish just by Plank Lane Bridge for the day and were angry that there were boats there! So as soon as breakfast was finished we set off, past a strange Marina that has been built in amongst the wasteland with no facilities or much space for many boats. It turned out that Frank had been to a concert here about 40 years ago.
Steve and I sorted the bridge, sussing out the slightly ambiguous instructions on the screen and then we were off.
We pootled along spotting where there used to be locks but due to the subsidence in the area they had been moved to Wigan. Every now and again the tow path would be really high up compared to the canal, just hope it's all stopped sinking!
The morning had started quite bright but gradually the clouds caught up with us and the heavens opened.
At Poolstock locks we came across a boat coming down and it was time to
teach Steve and remind Frank how locks work. Handy having extra crew on
these broad locks as there is no way over the gates, so it saved a long
walk round! NB Catriona, that we had met in the morning, were moored up
below the locks having gone to the BW office to collect their paperwork
to get into Liverpool on Sunday. We had received ours at home and then
very carefully left it all on the kitchen work top in Scarborough! So
when we got to the junction in Wigan we turned left and filled up with
water whilst Mick went to get new paper work. Steve and Frank were still
astounded at how long it takes to fill the tank. Steve used it as an
excuse to maybe not have a shower!
By the time we'd filled up got paperwork, NB Catriona had caught up with us, so we locked down together to where they would stay the night. Down the bottom lock on our own where my little legs didn't like the look of getting back on the boat so I set off to walk to the next lock and leave the boys to them selves on the boat. At Pottery Changeline Bridge there is a Bronze statue of a little chap whos head only just peeks up over the bridge and then further on there is a lady who is obviously bored of waiting for the next coal boat to arrive at Wigan Pier. We eventually found Asda set back from the canal and went to stock up leaving Steve to fend off any pirates.
Frank insisted on buying 6 bottles of wine, but then again he could carry them and would probably drink most of it too!
The rain cleared up a little for our shopping trip but started again as soon as we set for the next lock.
We teamed up with NB Sunnyside up and emaculate boat to go down the next four locks, but then they called it a day and left us to do Deep Lock 12ft by ourselves. Steve stayed on board as this was his last lock of his trip.
The biscuits were raided with a cup of tea and we pootled on towards Parbold. A group of young people were up to no good under the bridge here so we carried on a little further before we moored for the night.
Tea was to be Chicken Curry tonight using up the sunday roast. But it seemed like the onions fancied staying in Scarborough with our Liverpool paperwork more than coming with us, so Frank valiantly ventured out in the rain in search of an onion. He returned with one that must have grown in Chernobyl! there was enough for four currys, it was the size of a melon!
It continued to rain as we ate our tea and chatted and made a start on Franks wine.
I'm sure the chaps were getting a bit too cosy this evening, pillow fights etc!
Smart Gauge at start of day 72, end of cruising day 100, 8 locks, 13.5 miles, 0 herons, 6 bottles of wine and very wet!
Whilst having breakfast this morning there was a chap pacing the towpath and marking the bank. He turned out to be marking up fishing pitches for a match, They had paid £1500 to fish just by Plank Lane Bridge for the day and were angry that there were boats there! So as soon as breakfast was finished we set off, past a strange Marina that has been built in amongst the wasteland with no facilities or much space for many boats. It turned out that Frank had been to a concert here about 40 years ago.
Steve and I sorted the bridge, sussing out the slightly ambiguous instructions on the screen and then we were off.We pootled along spotting where there used to be locks but due to the subsidence in the area they had been moved to Wigan. Every now and again the tow path would be really high up compared to the canal, just hope it's all stopped sinking!
The morning had started quite bright but gradually the clouds caught up with us and the heavens opened.
