BRIDGEWATER CANAL ONTO LEEDS&LIVERPOOL CANAL

Still on the Bridgewater Canal as we cross the Manchester Ship Canal at Barton Swing Aqueduct. The Aqueduct no longer swings to allow ships through and in fact the mechanism that sealed the canal at each end of the Aqueduct is no longer in place. The view above as i cruise across shows the road bridge further along the ship canal and in the distance the M60 can be seen spanning the ship canal.
Above courtesy of Tina on NB Ytene a picture of me on NB Valerie coming across the Aqueduct.
Talking of Tina below she poses cup in hand with Andy, yep she sure is gorgeous with lovely wet lips and so smooth when you stroke her, truly a first class Rottweiler is Leah. But if you see the boat around don`t try to board as Leah won`t be so nice.


Below is Plank Lane Swing bridge except it lifts rather than swings. The bridge is controlled by British Waterways as about a mile back at the village of Leigh the Bridgewater became the


Leeds& Liverpool Canal. Our BW licence allowed us to cruise the Bridgewater for 7 days but how anyone would know if you stayed longer beats me as when we left the Trent&Mersey canal and entered the Bridgewater there wasn`t any border guards.


So on we go and get back to proper boating with a few locks to do at Wigan, well actually 23 within 2 miles. We decided on an early start at the first 2 locks at Poolstock and after coming out of the first promptly run aground owing to a drop in the pound of about 18inches. Walking up to the next lock i found BW letting water down to refill the pound, that`s the section of canal between locks.
Eventually getting going up the main flight some very strange lock gear was to be found, i say strange because it ain`t like this down south. Above John off NB TUI sedately winds a gate open while below Tina gets to grips with a smile to show how to do it properly.




Above a different winder to close the gates and below a counter balance weight attached to the lock beam helps pull it open.

Pictured above is a wooden handled ground paddle that is lifted to allow water into the lock while below a wind up ground paddle. You can see the winding gear on the gates that is operated after the ground paddle has half filled the lock as the gate paddles are high on the gate and operating them to early will send water cascading over the front (bow) of the boat.


Right that`s enough for now i`m off to the pub and if you`re reading this Bev it`s just for research and the exercise although i might have a lemonade.

A VISIT TO MANCHESTER

As our journey to York doesn`t include cruising through central Manchester i took advantage that our mooring at Dunham Town was close to Altrincham and decided to have a day out in Manchester a city i have never visited.
The city of Manchester has a very good transport system and a 25min trip from Altrincham on the Metrolink Tram system pictured below took me into the city centre. An all day off-peak ticket cost £2.50 and enabled me to visit museums and the docks at Salford Quays and the canal system within the city centre.
The system runs from Altrincham in the south to Bury in the north with a branch through Salford Quays to Eccles with trams every 6mins on the Bury line and 12mins on the Eccles service. The trams were built in Italy.

Another good transport system is the Metroshuttle Bus pictured below. Three circular routes cover central Manchester completely free, just hop on and off as you please. Also a good idea is that if you arrive from the Greater Manchester area by train your ticket will also be valid on the Metrolink Tram system. Surely with a transport system as in Manchester why would you want to drive in.
The glass fronted building above is 48 storeys high. The Hilton hotel occupies floors 5-23 and above that is residential and allegedly the highest residential building in Europe.
The Midland Hotel built in 1898 Grade 11 listed where a suite will cost £355 including breakfast, well that`s ok then. Twin room£135 no brekkie if you want to be a cheapskate.

Above and below the Museum of Science & Industry showing weaving machines from mills long closed down. This is a very large museum showing a vast variety of exhibits, click the link to see.

The following 3 pictures were taken at the Museum of Transport in Manchester.

The Tram above dates back to 1901 and was one of the first electric Tramcars built for Manchester. Bit different to the Metrotram at the top of the page.

Just one section of the museum showing buses of the past.

1966 will bring back memories to readers who like the author are of mature years, not just of the World cup but the Invacar(above). Made by AC cars these 3 wheelers had a 349cc engine and were used by the disabled as a dry form of transport but they always remained the property of the government.

This bridge over one of the Salford Quays used to swing open to allow ships from the Manchester Ship Canal to dock and un-load their cargoes. The warehouses have all but gone to be replaced by housing and high rise blocks of flats a bit like London`s Docklands. Just to the left of the bridge is located the Imperial War Museum (north) and on the right -out of picture- the Lowery centre.
Manchester`s answer to the London Eye has 42 passenger cars and stands 180` tall. It`s fully transportable and in fact stood in Paris on the Champs Elysees for a number of years.

