Anne’s Bridge to Thurlwood Bridge

The aim for the day was to start climbing up the Cheshire Locks, Heartbreak Hill, with the hope of reaching Lock 49 Halls Lock where the tow path changes sides. Here Mick would be able to check out the depth of the canal before deciding whether to don his waders again. Yesterday, as there had been nothing noticeable around the bow thruster prop with a pole, Mick decided to try another fuse in the bow thruster. A quick blast of a second worked, but when he tried using it for the third time it didn’t sound so healthy and blew the fuse again! So what ever is stopping the bow thruster from working hasn’t disappeared by itself. We only have one last fuse left.

A couple of boats passed us in the rain as we had a leisurely breakfast, we had no intention of getting wet. The rain stopped around 10am and the skies were brightening up by 10.30, so we pushed off. Wheelock water point was full with a boat, pulling another boat that was pulling another boat. Glad we didn’t need water so we could be ahead of them in the locks as it looked like they would need two. A short distance on was NB Seyella, they passed us last year on the Leeds Liverpool when we were on Lillian. Geoff was about and we wished him good luck running the Manchester Half Marathon next month.

We gradually worked our way up the locks. Obviously there was a boat or two ahead of us as even though the locks are mostly paired they often were both full. But boats soon appeared coming down resetting them for us. One Viking Afloat Hire boat had a crew with yellow t-shirts on to match the livery. Maybe they always hire yellow boats. By now the sun was out and extra layers were not needed, a good day to be doing the locks.

One boat coming down told us that three single handers were following them, so leaving a gate open would be helpful to them. I passed this onto Mick as it would be him closing up the locks after Oleanna had risen, as I would have gone on ahead to the next one. We don’t mind leaving gates for boats that are in view, but you never know if people have stopped for the day or a pint. A helpful chap walking the towpath in Berko once told us that the coal boat and butty were on their way, so to leave the gates for them, they turned out to be half a mile away and winding when we got to them. As I walked ahead I said I’d signal if someone was on their way down, but no boat was insight so Mick closed the gate.

By lock 59 you can see the M6 ahead. The red shoulders of the helmsperson in front of us could just be seen passing under the bridge of stationary traffic. These were then replaced by white shoulders coming towards us, so I topped up the lock next to ours and opened the gate for them, by the time Oleanna had risen the second of the single handers was arriving, so at least we helped them there. At Lock 58 two more single handers were working their way down, so I closed the paddles and gates for them both so that they wouldn’t have to stop. Mick has never believed me that there is a pink church here, so here it is in it’s corrugated glory.

The cafe/shop/house at Lock 57 has been sold since we last passed and the 57 varieties tin sign has gone. Pausing for some lunch we decided that we should stop earlier than planned, the second mate didn’t get to go out yesterday so we could try to make up for that today. Another two locks before a long pound, our ideal mooring had already been taken. Second choice ended up being rejected on Cat Health and safety grounds, then we managed to get into the side a short distance away from the next lock. We could have carried on to Rode Heath where there is plenty of mooring, but there are also plenty of dogs.

Just as we got the pram cover up and opened the doors for Tilly the heavens opened, sideways. Tilly rushed back in to inform me of the situation leaving her damp paw prints everywhere before turning and venturing further afield. I then gave the floors a good wash.

This evening I had a message from my friend Julia saying that she would like some more bags as the three I sent have all sold to one lady in Dallas. Good job I got some more fabric in Manchester, looks like I’ll be ripping it up sooner than originally thought.

12 locks, 4.28 miles, 1 leisurely breakfast, 0 puppies, 2 questions answered, 3 familiar boats, 4 single handers, 0 mph on the M6 eastbound, 0 varieties, 3rd mooring lucky, 4 whole hours! 3 bags sold, 1 sad gits squash risotto, 1 fantastic sunset.

Bramble Cuttings to Anne’s Bridge

A slight mist in the the cutting this morning gave it an ethereal feeling. But Tilly was more captured by the squirrels busily hoarding the acorns to take in the atmosphere. I’d just like to point out that Max can only stay here for two days, where as I can stay here as long as I like.

