Exploring Manchester

 Banjo moored in Castlefield Basin

It poored with rain all night and the morning dawned equally wet. We got our bearings and made plans to travel into the city centre on the Metrolink. We set off in the rain for the station.

 The Hilton towers over historic Castlefield

This is a very imposing building, even in the rain and quite spectacular at night.

 The tram we travelled on to Manchester centre

The tram into the centre was quick and very pleasant, There are three stations very close together in the centre. By the time we got off the rain had stopped,

 Manchester Town Hall

 A tram passing the Art Gallery

After walking through the main shopping street we headed to the Art Gallery passing the very imposing Town Hall. The Art Gallery was very good with some brilliant paintings and sculptures. One favourite was Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse - the colours and composition are lovely.

 Mr Thomas's Chop House- another lovely building

 Piccadilly Gardens

 Piccadilly Gardens

 A metal tree

 Pidgeons love trees regardless of their origins

 Geese passing Banjo.....

As we were unpacking the shopping these geese passed the boat on the pavement. We fed them and they were very appreciative, as were the pidgeons.

.....to where Angela had a loaf - yum!

We had a very good day - Manchester has an excellent array of interesting sights, architecture and shops. Looking at the barometer plummeting we may be here tomorrow! 

17 miles, virtually no rain and no locks - Brilliant!

 The Plank Lane lift bridge

We set off in glorious sunshine this morning, with the prospect of an easy run into the centre of Manchester. After yesterdays lock marathon, this looked like being a great day.

 Mining subsidence in evidence

We passed large areas of wetland on the canal which is raised up on an embankment for mile after mile. A lot of the lakes are formed as the result of mining subsidence - you get a real sense of the magnitude of the mining activity when you see these vast lakes.

 A canalside pub in Leigh

We passed through Leigh, stopping to re-fill with water and to remove a horrible tangle of plastic, rope and netting from the propeller. In Leigh, we finally left behind the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and moved onto the Bridgewater canal. The only real difference is that all of the British Waterways signage and bridge numbering stops at this point, and you have to resort to basic map reading skills to know where you are.

 The mining museum at Astley Green

 Beautiful house by orange canal

Somewhere around Astley, the canal stared to turn a bit yellow, As we got further on, the colour intensified until it was deep orange by the time we reached Worsley.

 A lighthouse?!

Just beyond this lighthouse, the canal returned to the usual brownish colour.

 Crossing the Manchester Ship Canal

We crossed over the Manchester Ship Canal on a swing aqueduct - an impressive feat of engineering. The view from here was equally impressive with Manchester in the distance and an almost sheer drop over the side of the boat to the canal below - the sides of the aqueduct are only a little higher than the water we were floating on!

 The Trafford Centre

We passed the enourmous Trafford shopping centre - totally underwhelming from the canal with very littly to show it exists apart from this gateway which fronts onto the canal where there are no moorings! They have obviously concluded that people on boats are not going to be buying sofas etc.!

 Old Trafford

As we got closer to the centre of Manchester, the scenery became somewhat desolate with massive areas of wasteland and crumbling factories. Standing out however, was Manchester United's ground at Old Trafford.

Moored tonight in the centre of Manchester

We made it into the Caslefield Basin in Manchester as a little rain fell, but after another day of almost perfect weather. There are loads of boats here and we could only just fit into this space, but it is pretty spectacular to be moored right in the centre here. It is a bit noisier here than last night out in the country, but we are looking forward to exploring tomorrow, albeit in what looks like torrential rain!

Descending 230 feet

 Horses sunbathing

Today started with this lovely sight - the three horses we were watching last night were partly hidden, lying down enjoying the early morning sunshine. We decided to set off early, to try to reach the Wigan flight in good time.

 Dogs swimming

Almost immediately we met this woman with her two black Labradors in the water. They each had an old plastic drinks bottle which they were constantly crunching, while they swam along as she walked. They were loving it and swam happily back and forth across the canal.

 Cows paddling

 Looking down the Wigan flight

We stopped for diesel and water at a boatyard, and then reached the top of the Wigan flight at about noon. We had a bite to eat and then set about the first lock. Alas there was no-one to share the load with and the locks appeared to be set against us - it was going to be a long afternoon. We gradually made our way down, meeting a couple of boats coming up on the way. As we got to lock number 12, two guys passing said that there was a boat a couple of locks ahead of us. Angela set off to catch them up to see if they would wait for us so that we could share the remaining locks. The guy on the boat was alone, but waiting for a mate to join him, and happy to wait for us. So, as we approaced lock 14, we joined John and James. After a spot of shopping at the local Spar, we were off agin, but now able to move more quickly and easily. After a few locks, we came to one which had a large group of youths swimming in it. As we pulled in. one of them jumped on Banjo and did a Titanic impression on the bow. Thankfully he got off again without further incident and the rest of the group were putting their clothes back on as we left!

 Grockles

We reached the bottom of the flight and then turned left onto the Leigh branch of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, where they last 2 locks for the day were soon upon us. Another large group gathered at the second lock, to watch what we were doing.

