Red or White ?

Just like that 100 year war all those years ago about the colour of roses, we are now in a dispute over the colour of diesel. The Europeans are not happy with us. Were they ever?

They wanted us to pay more for the red diesel that we use for moving our boat. That we are doing. We have to work out the proportion we used to move and what we used for heating and power. Red diesel is usually only heating oil so we are paying the full 'road' price for moving the boat. How silly is that!

Now they want us to use white diesel and pay the full tax on all of it in our tank. It was suggested that we had separate tanks for red and white so we could still use the red for heating. How silly is that! The suppliers on the cut do not make much on selling the stuff so would not have a separate tank put in.

Our engines do not really like the red stuff and may well run better using the white diesel. The engine may well use less of it because it would be better quality.

A short walk

It was  cooler on Saturday afternoon so we explored the country lanes from bridge 86.  One way took us down to a river where Molly enjoyed a swim.

The other way got us through a narrow track that opened up to see this village pond at Burston.

Parting company

It was back in March that we joined up with Seyella at Gt Haywood.  At that time No Problem was heading south and we north.

Our journey with Geoff and Margaret turned out to be a voyage of adventure and discovery.  We had set off together in snow and parted in a heat wave.  We had got all the way to Manchester via the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals, meeting Rock n Roll on the way.

We parted at the top of Stone on the Trent n Mersey.  We moved on down through the locks with the help of Geoff and CRT volunteers and were lucky to find a space to moor.  It had been so hot that day that we simply stopped all activity for several hours in the afternoon.

We went shopping in Stone early next day.

Over the hill

We had stopped at Church Lawton and walked a path guided by Ann's magic map on her phone.  It made us jump when suddenly the Church bells rang a peal just behind a hedge.  The church was so close but unseen behind that hedge and the sound was so loud.  Bell ringing practice is usually on a Thursday. A cool evening walk down to a stream in the woods and back up to the canal.


Well after all that heat it was a treat to get into the tunnel to cool off and have a shower as we went through.  We all stopped at Westport lake and sat out with chairs and a table enjoying cups of tea from Geoff n Margaret and eating Ann's freshly made sponge cake.

After a walk round the lake we moved on to Etruria and decided to moor on the Caldon canal just before the lock.  It was quieter with a large patch of mowed grass to sit out in.

Going up the hill

It is slow progresses we head up the hill towards Stoke. We are only moving about every other day because the tennis at Wimbledon just has to be seen. Oh such joy to see Andy Murray win all those matches and the final. 

We stayed near Wheelock after topping up with water and loosing the unwanted. Then there was that day when we stayed put and put the white sheets outside the windows to keep cool.

Next day we made a run for it early to get up six locks while the day was young and cool. It has been a while since we have been this way so we noticed that many of the single pairs of locks are back in operation.

Just like at Hillmorton on the Oxford canal we have a choice of which lock to use. But here they are deeper. The six locks got us up 80 feet!

Another early start got us up to Rode Heath.

An Orchid hanging on the lock gate.

Middlewich locks

It was a treat going up the locks in warm sunshine. Several boats going down with helpful crew members.  Geoff joined the queue of four as we started up.

 Some of the locks are suffering severe failures on the canal system s here in lock 74.  Now fitted with bracing poles that a boat can get under.

We found a space at the top of Kings lock and waited for Seyella.

Here n there

Do we go here?  Or over there?  We went there, but ended up here!

We planned a trip south by taxi and train.  To say good by to a friend and neighbour there.

We saw our empty bungalow there and saw what our tenants left behind!  Is there no respect!

We are back here and moved up there on the Anderton Lift.  Side by side with Seyella.

Thanks Geoff for this pic of us.

Back on the Trent n Mersey and on to there.  We are now here, near Middlewich.

Our Anniversary spent there on Seyella with Margaret and Geoff the chef.  Roast beef and yorkshire pudding followed by Jam roll polly with custard or cream.  Then we watched the F1 racing here in England.

Anderton Lift

We followed Seyella down to the river Weaver. Geoff and another boat went first.

 In the lift at the top.

 On the way down.

 At the bottom.

 The 'Cathedral'.

Our mooring on the river Weaver.

Ann's computer

Ann got her refurbished Del Latitude D620 from Portable Universe at Milton Keynes by going on the internet.  When it arrived she discovered that the keys did not display what was printed on them.

