Mac of Cygnet

I would endorse all the pubs mentioned in this thread, and have picked brambles (blackberries to sassenachs) more than once just where you say. Made jam with them too while stuck in a lock on the Diggle flight. Edited to say that of course despite the title of this thread, very little of this trip will be on the Ashton, and much of that under a supermarket. Much more will be on the Calder & Hebble, for which you will need the handspike provided on the boat.

Encountered on a forest road I regularly take the dog along not far from the house. She (the dog) was going crazy - dogs seem to know these are not to be trifled with. I've not seen another there before or since.

I met Dean S on the only occasion that I transited the Rochdale, and took refuge in New Islington Marina. He was welcoming and showed me where I could moor and access facilities, etc. but not very chatty. I think he was distracted with a paint job, doing up his widebeam. He was actually a moderator on here for a while but gave it up because of (unjustified) criticisms, but I may be wrong.

Great chap John. I met and travelled with him a couple of times, together with his older friend Stan on his own boat. Does anyone know what happened to Stan after John gave up boating and went to Calais?

Mine almost sank my boat once as the centre rope caught under it while descending a Nene lock. I was operating the guillotine and it all happened very quickly. Fortunately it released just as the boat reached an alarming angle but it left the step a little skew with the spring missing.

I have moored at 20 or more very pleasant places on the HCN over the years, but my boat is small and you may not get in at some of them. My favourite is The Kettle, above Lock 31E -very rural but a pleasant 10 minute walk down the fields across the river to the main road, the Olive Branch restaurant, and a very frequent bus service to Marsden (also within walking distance) or Huddersfield. I've left my boat there for a week without qualms. In Slaithwaite, I preferred to go up two locks from the basin, which is rather dreary, and moor on the place formerly occupied by the cafe boat. As regards Nick's comments about volunteers driving your boat through Standedge - don't blame the volunteers. The roughest passage I had through the tunnel was when the renowned Fred Carter ("Mr Standedge") drove Cygnet through as part of the trialing of self-drive (as opposed to being towed by electric tug).

Thank you for posting that beautiful, inspiring music.

You shouldn't drink beer when bathing. It gives you stomach cramps. Or so my mother said.