Surprisingly we weren’t kept awake by too much falling on the roof over night. Luckily any apples that fell missed us, however the roof had a good covering of leaves that needed sweeping off before we got going for the day. The apples were tantalisingly close, so Mick tried to pick some with the aid of the boat hook, sadly those that he dislodged just fell into the cut to gradually drift by.

We were soon below Big Lock and filling with water after dropping off rubbish at the recycling centre. A boat came past, but as we didn’t know how long it would take to fill the tank they carried on up without us. Big Lock had to be closed last week for them to mend paddles, this must have been what held Blackbird up, apparently tempers frayed when a boat seemed to try to queue jump. However today there were no queues and we soon got moored up to be able to go shopping. The fridge and freezer were just about empty and with only one apple and an onion we desperately needed to restock. So we filled four bags at Tescos and plan to have a delivery somewhere in the next few days.

The Middlewich Locks were manned again by volunteers. We had to wait for one boat to come down before we could start our journey up and swapped each lock passing a boat in each short pound. When we reached the top there was another hire boat waiting to go down with another boat pulling in behind. This boat was very familiar. I walked up to say hello to Pat and Roy AKA Mr and Mrs Blue Boat. Our paths have crossed over the last couple of years on the Huddersfield Narrow, Stainforth and Keadby, last winter up on the Macc a few times. They of course didn’t recognise us as we are no longer yellow. At first Pat thought we’d had Lillian repainted, but then the penny dropped that we were on a new boat. A quick chat and introduction before we were on our way again up to the junction.

Here is very familiar territory to us. The junction was quite quiet for a change. There was a boat treading water in front of Kings Lock who moved out of the way for Oleanna to come past, it turned out that it was Pablo who had been the caretaker at Bugsworth Basin last Christmas when we were there. It being a sunny afternoon there were plenty of people watching at the lock with pints in hand and the queue at the Fish and Chip shop had already started even though they weren’t open yet.

This next stretch is the one that we did most on our shareboat just after picking her up from Elton Moss. All very familiar, but something was missing. The swans! There used to be a huge mass of them in this next pound, a fence was erected to keep them off the road, but today not one! Well there was just one a short while further along. The Thai Restaurant at Rumps Lock is actually open now. The building was having scaffolding removed. Over the years we’ve seen most of the building reroofed and have various makeovers, reviews seem to be good for the food, I wonder if any boaters have eaten there?

On up past the new housing estates to Nice Lock. Lock 67 was more often than not our first (and last, nasty!) lock on picking NB Winding Down up from base. So it was time to introduce Oleanna to a lock. They seemed to get on well.

It was now getting late and did we want to risk reaching Wheelock and there be no room. The towpath opposite the old Carefree Cruising base  is being upgraded and is closed, so we decided to push on further. The moorings all look rather sad on the off side and a static caravan sits where the office used to be. At the end of ‘Arties backyard’ now stands his new house/mansion, with circular lawn and upright swimming pool. All very smart, just let down by the overgrown surroundings.

We pulled in a bit of the way after the railway bridges and the line of mooring rings. We’ll sit the rain out in the morning before starting to make our way up the locks.

9 locks, 6.9 miles, 1 straight on, 1 last broad lock this year, 0 apples, 21th, 2 boxes wine, 1 blue boat, 1 caretaker, Lock 67! 2 introductions, 1 mansion, 7m circular lawn, 1 sad old base, 1 wild mooring, 4th sock started.

Marston Bridge to Tilly Bramble Cuttings

As we passed the chemical works this morning it seemed as though they were dismantling parts of it. A large crane was waiting patiently for the next section and a large gap had been cut through the pipe filled structure. Last time when we passed there were chaps painting one of the pipe bridges and there was still plenty of steam rising, so it is still operational.

At one of the flashes work was continuing on building a new marina. Pile driving for pontoons was happening and there was the start to a building. It seems to be a one person development, so no wonder progress is slow. In years to come this section of the T & M will change, with HS2 and a new marina. We’re glad to have known it as it was and enjoyed mooring over looking the expanse of water that will, eventually, be filled with boats listening to the high speed trains.

