MONDAY. At Castlefields, Manchester
The 2008 journey thus far: 293 Locks; 431.5Miles; 56 Swing\Lift Bridges
Journeys using bus pass: 20
Another dry day greeted our waking moments today. The wind was still in evidence, although the presence of lighter coloured clouds made a good boating day a distinct possibility.
A small engineering operation was required before cast off. The water outlet casting on the engine block has a closing, non pressurised cap fitted owing to the remote expansion tank. This cap was replaced by River and canal rescue some 100 hours ago and has started weeping again. The manufacture of the casting has resulted in a sloppy locking of the cap, hence the weep.
Part of the cuff of a pair of rubber gauntlets was sacrificed to produce an additional gasket, which was placed in the cap and was replaced. It did not weep today, so I will be watching carefully for a while.
The canal is deep and in parts, has very clear water. When you can see how many plastic bags are on the bottom, it is amazing that the blades are not clogged up more often. The pithead gear at Astley Green pit museum stand out against the skyline, another piece of industrial scenery probably already unrecognised by a complete generation.
I was pleased to see that the colour of the water around Worsley has not been ‘cleaned up’ as was mooted a while ago. Just a thought, who or what, actually gives headaches and more paperwork to burocrats? Perhaps there is an opportunity here for another Quango, provided you could wait until I have given up boating.
Past the packet house and the canal leading to the Duke of Bridgwater's mines at the Delph. What a nice touch, having your Baronet title named after a canal. On the straight section passing Westwood Park estate at Worsley, we rode up on at least four obstructions on the bottom, the last one caused something to foul the blades and we were going down the canal crabwise with a good amount of right helm on. I know from previous weed hatch trips around here that the edge is shallow, we carried on until we had gone past the Parrin Lane bridge with its mock lighthouse. The blades were clear, whatever had been on there had come off in the back and forward of coming into the bank.
Over the Barton swing aqueduct and into Manchester, the weather holding nicely fine and warm, we tied up in Castlefields and walked up to the Blood centre near the Arndale shops as Myra was going to give blood.
Three boats on the move today, one hire, two private; the second private one met in a bridge hole – of course. Still very quiet, plenty of spaces in Castlefields, but not from next Thursday until Monday as the events area will be in use; this is presently full of the boats displaced by building works from the long term moorings next to the YMCA.
Weather – Dry, a bit windy but warm at last!
