Summer Cruise 2017❶❶

Summer Cruise 2017 (11)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb SWJKSDL and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

 
Crabtree Swing Bridge to Holmes Swing Bridge

Date:  31/07/2017

Overnight the weather was cold and quite windy. One very heavy and prolonged shower!

Morning:  An uneventful morning and underway by 9:00. The wind had an hard edge to it and was causing occasional steering problems. Late morning and we come across a CaRT butty that had been moored up using the usual frayed blue string. one boater had to donate rope to moor it back up. Another boater donated a mooring pin to secure it to the bank. The butty must have been there for some time as it was full of bags of boaters rubbish.

Afternoon:  The afternoon warmed up a bit and the highlight was to come across a couple who were doing a charity walk along the canal from Leeds to Liverpool. All 127 miles of it! They posed for a couple of pictures. 

They are raising funds for Ronald McDonald House in Liverpool, which provides accommodation for the families of children who are in-patient's at Alder Hey Hospital. 

We are both doing this in memory of Kaden Lee Hadfield, who passed away on November 28th, 2016 in Alder Hey Hospital, after complications with his arthritis treatment.  

Michael Isherwood and I will be walking 127 miles along the Leeds to Liverpool Canal in 5 days - all sponsorship or donations will be greatly appreciated. 

 


Evening:  Moored up for the night at Holmes Swing Bridge and then came the joy of removing plastic bags wrapped round plastic bin liners encased in fishing line and camouflaged with weeds.

Wildlife: Water Vole and a few rabbits.

Birds:House Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Lag Goose, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Egyptian Goose and Swift.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Common White, Small White, Sulphur Yellow Tortoiseshell and Peacock.

Bats: Pipistrelle and Daubentons.

Damselfly: Banded Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.

Dragonflies: Ruddy Darter.

Today's Total:

Miles: 12.8
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 8
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 7.1

Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2883.3
Locks: 1813
Swing / Lift Bridges: 379
Tunnels: 71
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3880.0

Summer Cruise 2017 ❶⓿

Summer Cruise 2017 (10)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb SWJKSDL (MIA) and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

 
Dover Lock Inn to Crabtree Swing Bridge

Date:  30/07/2017

Overnight the weather was cold and provided the odd shower of rain. 

Morning: 9:15 start from Dover Lock and a steady plod along the Bridgewater Canal. The sky was overcast and as wel left a rainbow arched over the canal. However, it was a good omen and we had little in the way of rain.We soon passed the bottom of the Wigan Flight and Turned onto the Leeds Liverpool. Soon we were into Wigan and passing the Wigan Pier which is a well known book title, for fans of George Orwell.

Afternoon:  Stopped for lunch at Appley Lock. Late in the afternoon we passed the Rufford Branch Canal which leads to the Lancaster Canal. Might explore the Rufford branch on the way back. Mid afternoon we passed through Dean Lock our last lock of the day. Late afternoon the rain arrived in occasional sharp downpours.

Evening: Moored up for the night just after Crabtree Swing Bridge

Wildlife:  Huge Mirror Carp and a very large Pike.

Birds:House Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Lag Goose, Canada Goose, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern,  Swallow, House Martin and Swift. Pick of the day was a Kingfisher which landed on the top of the front cratch while we were moving. It had a tiny fish that it gave a few sideways whacks before flying off.

Butterflies:Meadow Brown, Small White and Peacock.

Bats: Pipistrelle, Daubentons,

Damselfly: Common Blue Damselfly.

Today's Total:

Miles: 15.8
Locks: 8
Swing / Lift Bridges: 5
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours:10.8

Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2870.5
Locks: 1813
Swing / Lift Bridges: 371
Tunnels: 71
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3872.9

Summer Cruise 2017 ❾

Summer Cruise 2017 (9)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb SWJKSDL and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

 
Worsley Road Bridge (44) to Dover Lock Inn 
Date:  29/07/2017

Overnight the weather was cold with occasional showers of rain. 
Morning:  09:15 start heading along the Bridgewater Canal. For what proved to an uneventful leg of our trip. We had found a paddle in the canal yesterday. Today we came across a kids group out for a paddle along the canal. So we donated our find to them.

