Backing out round the bend into the canal, with Ancoats Mill in the background
Benign looking park
Before reaching our first lock of the day, no.82 below Victoria Mill.
Complicated and differing security measures, requiring the use of an anti-vandal key plus chain winding bottom gates on some locks didn't make working the locks any easier
Lying against the top gates of lock 82, preventing them opening were a deflated rubber raft, 1/4 filled with water and a full size fridge. Both of which had to be removed using the boat hook and the combined muscle power of Tim and Margy before we could operate the lock. Floating just out of sight was a chest freezer than when Tim and Mike opened the ground paddles, floated down and jammed against the gate. This too required removing from the canal before the gates could be opened for A.Beatha to proceed.
And this was lock 1 for the day and pretty much set the tone for the rest of the long, long day. Low pounds were another cause of delay and a couple of occasions necessitated Lawrence using the boat pole to push himself free when he'd run aground, or got caught up on a shopping trolley, of which there were plenty in the canal.
We soon learnt that it was best to send someone on ahead to let water from the lock and pound above into the pound which A.Beatha was about to traverse, which helped, but not all the time.
Only one gate or ground paddle working on some of the locks also slowed our progress.
The deepest lock of the day, Coalpit Higher Lock, at 11'3". Whatever he was a long way down!
Canada Goose, with her goslings which was stuck in a half emptied lock. And which also held up our progress as I slowly let the water out of the lock and carefully opened the gate to let the gosling out before L brought A.Beatha in.
Most bottom gates had hanging gardens adorning them - another sure sign of neglect
It had to happen, with all the detritus in the canal and the low pounds getting stuff wrapped around the propeller and shaft was a no brainer. Down the weed hatch and above his elbow in freezing water.
It took approx 20 minutes to free this lot from the propeller and shaft and another 10 for Lawrence to wash and thaw.
Tim and Mike working A.Beatha through the lock in the far distance, as I am letting water in to the pound from the lock above.
All very excited, Mike mistakenly informed us this was the last lock of the day.
Unfortunately there were another two to go. But at least we seem to heading back into the land of the houseproud!
Moorhen with chicks on her nest and a Canada good on hers on the right
Entering lock 65 which meant we were nearly through Failsworth, and the end of the 'don't stop here, whatever you do' zone.
We came out of lock 65 just after 1.00pm and moored up on the lock moorings for some lunch (L believing it was safe to do so because dog walkers were reappearing along the towpath and he'd spotted a number of white fluffies). Soup and a sandwich and very welcome they were too.
Heading off again we'd barely got 150metres down the pound and it was down the weedhatch again!
Detritus somebody else, probably a magnet fisher, has pulled out of the canal
These two Canada Geese stayed in front of us for about a mile, taking of and landing, then with much squawking taking off and landing again and again.
Bridge 75A, the first electric lift bridge of this trip, where we get to stop the motor traffic and they have to wait for us! L very excited as it is the first horizontal lift bridge we have come across on our narrowboat journeys.
Lock 64, positively the last lock of the day and we were all very much looking forward to stopping
Still going past old mill buildings at regular intervals
At 4.45pm we reached the first 'safe' moorings since leaving Manchester. Here we are moored up just past the Irk Aqueduct at Chadderton.
Looking over the aqueduct
And the first lock for the morrow only 100 metres ahead.
After a short flop we roused ourselves and walked back down the towpath to the Rose of Lancaster (oh yes, forgot to mention we are now in Lancaster where they say oop for up and suchlike) where we had a well earned delicious dinner (neither Tim or I could find fault!).
After GBP23 million being spent on restoring this stretch of the canal in 2002, it feels as tho' it might be sliding back into dereliction. There is no way Lawrence and I would have made it through the 16 lock, no safe moorings zone on our own. I now understand why so many boaters are reluctant to take on this part of the Rochdale Canal. Only one more no moor zone to negotiate - Rochdale itself!
PS was very jealous of the sunny day the CKC had for their paddle yesterday. Lovely pics.
8 miles, 18 broad locks, 1 lift bridge, 9 hours
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