Up ahead we could see a boat that seemed to be having some trouble in the wind. He had plenty of revs on, but was making very slow progress. Maybe something round his prop. At the next flash Mick put his foot down and passed with ease, dawdling in the wind at tick over was proving tricksy. The chap said his boat had a poorly engine but didn’t need any assistance, really hope they aren’t heading far as it’s going to cost them a fortune in diesel!

Under Bridge 177, Murder Bridge, and around a few twists. There was Bramble Cuttings, two boats were moored up leaving a space for Oleanna in the middle. We pulled in and looked upwards. Three trees overhang this mooring, an Ash (no problem), an Apple (tasty) and an Oak (full to the brim with acorns!). I’ve not really noticed the amount of Oak trees on the northern part of the T & M before, but at this time of year they remind you of their existence. Cruising along we’ve had acorns plopping into the cut all around us. At the stop lock you couldn’t help but crunch them under foot. Here they will be dropping on our roof.

We filled the afternoon quite happily. Tilly was in heaven, plenty of trees to claim, friendly cover and holes to put her arms down. I collected some kindling to dry out before returning to some knitting and Mick decided to have a go at clearing the bow thruster.

Now that we are moored port side in, it is easier to reach the prop of the bow thruster as it is off centre in the tube. Mick lay on his back to undo the nuts that hold the grill in place, looking like he had a problem. His tongue was working very hard! How he wished we had a weed hatch for the bow thruster. With one nut undone and the other partly undone he could move the grill out of the way to gain access to the tube. Using the prop mate he couldn’t feel anything around the prop, getting closer would help. Time for the waders!

Now I did ask if he’d like assistance with them, I could see a life jacket moment coming, with twisted straps, but he said he was okay. They did look odd, then I realised that he’d got the strap that stop the braces from slipping down your shoulders at the front instead of the back. He checked the depth of water, really quite deep, sat on the edge, but then stopped. If he got in would he ever get back out again? Would he have to walk to find somewhere shallower to be able to climb out? Would the depth of water mean that as he leant over to access the tube that the waders would fill up with water? All these questions, only one solution, that was not to bother today. Maybe we should head back to the Lancaster where the depth of water wouldn’t be a problem at all.

By late afternoon it started to rain, we lit the stove and spent the evening listening to the pitter patter of rain on the roof along with Donk, Donk! DONK! from the acorns!

0 locks, 5.99 miles, 1 driven pile, 1 slow boat, 0 woofers at the cutting, 1st pair of socks, 5 hours, 79 trees climbed, 32 holes explored, 1 bow thruster hole unsuccessfully explored, 1 pair waders, 2 nuts, 75537499 acorns on the roof!

Shhhhhh! to Marston Bridge, Trent and Mersey

Slowly and quietly we inched our way past the Science Park hoping that we hadn’t caught their attention too much over night. The milk bar looked like they were serving chocolate and strawberry flavour this morning, but we weren’t too sure as it was secret!

As there wasn’t quite enough time to reach Preston Brook Tunnel for the next passage southwards we pulled in at Midland Chandlers. All we wanted was a new pump out key, but it took quite a while for us to find one. The key does a lot more than open up a pump out tank, which we don’t have. This will open the diesel filler cap, the cap to our yellow water tank and fresh water tank. The one we had has got warn over the last three years and was starting to be awkward when opening the diesel cap. With a new one in hand we were off again.

Three boats came towards us as we got near the northern portal, there’s only a ten minute window to enter the tunnel in each direction each hour. The last boat to come past us was NB Tuksumgetin that we’d come out from Liverpool with in May 2012. They wouldn’t recognise us as we were on our share boat back then and without their boat we wouldn’t have known them either. So we just smiled and said hello. With a minute left till our window of entry we carried on into the tunnel, you can see through it and it was clear.

As we were nearing the southern end we could hear an engine behind us, a boat had sneaked in a few minutes late. But as the passage only took 15 minutes they were clear just in time for the waiting boats. The stop lock was overflowing as always, with only about two inches height difference it just doesn’t seem worth having anymore. On we pootled now away from the ticking clock of the Bridgewater Canal and back on C&RT waters. We heard the other day that NB Blackbird had done the whole of the Bridgewater within 24 hours (including sleeping time). The day after they left us they did from Astley Green to Lion Salt Works in a 12.5 hour cruise, we reckon 33 miles. They were on a mission, wonder if they were even recorded as being on the Bridgewater?

