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Rochdale Stoppage


Mike Todd

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Water is the big issue on the Rochdale, made worse by too much crap in the canal.

We went up as a group of four boats last July when water was in short supply. It was mostly ok but I suspect Ian Mac had spent a lot of effort getting all the water ready the day before.

Taking a lot of deep boats up will be difficult. As we went down we took a load of water with us and left every pound just about full, but the first group of working boats will have used all of that and more besides.

 

This is a good event as it might just help CRT to think about getting more water, they need to purchase another reservoir, there are several of them up on those hills, trouble is, with climate change and so less water the water companies might not want to sell them.

 

..........Dave.

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1 hour ago, dmr said:

(snip)

This is a good event as it might just help CRT to think about getting more water, they need to purchase another reservoir, there are several of them up on those hills, trouble is, with climate change and so less water the water companies might not want to sell them back.

 

..........Dave.

Fixed that for you ... :cheers:

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27 minutes ago, Iain_S said:

Fixed that for you ... :cheers:

You are absolutely right, though can't blame CRT or even BW, this was done by the railway companies who owned the canal when it was rapidly declining????

Having spent the winter on the Rochdale and done a fair bit of walking up round those reservoirs it becomes obvious that an unwanted reservoir on top of a big hill next to a narrow valley is a major liability, so at the time it was a good decision.

 

Interesting that Gaddings Dam is now owned by a group of locals, I expect they would love to GIVE it to CRT as long as they were still allowed to go up there for a bit of late night drinking and skinny dipping. :)

 

.............Dave

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1 hour ago, dmr said:

Interesting that Gaddings Dam is now owned by a group of locals, I expect they would love to GIVE it to CRT as long as they were still allowed to go up there for a bit of late night drinking and skinny dipping. :)

 

You went to Tod Beach over winter??!!

 

You are either mad or local! :D

 

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19 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

You went to Tod Beach over winter??!!

 

You are either mad or local! :D

 

Many times, and there was always somebody on the beach or in the water. Its a good circular dog walk, up the hill behind the Golden Lion, right up to Gaddings (opposite end to "the beach"), along the Pennine bridleway, drop down into Walsden then back along the canal, stopping off at the Golden Lion.

Think we must have become locals, Golden Lion landlady said we were neighbours and gave us discount.

 

Currently at Gathurst Lock on the L&L and missing the Calder Valley, but expect we will find a pub or two in Liverpool :).

 

Is  the working boat convoy spending a night in Tod?.

 

.............Dave

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2 minutes ago, dmr said:

Currently at Gathurst Lock on the L&L and missing the Calder Valley, but expect we will find a pub or two in Liverpool :).

 

Good spot at Dean Lock.  The disused lock approach mooring is great, and the people in the house opposite (who own the Narrowboat Tearoom next to it) are great.  If you like Indian, try the Baby Elephant you have just come past.

 

Hit the Railway in Parbold, the Old Packet House and the Hop Vine in Burscough.

 

I like Heaton's Bridge at erm Heaton's Bridge, but MrsBiscuit thinks it's a local pub for local people!

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10 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

Good spot at Dean Lock.  The disused lock approach mooring is great, and the people in the house opposite (who own the Narrowboat Tearoom next to it) are great.  If you like Indian, try the Baby Elephant you have just come past.

 

Hit the Railway in Parbold, the Old Packet House and the Hop Vine in Burscough.

 

I like Heaton's Bridge at erm Heaton's Bridge, but MrsBiscuit thinks it's a local pub for local people!

 

Never felt quite at home in  Heatons, but the Railway at Parbold is a real favourite, will be in there tomoro.

 

Hop Vine is odd, its a real eatery, but for the last hour each day gets full of drinkers, very nice beer selection but they won't let the dog in.

 

Sadly in a bit of a rush due to that broken swing bridge. What is the Slipway like now it has re-opened? have had a few pints in there waiting for CRT to fix that swing bridge.

 

Ship at Haskayne has gone downhill over the last few years, has transformed from a decent pub into an eatery, but the one just up the road was ok last time we were down this way.

 

............Dave

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32 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

Good spot at Dean Lock.  The disused lock approach mooring is great, and the people in the house opposite (who own the Narrowboat Tearoom next to it) are great.  If you like Indian, try the Baby Elephant you have just come past.

How could you eat Dumbo? Think of the kids

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1 minute ago, dmr said:

What is the Slipway like now it has re-opened? have had a few pints in there waiting for CRT to fix that swing bridge.

Not great, but have some good local beers occasionally.

 

2 minutes ago, dmr said:

Ship at Haskayne has gone downhill over the last few years, has transformed from a decent pub into an eatery, but the one just up the road was ok last time we were down this way.

 

Agreed.  Last time we were in there a month ago there was a problem with the drains, so it was a restaurant that smelled like an elsan point.  We chose to eat on the boat that night!

 

If you mean the Saracen's Head, we don't rate it at all.  It's a bit yuppie for boaters, and they look worried if you go in in boating finery, which is odd for a country pub with moorings for 40 boats outside ...

 

The Ship at Lathom (junction with the Rufford Branch) had a fire a few months ago and still isn't open as far as I know,

 

8 minutes ago, dmr said:

Sadly in a bit of a rush due to that broken swing bridge.

Get through to Melling and moor just past bridge 10.  The Bootle Arms (up the farm track a mile or so - it's a shorter and safer walk than up the road from bridge 11) serve Wainwrights on three pumps ... but do cracking meal deals most days of the week.

1 minute ago, nbfiresprite said:

How could you eat Dumbo? Think of the kids

We do.  They serve an icecream in a plastic elephant toy. :D

 

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Not the Saracens head, the Kings Arms?, a couple of hundred yards up the road from the Ship but not canalside. A locals pub with lots of dark wood, Think all the beers were from Salopian Brewery.

 

Pretty sure the Bootle Arms is another no dogs pub, we usually have a night off in Melling (well bottled beer only) ready for a visit to the Baltic Fleet in Liverpool.

However will be spending a few nights in Melling this year due to that swing bridge but have some local friends who are planning a train trip into Liverpool for a pre Liverpool Liverpool drink.

 

..................Dave

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9 minutes ago, dmr said:

Pretty sure the Bootle Arms is another no dogs pub,

They let our friends dogs in (only the lower bar area, not the restaurant bit) in March.  They are quite happy to serve you food in the corner alcoves of the bar.

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BilgePump, yes it was nice chatting to you on Friday over a pint as we waited for water, funny where you bump into people. BillH and Alan, i'll see you Monday morning. Mac is starting at the top and hunting for water and will let me know how levels are and I'll meet the convoy at Piccadilly just after half seven. See you all in the morning

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Nice to meet another couple of boats at lock 16 this morning. I was on my boat last night nr lock 15, just to move 1k or so through lock 16 prior to going to Hebden at the end of the week. 

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