Afternoon:  Stopped in Leigh to restock the vessels consumables at the boaters friend Aldi and Tesco.  Just after we set off A sudden gust of wind removed my hat into the canal. At the same moment a couple of people in short kayaks managed to recover it for me. So once again karma provides a Result!

Evening: Moored up at Dover Lock Inn for the night.

Birds:House Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Swallow, House Martin and Swift.

Butterflies: Tortoiseshell.

Damselfly: Common Blue Damselfly.

Today's Total:

Miles: 13.9
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 1
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 7.5

Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2854.7
Locks: 1805
Swing / Lift Bridges: 363
Tunnels: 71
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3862.1

Summer Cruise 2017 ❽

Summer Cruise 2017 (8)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb SWJKSDL, Nb Indulgence and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

 
Pickerings Bridge to Mosley Road Bridge (44)

Date:  28/07/2017

Overnight the weather was cold and punctuated with occasional showers. The morning brought a dry start, but it soon went down hill.

Morning:  Off at 8:30 and we struck out along the Bridgewater Canal heading for or muster point at Waters Meeting on the Stretford and Leigh Branch. It was quite a cold start and the clouds continued to build throughout the morning.

Afternoon:  We had a sort break to take on more fresh water and paused for lunch at Broadheath Bridge (30).  It was here that we parted company with
Nb SWJKSDL for a few days. But met up with Nb Indulgence. Rescued an almost brand new football and a kayak paddle floating in the cut.  (How can you lose a kayak paddle and not notice?)

Evening:  Moored for the night at Waters Meeting. The rain was torrential and everyone was glad to have an early finish.

Birds: House Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Kestrel, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Swallow, House Martin and Swift.

Today's Total:

Miles: 13.5
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours:6.4

Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2841.8
Locks: 1805
Swing / Lift Bridges: 362
Tunnels: 71
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3856.6

Summer Cruise 2017 ❼

Summer Cruise 2017 (7)

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Five go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy, Nb My little Nightmare, Nb SWJKSDL and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

Mort's Bridge (182) on the Trent and Mersey to Pickering's Bridge Thelwall.

Date: 27/07/2017

Overnight the weather was cold and punctuated by occasional showers of heavy rain. The morning dawned under a leaden sky. The omens for the rest of the day did not look good.

Morning: Its was raining as we set off and progressively got heaver throughout the morning. Soon I had to put on the heavy weather gear. Aided by a largish golfing umbrella.

Afternoon: The weather improved after lunch. There were frequent breaks in the showers. Just as we were passing the Anderton Boat Lift, we had a strange encounter with a Cormorant. Now these are normally shy birds because they are hated and shot by game keepers and fishermen and so they tend to give people a wide berth. The Cormorant was sat on the side of the towpath and slipped into the water when we were almost past. It disappeared and surfaced a short distance behind the boat with a tiny fish. 

Then it quickly swam back into the propeller wake and when about six feet behind the boat it went below the surface again. This time surfacing about halfway along the boat side. It waited until we had passed and went swimming  back into the propeller wake again, before diving under the surface again. A few moments later it came to the surface with another small fish. The Cormorant continued to do this performance of catching small fish in our wake for about a quarter of an hour before finally flying back up onto the towpath before assuming that curious crucifix stance when they dry their wings.

By late afternoon we had refuelled the boat and navigated the major three tunnels on today's journey. Starting with  Barnton Tunnel  where a boat with a bright white light on its stern created the impression that a boat at the far end was coming towards us. Well only until it exited the far end of the tunnel. Then it was onto Preston Brook Tunnel which is timed against the clock. The next point being Dutton Stop Lock which is almost at the entrance of Saltersford  Tunnel which as before is also timed against the clock. 

Evening: The weather was much improved though the wind still had a sharp biting edge to it. We moored up at XX for the night.
 Wildlife:

Birds: House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Chaffinch, Robin, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Pheasant, Green Woodpecker the highlight being the Cormorant above.

Butterflies: Common White and Small White.

Today's Total:

Miles: 19.9
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 3
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 8.1

Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2828.3
Locks: 1805
Swing / Lift Bridges: 362
Tunnels: 71
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3850.2