A brief pause at Dutton breach site for lunch and we were off again.

Along a stretch of permanent moorings we came across a flotilla of canoes and ribs. They all moved over to the sides where they could and we passed by as slowly as we could. Five canoes and four ribs, one of which had a camera crew on board. Turns out that they were doing the Great Canoe Challenge in aid of Stand UpTo Cancer. Over five days they are paddling from Chester to Liverpool. They all seemed in good spirits with quite a distance to go. Wonder if they got to go through Preston Brook Tunnel?

A large section of towpath was closed ahead. Soon we could see why. The large concrete edging seems to have been undermined in areas and is falling into the canal. Two chaps were busy drilling holes and gluing large hoops into each section. They told us that these were so that each section could be lifted. Will they be replaced with armco, or just made stable? We’ll see the next time we pass.

Next came Saltersford Tunnel where the entry is timed again. We arrived bang on so could go straight in. There is no chance of seeing through this tunnel as it twists around so much. Then after a brief bit of grey sunlight we approached the entrance to Barnton Tunnel. This one also has a kink in the middle, but standing on the bow you get a brief glimpse through. I could hear an engine before I could see through, with no tunnel light showing we followed what sounded like an old work boat. As we had reached about 2/3s of the way I could hear another engine, then a tunnel light. Hang on! Mick beeped the horn and we could hear reverse gear had been engaged along with a lady saying ‘I thought I could see a boat’! They reversed out of the way and let us through.

Around the top of the Anderton Boat lift was almost empty, but the work boat we’d followed was just finishing winding and about to turn into the lift to go down onto the Weaver. We carried on, pausing to drop off our mountain of rubbish at the services. We were glad we didn’t want water as there was a lady sitting knitting in her boat at the end of the mooring and a hire boat at the other end, who was filling up. No space for us. As we pulled away the hire boat followed, maybe a little bit too closely! A gap showed itself before the Lion Salt Works so we pulled over just as a boat went past. The hire boat slammed on his reverse and somehow managed to avoid hitting either boat. Maybe he won’t sit quite so closely to someone’s stern again.

My bags arrived in Hebden Bridge today, had their photos taken and are now on sale. Here’s link a to Julia’s Etsy shop gatheredfoundmade if you fancy one for a Christmas present.

Tilly was allowed out, it took a few minutes for her to find a gap under the wooden fencing to be able to reach the trees behind. Then she was gone. An hour and a half passed, we were due to meet people at the pub at 6. Still no cat. Mick went ahead to see if Andy and Nichola wanted to come back to the boat for a drink. Still no Tilly. Mick returned, he’d wait for Tilly and I could go to the pub as we were moored too far away for Nichola to walk. This would be unfair, so we took a deep breath and made the decision to lock up, leaving one of the outer doors open should Tilly return. Hopefully she would.

We had a couple of hours catching up with Andy and Nichola from NB On The Fiddle sat outside the Salt Barge with their dogs. As soon as it got dark though we called it a day and returned to Oleanna.

So I was busy right! Far too much to do behind that wooden fence for just an hour and a half. After two hours I knew it was Ding Ding time, my tummy was telling me so. Jumping back onto the boat I waited for the back doors to open, I gave the ‘open sesame’ meow, then I waited , and I waited, and I waited. NOBODY WAS IN!!!!! How dare they go off. No key under the mat either! All I could do was go and see if I could fill my tummy elsewhere. This wasn’t very successful, my friends had all gone to bed. After another couple of hours I gave up and decided to give the doors another try. Tom was there about to check the ropes! Thank goodness.

1 lock, 11.08 miles, 3 tunnels, 6 mysterons, 5 canoes, 5 celebs, 2 cameras, 100 hours longer to do same trip as Blackbird, 2 hours, 4 hours extra unwanted, 0 key, 2 crew who don’t care! 3.5 pints, 1 awol cat, 2 nervous boaters, 2 relieved boaters, 1 sulking Tilly.

