Rochdale Canal

Sunday – 13 July 2008

Left Sowerby Bridge at 9.30am, lovely sunny morning.  Saw some Canada Geese swimming by with their young.  Helen tested her steering skills into a bridge!!!, but later managed to do ok. Arrived at the top of Brearley Upper Lock at 11.45am.  Pam came and met us there, had some lunch, then Pam and I went into Hebden Bridge and came back.  When we arrived back at the boat Chris was over the other side of the lock with Bisto.  I stupidly shouted out to Bisto, she was so giddy to see us, she ran straight over the lock gate and fell into the lock.  I cannot describe my feelings when I saw her disappear down 10ft 4” as the lock was empty.  Chris quickly flew to the bottom of the ladder and after some coaxing, she started to swim to him….. Very frightening for us all, but most of all Bisto.  Once at the top of the ladder, she shook herself, ate Chris’ apple core tail wagging and was absolutely fine.  We were not!!!!!, however she is safe and well and I have learnt yet another valuable lesson.

Had a BBQ in the eve with Pam, she went home about 7.00pm, early night.

Monday – 14 July   

Left Brearley Upper Lock at 8.15am, another nice day, set off for Hebden Bridge, arrived at 10.15am.  Moored at the top of Mayroyd Mill Lock, this is handy for the train station.  As it was quite shallow we needed the plank.  Bought some thin rope fenders from a boat; four for £20, good value, they warned us not to moor overnight in Todmorden as we had planned to and leave the boat a couple of days, so staying here longer than we originally thought.

 Saturday  and Sunday – 19  & 20 July

Still at Hebden Bridge, a festival going on in the park next to our moorings.  Full of alternative, hippy dreadlocked people.  They all claim to be green, but saw lots of   cans and litter scattered on the floor!.  Filled up with water in Hebden Bridge and then headed up Blackpit Lock to moor

 Tuesday – 22 July

Helen’s last day at Work for the Summer, set off late afternoon and decided to set off from Hebden Bridge at 5.15pm.  Came up with another boat, went further than we originally planned  and ended up doing eight locks as it was a pleasant evening and gives us more time tomorrow.  Unfortunately at the last lock, (Old Royd Lock no 17, Helen slipped as she was getting back on the boat and hurt her leg, Chris dragged her onboard – massive bruises and pain to come over  the   next few days!!!!.  Moored up a little further on at 9.00pm.  Were both famished, had a Chinese Helen stir fried up very quickly and a very early night.

 Wednesday  – 23 July

 8.15am start, heading for Todmorden.  Had a good cruise through, most of the locks were easy to go through and were well greased.

Helen was in pain, but gritted her teeth and got on with it.  Had a stop at Todmorden to empty toilet and refuse etc.  We hadn’t moored here as we had heard some bad reports, however a family were there and said there was no trouble and it was fine.  Set off from there at 9.45am, found the guillotine lock a little hard to understand.  You have to lift the paddles manually with a windlass attached to the guillotine on the opposite side to the electric point.  The family on the hire boat hadn’t dared go through but came through with us once I had opened it.

 After Todmorden the next water and toilets are between lock 47 and 48, Durn, Littleborough.

Went on up the locks, Helen still limping up the Gauxholme locks and then had a brew in no 25 ’Smithyholm lock’. 

Overcast, but warm, dramatic scenery, extremely enjoyable.  Met two lots of boats coming down.  The hire boats felt they were being pushed a little from the ‘experts!’ behind and that they couldn’t enjoy it as they were having to go so fast.  I find this a lot, people seem in this mad hurry as if they are in a race and have to get through the locks as soon as possible.  What I cannot understand is why be on a narrowboat… if you want a fast pace, canals are not the place for you…  Join the rest on the motorways if you want a fast pace, but don’t spoil it for others by putting them under pressure.  Also when people are rushing, accidents happen.

Reached Walsden at 13.45pm above lock 28, Travis Mill Lock to moor up for the night.  Had  a look round the village, unfortunately Grandma Pollards Fish and Chip shop was closed and we were so looking forward to some chips with lashings of salt and vinegar on. 

Moored just past the water point, great spot as nobody walks by and luckily it was deep enough. 

Went to the pub for a meal.  It was a nice pub with an outside seating area, well maintained and a varied menu.  We got two meals for £7.95 which was good value.  Came back to the boat for some MORE wine and cheese and biscuits outside to finish the night off. 

