Life's a circle

So we ended up doing the Cheshire Ring (with a detour to Chester) even though it was never our intention. Time beat us as we had to get back to Leigh for my dental appointment so couldn't turn the boat around and retrace our steps as planned.
We tied up at Plank Lane and went home to pick up our mail. First letter we opened was from my dentist cancelling my appointment! Lord knows why they couldn't have texted me but, no matter, we are glad to be back. It takes a few weeks away to make you appreciate how pleasant your "local" part of the network is.
We left Castlefield basin on Friday morning after the rain had stopped and made it to a favourite spot of ours just short of Boothstown Marina, where we had probably our last BBQ of the year. Here's a few piccies

Leaving Manchester 

                                

The demolition work that closed the Bridgewater 

I put this in because I put City's ground in earlier!

Autumn is approaching 

Elaine with the Strongbow glass she "acquired"

We had a great time with Charlotte and the boys yesterday, especially Logan who we hadn't seen since Dunham. So, we'll be around and about here for a couple of weeks or so before slowly heading back to Scarisbrick. After a total of 120 locks and approximately 150 miles it'll be good to do some lock free pottering about!

The Longest Day

We did it! All 29 locks in a 9 hr, non stop marathon of a day sees us safely tied up in Castlefield Basin.
We set off just after 8 with no idea of what we would encounter on the dreaded Ashton Canal. Well, it was dark and satanic enough as we set out, the area steeped in heritage or in need of tarting up, depending on your point of view

The museum at Portland Basin

Octagonal mill chimney

The towpath left a lot to be desired if you are a boater, with nowhere you could (or would want to) moor

Nice Tarmac

Still, everyone we encountered was very cheerful, even the Mark Cavendish wannabes shouted their hellos as they blithely ignored the "pedestrians have priority" signs and went all out for terminal velocity. Also, I have to say that none of the locally moored boats sported the window shields you see at Patricroft on the Bridgewater so perhaps the area is being overly maligned

Indeed, the area just inside the M60 boasted some impressive homes and we would have had no hesitation in spending a night here

Apologies for the cup and plate - no time to stop!

Also, you may have noticed our chimney is missing. A wise precaution to remove it as we encountered plenty bridges low enough to have removed it for us.
So, we reached the Ashton flight and...... It was an absolute joy for the vast majority of the trip. Most of the locks had smooth, hydraulic gear instead of the familiar rack and pinion arrangement

and, as we neared Manchester Sportcity there was plenty to look at

Compare this with the 11 locks of the Rochdale flight that we tackled next! These wide beam locks were a whole different ball game. The first 2 locks take you underneath an 18 storey tower block where there be trolls and troglodytes. The only normal people there were us two!

Also, whereas the Ashton flight had a bywash that let excess water run down the flight, the Rochdale flight let the excess flow over the lock gates like this

So, on many occasions there was too much water pressure on the top gates to allow us to open them and the only solution was to open all gates to lower the levels. Twice, this resulted in us flooding the towpath in the pound below, making us less than flavour of the month with walkers. Still, we had paired up with another boat so we were a 4 strong army who gave no quarter but had the good grace to look sheepish as we left them soggy of foot. No such problems for us any more as we have no locks to do now until we return to Scarisbrick in November!

Portland Basin

I have to say this lower section of the Peak Forest Canal has been a mixed bag. There have been some grungy bits but never lasting too long before you once again retreat to a more rural feel. The spot we moored at last night was quiet with a remote feel about it. When I say quiet, that's notwithstanding the pair of Tawny owls hooting at each other - one sounded like he was on the roof, he was so loud!
As we set off this morning, we soon came to an even nicer section, with well made up towpaths and some beautiful houses

Whereas the upper canal followed the Goyt valley, the lower section follows the Tame once you get beyond Romiley and the Woodley Tunnel. Somewhere in the Stockport area the 2 rivers combine to form the Mersey which is just as well. Can you imagine Ferry Cross the Goyt sending Gerry and the Pacemakers to stardom?
We have only had a couple of hours on the go today and are now tied up just shy of Portland Basin, where the Peak Forest, the Ashton and the Huddersfield Narrow canals all come together. All in all, not a bad spot if you don't mind tip toeing through goose poop!

