Only a short wait and as we were moving the short distance up to the lock landing a head appeared over the bridge parapet below the lock to beckon us in and we were off at 8:45.
As soon as we were in the lock there was a report that the camera was broken and so Mike went to a nearby Discount store to investigate. As he went without any means of paying he had to return to the boat, at which point he was told that the camera was OK but the replacement batteries were flat!
The locks from here on upwards did not have the serious flow of water over the tops of the gates so it was a little easier to work through: we did not have to be so careful at avoiding the cascade from swamping the boat. Also we were instructed to leave the top gates open as there were five boats coming down from lock 63.
Many of the locks have a capstan and chain mechanism to assist opening and closing the heavier bottom gates.
Lock 77, as a result of changes in levels made when the canal was closed, had to be extended some distance upwards, making it a much deeper lock than most of the others in this section.
Most locks have security devices and, since the mechanisms were re-created with this need in mind, they are well-built into the paddle mechanism. Consequently they have been subject to less vandalism than those, say, on the BCN.
Despite the dire warnings - and Andrew's experience from two years ago - the canal surroundings were not as distressed as we expected. Even the boarded-up house that had so struck Andrew had been refurbished. It is not a particularly posh district but nor is it wholly run-down.
Housing is interspersed by huge former mill buildings, some of which have been converted for other uses, residential and commercial. One, we were told, is a catalogue warehouse and despatch company, sending packages all over the country.
Below one lock, the prop picked up something and it slowed us so much that Mike could not even make it into the lock - the fast overflow close to the entrance did not help. Off with the weed hatch and discovered that there was indeed a thick jacket wrapped around. Fortunately we had stopped soon enough so that it was not as difficult to cut away as it might have been.
Just below the last lock of the controlled section is a large Tesco supermarket. Although when we passed it the majority view was that we did not need anything, later reflection suggested that a top-up of milk and bread might be a good idea.
In any case, when we arrived at the lock, the top gates were firmly padlocked. At the start, the BW man had insisted we exchanged mobile numbers so Andrew was able to report our arrival. Nevertheless we had to wait until someone could be sent up by van to let us through.
We were part way through lunch, Andrew having just returned from Tesco, when the van arrived and we were set on our way.
The section so far was at one time planned to be converted into a linear park and the canal reduced to a narrow strip and made very shallow. Unfortunately, the Millennium Funding for the restoration of the canal ran out before uch of this infill could be removed. This means that some pounds are quite difficult to navigate and very slow. In a couple of sections, only barely visible steel rods parked the edge of the navigable part.
However, as soon as we passed through Failsworth Top Lock the original canal shape returned and, although still quite shallow, we could proceed at much the same pace as on the southern Oxford.
By the time we reached the Irk Aqueduct, the overnight stopping place for boats coming down, we decided that of the choice between 0, 4 and 10 locks more today we would go for the easiest option. Nevertheless mooring proved less than straightforward as there was little depth of water at the first set of bollards. We eventually came alongside but the boat was at a distinct angle!
7.12 Miles - 20 Locks
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