Keeping Up with Keeping Up again

[Chris J W]

"BW Turned up at 18:30 and said they'd patched it up OK, and we should proceed up the flight. So we arrived at the Diggle Portal at 8pm. We're getting there slowly!"

[Chris J W]

"1hr 47m - Enjoyed it very much, so did Debbie and Molly. Telford wasn't so happy, but OK. But one of todays up-coming boats has taken the cill out of a lock & it looks like we'll have to turn round and go back again! "

[Odana]

And the canal's about to run out of water very soon if there's no rainstorms, say BW, (seen the damage caused by one boater who went down when told not to, leaving all paddles open, flooding some cottages and washing out a bit of towpath, as well as nicking all the water), so if they don't turn round soonish anyway, and are too long for the broad locks, then they could be taking up residence in Huddersfield for an indefinite period...! Horrid shame to get this far and then have to turn around though.

[Debby]

15:18 - "We've got to turn round ad go back through tomorrow."

[Chris J W]

"Trip Back even better than First Trip. Just 1hr 35m even though we had to wait for a boat to clear the section in front."

 

Blimey! Now that really is good!

 

It's a damn good testament to Allan and his knowledge of Keeping Up to get through in that time.

[Debby]

"Now heading west again & hoping the stoppages won't keep us off the Rochdale too."

[Keeping Up]

Thanks to everyone for relaying our texts. Yes we had to turn round at Marsden and come back - shame - but at least we had time for a great Tunnel End Marsden Mini-banter with Odana & co. The pub wasn't doing food that night so the 7 of us could only have meat & potato pie with mushy peas. Wow what a feast! The beer was good too.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed the return tunnel trip - opening the throttle in some of the straight bits was quite exciting - and now we're back down in Uppermill which is a great little town. Very very friendly, and a wealth of pubs to choose from.

 

Anyway, after failing to get into Yorkshire by the front door, we're now going to try and sneak in the back way on the Rochdale. BW have said that they should be able to lock us up (!) from Picadilly on Tuesday, and then take us on to the summit on Thursday (they're allowing 2 boats a day).

 

Can anyone recommend the best (ie cheapest) place to buy diesel?

[MartinClark]

Can anyone recommend the best (ie cheapest) place to buy diesel?

You don't exactly have a lot of choice, so it's about availability rather than price. The only place between you and the Rochdale Canal is Portland Basin Marina - turn left under the stone footbridge at Portland Basin, cross the aqueduct towards the Peak Forest Canal and turn left again into the marina.

 

Are you still in Uppermill? I passed through there earlier this afternoon. I never thought to see who was there. Where will you stop next?

[Janet S]

Got your text today, but I've only just got home so you beat me to it!

 

Now you're in our area, I'll look forward to meeting up soon....

 

Where do you think you'll be at the weekend? My multi-coloured windlass is gagging for a trip out....!

 

Janet

[MikeV]

You don't exactly have a lot of choice, so it's about availability rather than price. The only place between you and the Rochdale Canal is Portland Basin Marina - turn left under the stone footbridge at Portland Basin, cross the aqueduct towards the Peak Forest Canal and turn left again into the marina.

 

Are you still in Uppermill? I passed through there earlier this afternoon. I never thought to see who was there. Where will you stop next?

 

We're currently moored by Portland Basin so we may see you when you pass. We're heading up the HN so are hoping the forecast rain will sort out the east side by the time we get thru the tunnel on the 8th!!

Edited July 2, 2009 by MikeV

[Odana]

We're currently moored by Portland Basin so we may see you when you pass. We're heading up the HN so are hoping the forecast rain will sort out the east side by the time we get thru the tunnel on the 8th!!

 

Aha! That'll have been the Wych Way that we moored end to end with last night at Portland Basin in the Festival of Orange Boats. Another microbanter and we never knew.....! We all need bigger window stickers, obviously

[MikeV]

Passed Keeping Up at 12:20 today just below lock 2W on the HN, so nearly down to Portland Basin.

 

Good to meet you Allan - if ever so briefly!!

 

We are now below Roaches Lock (15W) and just had some really good fish and chips and a couple of pints of draft Adnams Broadside in the pub of the same name. //Mike

[Chris J W]

Oh dear - the "Keeping Ups" are now currently stuck at Portland Basin due to alternator problems.

[mayalld]

Oh dear - the "Keeping Ups" are now currently stuck at Portland Basin due to alternator problems.

 

We passed them twice in the PB area on Saturday. First time on the approach to bridge 30, where due to the dreadful sight lines caused by that 9 year old embankment problem, it is damn near impossible to spot anything coming downstream, and only just saw them in time to make a rather inelegant reversing manoever to let them through (sorry about that!), and we had passed by before I realised who it was.

 

Second time, on the way back to the mooring (we were only out to fuel up for the grand voyage next week), they were moored between bridges "A" and 1 in the glorious sunshine, and I got the chance to say hello :-)

 

Nice to put a face to another forum member.

[MartinClark]

Second time, on the way back to the mooring (we were only out to fuel up for the grand voyage next week), they were moored between bridges "A" and 1 in the glorious sunshine, and I got the chance to say hello :-)

 

I also got the chance of a brief hello as I passed by with the late evening return of "Maria" from Marple Locks Festival.

[Keeping Up]

Passed Keeping Up at 12:20 today just below lock 2W on the HN, so nearly down to Portland Basin.

