FRIDAY. Bosley lock foot
The 2008 trip thus far: 393Locks; 731.5 Miles; 72 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 36
The alarm clock sounded at 5am, we were to make an early start on the Rochdale nine and then the Ashton Canal 16 locks. We had breakfast and as we were moored next to the car park, only two minutes from the bottom lock which I went to set, leaving the lower paddles up whilst I helped Myra to leave our mooring. Water was weiring over the top gates as usual, at least both bottom paddles were working enabling the lock to be emptied.
By the time that I had started filling Piccadilly lock, we had taken an hour and three quarters.
This lock is situated under an office block and used to be very dark and frequented by rent boys; now, it has lots of lights, the walls have been painted cream and it is still frequented by rent boys.
I suppose that the main advantage of all of the improvements is that you can now see them better.
There were but two today, with a drunk in attendance; all life is here in Manchester.
We cleared Ducie Street Lock using the boat to open the top gates; the bottom leaks are slightly greater than the capacity of the top paddles close to making a level. We passed through the bridge and started our climb of the Ashton Canal.
We caught up with a single boater, Myra went off to Asda, I carried on up the canal. The boater in front had told a boater coming down the flight that I was following. As the down boat passed me, the steerer said ‘I have filled the lock as there was a boat behind me’. Oh well. Another case of failed care in the community.
By the time that we had reached lock 15, owing to most of the boats coming down operating a two down, one up scheme, the upper pound was very low. The single boater was stuck just above the lock. Myra went up to bring some water down from lock 16 whilst I telephoned CanalPhone.
I have this theory: if we all phoned BW when levels were down, instead of doing what boaters always do and cope; then maybe BW would get fed up with all the calls and get something organised with water control. I do not have fairies at the bottom of my garden, although I do believe in Father Christmas.
When Myra had put enough water into the pound, the single boater got as far as the foot of lock 16 before his prop was fouled and his engine stopped. He did not have an access hatch in his deck; when he removed the weed hatch cover, his prop had wire and a load of stuff that the could not remove.
We took his boat in tow and set off very slowly into the long pound below lock 17. This pound was down by some 15 to 18 inches. It was not a journey for those who are prone to sea sickness.
There was so much rubbish in the canal, the boats were riding up and leaning all over the place with loud graunching sounds from below.
Through two swing bridges, on two occasions the rubbish stopped us completely; backing up and trying a slightly different line along the canal allowed us to carry on. We arrived at lock 17 to find two BW men that had been sent out as a result of my phone call were running water down.
We explained what had happened and why we were towing the other boat. The older BW man of the two did no more than climb into the boat and get down to the weed hatch. He got some wire off and then said there is a mountain bike tyre as well. The owner asked if he would be able to remove it, the reply was yes. We made our farewells and headed for Marple.
Weather, fine until lock 13, then downpour until lock 15, then drizzle for the rest.