Elaine holding on whilst I look for a Sky signal

It's quite an interesting spot, largely due to the free museum in the canalside warehouse, built in 1832, burnt down partially in 1972 but now housing some fascinating exhibits allowing you to look back at housing, schooling, shopping, working, drinking and praying in the past.
We took in the museum after stocking up on provisions plus kindling and logs - another 4 miles walked, half under burden as we carted our goods back to the boat. Must be doing us some good, surely?
Tomorrow, we head towards Manchester. Hopefully, we can moor in Piccadilly Village but there's probably only room for 2 boats so we will cross our fingers. If we are lucky we'll over night there then go straight through Manchester the next day. If not, it's all the way to Castlefield Basin in what would probably be a 10 hr day so it will be an early start tomorrow just in case.
We had never intended completing the Cheshire Ring as we didn't want to do what has always been known as a very dodgy part of the route. In the Seventies when the route was opened Police would on occasion escort boats down the flight, such was the threat of trouble from locals. However, we simply don't have time to go all the way back as we have to be in Leigh by the end of the month. I'm sure that things have improved massively, not least because of the amount of regeneration that has taken place throughout East Manchester. That said, we don't want to overnight on the flight in case someone decides it would be a hoot to drain the pound. The paddle gear is handcuffed but that has never stopped the yobs in Wigan and we have no reason to think this is any better.
So, it's up and at 'em tomorrow with a packed lunch at the ready - no stopping allowed!

The Marple Flight

Having returned to Disley on Saturday we stayed put yesterday. Well, the boat stayed put but we went to Westhoughton for a christening. It was quite an adventure on the railways - Disley to Piccadilly, Piccadilly to Oxford Road then Oxford Road to Daisy Hill and all for £17.70. Bargain!
Today we tackled the locks at Marple, then threw in an aqueduct and two small tunnels for good measure. The 16 locks drop you a total of 208ft and weren't much fun to be honest.

The gear was very stiff and on the first few locks I couldn't get off to give Elaine a hand. Also, most of the locks leaked quite badly. Here's a picture of one that didn't leak as I descended

Unfortunately, most of them were like this

As you go down you risk a bit of a dunking from the water pouring through the walls. I don't know how you could stay dry in a 70ft boat - at least I could move about a bit to avoid the worst of it.
It wasn't all bad, of course. Here is the horse shaped tunnel under the road at lock 9 with Oldknowe's Warehouse, now converted to offices

I was able to get off the boat and help out lower down the flight but, as usual, almost all of the work fell on Elaine.
Speaking of falling, we were warned as we got to Marple Aqueduct.

It's a long way down with no fence on one side!

After this were the tunnels at Hyde Bank and Woodley

and we finally called it a day somewhere between Romiley and Hyde. Tomorrow we'll get to the Ashton canal then will probably descend into Manchester the day after. That'll be a minimum of 18 locks, possibly 29 if we can't moor up at Piccadilly Village. Poor Elaine!

Bugsworth Basin

I thought I'd get this out of the way early as we wait to peg the washing out then hit the trail for a walk. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so

Looking back at the Gauging Lock and Canal House

Lottie in the Lower Basin

The Middle Basin

Ruins of the lime shed in the Middle Basin arm

View from the start of the Tramway Trail

There are lots of exhibits, sign, etc telling you all about the heyday of the basin

Such was the level of activity here with wagons falling by gravity the six miles from the quarries at Dove Holes, unloading into the waiting boats plus the lime kilns burning non stop and belching out sulphurous smoke that today it is a picture of tranquility, right? Well, it would be apart from the damned A6 dual carriageway beyond the trees. What a racket! Still, we have plenty of room to spread out, so it isn't all bad. We have the washing line, windbreak, table and chairs all out plus the obligatory BBQ

We will walk it off today!

Hope that explains a bit about the basin but I have to go now, there's a guy trying to reverse past us making a right mess of it!

Busy bees today

Last night at Sasso was very good indeed and it's such a deceiving place. The entrance into a small front room of a terraced building in no way prepares you for what awaits as you climb the stairs. I had previously read reviews wherein the word Tardis was used and it is entirely appropriate. They could cater for a hundred people easily and it was certainly busy enough, especially for a Wednesday evening.
As we walked back along the towpath the street lights were visible on the far side of the valley and it was a fitting end to our day. I know the pictures don't come close to capturing the reality but at least by including them we can look back and remember how good it looked. The rest of you will have to take our word for it or use your imagination!

We rose early today as we had to use the services at Whaley Bridge, then visit their local Tesco, then get set up in Bugsworth Basin and get some washing on, so we were on the move just after eight this morning.
This next picture may be uninspiring but, as it's the Swizzels Matlow confectionary works, the smell was enough to start tooth decay!

As we continued, I snapped away at anything that caught my eye, either one the canal

"Play it nice and cool ,Trig"

Seen lots of this, thankfully all dead

Or off it

Viaduct over the Goyt

With all of our servicing and shopping done we eventually made it to Bugsworth where a very helpful chap met us, gave us a visitor leaflet and a bit of introductory info

I'll post more on the basin tomorrow after I've explored a bit.