At Poolstock locks we came across a boat coming down and it was time to
teach Steve and remind Frank how locks work. Handy having extra crew on
these broad locks as there is no way over the gates, so it saved a long
walk round! NB Catriona, that we had met in the morning, were moored up
below the locks having gone to the BW office to collect their paperwork
to get into Liverpool on Sunday. We had received ours at home and then
very carefully left it all on the kitchen work top in Scarborough! So
when we got to the junction in Wigan we turned left and filled up with
water whilst Mick went to get new paper work. Steve and Frank were still
astounded at how long it takes to fill the tank. Steve used it as an
excuse to maybe not have a shower!By the time we'd filled up got paperwork, NB Catriona had caught up with us, so we locked down together to where they would stay the night. Down the bottom lock on our own where my little legs didn't like the look of getting back on the boat so I set off to walk to the next lock and leave the boys to them selves on the boat. At Pottery Changeline Bridge there is a Bronze statue of a little chap whos head only just peeks up over the bridge and then further on there is a lady who is obviously bored of waiting for the next coal boat to arrive at Wigan Pier. We eventually found Asda set back from the canal and went to stock up leaving Steve to fend off any pirates.
Frank insisted on buying 6 bottles of wine, but then again he could carry them and would probably drink most of it too!
The rain cleared up a little for our shopping trip but started again as soon as we set for the next lock.
We teamed up with NB Sunnyside up and emaculate boat to go down the next four locks, but then they called it a day and left us to do Deep Lock 12ft by ourselves. Steve stayed on board as this was his last lock of his trip.
The biscuits were raided with a cup of tea and we pootled on towards Parbold. A group of young people were up to no good under the bridge here so we carried on a little further before we moored for the night.
Tea was to be Chicken Curry tonight using up the sunday roast. But it seemed like the onions fancied staying in Scarborough with our Liverpool paperwork more than coming with us, so Frank valiantly ventured out in the rain in search of an onion. He returned with one that must have grown in Chernobyl! there was enough for four currys, it was the size of a melon!
It continued to rain as we ate our tea and chatted and made a start on Franks wine.
I'm sure the chaps were getting a bit too cosy this evening, pillow fights etc!
Smart Gauge at start of day 72, end of cruising day 100, 8 locks, 13.5 miles, 0 herons, 6 bottles of wine and very wet!
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Tuesday 8th May 2012
Tuesday 8th May 2012
When we woke our new crew were being very quiet, were they awake?
Yes and dressed! Bacon butties and some shopping later to replenish
the ingredients to make biscuits later, we set off. The Wondering
Womble boat was about in Castlefield Basin making the place look
tidy, the sun was out and all well.
We pootled down to Waters Meeting and turned right. New canal for us
from now on til Liverpool. Past the Kelloggs factory which smelt of
Corn Flakes and Cocoa Pops. Shame they don't make Shedded Wheat to
keep Frank happy, non of the shops near Castlefield sold them, so
Shreddies it would have to be for the next few days.
We didn't feel the need for any retail therapy at the Trafford Centre (although there is handy mooring available) so carried on to Barton Swing Aquaduct. Mick and I couldn't work out how they would contain the water on the Aquaduct as there seemed to be no guillotin gates as we expected.
The water got gradually cleaner and cleaner so much so that we could
see the bottom of the canal. Bending left at Parrin Lane Bridge we
saw the Light House which is rather strange. Continuing along on the
straight up to Worsley there was a Bridgewater Canal wide beam
working boat at a slight angle and with quite a list. As we
approached a chap came to us saying that they had a mattress caught
round their prop and could we please go as slow as possible as there
was a diver in the water trying to free them. We were glad that it
wasn't us in that situation. Who do you ring for a diver?
At Worsley we joined the queue for water which we were in need of as
with four on board we didn't want to leave it for long. At the front
of the queue was NB Noisy Horn he had finished filling and was
having a very good chat with whomever. Interesting chap, but the
thought of being stuck behind him, oh well! Another boat filled up
and then it was us. Frank was astounded at how long it takes to fill the water
tank.
We pootled along, Steve having a go at the helm. We passed Leigh where NB Noisy Horn was moored outside the Waterside Inn, most probably stocking up! On to Plank Lane, arriving before the bridge was open for the evening so we moored up for the night. Mick and Steve went off on a reckie to the Nevison pub whilst Frank and I stayed behind to make biscuits.
The pub passed muster and so did the beer so we went there for tea. Their Brown Cow Pies and Steak and Kidney Puddings are very nice, and a pleasant group of chaps came and played music for us. back to the boat leaving Frank to enjoy the music for a while longer on his own.
The boys were left to fight with making up beds with the occasional bit of guidence shouted from me in bed.
