Wednesday 16th May 2012

Wednesday 16th May 2012

This 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.