A Slight Detour!

Leaving the waters of the Bridgwater canal on Saturday we arrived at Anderton on the Trent and Mersey canal where we moored up – and that’s when our plans changed!  Taking the ‘chance’ as we do from time to time …..

…….. on Monday morning we took the bus to Northwich (catching up very briefly with cruise friend Michael – who very kindly walked us to the railway station to catch the train to Liverpool)

Booking in for the night at the Adelphi hotel we popped down to the Albert Dock to meet up with friends Sue and Richard on nb “Indigo Dream” and to surprise friends Ian and Cherryl on nb “Winedown” (as they were also moored in the Albert Dock but didn’t know we were coming!) . Trouble was, they spotted us first – damn it!   Here we are enjoying the sunshine, wine and company of Richard and Sue, Cherryl and Ian on the the front of “Winedown”.

The reason for this exciting and dramatic change to our plans was that we were to join Richard and Sue on “Indigo Dream” on Monday morning (at 6 am sharp!)  for their trip across the Mersey, up the Manchester Ship Canal and onto the River Weaver. Bleary eyed, after enjoying a very late night out with Liverpool friends, we joined up with Cherryl and Ian climbed aboard “Indigo Dream” (second blue boat) for a sensational and unique day.

Under the guidance of our pilot Stuart we made our way through the extensive, and very foggy, Liverpool docks ………

……. to the lock, which is to the right of the red light (what red light!) …….

……. ahhh, there’s the lock (and the red light)!

Safely in the lock there was time to gather for a group pic. Richard, Ian, Cherryl, Doug, Sue and pilot Stuart (who was to be worth his wait in gold as it turned out!)

Right, the lock gates are open and away we go ……..

…….. err, where exactly?

Even on a clear day you need the expertise of a pilot but on this trip Stuart really earned his keep.

After a totally disorientating journey  across the Mersey we finally found (or Stuart did actually!) the lock which would take us onto the Manchester Ship Canal. Yes, the lock is dead ahead.

There it is ………

…….. and, once we were in the lock, it was so big we couldn’t see the other end!

Oh, here’s a pic of the rather cheeky front-end rope boy.

While we were in the lock we got the news from the canal authorities that they wished us to stay put until the fog lifted and we could proceed safely. So an hour, and several bacon butties later,  ……..

………. here are two of the galley slaves – Cherryl and Doug, who produce the days’ sustenance ( kitchen kingpin Sue is not in the picture) ……..

…… but she’s here with Richard (and one of the four greyhounds also on board!)

Before we started our journey up the Manchester Ship Canal we decided to let the big boys go first!

Time for another group pic in a rare rural section of the canal. James is deputizing for Richard at the helm for a while.

The MSC is a working canal and most of it is very industrialized.

We passed the lock entrance to Ellesmere Port and its canal museum …….

……. before getting into the sights, sounds, and some very strong smells, of some major industry.

Mainly petro-chemical, the vast majority of all the canal side industry …………

……… is fed by some very large ships. Thankfully all the vessels we saw during our passage were safely moored up.

At the end of our MSC journey industrial Runcorn presented us with our transition to the Weaver Navigation …….

……… in the form of Marsh Lock – the first of three locks we were to use on the journey up river.

We found a marvellous little mooring spot to stop for some lunch. After the chilly and foggy start to the day the sun shone for us for much of the time and certainly it was a lovely warm setting here for dogs and humans alike.

Back on our journey again the River Weaver, like the MSC before it, provided the opportunity for the boat to be ‘opened up’ a little bit.

Sue took a turn at the tiller ……

….. and took us through the last two locks ………

…. past some of the Weaver’s own salt-based industry, ………

……… up to the Anderton Boat Lift and the end of the day’s stupendous journey.

This is where we all went our own separate ways – Richard and Sue to moor up and wait for the lift in the morning, Ian and Cherryl to get themselves back to their boat in Liverpool and for us a climb up the 80 feet from the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal where we’d left “Chance” on the 48 hour moorings. It was a sensational adventure which we have to thank Richard and Sue very much for. Whilst the fog might have restricted our view of the Mersey it was still a great journey and one we would not have missed. A very big “thank you” Sue and Richard!

All This in Four Days!!

Wednesday morning was a little sad for us as we left Manchester behind for this year and took our last look as we left Castlefield Basin.

Just 300 yards from Castlefield and we passed the offending unsafe building which had closed the Bridgewater Canal for the last few weeks.

Our sunny exit from Manchester soon changed to threatening skies around Dunham Massey - and they didn’t just threaten, they delivered! Even James’ underpants got wet!