One of the fancy office blocks surrounding the Quays.

The Lowery centre.

Now this is what you call a mooring bollard, British Waterways take note!

Above Salford Quays in the 1970`s and below just a few years ago.

Above building around the Quays goes on and below an artists impression of the finished job.

Take a ride on the metrotram.


Just took a few minutes to look back through the Blog and remind myself of the many places i`ve visited, some Blogged some not, and the things i`ve learnt of a country i`ve lived in for 60 years with so much still to see and experience. When you travel about you realise a life time is not that long and i know that at a major turning point in my life i made the right decision.
Boating is a wonderful way to relax and see whats around the next corner or over that hill, friendships have been made and interesting places discovered.
It`s not 100% perfect, what is?, but for sure it beats moping around in a house.
Up where i am in West Yorkshire, blog is always behind, the scenery is stunning so to people who have asked by e-mail have i any regrets the answer is NO.

BIKERS AND RELIGEON

Came across this bike blessing after walking through the village of Dunham Town the previous day and seeing it advertised out side St. Marks church .
The music by Boss Hogg started at around 12 and by 4pm had finished so very little disturbance was caused to the few residents close by. Refreshments were tea and soft drinks only and with the bikes being immaculate and the riders very friendly no one could call this a rave and it only took 4 officers to police it and their only duty needed was to man the couple of road junctions as the bike parade took place.

The band used a 40` lorry trailer as a stage

Three wheeled, wonder if they call them trikes.

Nicely concealed lighting on the front of this bike.

Just one of the many stunning machines on show.

Below the Rev. Jerry Sutton, who along with his wife own Harley Davidson`s, bless the bikers.


Prayer of Bike Blessing

May god bless you and keep you safe on this machine.
May you meet the risen Lord in your travels,
in the freedom of the open road, the fellowship of other bikers and in each person you meet.
May the lord be with you at home and on the open road.
May he accompany you when you start on your many journeys.
May he fill your life abundantly with his many
blessings.
May he keep all your riding safe.
May his mercy, grace and love shine upon your
every road.
Father,Son and Holy Spirit.




If after all the blessing and your riding with care all should go wrong then the answer is in the pictures below, make that final journey in the style you lived a motor cycle funeral
must be a bikers dream or nightmare depending how you see it.






Click on the video above to watch the bikers ride by after being blessed. I counted about 100 including some scooters, Vespa Lambretta etc.


Just down the road from the church while walking around the village i came across some steps going over a wall and on the other side I found myself in the grounds of Dunham Massey Hall
Looking round the Hall didn`t appeal to me so I just enjoyed walking through the deer park and past the lakes. Near to the Hall was an old Tudor water mill that was used to grind corn and later in 1860 it was converted to a saw mill and is still in full working order.
The whole property is quite pleasant for a walk around and the fallow deer graze close to the footpaths quite un-disturbed by the presence of people.

ONTO THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL

Leaving Middlewich and passing through Big Lock so called as it is a double capable of taking 2 narrowboats ahead lies 50+ miles of no locks unless you count the stop lock at Dutton just before you enter Preston Brook tunnel. The stop lock here is a matter of inches difference in level so not what i call a lock proper.After passing Anderton where the boat lift takes you 50` down to the River Weaver we pass through Barnton tunnel (572yds) and then almost straight after Saltersford tunnel(424yds) and it was just a mile further on we stopped for a night and in the picture above can be seen the

view i had from the boat high up above the R. Weaver and above looking ahead can be seen the white arch of Acton swingbridge on the Weaver, so altogether a wonderfull all round view.

The picture below shows the entrance to Preston Brook tunnel, this tunnel like the last 2 is only wide enough for one boat at a time. The other 2 being short it is left to the boater to look before
entering but this one is 1239yds long and it is time controlled. Going north as we are we can enter on the hour to 10 mins past and if coming south it`s on the half hour up to 10 mins after. This gives each group of boats 20 mins to travel through. On exiting Preston Brook tunnel we are on the Bridgewater Canal which was opened in 1761 and in 1885 the Manchester Ship Canal co. purchased the Bridgewater and all it`s assetts for £1,710,000.
Below is Thorn Marine at Stockton Heath, the building is on borrowed time as it is due to be pulled down to make way for flats some of which are being built out of picture to the left on ground that was at one time canal company buildings. Also opposite Thorn Marine a large covered un-loading dock has been pulled down replaced by yes more flats. SHAMEFUL.
But that`s business and Peel Holdings who own the M. Ship Canal Co. have to produce dividends for its shareholders.

Below the village of Lymm with the streets coming down to the canal side.