Smart Guage start of day 58, end of cruising day 100, 14 miles, 0 locks, 1 Heron Lots of biscuits eaten and made.
When we woke our new crew were being very quiet, were they awake?
Yes and dressed! Bacon butties and some shopping later to replenish
the ingredients to make biscuits later, we set off. The Wondering
Womble boat was about in Castlefield Basin making the place look
tidy, the sun was out and all well.
We pootled down to Waters Meeting and turned right. New canal for us
from now on til Liverpool. Past the Kelloggs factory which smelt of
Corn Flakes and Cocoa Pops. Shame they don't make Shedded Wheat to
keep Frank happy, non of the shops near Castlefield sold them, so
Shreddies it would have to be for the next few days. We didn't feel the need for any retail therapy at the Trafford Centre (although there is handy mooring available) so carried on to Barton Swing Aquaduct. Mick and I couldn't work out how they would contain the water on the Aquaduct as there seemed to be no guillotin gates as we expected.
The water got gradually cleaner and cleaner so much so that we could
see the bottom of the canal. Bending left at Parrin Lane Bridge we
saw the Light House which is rather strange. Continuing along on the
straight up to Worsley there was a Bridgewater Canal wide beam
working boat at a slight angle and with quite a list. As we
approached a chap came to us saying that they had a mattress caught
round their prop and could we please go as slow as possible as there
was a diver in the water trying to free them. We were glad that it
wasn't us in that situation. Who do you ring for a diver?
At Worsley we joined the queue for water which we were in need of as
with four on board we didn't want to leave it for long. At the front
of the queue was NB Noisy Horn he had finished filling and was
having a very good chat with whomever. Interesting chap, but the
thought of being stuck behind him, oh well! Another boat filled up
and then it was us. Frank was astounded at how long it takes to fill the water
tank. We pootled along, Steve having a go at the helm. We passed Leigh where NB Noisy Horn was moored outside the Waterside Inn, most probably stocking up! On to Plank Lane, arriving before the bridge was open for the evening so we moored up for the night. Mick and Steve went off on a reckie to the Nevison pub whilst Frank and I stayed behind to make biscuits.
The pub passed muster and so did the beer so we went there for tea. Their Brown Cow Pies and Steak and Kidney Puddings are very nice, and a pleasant group of chaps came and played music for us. back to the boat leaving Frank to enjoy the music for a while longer on his own.
The boys were left to fight with making up beds with the occasional bit of guidence shouted from me in bed.
Smart Guage start of day 58, end of cruising day 100, 14 miles, 0 locks, 1 Heron Lots of biscuits eaten and made.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Monday 7th May
Monday 7th May 2012
We woke not too early, not too late and set about the breakfast that we'd promised ourselves, very nice it was too.
Even though we'd given up on the fire last night and closed all the vents it had decided to light itself overnight!
It took a little while to be able to pull out as it seemed like the Lymm club were heading home. It was quite windy and occasionally rainy. But not enough to pull over to keep dry. We tried to pull in near Little Bollington to fill up with water but the wind was just keeping us off the side, so we deceided to press on to Castlefield where we hoped we'd be able to fill up.
It gradually got wetter, which I avoided having to tidy up before our crew would arrive this afternoon! But then it started to brighten up strangely enough just after I'd finished tidying.
As we approached Sale on the long straight there were two narrowboats following us, we weren't sure if they were wanting to go faster so we waved them on. The first one passing, the second holding back. This seems to be the overtaking trip.
Around Stretford we came across a chap who looked from a distance to be fishing with a net. As we got closer it seemed that he was dragging a long piece of blue webbing in the canal. Just passed him were various objects on the tow path all black against the cinder track almost equally spaced, it could have been an art installation, But no he was just dragging the canal for any scrap that he could possibly sell.Turned right in towards Manchester, past the Euro Terminal and Old Trafford bringing us into Castlefield Junction. The last time we were here was four years ago and we managed to get the last mooring, But this time there was plenty of space, We moored up, checked when our crew would be arriving (they'd jumped off the train from Scarborough at Stalybridge Station to sample the beer) and went for a wonder up the Rockdale 9. Much less water than when we'd done them four years ago, but most were still flowing over the top gates.
