Derek Porteous

Yep. That time line fits.

I believe the incident occurred about 3pm. It was reported immediately to CRT (presumably by a third boat attempting to enter the tunnel). CRT attended (not sure when they arrived) and communicated with the two jammed boats by shouting down the tunnel entrance. Just before 6pm, CRT called the fire bridges. They arrived very promptly and evacuated the two gentlemen and dog around 6.30pn.

All clear now. YEAH!!!!!

Well, I guess they know when then are going to assess the situation, and after that the possibility of a solution. That information surely should be passed to the boaters. We only got an almost total vacuum of our information and, today, a total absence of personnel to ask. Phoning only gave “we are aware there is a problem”. Having had a rant, it seems from the tunnel noises that things are happening!

Trouble is, with absolutely no information from CRT, we have no idea whether we are good to go in 10 minutes, 10 hours or 10 days. We are on the tunnel holding moorings.

All quiet in the tunnel again (12.30hrs). Still no one from CRT to say what the plan is. Three hire boats in the queue turn around and headed south again.

Apparently they didn’t see each other until it was too late. Slammed into reverse which slewed the bows to one side, hence the jamming. Hear noises from the tunnel, so someone is working on it from the other end (the end furthest away from the blockage).

Fire Brigade used a Water Incident semi-rigid to take them off. Apparently they are wedged in bow to bow. 11.30hrs and STILL no sign of a CRT presence to tell us what is happening.

Well it is now 10am and not a CRT presence in sight. Even the boat owners of the two boats in the tunnel are now wandering around a bit aimlessly. Information seems to be entirely lacking. Several hire boats in the queue have phoned CRT and got a stock answer that they are aware of the problem!

I was told yesterday evening by a CRT employee that they would try and free the two boats first thing this morning. Currently 7.30hrs and no one around yet.

Barnton Tunnel is closed to navigation from 3pm this afternoon. Two narrowboats wedged inside blocking passage. Both single handers (and one dog) rescued by Fire Brigade but boats are still inside as of 7pm. Tunnel taped off, so guess nothing is going to happen until tomorrow.

How do members get their CRT service cards? Tried to get a pump-out at Grindley Brook this morning. CRT tell (by Twitter) that they are only doing on-line sales (pretty useless if you are out boating). Also told me they have no plans to convert their payment option from card readers to phone/ bank card payment.

Ripon Racecourse Marina used to sell diesel. Don’t know the current situation.

Mmmmm. Good point. I hope not, or that really would be a regression. Hopefully details will be published soon.

Why does it prohibits more than one transit within 56 days? Cant you just register, make your trip and then, after 28 days, register again?

Is there any update on the current situation for boats that are due a BSS? I have a couple of months before mine is due, but have had a reminder from CRT.

I thought that as well. Are there not “No mooring” signs for all the arms apart from Grocer’s Wharf, on which there is only half the car park side available now? There is always the entrance area to the Rochdale Nine, but that is very much busier with passers by and pubs than Grocer’s Wharf.

But Peel Holdings are gradually increasing the number of permanent berth holders. It used to be about half the opposite side from the car park. Then it was all the offside. Now it is also half the car park side leaving only room for three or four visitors. We were there about a fortnight ago. We arrived late morning just as a boat was leaving, so grabbed their vacant berth. There were no other spaces. At least five boats came up during the day to find no room at the inn. They turned and headed off to we know not where.

Do you intend to do the Cheshire Ring clockwise or anti-clockwise? We did it anti-clockwise a few weeks ago. No real problems apart from the breach at Bosley Locks. Nicknorman says “OK places to stop are Portland Basin area, Droylsden marina (Top of Ashton flight), Thomas Telford basin (read small print on notice carefully - at first sight it says “no mooring” but a closer look reveals you can moor for 24 hrs) and Castlefield Basin on Bridegwater. The latter doesn’t have much space for visitors these days. Mooring in Manchester is not easy but that is no problem because in fact Manchester is a shit hole and no sane person would want to do anything other than pass through fairly quickly. Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds etc are all 1,000,000 times better!” Agree with part of that, but not all. From the top of the Marple Flight, a full day cruise to Droylsden Marina. There have been issues with boat vandalism if you moor opposite Portland Museum (the museum side is quite full and, I believe private). Droylsden Marina is a good overnight stop with good facilities near by. Early morning start and down to Piccadilly arriving at lunch time. Hard work with poorly maintained locks, but no issues with the locals if you do it in the morning. We moored for the rest of the day at Piccadilly Gardens. It is gated, but the locals will give you the code to get in and out, and then it is a very short walk into the city. Next day start after 8 o’clock for the Rochdale Nine (the locks are padlocked overnight). This short, but strenuous leg down to Castlefield is, shall we say, interesting, but never encountered any real problems. Due to Peel Holdings renting out most of the berths at Castlefield, you need to arrive before noon to ensue you get one of the three or four berths available. Manchester is a wonderful city and well worth spending a couple of days there. We have berthed there dozens of times and never encountered a problem, but we are sensible on our times of passage avoiding afternoons and, if possible, weekends. Hope you have a great time on the Cheshire Ring.

Obvious drug dealing.... but then perhaps the same as most urban areas as you quite rightly point out. Still would have appreciated a lock or two wheeled by a volockie though ?

My main complaint is that there were no volockies on the Ashton Canal down into Manchester. Hard work, dodgy areas and a distinct lack of maintenance budget. Oh for a smiley volockie, bossy or otherwise!

Canal open. 2pm.

Towpath hole is now filled (12 noon, Tuesday). The leak down the culvert has been sealed. Talk of a few barrow loads of clay being put down canal side, but as yet no decision on whether to lift the stop planks and open the canal.

OK, been up for a walk to have a look at the breach. Contrary to my “second hand information”, the repair is not complete. There is a hole (about 2 or 3 cubic metres). It has only been a third filled with clay. Apparently there is access problems, so the contractors are using two motorised wheelbarrows ferrying the clay from the utility block at the top of the locks. They say they should complete it tomorrow and hope to remove the stop planks late tomorrow afternoon. As an aside, the locks are still open and boats are still ascending, so not quite sure of the reports of the permanent moorers being told to move, as their moorings will now be taken by boats awaiting the repair.

Second hand information, but believe they have done a repair and will now wait for another inspection tomorrow morning (Tuesday), to see if it is effective and if they can re-open the canal. Will take a walk up later this afternoon to have a look.