Thursday – 24 July

Set off at 9.00am, had a good trip up the next few locks.  We were doing fine until Lightbank lock  no 28.  A BW man was there and helped Helen with the paddle.  Unfortunately the paddle on the side of the boat was broken and he put it up all the way!!!! Also some more boats were coming down and Chris was talking  to one of the blokes and  didn’t tighten the ropes all the time.  Due to the avalanche of water, it somehow pushed the boat against the lock gates and got caught on a bolt; the boat started tipping sideways.  Helen quickly put the paddle down to stop more water coming in and the boat righted itself….. talk about frightening.  We were doing fine on our own and have been in complete control all the time, just goes to show. Arrived at Longlees Lock at 12.00 noon.  Two lovely old ladies were at the lock, they live nearby and were really friendly.

Got through the lock and swing bridge and moored up ready to go over the Summit.

 Went for a well deserved lunch at Bird I’th Hand.  The meal was gorgeous.  Helen had a meat and potato pie with mushy peas and beetroot and lashings of gravy.  We had excellent service and both enjoyed the meal very much. 

Friday – 25 July

We had contacted Ray the lockkeeper who takes you over the Summit.  He was busy as some idiots had discarded their waste into the canal further down and this had killed thousands of fish and caused a lock to close.  Therefore we had Melissa and her dog Milo to help us across.  She was very helpful and she came across with us.  Gave her a cuppa and Milo a treat.  It was really weird coming down a lock instead of going up, will take us a little while getting used to it………………YEAH we have done it, reached and crossed the Summit.  Well done Chris, Helen and Bisto!!! 

Got permission from Ray to stay at this mooring until Wednesday due to working.  It turned out that we couldn’t have gone much further anyway as the lock was closed due to the contamination.

Stayed for some  tea and then went home.  Helen has MENCAP to take out for the day on Sunday and Chris has work.

Tuesday  – 29 July

Travelled from home back to the Summit on the train and bus, everything on time and arrived in 1.5 hours, excellent.  Went to the Summit pub for a meal, not very good quality, chips cooked in old fat.  Early night for an early start. 

Wednesday – 30 July

Raining quite heavily…. Set off at 8.45am to Littleborough, stopping at Durn Sanitary station for a well earned cuppa and to empty toilet and fill up with water. Set off again at 12.45pm, it only stopped raining between locks 47 and 48!!!!! Lock 48 was extremely heavy and as the top gate was leaking took Chris and I and another gentleman to open the gate.  Arrived at Littleborough at 13.45pm, moored below lock 48 near the station and handy for the Co-op and the centre.

11 Locks in total – took 4 hours.

6.00pm, BW rang to say they were closing the canal into Manchester for one week as they were waiting for Environmental Health Agency to get test equipment from Germany to test the contamination. 

Overnight the canal dropped considerably.  In the evening had a take away from local Indian. 

Thursday – 31 July 

Pamela, Gerard, Natalie and Hollie joined us for the day.  Went to Hollingworth Lake nearby, a large lake with water activities and surrounding pubs, amusements etc. Apparently this was used in the 1800’s for holidays, nice place if good weather.  However it poured down and was very windy.  Went to the ‘Beach’ a two for one pub overlooking the lake.  Bisto sat outside patiently waiting for the serviettes to arrive full of scrumptious food!!!!!

Came back to Littleborough for the afternoon and a look round the shops, one with handbags with a price of £166.80p and a second hand bookshop which is a bit of a tardis and full to the top floor with books.

Pam took Chris home with them so he could collect the van as we think we will now be heading come on Monday instead of being in Manchester, boo hoo!!!  Early night, hot, lots of flies and tossed and turned a bit. 

Friday  -  1 August   

Went down to Slattocks in the van to see if anybody else was stuck.  There were three boats there including ‘Ellie Mae’, with Norman and Pat on board.  As they were attending a wedding abroad and they needed to be back in Cheshire for the weekend, BW had arranged to crane them out from Durn and take them to Lymm, Cheshire due to the contamination.  The other two boats were heading back as none of us are sure when the canal will be reopened.

Chris and I are feeling a mixture of sadness because we cannot complete the ring and we were really determined to achieve it and also angry at the person who had contaminated the canal.  You cannot believe that one person has caused all this trouble, affected so many people and their holidays and also caused a massive amount of expense to BW.

With our bottom lips out and heads held low, we headed back up the canal and moored just above lock 46 in a small inlet which in lovely weather would be ideal for a BBQ, sit out and have fun, however the weather is dreadful and as we stare out of the windows at the thrashing rain, we thank our lucky stars that we have our health which is the main thing and we vow to make the most of the journey back.  