Anyway, with wet underpants and all, we moored up in pretty Lymm for the night.

The old stocks in the middle of the village are a reminder of quick justice from the past ……

….. and the “pond” a few yards further on provided a tranquil atmosphere.

Wednesday evening was our “last supper” with friends Les and Chris, who we’d been with for the past couple of weeks, as we were about to go our separate ways. A grand two weeks is was too!

On Thursday cruise friends Bill and Jill joined us on board “Chance” for the short hop from Lymm to Stockton Heath. Having not seen them for a while it was a good opportunity to have a glass of bubbly together ……..

…… which was followed by a buffet lunch …….

…… before reaching our mooring in Stockton Heath.

There are some lovely old ……..

……. and new buildings in busy little Stockton which is always lovely to visit, but our main reason for stopping there was that we have four sets of friends in the neighbourhood. On Thursday evening we were kindly invited to Bill and Jill’s home for a wonderful meal …………

…….. and, on Friday evening, we had a similar invitation to join boating friends Pauline and Neil (nb “Water Lilly”) for another fabulous meal.  It was a pleasure to meet Pauline’s brother Martin and partner Penny who were also there and the evening ended at one in the morning after we’d all nearly laughed ourselves to death. James, Pauline, Doug, Neil and Martin.

And not to be left out – Penny with James, Martin and Pauline.

On Saturday morning Bill and Jill invited us back to their home for coffee and we had a lovely hour with them in blazing hot sunshine. We are in debt to both Bill and Jill and Pauline and Neil for helping us out with washing and, importantly, drying of a backlog of clothes from our two weeks in Manchester. We did two loads on the boat but, with the showery weather, the drying proved to be a bit tiresome.

After a quick visit to another friend, then topping up with fuel and water at Thorne Marine, we said farewell to Stockton Heath and took an evening cruise to the end of the Bridgewater Canal ….

……. through the Preston Brook tunnel and onto the Trent and Mersey canal.

Half an hour from the tunnel we found a super mooring just as the light began to fade. Here we are, overlooking the Weaver valley and all on our own after the most amazing 3 weeks being surrounded by friends and acquaintances in and around Manchester. How lucky we are!!!!

Post Parade Pride

Respect plays an enormous part in the enjoyment of life in general and we’ve found it non more so than at Manchester Pride. For one weekend in the year thousands of people have the chance to experience humanity at it’s best and most diverse.

Very happy to share a moment of his private time, actor Daniel Brocklebank with James.

We met up with many friends during the weekend (and made some new ones) – here’s two wonderful reprobates who we’re proud to call friends, Olly and Justin.

As already said – Diversity is the order of the day at Manchester Pride.

Bank Holiday Monday was a big day for us. It was James’ birthday and our 3rd wedding anniversary. We’d like to say  a big “Thank you” to everyone for all their good wishes for both. Before our little group ‘hit the village’ for the last time we gathered on board “Chance” for a Champagne celebration.

It was ‘Bottoms Up’ for Rich, Andy, James, Doug, Les, Cherryl and Ian. Our own press photographer, Chris, was behind his very large camera for many of this weekend’s shots

James was surprised with a birthday cake before we all left for the last evening of pride for this year.

At 9 o’ clock we joined the thousands of other people for the Candlelight Vigil in Rembrandt Gardens. For an hour we remembered those who have been affected by HIV and all those who have fought for justice. Sir Ian McKellan was prominent in leading the vigil with his address and poetry readings ……..

…….. and by leading the candlelit remembrance with a minute’s silence.

Two thirds of this huge crowd were behind us – it’s a very popular event.

After the vigil the weekend’s celebrations ended with a grand firework display.

The gods certainly looked down kindly on us – the afternoon had been very wet but the rain stopped for the evening …….

…… and allowed us to enjoy the vigil and fireworks in the dry.

As we left the park many of us placed our lit candles around the bronze statue of the wartime code breaking hero Alan Turing in remembrance of his invaluable contribution to all our freedom.

With candles replaced by drinks we retired to Via in Canal Street for a final group ‘moment’ - Rich, Les, Andy, Doug, James, Cherryl and Ian (the ever suffering Chris behind the camera again!)

Oh here’s Chris in the picture at last!

Huge numbers of shops and businesses in the city made efforts to support Pride by various Rainbow displays – not least the city council who flood lit the town hall.

And finally, an oasis of night time calm in Castlefield Basin amid the frenzy of the city. We’ve spent the last 10 days here - where has the time gone?