Our crew arrived followedby us as they tried to work out the map I'd given them last week.
A cuppa on board and then the hunt for somewhere not too dear to eat. We deceided on Wagamamas which was very nice. Then wondered off to find a suitable pub. The first one was very much closed, but then with advice from a friend of Franks we found The Knott. A very nice real ale pub in the arches just by Deansgate Station. It looks like they do nice food too, if only we'd known. We all ended up drinking local beer to us from Yorkshire as there was nothing local to Manchester. A very nice pub, obviously know by many including Mike Harding, we'll be going there again.
Back to the boat in the now pouring down rain to try to remember how both beds make up. Sofa easy, but the dinette, I always end up with too many bits left over!
Smart gauge at start of day 58, end of cruising day 100, 0 locks, 13.5 miles, 1 heron, 1 overtakeing
Sunday 6th May
Sunday 6th May 2012
I've been informed that I should say that the smart guage reading at the end of the day was actually the reading at the end of the cruising day, just incase you all thought that we sit here in the dark and don't do anything on an evening.
I woke very early this morning, just as the sun woke up. The sunrise warranted a photo as it was peeking its head up between clouds and trees with the canal steaming away. Very picturesque. Went back to bed for a few more hours zizz.
We are heading to Manchester to pick up crew on Monday so deceided that today we'd like to get to Lymm, so no big Sunday morning breakfast we'd save that for Monday morning. Whilst eating our bacon butties we wondered where the hook up cable might be, neither of us had seen it on Saturday. So we set about looking for it. Could it have been put somewhere strange? After looking in every cupboard and locker including the washing machine (you never know!) we concluded that it must be at Elton Moss. We have passage booked into Liverpool next weekend and will be wanting to make use of the hook up there for three nights. After emailing people we discovered that it must have been unhooked at Elton Moss and not made its way back on board. So either we bought a new one or hoped that maybe Adagio might just lend us theirs if we saw them again.
So on we pressed, passed all the pipes and chemical works at Northwich sun shining but a bit of a nip in the air. The Lion Salt Works is under renovation which is good to see, except the rather lovely ramshackled old buildings are now mostly out of view due to the big blue fencing around the site. We passed NB Houdini, which we always see when on this stretch, not quite as pristine as when we first saw it.
As we got nearer the Anderton Boat Lift things got busier, more boats were out so progress was slow. As we approached Barton Tunnel we were catching up with a boat that really liked using his horn to get round the hair pin bend. He was going really quite slowly. As we came out into the wide stretch there were loads of boats. Four abreast and three abreast. We carried on and asked if there was a queue for Saltersford tunnel, which we were told not really. We had 15mins to wait until passage allowed, but the narrowboat that was ahead of us just ploughed straight on using his horn constantly. As it got nearer to the hour the boats that had been four abreast started to set off, obviously nothing could be coming the other way as the tunnel would have been cleared by NB Noisy Horn. We were allowed to pull out between boats and head through.
At the other end there were two large canoes with dragonheads with about 20 people waiting to paddle them through. Just hope they hadn't started when NB Noisy Horn came through. We pootled on in our convoy going very slowly. Three boats managed to get passed NB Noisy Horn which left us next in turn. His average speed whilst at the tiller would have been about 1.5miles an hour. But he kept disappearing out of view, just to reappear to straighten the boat with another full glass of beer. For quite sometime we pootled along in tickover and neutral behind him, thinking that he'd pull over and let us pass, but no. In the end with four more boats behind us I went up front to ask if he'd let us by, yes was the answer. But no obvious moment of him pulling over came so in the end it was throttle up on a straight and nudge by. He had an old boat with a deep draught, which was fine and he certainly was on the Draught too!
So on to Preston Brook where we sat in a queue for the lock. Three boats went down and two up before our turn. But a nice chance to have a chat. The boats that had been breasted up were the last of the Lymm Boating Club. 32 boats had come out for the weekend. We were last through the tunnel and were really glad that we weren't sat behind NB Noisy Horn.
At the boat yard after the tunnel we asked if they had a hook up cable, but no and the chandlers was closed. So no luck there. Straight on to Manchester, passing the Secret Science Park with watch tower, what do they do there? Between Keckwick Hill Bridge and Keckwick Bridge we caught up with the boat club, well most of them moored up for the night.