A complaint to the supplier was ignored.  Our credit card statement indicated that the payment went to Easy IT at Bracknell.  A complaint was sent to them suggesting a claim for the money back.

Soon after that was sent I got a call from 'Harry' at Remarketing IT.  (How many more companies are involved?)  'Harry' asked what was on the 2 key.  When I told him he said that it was an American keyboard!  We agreed to send the computer back.

It was boxed up and sent by Interlnk Express.  Two days later I got a call from 'Harry'.  The keyboard has been changed, the battery was faulty and replaced and some adjustments were made to the mouse pad operation.

Interlink Express returned the computer in good order.

Timing tunnels

We left our mooring at half past the hour with an hour to get to Saltersford tunnel. Only three miles and we got there on time to go through. 

Several boats had come through on their time slot so we went on in to the darkness. A one way 424 yard small hole in the hillside.

Our bimini had been put down to avoid contact with the rocks and brick. There were more bends in the tunnel than the one at Braunston and being only one way proved more difficult to navigate.

The next tunnel at Barnton was longer but at least you can see through it. That one is not timed so we sounded the horn on the way through.

Is this another breach about to happen here?

The breach

It happened between Dutton and Anderton. The high bank fell away and the water escaped down the hill. The canal was closed for a while. 

The trees were lost so the gap provides a spectacular view.

A huge amount of rock replaced the sandy bank.

The towpath is just gravel and concrete but at least there are some rings to tie to.

The other side of the canal bank has also had a makeover.

We are enjoying another summer weekend now on the Trent n Mersey.

Sunshine days

Seyella and M2L were moored at Dunham but facing in different directions! I had turned ready to fetch Ann from Sale.

 Geoff and I with both dogs went off to see the deer near Dunham Massey Hall. A wonderful chance to get close and almost personal with not so wild animals. 

Geoff and Margaret joined me for the trip. Ann got a Metro Tram from Piccadilly to Timperley. Then we travelled back. Ann was looking pretty with her short hair cut and summer clothes. Molly was as pleased as I to see her back on board.

Seems Ann has bought the sunshine with her, loads of post and extra technology.

We now have a WiFi dongle for our Panasonic FreeView Recorder. It promises to connect the TV direct to the Internet. Well it does work up to a point. It does not have a full browser but can link to a selection of websites. Looking at some movies from YouTube proved that our 3G connection is not fast enough.

Ann is trying to use her reconditioned Del Lattitude D620 laptop. It came with MS Windows XP but the software does not match well with the keyboard. What you see on the key is not what you get on the screen. In particular some of the Shift characters. It is enough to put off a reluctant user.

On a very sunny Monday friends sat outside Moore 2 Life.

There was John and Rosemarie from Devon Maid, Geoff and Margaret from Seyella. 

Moving out

Ann went off on the tram to catch a train from Piccadilly.  The same Cross Country train that we often get from Stafford or Banbury to Southampton.

Geoff and I moved our boats away from Castle Quay after taking on water.  I then endured a damp trip on my own of about fifteen miles.  Thankful that our Bimini could stay up to keep me dry!

I stopped opposite Dunham Massey Hall with a view of the gardens and a green tree lined tow path.

Back to Manchester

Oh what a windy day it was. We left the Trafford centre, headed down to Waters Meeting and turned left to head for Manchester.

It was a wonder that things stayed on the roof. As it was our aerial nearly took of. Another boater had to stop to remove his plant pots that had nearly gone overboard.

The trees and factory buildings provided some shelter from the cross wind but where there were gaps the boat changed direction and at times leaned over alarmingly!

Moments before arriving at Castle Quay, Geoff rang to say we should turn left under the railway arch. He had gone right to find all the moorings taken!

As it was we went along side Seyella when Geoff arrived near the Museum of Science and Industry.

There are so many boats here obviously overstaying their welcome but there are no wardens to control the situation.

Geoff has seen NB Pilgrim and invited Malcolm and Barbara for meeting on board Seyella. 

The boat turned

While we are travelling with Seyella, Geoff's blog would have kept you all up to date with our travels and problems! 

 

We got as far as joining the Leeds and Liverpool canal near Plank Lane and the Pennington Flash. Now we head back to Manchester so that Ann can catch the train south to visit family being a long way from home.