 A reservoir at sunset

Once clear of the locks we headed east past several reservoirs and nature reserves. It was a lovely end to a very energetic day, with loads of waterfowl and a beautiful sunset.

Tonight's mooring

 We moored up behind John and James and finally turned the engine off, 12 hours after we started it. Now we have to decide which way to head tomorrow - into Manchester or southward towards the Shropshire Union canal.

Locks, Hoodman and more locks

 Industrial Blackburn

We heared yesterday that Lee, our hood maker, would be meeting up with us today. However, we didn't know when or indeed, if, he would make it, and so we elected to make an early start towards Blackburn. So, we were moving just after 8am, and heading into the Blackburn environs.

 An old wharf in Blackburn

Loads of people have warned us to be wary of this section of canal, commonly referred to as bandit country! Whilst a lot of what we saw was crumbling old mills and houses, we didn't feel threatened at all. Whilst working a set of locks, Angela was approached by a couple of men drinking lager mid morning, but they were just interested in what she was doing. After a bit of windlass wielding, they concluded that Angela was far fitter than they were!

 The hood takes shape

We had a call from Hoodman, at about 11:30, to say he was approaching Blackburn. So, we needed to find somewhere accessible by road, where we could moor and where we could find a postcode for Hoodman's satnav! Luckily we found somewhere almost immediately and Hoodman turned up shortly afterwards. While he worked, we enjoyed lunch and a bit of a rest after getting through the Blackburn flight of locks, and to prepare for tackling the Chorley flight later. Hoodman finished patterning the hood and plans to return to wherever we are next Friday week.

 Angela wrestling with strange lock gear

We then set off again, travelling through some lovely countryside in the sunshine - something of a treat for this particular July.

 Moored boats near the Chorley lock flight

The Chorley flight of 7 locks soon appeared and we set about dropping down them. All went ok until we reached the 5th lock. Whilst waiting for it to fill, we noticed that Banjo was aground and listing badly and the pound between the locks was down about a foot. We could not refloat her, and so had to walk back and open up the previous lock to let some water down. Eventually we refloated and went down the final locks in the flight.

 3 Beautiful horses

3 more beautiful horses and some geese too

We moored up just before 8pm, with a field of geese and more beautiful horses opposite. By the time we had eaten something, all of the geese had disappeared - where do they go? We plan another early start in the morning, with the intention of reaching and then descending the 21 locks which make up the Wigan flight - a somewhat daunting prospect...

Goodbye Burnley

 Last view of Pendle Hill as we leave the marina

This morning we set of and left the marina behind. It has been a lovely spot and it is a shame we can't stay longer.

Looking down on Burnley from the embankment

This was an interesting view of Burnley. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish landmarks from the canal but there is no mistaking the bus station!

 View down the "Straight Mile"

 Farewell to Uncle Bill and Auntie Sheila

After getting excited about visiting a large Tesco's to replenish our food supplies and bread for the ducks we met up with Bill and Sheila and had coffee and cakes on the boat. We said goodbye but knowing them, they could turn up somewhere on the next bit of our route!

Angela's new sewing machine 

Just as we were about to leave, the Weavers Triangle exhibition opened and we had a quick look around. As my grandmother and grandfather were weavers it was very interesting.

 Back to school



 Back to school too

In the exhibition there was a school room with desks and a blackboard like the ones Graham and I had at school. I enjoyed handling the old inkwell which brought back memories of being the ink well monitor - a rather messy job!



 Entering Gannow Tunnel

 Cute ponies

 Pursued by hordes of geese

 A huge flock of Canada Geese pursued the boat for ages after being fed half a loaf.

 Over the M65 Aqueduct

Tonight's tranquil mooring

We travelled until 7pm to be in a good position for the locks at Blackburn tomorrow. It turned chilly and by the time we moored we were cold and so put the heating on - not good for July!

Wot no rain!

 Pendle Hill seen from Reedley Marina

Today we woke up with the sun shining and some stunning views from the marina of the surrounding countryside- this is a stunning spot! We had breakfast and then did the washing, leaving it to dry while we explored the nearby Barden Mill. A fascinating shop full of all sorts of stuff. We returned with a few bits and pieces including a new waterproof kagoul for me which I am hoping I don't need! We had lunch by the marina in the sunshine, before Chris and Tracey arrived to take us to Towneley Hall.

 Towneley Hall

Townley Hall was one of Angela's favourite places to visit when she was a child, and it was lovely that we could see it again in the sunshine.

 The Chapel with the sun streaming in

We explored the fabulous hall which is part stately home, part museum and part art gallery.

 Towneley Hall

 A cute squirell

We spotted this squirell which was clealey very used to being close to people. Initially on a bench, it scurried away up this tree, turned around and then posed for us for ages, allowing us to take lots of pictures.

Angela and Tracey - can we keep these?

We returned to the marina and encountered these 5 week old Yorkie puppies while we were having a cup of tea. Thanks Chris and Tracey for a lovely afternoon. Tomorrow we set off west again, heading towards Blackburn.