Well...after coming over the Penines and having to do 93 locks, to get to Castlefield in Manchester, ...I can safely say I didnt want to see another lock for a while...the Penine summit trip was scenic, but physically demanding at times....but I'm really glad we did it. At first I didnt like Manchester's canals...dirty...no services...but this was when moored at the top of the Rochdale 9 locks....I've found it much better down at the Castlefield end.....much quieter...more boats, and the feeling that no one is worrying about you....the first time we didnt stop at Castlefield longer than an hour to fill up with water,...and heading down the Bridgewater canal.....and what a pleasure it was...no locks for it's entire length, with some lovely towns along the way...it's definately one of my favourites at the moment...so much so, that when we got to the one end, I turned around, and travelled all the way back to Castlefield ...and looking forward to exploring some of the Bridgewater towns we missed the first time...Leigh...Worsley. We took the kids to the Manchester Science and Industry museam today...was a great time out. Movies tomorrow, and a trip to Halfords...for a new gennie sparkplug. It isnt working at the moment, and the lack of sunlight has made the solar panels useless for now. I've been running the boat engine more to keep things charged up...:)
I have two rants to end this post with. First one...the lower lock of the Rochdale 9 sounds like a waterfall....now I know why there was no water in the Penines.... and lastly....someone bought us a new clock for the boat. It makes bird sounds every hour...and the poor cat cant sleep :) ...Ahhhh.....that reminds me....we were moored at Stockton Heath last week....shut the cat in the boat, and moved 100m to go put some diesel etc in the boat. The cat ran off without us knowing, and we only realised an hour later when we reached the next town. After a bit of stress and worry, I moved the boat back again, and the cat came strolling out of the hedges, and back onto the boat. Relief :)
