The Rochdale Curse

[IanD]

56 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

Scratching your new boat is a bit like finding out your wife has been unfaithful.

It only really hurts the first time.

😜

 

Same as cars then -- been there, done that, got the scars (right now!) to show it... 😞

[PCSB]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

 

My view is that boats are there to be used, and unless I'm never going to go through it ever again there's no point worrying about scratching a new boat in Standedge any more than worrying about scratching an old one... 😉

 

Fair play Ian  

 

Quote

(which is why I'll have some small tins of paint in all the RAL colours it was painted in -- admittedly single-pack, but two-pack isn't practical)

I've got touch up paints in 2 pac. I use very small containers - the type you often get sauce in from a takeaway - and disposable syringes to measure quatities. Works well for me.

 

[IanD]

9 minutes ago, PCSB said:

Fair play Ian  

 

I've got touch up paints in 2 pac. I use very small containers - the type you often get sauce in from a takeaway - and disposable syringes to measure quatities. Works well for me.

 

I asked Ricky about 2-pack and he said the problem was storage lifetime, especially for the hardener. What have you found?

[David Mack]

16 hours ago, Midnight said:

C&RT's idea of a lock mooring on the Rochdale Canal

Well I see you made it to the Summit pound! I have just driven past, looked down and there you were.

[PCSB]

2 hours ago, IanD said:

I asked Ricky about 2-pack and he said the problem was storage lifetime, especially for the hardener. What have you found?

So far it has worked fine. Hardener is probably about 15 months old now (I managed to spill the original container all over me and the deck board). If we get some warmish and calm weather I have a bit of touching up to do so can let you know how it goes. It was fine a few months back and the paint has taken well.

[Midnight]

Rochdale Curse - Day 3 - Billy the Super Summit Lockie

 

Left Littleborough at 10am for a leisurely cruise up to West Summit moorings. Three locks up all going well me lifting a paddle for those behind. Lock 43 was a bit of a struggle with so much water coming over the top gates. That all changed after reaching 42. Lockie arrived who I found to be Billy, late of Tuel Lane. He told me we would need to stay in the pound above 42 overnight as there wasn't going to be enough water above after bringing two Manchester bound boats down. When I told him there were going to be four of us by evening he consulted his vollie mate Richard and they told me to hold on whilst they re-checked the Summit level. After a break of about 45 minutes he came back and said they could probably get two of us up over the top but the other two would have to wait until tomorrow - which is what we had all expected anyway. The lads escorted us over the top and down through the swingbridge into Yorkshire! (hooray). There was a boat moored just above 34. Lock 34 being one of those single boat affairs, it was leaning at a bit of an angle when when got both boats through. Plenty of water from there down to where we stopped for the day, above lock 30. Too far to walk back to Summit pub but I may stroll over to the Wagon & Horses. @Jon57 has caught up with Nancy David at lock 41 and the lucky (???) bugger will be in Summit pub by now.

 

It's all beginning to feel a lot more positive and although we are not yet out of the woods....

...No I won't say that, don't wish to tempt fate. The curse may be lurking in a lock close to me. 

 

 

3 hours ago, David Mack said:

Well I see you made it to the Summit pound! I have just driven past, looked down and there you were.

We were just going over Summit when I looked up and there you were. 😆
PS What's the Wagon & Horses like?

Edited October 4, 2023 by Midnight

[Tacet]

On 03/10/2023 at 11:14, IanD said:

If I wanted to put in on a low loader instead of cruising I wouldn't have had it built... 😉

 

My idea of a good boating time is not sitting in the boat for long periods (more than a couple of days, depending on location of course...) at a mooring, though I'm sure others love it... 🙂

 

Quite right.  Boating, by which I mean cruising, is the best part by far.  Whilst there may be rare occasions when it is a necessity, I would avoid paying to have a boat transported by road as it subtracts from my enjoyment.

 

FWIW, I have crayoned-in the whole of the connected system (and much of the outlying parts too) without resorting to paying someone else to deprive me of my enjoyment.

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, Midnight said:

PS What's the Wagon & Horses like?

Never been in. The Border Rose just along the road was my preferred hostelry - good beer and reasonably priced meals. But its closed at the moment.

[dmr]

Not much good in my opinion, no decent beer and no decent food, but otherwise fine. Have a day off and then go for a big early evening drink at the Golden Lion in Todmoden.

[Midnight]

1 minute ago, dmr said:

Not much good in my opinion, no decent beer and no decent food, but otherwise fine. Have a day off and then go for a big early evening drink at the Golden Lion in Todmoden.

That's tomorrow's plan

[IanD]

51 minutes ago, Midnight said:

That's tomorrow's plan

Is it Reggae Night? Was when we were there... 😉

[dmr]

GL is very variable, and can be a no go area (or even ticket only) if there is a band or DJ on, especially at weekends. If you want to do drinking or eating its always worth going in very early evening.

However some events (Reggae etc) can be rather good.

The little bar over the road (a GL offshoot) is also ok but no real ale.

