enigmatic

Yup, that was me. Have headed down through Rochdale now, which wasn't as bad as reputed (friendly people, as many teenager apprentices clearing stuff out the canal as I saw actual trolleys. Guy overseeing them says they hope to attract people to actually moor there in future though he thinks talk of a town centre marina might be a pipe dream.) I'm expecting to get offered that sort of helping hand in certain tunnels on the Nine even without the volunteer!

I'll ask the CRT if the sex house is part of his itinerary

Happy to pair up if anyone is planning on going down later this week. Otherwise I shall probably give CRT a call tomorrow about booking the volunteer (and head down to the Slattock flight)

Yep. Came down from Cheshire via Shroppie, Staffs and Worcestershire, Coventry and the North Oxford without a working tunnel light and it wasn't until Braunston I had to figure out a solution

I did like the flight coming down, and yes I can still see a hill as well as a car park! But I've heard it gets considerably less pretty from here!

Thanks for the offer. Much as I wouldn't mind reversing course and doing the Yorkshire section again (and then the Huddersfield Narrow) I shall probably continue the other way but I'll let you know if that changes. Believe a similar sized boat to mine did wind near the bridge yesterday (I wasn't watching, but they passed me twice in different directions!) so it's probably still usable.

Littleborough. In theory I can stay here or even go back up to the summit (no question of vandalism, but more potential issues with water level changes and wind?) though that's probably not my preferred option. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Visited Bugsworth Basin when not on a boat and its lovely - didn't know about the station there and didn't consider it but actually closer than Liverpool Droylesden Marina sounds reasonably priced as well but if there's no space there's no space. Looks like Marple has a station too - decent mooorings there? Looks like New Mills Marina is another option Ashton and Marple Flights are supposed to reopen on the 18th, as is a stretch at Wigan Pier on the Liverpool route and I missed Salthouse only being bookable March-October which I guess scuppers that idea!

So I'm now on the less pretty bit of the Rochdale, and trying to plan ahead for the festive period, which will involve leaving my boat for at least a couple of days. Just wondering what my options are, since I'm aware the general area isn't ideal for leaving boats. Can consider paying overnight rates at a marina but aware options there might be a little thin on the ground too. - Originally I planned to head on to the Peak Forest/Macclesfield and I can still get up to Ashton assuming the flight below reopens on schedule. Is that a decent spot to leave a boat, or does it make more sense paying Portland Basin / Droitwich ? - New Islington Marina - do they offer secure moorings at a nightly rate? Are the 48hr visitor moorings there strictly 48hr or do they revert to 14 days in winter like most CRT moorings? Will there even be space there? - Some people have raved about wonderful moorings at Salthouse Dock in Liverpool, and I could still get there (even allowing for the stoppage at Wigan Pier). Quite liked Liverpool's docks when I visited as a kid. But are they actually secure from idiots? - Or is there anywhere else on that stretch that makes sense to leave a boat and has rail access? - Or do other people have much better ideas than that? Second question: How bad is the last section of the Rochdale likely to be at this time of year? Worth calling out the volunteers? (I'm a reasonably fit single hander with a bit of recent experience of v-shaped banks at lock landings and having to force gates, am quite happy taking advice from, chatting with and buying beers for volunteers, but also don't want to drag someone out on a miserable December day just because it's bookable )