KELPIE is having another wee outing

[haggis]

We are out for a short trip. Our plans had to be changed at the last minute when Hunts lock went out of action meaning we couldn't get to the dry dock for bottom blacking. This has now been rearranged for  next month. We are now heading up the Bridgewater where we can enjoy some lock free cruising - I am not up to doing locks yet after my heart op. The canal is very quiet and there was only one boat moored at Anderton when we had a brief dog walk/ lunch stop. The aim for tonight is to walk down to the Leigh Arms . I felt quite sad when we came past the lovely little plot where Phil and Margaret Dowling used to .moor to find another boat there and the plot has obviously changed hands since Phil died and Margaret moved off the canal. I hope their boat had found a new owner who will enjoy her as much as Phil and Margaret did

Lovely weather you have down here and we hope it continues. Our neighbours  at Park Farm call it " Street boating weather "  as it always seems to be good weather when we are out. 

[Ken X]

Sounds like a great plan.

 

We quite like the Bridgewater, being terminally lazy 🙂. It was just the place for my wife to recuperate after a long hospital stay as she was not up to locking or steering for a few months.

 

Here's hoping the weather continues to be pleasant.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Keep us informed, I like reading about people’s travels. 
I think Friday is gonna be as close as we get again this year towards being a scorcher. 
I don’t know the Bridgewater very well, any pointers to good moorings and pubs would be welcome. 👍
 

[haggis]

We were just saying today that we are creatures of habit and always tend to moor in the same places. Lymm in particular which has all sorts of eating establishments near the canal. It also has a superb bakers and a reasonable butcher. They tell.me the pubs ( particularly the Brewery Tap) are good too😄. Our intention is to stop in different places this time . But we have said that before!

When we came past the services at Anderton I noticed that there is now a large BIFFA receptacle  ( which looks like a  skip with a lid ) so hopefully there will be less rubbish dumped all over the place

 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Lymm is my habit for a stop over, feels halfway and it’s very nice,

thing is I’ve only seen the Bridgewater (that stretch anyway) as a quick transit journey,

I’d like to explore it a little more, I think it might deserve a bit more investigation

[MrsM]

Absolutely loved all of the Bridgewater and Lymm in particular. Such a nice relaxing break after canals like the L&L with all the blooming swing bridges. Away in our van in Northumbria, but I really do miss my boat. Have a great trip.

[dmr]

10 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

Lymm is my habit for a stop over, feels halfway and it’s very nice,

thing is I’ve only seen the Bridgewater (that stretch anyway) as a quick transit journey,

I’d like to explore it a little more, I think it might deserve a bit more investigation

 

We did find a Sam Smiths pub a short walk from the Bridgewater, probably near Dunham Massey? Pretty sure you were there too?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Yes we did, not far from Lymm, moored on the Aqueduct 

Scarecrow competion time if I remember right,

gardens with there efforts,

that was year we went Liverpool,

2017? 

[Cheshire cat]

As a local, the Sam Smiths at Dunham Massey is still open if you don't want to go to the Swan with two Nicks. Lots of good places in Altrincham but a bit of a treck. (1 mile) I recommend Essence by Altrincham Bridge for a curry (doesnt look much but the food is good) and if you are passing on Friday or Saturday  Stubborn Mule Brewery if you fancy lots of dog friendliness and craft beers.  Moor on the offside. You can moor anywhere in Altrincham safely. We are friendly.

[haggis]

Thank you. Iain has had his eye on the Swan with two Nicks for a while but there hadn't been room to moor. We'll have another go

[jonathanA]

May not fit in with your plans but when we visit the Bridgewater, SWMBO insists we visit the Trafford shopping centre. (You can moor at its back door). Personally it's purgatory for me but worth it for a quiet life....  but we have to pass it on our way to/from our mooring anyway. The nearby  Barton swing bridge is worthwhile too.

[haggis]

Thank you. We have moored outside the Trafford centre a few times but only ventured in once - shopping is Hell on earth for me 😄. The one time I ventured in I was looking for something for our evening meal and I eventually found M&S at the far end. I didn't see anything to entice me back but I am not a shopper !

[haggis]

Well, who would have believed it ? We are moored in Lymm ( we got the last space in the town ).  Much has been said about how few hire boats are out this year but the Black Prince yard at Acton Bridge only had one boat in and the car park was full of cars. Maybe things are improving for hire fleets now the schools are back 😄. We also  saw Phil and Margaret Dowlings boat James Henry ,still for sale. It is iron and was built in the 1800s and looks reasonably priced but it doesn't look like any of the " historic " boats we see around. 

Iains weather station is a shadow of it's former self having been knocked over ( twice,) by overhanging branches when I was steering . I was in the middle of the canal and was too busy looking at moorhens or Coots to notice how low  and - big 

the branches were. 

Eating out again tonight but don't know where yet. Lymm has so much to offer. 

I like the unusual chimneys on the older houses we have passed.

[David Mack]

 

1 hour ago, haggis said:

We also  saw Phil and Margaret Dowlings boat James Henry ,still for sale. It is iron and was built in the 1800s and looks reasonably priced but it doesn't look like any of the " historic " boats we see around. 

This?

https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/james-henry

[haggis]

Yes, that's Phil and Margaret's old boat

[haggis]

A latish start after visiting the butcher, the baker but not the candle maker and tootled up to castlefield where we found a mooring in the YC arm. However there are signs of lots of activity in the arena and we have a six foot high green mesh fence along side us. 

Lots of widebeams on the Bridgewater which makes sense as it is a wide canal. Why are most of them painted black? Just my opinion but some colour can make them look.more attractive. From here they have the whole of the northern waterways to play in as well as the Ship  Canal and it was good to see several of them moving. 

[MtB]

On 05/09/2024 at 16:02, haggis said:

We also  saw Phil and Margaret Dowlings boat James Henry ,still for sale. It is iron and was built in the 1800s and looks reasonably priced but it doesn't look like any of the " historic " boats we see around. 

 

Not surprised given the appallingly grim marketing. I'm faintly interested myself but struggle to see past all the cobblers and bullshit. The price strikes me as about right given the absence of an appropriately traditional engine. 

 

https://www.boatsalesandmore.co.uk/boats-for-sale/james-henry

 

 

 

 

 

 

The video fails to download for me, too.

 

 

 

[haggis]

I agree it is very poorly marketed. It was just knowing Phil and Margaret that made me look for an advert 

[David Mack]

Hmm! A broker that doesn't appear to be a registered company, has no premises from which it sells boats, gives no physical address and whose sole employee seems to have no surname. Why would anyone trust such a reticent organisation to sell one of their most valuable possessions? And how can a prospective buyer trust that they are legitimately selling the boat in question?

[haggis]

Good grief, I didn't realise it was as bad as that. I didn't recognise the brokers name and assumed it was local to the area. There isn't even a for sale sign on the boat. 

[haggis]

We were serenaded last night by whoever was playing  in the arena. Didn't set off till after lunch and are moored in Worsley - haven't stopped here for several years. We are heading back tomorrow as Iain has a swollen painful foot which he has apparently had for a few days. It looks nasty but he says he doesn't need medical attention. I am not so sure.

[PeterScott]

Steve Harding - from cutweb days - was moored at Napton locks today and sent his best wishes to KELPIE and crew ...

[haggis]

11 hours ago, PeterScott said:

Steve Harding - from cutweb days - was moored at Napton locks today and sent his best wishes to KELPIE and crew ...

Thank you, Peter, I got an email from Steve.  It was lovely to hear from a canal friend from way back.