At the Keckwick Bridge we saw a lady and dog from Adagio who said that they had broken down, something to do with the alternator, but they were moored somewhere nice so that was okay. We came across them near Moore Bridge and decided to pull in to see if we could help. It was Kens weekend off, Artie was in Cumbria so a chap from Cheshire Cat boats was down in the engine bay. After Mick chatted for a while finding out that their alternator bracket had sheered and was going to have to be replaced in the morning he returned with their hook up cable. They will pick ours up at Elton Moss on Saturday and hopefully we'll be able to put everything back where it should be the following weekend. So we will have light and clean clothes in Liverpool
We moored up in the centre of Lymm right on the bend where we had to reverse up, last space, but it was expertly done. Sunday roast chicken was already on the go. Trying to light the fire proved interesting this evening, as when we'd lit it it started producing smoke where it shouldn't. We let it go out, had tea. There was a plate in the top of the fire that had come loose, so we tried again. Running low on kindleing it didn't take so we shut it down for the night.
Watched the final episode of Homeland and then to bed.
Smart gauge at start of day 52, end of cruising 100, 1 lock, 22.5miles, 5 herons, 1 secret science park, 1 hook up cable!
0
I've been informed that I should say that the smart guage reading at the end of the day was actually the reading at the end of the cruising day, just incase you all thought that we sit here in the dark and don't do anything on an evening.
I woke very early this morning, just as the sun woke up. The sunrise warranted a photo as it was peeking its head up between clouds and trees with the canal steaming away. Very picturesque. Went back to bed for a few more hours zizz.
We are heading to Manchester to pick up crew on Monday so deceided that today we'd like to get to Lymm, so no big Sunday morning breakfast we'd save that for Monday morning. Whilst eating our bacon butties we wondered where the hook up cable might be, neither of us had seen it on Saturday. So we set about looking for it. Could it have been put somewhere strange? After looking in every cupboard and locker including the washing machine (you never know!) we concluded that it must be at Elton Moss. We have passage booked into Liverpool next weekend and will be wanting to make use of the hook up there for three nights. After emailing people we discovered that it must have been unhooked at Elton Moss and not made its way back on board. So either we bought a new one or hoped that maybe Adagio might just lend us theirs if we saw them again.
So on we pressed, passed all the pipes and chemical works at Northwich sun shining but a bit of a nip in the air. The Lion Salt Works is under renovation which is good to see, except the rather lovely ramshackled old buildings are now mostly out of view due to the big blue fencing around the site. We passed NB Houdini, which we always see when on this stretch, not quite as pristine as when we first saw it.
As we got nearer the Anderton Boat Lift things got busier, more boats were out so progress was slow. As we approached Barton Tunnel we were catching up with a boat that really liked using his horn to get round the hair pin bend. He was going really quite slowly. As we came out into the wide stretch there were loads of boats. Four abreast and three abreast. We carried on and asked if there was a queue for Saltersford tunnel, which we were told not really. We had 15mins to wait until passage allowed, but the narrowboat that was ahead of us just ploughed straight on using his horn constantly. As it got nearer to the hour the boats that had been four abreast started to set off, obviously nothing could be coming the other way as the tunnel would have been cleared by NB Noisy Horn. We were allowed to pull out between boats and head through.
At the other end there were two large canoes with dragonheads with about 20 people waiting to paddle them through. Just hope they hadn't started when NB Noisy Horn came through. We pootled on in our convoy going very slowly. Three boats managed to get passed NB Noisy Horn which left us next in turn. His average speed whilst at the tiller would have been about 1.5miles an hour. But he kept disappearing out of view, just to reappear to straighten the boat with another full glass of beer. For quite sometime we pootled along in tickover and neutral behind him, thinking that he'd pull over and let us pass, but no. In the end with four more boats behind us I went up front to ask if he'd let us by, yes was the answer. But no obvious moment of him pulling over came so in the end it was throttle up on a straight and nudge by. He had an old boat with a deep draught, which was fine and he certainly was on the Draught too!