The relocated and expanded micro pub (The Pub) is a short walk away but last time I went in was charging almost London prices and had a very strange and not very friendly atmosphere.

Next stop will be Hebden, too many pubs to count.

[Jon57]

2 hours ago, Midnight said:

That's tomorrow's plan

Can we have a sleepover. I’ll bring my own mattresses.🤣

[Psychalist]

Or the Alehouse. Unfortunately the Polished Knob isn't open Thursday but a good shout if you're there Friday.

[TheBiscuits]

13 hours ago, dmr said:

GL is very variable, and can be a no go area (or even ticket only) if there is a band or DJ on, especially at weekends. If you want to do drinking or eating its always worth going in very early evening.

However some events (Reggae etc) can be rather good.

The little bar over the road (a GL offshoot) is also ok but no real ale.

The relocated and expanded micro pub (The Pub) is a short walk away but last time I went in was charging almost London prices and had a very strange and not very friendly atmosphere.

Next stop will be Hebden, too many pubs to count.

 

1 minute ago, Psychalist said:

Or the Alehouse. Unfortunately the Polished Knob isn't open Thursday but a good shout if you're there Friday.

 

Or The Market Tavern.  Or Jack's House if you fancy a longer walk.

[Midnight]

Rochdale Curse - Day 5 - Hard and wet but rather enjoyable! 

It was already raining when leaving our overnight moorings at Lock 30 and it hasn;t really stopped all day. Not heavy rain just the kind that eventually overwhelms your waterproof jacket and soaks into your shoes. My feet tonight are blue again from the dye in my second pair of Karrimor Aerators. 

 

The trip down to Todmorden would have been pleasant in different conditions athough the scenery is very enjoyable. Just a couple of stiff paddles and plenty of water. Nancy David and @Jon57 on Harry eventually caught up and all of us are reunited around the visitor moorings. Judging from the noises outside from the local idiots it could potentially be one of those nights but safety in numbers. Anyway we are off to the pub and I don't care which one or maybe a few? 

It's all looking better and better, only 10 miles and about 18 locks to go to Sowerby Bridge.  A stopover may be required either here or in Hebden Bridge as all of us are quite tired and aching after the last few days. The Rochdale may not always be cursed but it's always bloody hard work.

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2023 by Midnight

[Midnight]

Rochdale Curse - Day 6 - more rain - blue feet again!

 

Two of us, Ebony and Midnight headed down to Hebden Bridge, but the crews of Nancy David and Harry had, had a enough and decided to stay over in Tod. They will probably rejoin us here tomorrow.

 

It had rained all night, stopping just before we departed. For awhile it looked like just a damp day. Lock 13 was unlucky for us and the damp atmosphere turned into a downpour that accompanied us the rest of the journey. If not for the weather, it would have been a very pleasant cruise. The scenery around here is spectacular. All locks working just a few of the regular one-paddle top gates, but with so much water spilling over even those were easy enough to fill. Just one lock with the bottom gates slightly lower than the top took two of us to open.

 

We arrived in Hebden Bridge centre and had a full choice of moorings as there were no other boats in sight. I'm beginning to think the curse may only apply to the Lancashire side. We will spend a couple of nights here before heading down to Sowerby Bridge and the homeward leg along the Calder Navigation. Only eight locks to worry about (seven really as Tuel replaced 3 & 4). Surely nothing can go awry now - or can it? 🙏

 

 

[Midnight]

Made it!
Apart from the rain and Manchester a good crossing considering. 
Only the Calder to Battyeford and we are back.

Curse - shmurse!

[haggis]

Glad you all made it. 

[Mac of Cygnet]

Are the C&H flood locks open again, then?

[Midnight]

35 minutes ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

Are the C&H flood locks open again, then?

Yes

[Unicorn Stampede]

Did you finish up at SPBC? We've just Moore's opposite the club and I'm  sure I saw a boat called Midnight. Wondered if I put 2 and 2 together correctly.

[Midnight]

14 hours ago, Unicorn Stampede said:

Did you finish up at SPBC? We've just Moore's opposite the club and I'm  sure I saw a boat called Midnight. Wondered if I put 2 and 2 together correctly.

Yes you did

[Mac of Cygnet]

16 hours ago, Unicorn Stampede said:

Did you finish up at SPBC? We've just Moore's opposite the club and I'm  sure I saw a boat called Midnight. Wondered if I put 2 and 2 together correctly.

Did you see him fall in?

[dmr]

Came up the 9 on Wednesday, some small problems with too much water overtopping the gates. Night in New Islington and the Cask bar, very good beer but rather expensive. Left at 7am (before the money collector comes round 😀) and did the Manchester 18 in the morning. One weed hatch visit and one significant grounding due to a bywash scour. Got to Lock 65 by 1 so went up the Slattocks filght in the afternoon and a few pints in the Ship.

We did have the assistance of the volunteer, don't think we could have done both flights without him.

 

I think this is our 7th transit of the Manchester end of the Rochdale, have had a couple of bad ones but mostly good. The Rochdale is just not as bad as this forum likes to think, on a good day its almost fun.