Lockwheeler(s) needed today (Sun) Manchester

[Odana]

Mornin all.

If anyone would like to spend their Sunday lockwheeling the Valley of Direness from Failsworth to Piccadilly and then down the Nine to Castlefields today, Team Odana would love you forever.

 

John damaged both thumbs yesterday during the panic of extricating me from a cilling, and they're still not functioning, so my lockwheeler is out of action - I did my back in last week on the Calder and Hebble and am still being very very gentle with it. So we will get through today between us, but are a teensy bit worried about this stretch's reputation and would like to get through as quickly as possible while people are still sleeping off their hangovers...

 

Of course if BW see us through these, all will be good, but I understand they just unlock then relock, not work locks.

 

We're setting out from Lock 65 near Failsworth Station at 830 and were told we should make the city centre lunchtime-ish. I need to get down the Nine this afternoon, or I have to singlehand that one later in the week.

 

If this does appeal, either just show up, look friendly and demand tea in exchange for windlass, or call me on 07980 two one five oh five nine. I won't be on here till evening so won't get pms.

 

Over and out. Wish us luck!!!

[Guest]

Mornin all.

<SNIP>

 

Hope you get sorted - I would have loved to help but we are many many miles away....

 

I'm sure somebody will pitch up...

[larkshall]

Ditto, good luck, alas have to exercise 2 horses today, and I can't ride em about 90 miles.

[Odana]

OK, crisis over. A nice BW man named Billy is seeing us down. Apparently this is what they usually do. Phew.

 

Though if anyone fancies the Nine through the city centre today, we'll take any hitchihikers. It's fun and dead easy, honest...!

 

Ditto, good luck, alas have to exercise 2 horses today, and I can't ride em about 90 miles.

 

We met Sue, Nigel, Horseboat Elland and Bilbo Baggins yesterday at, funnily enough, the Boat & Horses. Highlight of the day and the fists moving boat we'd seen in 3 days! Bilbo may have something to say about 90 miles, though I suspect he doesn't do it in a day... Enjoy the ride.

[Odana]

Hurrah!! We now have a journeyperson journeying to meet us for the afternoon! Does this class as a microbanter?

 

Isn't the forum great eh?

 

PS - Valley of Direness looking quite nice so far, if rather shallow

[journeyperson]

We had an enjoyable and uneventful descent of the nine locks through Manchester, only needing some additional muscle to get the bottom gates open at lock 92, where a volunteer stepped forward.

 

It was good to meet Nicki and John (with his bandaged thumbs).

Edited July 25, 2010 by journeyperson

[Ange]

I'm glad this had a happy outcome - we were locking on the L&L from Wigan to the Rufford Branch today so were unable to assist.

 

Hope John's injuries heal quickly - that sounds like quite a nasty incident!

[Odana]

All in all a lovely day - great to meet Journeyperson John, and absolutely invaluable to have an extra body on the locks. Forumites to the rescue!! I owe someone a big favour in the future.

 

Manchester centre is as spectacular as ever. I have to say I rather like the new glass wall on Canal Street- as well as the new pontoons/steps etc that the furor over it helped get installed. The wall is unobtrusive and really quite pleasing, and getting through those locks was much easier than last year.

 

If you have the pleasure of ascending/descending the rest of the flight to Failsworth in the company of BW Billy, be sure to ask him about his other job. Top bloke. That stretch wasn't nearly as grim as I'd expected either, and the mooring at the Boat and Horses (instead of the Rose of Lancaster) was a good recommendation - good food there too.

 

THE ROCHDALE IS GREAT!!! GO THERE!! All that restoration effort, all those millions, and we had it virtually to ourselves....

[madcat]

Hope John is all mended soon,see you at the vale sometime,if i ever get finished painting the boat.

[Liam]

Yeah now you're through you can take the bandages off...

[Odana]

Yeah now you're through you can take the bandages off...

 

Damn! Rumbled!!

(actually I did make him bandage up today partly so as to avoid questions about why he was standing on the back while I ran around, and in case the BW peeps were in two minds about staying with us). He'll be just fine in time for next week's locks. What? Bridgwater has no locks, do you say..? Hmm - will have to set him to work on other boaty tasks instead.

[MartinClark]

It's funny how different people see things in different ways!

 

Having moored at the Boat and Horses, I found it dreadfully noisy (from the road traffic) and difficult to get the boat close to the side.

 

I find the new fence along Canal Street anything but unobtrusive! In my opinion it completely changes the appearance of the street, destroying its historic character. The glass panels are now becoming discoloured with tree sap and bird poo and there doesn't seem to be any part of the plan that involves cleaning them.

[journeyperson]

I find the new fence along Canal Street anything but unobtrusive! In my opinion it completely changes the appearance of the street, destroying its historic character. The glass panels are now becoming discoloured with tree sap and bird poo and there doesn't seem to be any part of the plan that involves cleaning them.

 

The panels looked as though they have been recently cleaned, I commented to Nicki that at least they were keeping them clean.

[MartinClark]

The panels looked as though they have been recently cleaned, I commented to Nicki that at least they were keeping them clean.

Oh, that is good news and I am pleased to hear that. They hadn't been keeping them clean until recently. Maybe that has happened after a boater I know complained about it?

[Odana]

Having moored at the Boat and Horses, I found it dreadfully noisy (from the road traffic) and difficult to get the boat close to the side.

 

I find the new fence along Canal Street anything but unobtrusive! In my opinion it completely changes the appearance of the street, destroying its historic character. The glass panels are now becoming discoloured with tree sap and bird poo and there doesn't seem to be any part of the plan that involves cleaning them.

 

Eeeew! Yes, I can imagine that if panels were not kept clean they would be pretty unpleasant quite soon. But they were looking nicely polished and hopefully will stay that way. A plain wall *would* be preferable, but if someone is going to add a top to the old wall, this one was not the travesty I expected. Would have been good if they'd thought of cleaning issues during the design phase - but having worked with a few urban/landscape designers in the past, maintenance doesn't seem to be factored in alongside initial looks.

 

Boat and Horses - we couldn't get quite to the side, though where Elland moored they could. Main advantage was having an hour less cruise (& one less lock and lift bridge) in the morning before a long day! Can't compare with the Rose of Lancaster as I've never stayed there, but thought I'd mention it as that seems to be given to people as the only option. We suggested to the pub that if they sponsored some mooring rings they might get more boat business (no harm in suggesting!)