So on to Preston Brook where we sat in a queue for the lock. Three boats went down and two up before our turn. But a nice chance to have a chat. The boats that had been breasted up were the last of the Lymm Boating Club. 32 boats had come out for the weekend. We were last through the tunnel and were really glad that we weren't sat behind NB Noisy Horn.
At the boat yard after the tunnel we asked if they had a hook up cable, but no and the chandlers was closed. So no luck there. Straight on to Manchester, passing the Secret Science Park with watch tower, what do they do there? Between Keckwick Hill Bridge and Keckwick Bridge we caught up with the boat club, well most of them moored up for the night.
At the Keckwick Bridge we saw a lady and dog from Adagio who said that they had broken down, something to do with the alternator, but they were moored somewhere nice so that was okay. We came across them near Moore Bridge and decided to pull in to see if we could help. It was Kens weekend off, Artie was in Cumbria so a chap from Cheshire Cat boats was down in the engine bay. After Mick chatted for a while finding out that their alternator bracket had sheered and was going to have to be replaced in the morning he returned with their hook up cable. They will pick ours up at Elton Moss on Saturday and hopefully we'll be able to put everything back where it should be the following weekend. So we will have light and clean clothes in Liverpool
We moored up in the centre of Lymm right on the bend where we had to reverse up, last space, but it was expertly done. Sunday roast chicken was already on the go. Trying to light the fire proved interesting this evening, as when we'd lit it it started producing smoke where it shouldn't. We let it go out, had tea. There was a plate in the top of the fire that had come loose, so we tried again. Running low on kindleing it didn't take so we shut it down for the night.
Watched the final episode of Homeland and then to bed.
Smart gauge at start of day 52, end of cruising 100, 1 lock, 22.5miles, 5 herons, 1 secret science park, 1 hook up cable!
0
Saturday 5th May
We arrived at Elton Moss around 12.30pm after a slow journey from Scarborough. We unpacked the car and were ready to set forth by 1.45pm. Just as I'd untied the boat at the bow I realised that one of the chaps from Carefree was using our boat to try and fix a door stop to the side of Adagio. Luckily I grabbed Adagio just in time before he went into the cut. We waited for a while but in the end decided that we should head off, making sure the chap wasn't between the boats this time.
Back to lock 67 (nice lock) which I had to reset as we were following someone. This would be the case all the way into Middlewich except at one lock where I could see someone coming from quite a distance, so we waited. Straight on at Middlewich and down the Middlewich locks with numerous hire boats coming up, we'd timed it right through all of them so had no waiting to do.
On to Big Lock, the pub has had a lick of paint and the menu has changed getting on for a tenner for a main course. Then we headed straight on, wanting to get to either Bramble cuttings or the flashes before we pulled in for the night. Bramble cuttings was occupied by two boats, so no stopping there. On to the flashes where we pulled up before other boats around 7pm. Tea (a home made Lasagna) had gone in the oven a while before hand and was ready when we were. Adagio passed as we were eating.
The new prop is approved of by Mick and we both like the hatch window, although I do keep trying to put crumbs out of it! The blind is also very much better than annoying curtains.
Smart guage reading at end of day 100, 9 locks, 8.5 miles, 4 Herons and 45, yes 45 swans in Middlewich!
Pip and Mick
Back to lock 67 (nice lock) which I had to reset as we were following someone. This would be the case all the way into Middlewich except at one lock where I could see someone coming from quite a distance, so we waited. Straight on at Middlewich and down the Middlewich locks with numerous hire boats coming up, we'd timed it right through all of them so had no waiting to do.
On to Big Lock, the pub has had a lick of paint and the menu has changed getting on for a tenner for a main course. Then we headed straight on, wanting to get to either Bramble cuttings or the flashes before we pulled in for the night. Bramble cuttings was occupied by two boats, so no stopping there. On to the flashes where we pulled up before other boats around 7pm. Tea (a home made Lasagna) had gone in the oven a while before hand and was ready when we were. Adagio passed as we were eating.
The new prop is approved of by Mick and we both like the hatch window, although I do keep trying to put crumbs out of it! The blind is also very much better than annoying curtains.
Smart guage reading at end of day 100, 9 locks, 8.5 miles, 4 Herons and 45, yes 45 swans in Middlewich!
Pip and Mick
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