Castlefield to Dunham Massey

With our cinema tickets we got vouchers for 50% off our next visit if it was within the next couple of weeks. Dunkirk took our fancy, but with only one showing today at 6.30pm we decided not to bother. We could stay another day but just for the sake of saving £5 and spending £5! So after a slow start we pushed off and made our way out of Manchester.

As we turned out of the basin a Waxi (Water Taxi) was just setting off from it’s mooring at the bottom of Lock 92. He waited for us to pass the trip boats and a boat heading into the basin before we waved him past. Suspect he would have passed us anyway seeing the size of his outboard. Within a minute he was out of sight and heading to the Trafford Centre. They run a service seven days a week between Castlefield, Trafford Centre and Sale along with a service to Media City in Salford across the quays. At £8 a single it’s not cheap.

At Waters Meeting we turned left continuing our journey southwards. This is familiar water to us. At the Linotype Works the development is starting to grow. I wonder what it’ll look like the next time we pass, will it be similar to the W N Nicholson facades in Newark that stand supported by modern buildings behind? Not sure when we’ll be passing this way next, maybe not till late next year, so the site will have changed a lot by then.

We stopped on the embankment overlooking Dunham Massey to let Tilly have free reign for the afternoon. As soon as green was visible from the cabin windows she was chomping  to be out, at least it would save her chomping the curtains! This is now the third time we’ve moored here and on Sundays there are a lot of walkers and cyclists. As we pulled up a young lady asked if Oleanna was like a house, only with very small doors. She then went on to say that here was very isolated. With the amount of footfall here it certainly doesn’t feel like it, although by late afternoon they had all headed back home and left the views to us and the embankment to Tilly.

0 locks, 10.5 miles, 2 lefts, 1 waxi, 1 parcel ready to send, 1 London Leckenby catch up, 1st knitted sock, 1st heel turned, 4 hours of pouncing on a slope, 8 cumberland sausages from Glasson, 3 2 full tummies.

Boothstown Basin to Castlefield

Just as we were about to push off this morning a boat appeared around the bend behind us, that dilemma should we give Oleanna a big shove and get moving or cling onto the ropes and wait for them to pass. They were quite a distance behind so I urged us to get a move on. It turned out to be the right decision as they were much slower than us. We’d got the hose out and were starting to fill the water tank long before they passed us at Worsley. It was a hire boat having some training before they were sent off on their own.

As we approached Parrin Lane Bridge I messaged ahead to an old work friend who lives right by the M602 fly over. Today she and her husband were suffering with lurgies so we wouldn’t get chance to meet up. Last year when we passed they had just bought their house and it was moving day, on our way to Liverpool a couple of months ago Cat was on a hen weekend. Today we got a wave from Kevin, but Cat had had to pop out, so we even missed a wave from her this time. We now know where we can stop, so next time hopefully we’ll get to see each other.

Another mile on and spotting some rings we pulled in. This was close to a fishing tackle shop, no Mick hasn’t taken up a new hobby after seeing yesterdays catch, but he wanted a pair of waders. Wearing these he hopes to be able to unblock the bow thruster and save us the cost of lifting Oleanna out of the water. Photos will be taken.

The skies were starting to get darker, so we decided to have a late lunch and press on to Castlefield. Barton Swing Aqueduct was open for passage so we followed another boat across and made our way gradually to Waters Meeting where the canal branches off towards the centre of Manchester and the bottom of the Rochdale Nine. It was a damp three mile cruise. After all the containers at the Freight Terminal there is Old Trafford Football ground. Behind the dark glazing of the new Hotel Football people waved to us from the dry. Past Pomona Tram Station, the flyover that we’d seen being painted is now covered in graffiti. Then the final approach to the basin with it’s criss crossing rail bridges and red brick buildings.

It looked like the arm would be full as there were so many boats moored by the bottom of the locks. But as we rounded the bend we could see gaps. The first one is now a permanent mooring, but on the car park side there was plenty of space. So we winded and found ourselves suitable rings to moor up without leaving git gaps.

Being in the centre of the city we decided that we’d go to the theatre. After checking to see what was on where, we opted to go to HOME and see  People, Places & Things.