Next stop on the blog will be Dunham Town where something unusual happened, bikers and religion came together.

STONE--STOKE on TRENT PICTURE CRUISE

"VALERIE sits in Star Lock the bottom of the flight through Stone.

A couple of locks further up the flight Newcastle Road lock and you can see the tunnell that the boat horses used to pass under the road.

A nice row of cottages near Barlaston.

British Waterways cutting back some trees in a winding hole (turning point)

One of the many thousands of Bottle Kilns that used to dominate the skyline back in the pottery making days.

Etruria bone & flint mill built 1857 now scheduled as an ancient monument. It`s purpose was to grind raw materials for farming and pottery making. It sits on the junction of the Trent&Mersey with the Caldon canal.

Passed a fellow bloggers boat "Granny Buttons" but sadly no sign of Andrew Denny on board.

Coming out of the north portal at Harecastle Tunnel. Actualy there are 3 tunnels through this hillside. Brindley built the first in 1777, the entrance can just be seen to the left of the blue BW boat it had no towpath so boats had to be legged through while the horses were walked over the hill. The tunnel in the centre of picture in line with the green boat was built with a towpath in 1827 by Thomas Telford. The towpath has now been removed and a one way 8 boats at a time operation sees boats through. The 3rd tunnel built years after the canal tunnels was for the railway but is now not in use as the railway goes around the hill.

Just a nice pic

These pair are OAK&ASH hotel boats they travel the canal system one towing the other and a crew of 3 look after 6 guests. About £600 per person inc of food and when you think a boat of your own can cost a £1000 and your food on top and work the boat yourself its not such a bad way to see the canal system.

Between Stoke & Middlewich a lot of the locks are paired so a boat can come up as one goes down but sadly as in the bottom pic a lot of them have become un-usable and i think that with BWs reduced funding they are going to stay that way.

GT. HAYWOOD---SHUGBOROUGH HALL

This is Shugborough Hall which was the ancestral home of Thomas Patrick John Anson 5th Earl of Litchfield better known perhaps as Patrick Litchfield (1939-2005) the well known photographer of royalty. Mainly because of death duties it is now owned by the National Trust and run by Staffordshire county council.
Today it cosists of 900acres but back in 1624 William Anson purchased 8acres and a manor house. In 1693 the grandson also called William demolished it and built a 3 storey house that forms the basis of the hall today
George Anson(1697-1762) a decendant of William joined the navy at 14 and became an Admiral. During his famouse circumnavigation of the globe he captured a Spanish treasure Galleon that netted him £400.000 pounds part of which helped to develope Shugborough and buy more land.
It`s very interesting to read especially as we can relate it to Parick Litchfield take time to read the history by clicking here.
Above and below are pictures of Essex Bridge Grade one listed and built in 1550 for Queen Elizabeth 1 so she could hunt in woodland around the village. Only 14 of the original 40 span arches remain. Couldn`t get a horse & coach over there.......read on.

Below standing on Essex Bridge the rivers Trent&Sow join.

The bridge below was built by the Anson family of Shugborough Hall but quite when i have not discovered, it was one of 2 bridges that enabled the family to drive to church in their horse drawn carriage that would not fit over the Essex Bridge pictured above. If anyone finds any info as to when these bridges were built please let me know. The Trent&Mersey canal that flows

under this iron bridge was completed in 1777 so it is safe to assume it came later but i would love to know. It`s strange that when you are working these things don`t form part of your life but when retired and travelling with time to spare you have time to investigate.
Anyway the 2 pictures below show all that remains of the second bridge that spanned the River
Trent and made this epic journey to church possible for the Anson family.
The story goes on in as much as when his lordship had a disagreement with the vicar at the village church he built a roadway to the next village Little Haywood so he could attend church.
So if you venture this way walk across the iron bridge and bear right and you can follow through the woods what was his road to the second church.


The houses below were built by the Anson family when they decided that the village people were
to close to the hall and they wanted more privacy so the village was moved. So if you`ve rotten neighbours build them a house somewhere and when they get back from work tell them they`ve moved and their demolished house is now part of your estate.
Just the time now to say goodnight with the sun setting as i sit in the boat and the one below is because i could be bothered to stand on the front deck so you could have a better view.

VIDEO & DUCKLINGS

Just a quick blog as the first ducklings of 2008 have been spotted and i`m still experimenting with video on the camera.These duckling pictures were taken by Tina on board "YTENE" as i missed them and i must stress they are the copyright of the photographer, please don`t nick them, Tina beat me arm wrestling in a pub last year so i don`t want any copyright problems!!!

Video of NB VALERIE rising in Stoke on Trent top lock.