On the Bridgewater Canal Into Manchester
May 29th--1st June
Thursday, 29th May
The weather is bucking up at last, and we're getting wonderful views from the canal. We set off today to go through the last tunnel on the Trent & Mersey. Preston Brook Tunnel is 1239 yards long, and again there is timed entry from each end. Travelling north, as we were, boats are allowed to go through between the hour and ten minutes past, and we timed it perfectly. First we went through Dutton Stop Lock, where the difference in water level is about six inches, then into the tunnel at about 11.05. I always go elow decks when we go through tunnels and try to think about something else! I really don't like them, but, as usual, we survived and popped out the other end into beautiful sunlight and the Bridgewater Canal.
The Bridgewater Canal website
Now we are on new territory. The furthest north we had been before was to the winding hole just before Dutton Stop Lock. I was expecting the Bridgewater Canal to be industrial and boring. How wrong can you be. It's an absolute delight. It's wide, lock free and very peaceful. There aren't many boats about and we thoroughly enjoyed cruising along it. It's rural and pretty and there are little villages where you can pull in, mooring up is easy. And this is just what we did at Moore. Yes we moored at Moore! There is a little village shop and PO right by the canal, it was ideal. We ate at the Red Lion pub, which was good, and the whole evening was a very pleasant experience.
5 miles 1 tunnel
We would love to have stayed here for a couple of nights, but we have a schedule, and so have promised ourselves we shall return and spend Moore time on the Bridgewater Canal.
Friday, 29th May
We left reluctantly, and carried on along the Bridgewater, savouring every minute of it. The houses come right down to the canal, and some of them are gorgeous. I shall have to buy extra lottery tickets........We passed under the M6, and the noise literally passed over our heads, it was another world up there, buzzing along on a different plane. We're in slow motion down here and love it. Tonight we moored at Lymm, a pretty little canalside town. Trev had a 'phone call from his friend Alan, who lives in Nuneaton, but often travels up to see his mum in Wigan. When he has time, he gives us a ring to see where we are and if he can meet us, and so a little later he and his wife--another Angela--arrived and we all had a drink together in the Golden Fleece. Then they cam back for coffee before setting off back home. It was a delghtful interlude, and I enjoyed their company. When people ask me what I miss whilst living on a boat, I think company is one of the main things, so it's always good to get visitors, especially when it's unexpected.
When we arrived in Lymm, there was only one mooring space long enough for us, and it was a lucky chace that it was, as we were on the opposite bank to the town and the pubs. But, as it got later, and the alcohol began to have its effect, the local wildlife revved up and the noise increased. Although we could hear it, we didn't feel threatened by it, but the boats on the other bank had young people shouting and screaming until well after midnight. We shall remember not to moor up in Lymm at the weekend again, or at least move a little way away from the action
7 miles
Saturday, 30th, May
Today we set off for Dunham, and we shall moor here for two nights, as we're going to visit Dunham Massey tomorrow, a National Trust property. We can walk to it directly from the canal, which is a treat, and we're looking forward to it. The NT book says tehy do wonderful cream teas there.........I really enjoy wonderful cream teas! We only travelled a short distance today, which was good, because it's very hot. That's not a complaint, but it does get hot on the back of the boat, without any shelter.
Again, mooring was easy to find. We're in the countryside, close to a bridge where we can go down onto the road to walk along to Dunham Massey tomorrow. Trev has tied a rope up between two trees and the washing is drying beautifully. Trev's watching the Cup Final on tv.
4 miles
Sunday, 31st May
We spent the day at Dunham Massey, it was only abuout a ten minute walk from where we were moored. It was a hot day--23 degrees, I think--and we took our time over the visit. We signed up for a couple of conducted tours, one of the kitchens and one of the house, and they were both really interesting. The original family who lived there, the Booths, were instrumental in the execution of Charles, one of the family having been the first to sign the death warrant. The gardens were glorious; we were lucky in that the rhodedendrons were in full bloom.
Monday, 1st June
Onward and upward. The lovely scenery eventually had to go as we continued on our way into Manchester. We sailed through Sale, paste manchester United Football Club stadium, eventually arriving in central Manchester. First we turned left into the Staffordshire Wharf and filled up with water, then backed out and went across the canal to the otherside and into Castle Quay to moor up. It was another very hot day, and we found a mooring nder some trees. However, Trev decided he wanted the boat the other way round for better television reception, and so we went down to the end to turn round and were just going back into the same spot when another boat came round the corner and moored up there instead! It was pretty obvious what we were about to do...........However, we try not to be too contentious and so we backed up and moored elsewhere.
In the evening our friends Margaret and Farook came to visit and we all went to a fabulous Chinese restaurant.I had read a review of it in "The Independent" and it was the best Chinese meal we've ever had. If ever you're in Manchester do try to visit:
Click here for the website
10 miles
Moored in Manchester