HOME opened a couple of years ago and we’d never been. A warm inviting building tucked away behind the railway only a few minutes walk from Castlefield. Their ushers could do with a bit more training, knowing where seats are (as most of their audience does) might help. Our seats were on the end of a row in the circle, however this was a problem with a lady who followed us into the theatre, well it would be to her husband! It turned out that when they booked their tickets the end three seats were not being sold, he always wants to sit at the end of a row. But as the theatre filled up it looks like the end seats were released for sale, why not if people want to see the show. As far as I’m aware no Box Office will be aware of why you chose particular seats in the first place, so they don’t automatically move you.

Mick offered to swap seats, no problem to us, we’d end up with better sight lines. This took a bit of convincing, but eventually she got the hang of it. Then her husband came in and we waited to be accused of sitting in his seat. Instead of saying Thank you, sitting down and enjoying the play, he complained to the usher that he’d been told the end seats were not going to be sold. One of those moments were you just want to say, “Well they have been, someone has kindly swapped so you are sitting where you originally wanted to. Sit down, shut up and I hope you enjoy the play, Sir!” Instead the usher kept pointing along the row not taking any note of what was being said.

But what of the play? Written by Duncan Macmillan, Designed by Bunny Christie, a Headlong and National Theatre production we were in for a treat. It turned out that we were seeing it on it’s first preview before a tour (cheap tickets). Two years ago the play got five star reviews, played at the National Theatre and in the West End. The reviews were well deserved and Lisa Dwyer Hogg must be exhausted after giving such a performance. She plays the part of Emma, an actress, who to get her through modern life has taken to drink and drugs, she has ended up in rehab. First she has to admit that she has a problem, but to her she is not the problem, everything else is! Emma ends up practising/rehearsing for real life. As an actor you always know where the play will take you, yet Emma has no idea what consequences telling the truth will bring.

A great production and reassuring that even a NT production can still have that actor who pulls scenery into position until it will go no further! I could feel the designers wince as a bathroom sink wobbled away. He’ll manage to put the truck on it’s mark without hitting it, one day.

0 locks, 8.54 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 waving Kevin, 0 Cat, 1 aqueduct crossed, size 10 waders, 1 puncture repair kit, £110 saved, 1 left, 1 wind, 3 raining miles, £10 tickets a bargain, 13 strong cast, 2 nearly free chilled medication tubs, 1 cracking show, 5 doubles, 1 wobbly bathroom sink, 1 outside not worth sniffing!

Plank Lane to after Boothstown Basin, Bridgewater Canal

A very wet start to the day, glad we weren’t on a mission. We woke early in case Gary returned with our cratch cover, however he arrived in a lull in the rain shortly before 10am. The straps to hold the rolled openings up have been shortened and moved higher, which means that they will now sit as high as they can giving us the maximum opening to get in and out. The press studs that had been squashed in the lock have been replaced and the slight hole has been mended and reinforced. This has been done to both sides of the cover so that they match. We just need to remember to have the cover rolled up when entering locks so as to avoid it getting damaged in future. Gary left us with a pocket full of fixings and rivets should we manage to damage any of them. Thank you Gary, a speedy repair and alteration all done within 24hrs, it helped being on their doorstep.

Another hour before Mick decided to brave the rain. We pushed off and pootled along in the drizzle, Mick with brolli in hand, me down below knitting. When the towpath appeared on both sides Mick pulled over and tied the centre rope. Here we could empty our yellow water tank without having to balance on wet gunnels. Once empty we carried on to Leigh where normally there is a line of moored boats just before bridge 11 where the Leeds Liverpool turns into the Bridgewater Canal. But there was only one boat, so we pulled up to pay a visit to Tescos for some fresh fruit and veg. The above building caught my eye. It was canteen/waiting room/office for the Lancashire United Tramways and used to be twice as big, designed to resemble a tram in the 1930s.

The day was drying up now, a few more miles before we wanted to stop for the day.

Passing under the East Lancs Road Bridge a couple of workmen pointed out a fisherman up ahead who’d just landed a big fish. Sure enough the chap was wrestling with it in his landing net and removing the hook. What was it? It was big, almost orange, a Koi Carp possibly? As we passed the chap he held it up, weighing it in his hands. As you can see it really was that big! Sadly he has no record of it and I can assure you that he did put it back in.