 

Good to meet you Allan - if ever so briefly!!

 

We are now below Roaches Lock (15W) and just had some really good fish and chips and a couple of pints of draft Adnams Broadside in the pub of the same name. //Mike

Ah yes, the fish and chips and Broadside at Roaches Lock - I'd have recommended them myself if we'd had time to chat.

 

 

We passed them twice in the PB area on Saturday. First time on the approach to bridge 30, where due to the dreadful sight lines caused by that 9 year old embankment problem, it is damn near impossible to spot anything coming downstream, and only just saw them in time to make a rather inelegant reversing manoever to let them through (sorry about that!), and we had passed by before I realised who it was.

 

Second time, on the way back to the mooring (we were only out to fuel up for the grand voyage next week), they were moored between bridges "A" and 1 in the glorious sunshine, and I got the chance to say hello :-)

 

Nice to put a face to another forum member.

 

 

I also got the chance of a brief hello as I passed by with the late evening return of "Maria" from Marple Locks Festival.

 

Good to meet you all, shame it was always so brief.

 

Our alternator is now in the hands of "a man who can mend anything" so we're keeping our fingers crossed (our alternator is next in the queue after a 1930's Bentley car radio) and I', in the library at Ashton under Lyne. Must say it's quite a pleasant place to be stuck for a couple of days.

[MartinClark]

and I'm in the library at Ashton under Lyne. Must say it's quite a pleasant place to be stuck for a couple of days.

I'd agree with that - I've been stuck here for the last 35 years!

[mayalld]

Ah yes, the fish and chips and Broadside at Roaches Lock - I'd have recommended them myself if we'd had time to chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good to meet you all, shame it was always so brief.

 

Our alternator is now in the hands of "a man who can mend anything" so we're keeping our fingers crossed (our alternator is next in the queue after a 1930's Bentley car radio) and I', in the library at Ashton under Lyne. Must say it's quite a pleasant place to be stuck for a couple of days.

 

The museum at PB (closed Monday) is worth a couple of hours.

[lemontoes]

Ashton Market is supposed to be worth a visit. I've never quite made it myself, but my brother always seems to to get some bargains when he goes.

 

 

 

edited to say......I saw Maria at Marple

Edited July 6, 2009 by lemontoes

[Janet S]

They are currently moored near Portland Basin, and we're hoping to join them for a trip over Summit on Saturday if we can sort out travel/parking arrangements. I spoke to Allan tonight, and it sounds as though they're having a great time, despite the hiccups. I'm very envious!

 

Looking forward to exercising my windlass again.....

 

Janet

[Janet S]

I spoke to Debbie and Allan tonight...they are currently moored by lock 48 at Littleborough, having spent the day travelling in company with the horse drawn boat "Maria". They had a damp start, but the weather has improved throughout the day. It's a lovely evening here. I hope they have the same.

 

They have to be at Lock 44 for 11.00am tomorrow when the gates will be unlocked for their passage over the Summit pound.

 

We are travelling over to meet them in the morning. Our plan is to park near Summit, then walk down to do a bit of lock wheeling. Once we reach lock 44, we'll then launch Wet Betsy and escort them over Summit to the Dark Side....

 

It's not so much "Three Men in a Boat"....it's more like two idiots in an inflatable...

 

Very much looking forward to meeting up with Keeping Up and getting Wet Betsy's bottom wet for the first time this year.....

 

Janet

[ukrizla]

We saw Maria last weekend at Marple realy stunning boat

[MartinClark]

We saw Maria last weekend at Marple realy stunning boat

I'm sure Bill H will be delighted to hear that!

[Keeping Up]

Well after crossing the Pennines 4 times in 4 weeks, we're now in Castlefield Basin and looking forward to a few days without locks.

 

The Rochdale scenery is certainly spectacular, but Pingu found the locks rather hard work and we were VERY grateful for some lock-wheeling assistance from Janet & RJ. We also met John Orentas there - getting ready to take the Calder trip boat to a festival at Failsworth. There was too much water everywhere except the summit where there wasn't enough (we bent the skeg slightly when we hit a rock half way across a pound, so the rudder now sits half an inch higher but still seems to work the same, although it does have a couple of stiff points on its travel so I may see if I can get it puched back down again)

 

We'll probably go up to Wigan next and turn round, before heading back down the Bridgewater to the Anderton Lift and a few days on the Weaver. So if you see us, let us know; the traditional greeting of "Fancy a beer?" usually attracts us most easily.

[Keeping Up]

After a couple of very enjoyable days in Manchester we were feeling the need to do some travelling. In the last month, on the days that we've travelled we'd still only averaged 4.5 miles per day (plus loads and loads of bl**dy locks) so to redress that balance yesterday we travelled up to Wigan and then a few miles back. 24 miles in a day felt good! Then today we've come on down to Sale; what an excellent centre for stocking up with supplies. Tomorrow Pingu can satisfy her cravings for shopping at Tesco I'm just wondering how I'm going to get it all back the 200 yards to the boat!

 

I'm impressed by Sale. And we're here on the pub moorings, the sun is shining, the beer is good, the food is good, and the WiFi is free (although the signal is so weak that the connection keeps dropping out opping ou op o roppi ut).

 

So now we're going to head down to Anderton and see if we can get another ride on the lift.