Saturday 9th June Our day, once again started early, we left our very good, if a little noisy mooring, just after 6am. The air is still, once again and the sun is already popping out. It's going to be a hot one!. We turn left onto the Ashton Canal and I have to say there is concern in my mind. I have heard a great deal about this stretch of canal and I have been given a lot of advice, both on and off the list, for which I thank everybody. At the first bridge we bump our way through and I get something round the prop. Oh great!. Hard reverse and what ever it was comes off, phew. We bump through almost all the bridgeholes, but I do so in neutral to minimise any problems. The canal itself is well groomed and I am really having trouble making up my mind if I like it or not. There are good mooring spots but no boats. There are lovely houses well looked after. One amazing white house and another large house being built next door. They look expensive. There are nice parks, low bridges, this canal certainly has character. We pass a pub called The Pearl. looks OK. Moorings look good, why nobody here?. Then look up a bit. High fences, razor wire, cameras. That's why. It is a shame this area has the problems it does. Small minority spoiling it for everyone. After an hour we reach lock number 17. It takes a bit of time to sort out the anti vandal lock system. There is a man walking his dog, first person we have seen. "Be ok when you get to Manchester, watch out for the bottles" he says. There is another bloke lobbing half loaves of bread into the canal, but there are no ducks! The lock was almost full, that was good sign and I worked out how everything worked and off we went. These are deep locks and slow fillers. As we go down the situation gets worse. Bottles smashed on the locks, plastic bottles and bags everywhere. Clearly the like outdoor fires on the locks here. Graffiti, but not the artistic type, which I quite like, the type that says 'Leanne xxxxx, is a child beater' and stuff mainly with names involved. I pull a huge sheet foam out of one lock. All the locks are differ in that, they are full or partially full, or empty. No pattern. Some walkable, some not. Bike has a puncture but I am not sure I would have used it anyway, in case it got nicked. Having said that we only saw one group of lads throwing stones in the water, and they did us no harm. The gates are heavy, paddles stiff. Each lock is a challenge. Will the paddles work, will they even be connected?. Will the anti vandal lock be in position, will it work? On one occasion when I had walked on to set a lock, and then returned to the original one, a BW man hopped out of a lorry above the lock and stopped it filling and then hopped back in his van again!. Most locks have no walkway so every task involves walking round. Unless you fancy walking across the top of gates, ooh er misses, no thanks. We spy the sports stadium, now the home of Manchester City FC. Lots of new building going on, which is great to see. At lock 8 we see the another boat coming up, hoorah. They can't get out of the lock, the gate will not open. Eventually with the boat pushing and two of us pulling, the gate opens. They would still be there now if we had not come down. The next 2 locks are close together. As we approach I can tell, all the anti vandal locks have been left off. Can only have been done by the boat we have just passed. No wonder the locks are in such a state. Approaching lock one and there are two boats together, one in the lock. A man shouts something, not sure what. As we leave our penultimate lock I spy Oak and Ash and a very grumpy Mr Reed. I shall not in put the public domain, what happened next or what I was informed subsequently, suffice to say I shall be informing BW about his conduct. We are now in Piccadilly Village and we move slowly between the new apartments and under ornate iron bridges. A sharp right under a building, followed by a sharp left and we are greeted with lock 84 or the top of the famous Rochdale 9. Blimey, what a sight, what the hell do I do now? Well, work out the anti vandal system, which is different, then work out how to open the gates. OK, done that, brute strength. Because of the huge amount of water coming over the top gates, all these locks are full for us which is a help. Some have a chain system to open the gate. That takes a bit of working out as well. At lock 3 of 9, I am really struggling. This is the one by the bar, appropriately call 'Queer'. I was getting lots of encouragement even offers, of a drink, of course. Gates here only have a handrail at one end so once again to get across the lock it's walk all the way round. On we go, some are easier than others. It's fascinating though here, moving between the high buildings all around. Lots of people about now and we are well photographed. At the very bottom lock is the pub, Dukes 92 and it is swarming with people, all intrigued by a boat travelling through a lock. No handrail here, so the crowd got a free balancing act routine across the lock as well. Once through, turn left into Castle Quay and a very good mooring opposite the restaurants and bars. It's 3.30pm. We sit on one of the park benches and enjoy a very well deserved beer and two. We have come through unscathed. Was it enjoyable, yes. Would I do it again, no. Would I recommend others to do it, yes. An early dinner in the Choice restaurant, opposite the boat. Food fantastic, wine superb, bill reflected the quality and service. Back and in bed by 8pm, exhausted but happy.
Regards Andrew & Wendy from The Cut