On we pootled, waiting to see if work was now complete on Vicars Hall Bridge. It was and wouldn’t look out of place in a lego set. One local has already tried to improve it by adding their tag.

We pulled in roughly where we’d moored when we came out this way a couple of months ago. Trees on both sides, the M60 only just audible and a great place for Tilly for a few hours before dark.

0 locks, 6.6 miles, 4 straps higher up, 1 pocket full of rivets, £0, 1 empty yellow tank, 1 half full cellar, 1 very big gold fish, 1 quiet mooring, 7.5 miles to Manchester.

Fishers Swing Bridge to Plank Lane Bridge 8, Leigh Branch

Another early start for us. Below the next lock, Dean Lock, there is a water point that we wanted to make use off. We were moored up, filling the tank and having breakfast by 8.30. With filled tank and tummies we worked our way up the lock on our own, no Blackbird to keep us company now, so the use of the centre rope and a lot of walking round to work the paddles.

At 9.45 we were pulling up and banging spikes in opposite Crooke Hall Inn. There were fisher men starting to congregate in the pub car park and we were asked if we’d be staying. Yes, but maybe not for long, was our reply. Our stay did turn out to be short as our towpath meeting with Gary happened almost straight away. Cruising close to All Seasons Covers for a couple of days is handy, I’d messaged Gary yesterday and arranged to meet him on his way back from a job this morning. We chatted through the alteration we wanted, undid the cover and off he went, all in 20 minutes of mooring up.

Just as the kettle was about to be put on a boat came past heading towards Wigan, our morning cuppa put on hold so that we could catch them up to partner through the locks, good timing. NB Zelda was the boat that had arrived at the Deep Lock yesterday just as we were going up. They were heading in the same direction as us at Wigan so we could share the four locks up and the two down the other side.

Thankfully the water levels at Pagefield Lock were good today. The last time we came in this direction the pound above was almost empty, but today the water was flowing over the bywash. This meant that Mick didn’t have to get the polishing cloth out and clean Oleanna’s mushroom vents as there wouldn’t be several hours of waiting for the level to rise.

The lady stood by the pier just looks more bored everytime we pass and the little chap over looking the bridge always has to have his photo taken, he’s one of my favourite canal side sculptures. I snapped his photo from a distance only later this evening did I realise that someone has de-cap-itated him! He used to wear a flat cap, but this has now gone. Poor poor fellow, he’s going to have a very chilly head this winter, maybe I should knit him a bobble hat and send it to the council.

Around the bend there is a new pontoon near to where C&RT have moved. Handy to get on and off your boat before the next lock. Except my key wouldn’t work in one of the padlocks and Mr Zelda had difficulty at the other gate but succeeded in the end. There was a group sat here with a couple of dogs that liked the sound of their own barking. It’s a good job I’m not scared of dogs as one bounded up to say hello and then gave my arm a nip. ‘Sorry love, he’s just saying hello’, And checking out that I tasted good!

Both boats turned right onto the Leigh Branch and worked our way down through the last two locks for some miles. At last we could now have that cuppa. The branch and the Bridgewater are wide and deep so it felt like we were zooming along. The low hanging foliage we’d cut our way through on our way up was now gone. By 1.30pm I turned the key of power on the panel to work Plank Lane bridge. At this time of day there isn’t masses of traffic and I even found a gap with not one vehicle visible to set the operation going, I still held up a few. Mick pulled Oleanna into the side and we moored up for the day. Here we will meet with Gary again in the morning.

It’s the third time we’ve stopped here. It’s good, plenty of friends to play with, just have to watch out for the woofers. Nowadays she always says that I’m ‘not to bring friends home, dead or alive’. She has never mentioned anything about the roof though, although Tom didn’t seem too pleased. It wasn’t going to be much of a party, I’d only got one friend up there before I was closed in again.

7 locks, 9.69 miles, 1 right. 1 lift holding up 18, 1 solo lock, 6 shared, –1 cap, –1 cratch cover, 1 afternoon of showers, 1 very wet cat, 1 roof party thwarted, 3rd bag completed.