Saturday – 2 August   

Had a walk into Littleborough, noticed BW were letting a lot of water down the canal to enable Elle Mae and crew up.  Unfortunately this left Coventina grounded, but she soon rectified later in the day.  Had some lunch and then Copper Dragon arrived, they moored at the side of us in the loading wharf and Ellie May followed shortly after, mooring just above the lock.

Copper Dragon had had one hell of a journey just before the Rose of Lancaster, they have come across bin liners full of used baby nappies!!!!, a wheelie bin in the lock, causing them to tilt, and had heard stories re youths throwing stones at boaters and setting them free.  They strongly advise you to get through this part and leave Littleborough as soon as possible i.e 6.30am before the hooligans get out of bed….

The lady on Copper Dragon played the piano accordion and they seemed full of life and good fun.  .  

Sunday – 3 August

Set off at 9.00am to the Summit from the loading wharf at the top of Lock 46.  Met a Shire Cruiser boat on the way down, they were just going to the windy hole and turning back.  One of the locks broke when Helen was trying to wind the paddle up.  Informed BW of this and arrived at the Summit at 12.30pm, hard as raining continually and as a lot of the locks are leaking and overflowing it made it difficult to open the gates, but with a lot of determination and help, we did it. 

When we had moored at Littleborough the pound was extremely low.  Apparantly this was due to lock no 49 being vandalised and allowed water to drain from the ¾ mile long pound and flood into the car park.  They did it again two nights later, firefighters attend and are abused, however police don’t seem to attend these incidents.  Also on 2 August, a builders bath was stuck in the paddle gear on lock 47, hence the pound by Durn Bridge leaked out.

Went home Sunday night to both go to work Monday and Tuesday.

Tuesday – 5 August 

Came back in the evening after work, had some fish and chips at home, popped into Morrisons at Todmorden for some supplies and then came to the boat. 

Wednesday – 6 August

Terrible weather all day, rained all the time.  Popped into LIttleborough, emptied the loo and then came back and read etc all afternoon.  

Thursday – 7 August

Nicer day, sun shining, but cloudy.  Had a walk up the hills and Quarry, very hot, Helen was lagging, but made it to the top.  Wonderful views.  Had some lunch and   set off back home to go to work again.     

Saturday – 9 August

Joan and Trevor brought Helen over and to spend the afternoon and evening with us.  Came off the M62 at Junction 21 and took them to Hollingworth Lake and had a picnic in the grounds of the information centre.  Unfortunately it was raining all the time, so couldn’t have a walk round the lake.  Went into Littleborough and had a quick look round the shops.  Purchased several books, 5 for £1 from a charity shop and headed to the boat as weather terrible. Trevor had a power nap for 10 minutes and then he was rearing to go again!!!

Chris set off from work in the van and met us at Walsden. All went out for a meal to the ‘Border Rose’, very nice indeed. Due to the bad weather conditions, Mum and Dad set off home on the M62 before it got dark.

Sunday – 10 August

Had booked our crossing over the Summit with Ray, he had the lock ready and waiting for us before 8.30am.  Went across the Summit with Ray on board and gave him some cans for all his help and for letting us stay so long on the moorings.

Martin, Andrea and Olivia met us at the other side to spend the day with us.  Went down 8 locks to Walsden with ease due to help from the crew.  One minute it was sunny and then torrential rain for a change!!!!

Dried ourselves off and then all headed to the pub for Sunday Lunch, which was excellent value.  They headed off home and we had a look round the ‘Bottoms Mill shop’ at the side of the ‘Border Rose’.  It was a lot larger than we anticipated inside.  Had an early night and not much tea as still full from lunchtime.

Monday – 11 August  

Rain again first thing, not a good forecast for the rest of the week, so had to carry on.  Set off from Walsden at   8.45am, did 10 locks down into Todmorden, arrived at 11.45am, not bad due to the weather conditions.  As there has been so much rain, each lock was extremely difficult as it was flowing over the top of the gates and into each lock like a gushing waterfall, therefore as we were emptying each lock it was filling up from the back!!!! HARD WORK, but hey, Helen did 8 locks and Chris two!!!! Moored up at BW station

Had a look round Todmorden, stocked up with food and watched a video Helen had bought from a charity shop – ‘The Lawnmower Man’  – different……

Tuesday – 12 August 

Extremely heavy rain first thing as forecast, so had a lie in – unusual for us…..  Emptied the bins, filled up with water etc and set off in a dry spell at 11.15am.  Only went down two locks, however fairly long pounds in between, so a nice cruise.  Just as reached top of lock 16, started raining again.  Moored up for the rest of the day and night at 12.30pm.