There are plenty of places to stop on the Bridgewater canal with its well kept tow paths. Even the off side can be used as here at Boothstown. 

Technology ?

Did you know that Google Reader is to stop working soon?  I cannot add or change the subscriptions now.  Checking the latest unread blogs is what we do on our smart phone and we shall miss Reader.

There are alternative RSS feeders for that is what Reader was.  I have tried 'Feedly' on the computer and it enabled me to add and edit my existing subscriptions.  'Freedly' also has an app for Android but it did not work for me.  It just crashed.

Any body know of another to be recommended?

Now 'Smart' TV's are not so smart.  They can display internet pages but they do not have a full browser!

Just a splendid way to the shops

We moved up the Bridgewater canal a few miles north of Manchester.  There were some wonderful moorings with rings to tie to and a 'shopping centre' to explore nearby.  The tow path was excellent.

 This was the way in across the road!

This is the way to live.  Such splendour up north.  The shops were busy taking our money and everybody else's.

No cut backs up here!

All down hill to Manchester

From our mooring near the Marple bottom lock it was only 6 miles to Dukinfield Junction. Geoff had warned us about the low bridges so we put down our Bimini.

The majority of the Lower Peak Forest canal is tree lined and pleasant in the sunshine. After the Marple locks it was good to travel the long pound.

We squeezed under the low bridges and pushed through the dark tunnels.

Just one bridge to lift before our mooring for the night.

At Dukinfield Junction the Huddersfield narrow canal heads east while the Ashton canal heads west. Both canals were abandoned and left to rot when commercial traffic failed. The Ashton was reopened in 1974 and the Huddersfield in 2001. Both canals have proved to be a struggle to navigate ever since.

Now we face up to the trip down to Manchester and an early start on the Ashton canal with its eighteen locks.

The first two miles are tree lined and flat to the top lock where we topped up our water tank.

Geoff and Margaret in Seyella led the way down setting locks for us to follow. All the lock gear are vandal proof locked so they take longer to operate.

Because the canal had been abandoned many new road and rail bridges were built lower than the original canal bridges. It is a wonder that boats were able to navigate when it was reopened.

Beswick locks

It had been a cold windy day that made the seven hour trip almost too hard to complete.

The last bridge on the Ashton canal.

We finally arrived at the bottom and joined Seyela on the Rochdale canal at Picadilly above lock 84.

Ann went up to lock 83 to find the pound above it dry!

Next day when it stopped raining we moved down the Rochdale nine locks. Locks 84 to 92 pass through the city centre and we see many buildings covering and enclosing the canal.

The canal age was built of stone while the Victorians used red brick. Now we use metal, glass and concrete. The contrast could not be greater and they do not mix well in this city.

Lock 92, the bottom of the Rochdale 9.

We came down together in those wide locks and found a mooring in Castle Quay on the Bridgewater canal.

Going down the locks

We have got back to Marple and turned on the Peak Forest canal. Found some deep moorings on a bend for the long weekend.

The diesel boat Alton came by and filled our diesel tank again. Having got rid of our unwanted and filled the water tank at the junction we were all set for our decent of the Marple locks.


We went first followed by Seyella. It was a lovely sunny day as we went down 214 feet in a mile through 16 locks.

We were lucky to have several volunteers helping our two boats down with several coming up as well. 

Seyella arriving at the bottom.

At the bottom we found a quiet spot opposite a field of sheep n lambs just past the aqueduct.

Self Indulgence

We are just enjoying not doing much but reading, listening to music and not moving very far. We go for occasional walks and shopping. Geoff had hired a car and kindly offered to take us to Tesco in Macclesfield.

I am still trying to finish editing our book while discovering and converting home movies, sorting pictures and watching TV.

The news has just got so booring. There must be something else to report other than the activities of naughty old men. We seem to pay too much attention to what celebrities get up to.

The world of finance is more interesting. (If only we could get more Interest!). Money is just a concept and goes round and round. But if we do not trust it, the concept will fail. I thought that the welfare state and taxation was supposed to level off the highs and lows.

We seem to value housing too highly then cannot pay for it. Is that where the money has gone? How much does housing actually cost to build? We live on a boat and value it highly but we only paid for its cost.