A post 10.00am start was the result. The poo tank gauge is showing half full and my first task of the day was to try and convince L we should have a pump out and waterfill at the marina we would soon be passing because pump out places are few and far between over the next week or so. I failed. Im telling you this because if the situation becomes desperate, I want witnesses!
The next water point was Worsley, an upmarket village (suburb) of Manchester. I took the opportunity to use what turned out to be the last of the water on a shower and hair wash as we motored along. At last we have learnt that with 4 of us on board our water supply only lasts 3 days.
After I was dressed again and all clean and sparkling, I popped my head out of the boat to find we had reached Worsley.
And we were breasted up to our lock buddies from yesterday, Mira and Ian waiting our turn at the water point.
Waiting while we fill, that's Ian on the roof of his boat
What with waiting for the water point and the shitty (sorry Jean) English water pressure, we were there for nearly an hour and a half. Mike and Tim took the opportunity to have a nose around the village (their verdict: the sort of place where the dogs have collars and leads from Harrods); while Mira and I checked out each other's boats. We have a better living area but they have a freezer as well as a fridge.
With the water tank eventually full we said a final goodbye to Mira and Ian, they were heading up the Rochdale 9 (which have a far worse reputation than the Wigan 21). We set off again and within an hour we were crossing another of the 7 wonders of the waterways. The Barton Swing Aqueduct over the Manchester Ship Canal. Built in 1894, there are huge lock type gates which seal both ends of the 235' long, 1450 ton aqueduct that swings at right angles to the ship canal over a central island to let big sea going sea going ships to pass.
The car bridge downstream also swings
It replaced Brindleys earlier aqueduct, built in 1761 and which carried the canal in a trough over 650' long and 40' above the River Irwell - a wonder in its day.
Leaving the aqueduct
The next landmark to watch out for was the junction, Waters Meeting, where we had to turn right to head into the heart of Manchester.
This is what our Pearsons canal guide has to say
" Waters Meeting is a misleading Arcadian appellation for the benighted junction of the Bridgewater Canal's Leigh and Manchester lines.... Nowadays it's a gloomy spot where gangs gather, though don't let that deter you, mostly they are too absorbed in their own nefarious dealings to be a threat to canal travellers"
And here it is, not an undesirable in sight
Next landmark by which to mark our progress, the Manchester United Football Ground, with a game in progress as we cruised past
After the MU stadium came Pomona lock which leads down to the Manchester Ship Canal
Not far to go now. A right hand turn into the the Castlefield Arm, and here is our mooring
Within sight of the Hilton Hotel (we were right next door to it in Leeds)
Like yesterday we went out for a really late lunch. Steaks for the lads and I had an English take on Asian beef salad, very interesting, the beef strips were deep fried and the salad was coleslaw without the dressing!
We are somewhat forlorn tonight because Tim and Mike leave us tomorrow morning to start wending their way back to south Devon, and we finished the last of Jeans cake which is nearly as sad. Mike and Tims company has been very welcome and much enjoyed, as has their culinary skills and domestic prowess 🙂 . And I can't thank them enough for all their help with working the locks. As Katie observed "many hands makes light work of canal life"
10 miles, 0 locks 5 hrs (inc a very long waterfill)
No comments:
Post a Comment