There are three parts of the Rochdale that have to be booked in advance and the flight up from Ducie Street is the first.
We reached Barnton Tunnel entrance and could see that it was clear - once through it was a short trip to the next tunnel and there were two boats already waiting for the six o'clock slot - we followed them through.
It was now a pleasant sunny evening although heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow at some stage.
Whilst we continued along the remainder of the Trent and Mersey, Mike fitted a catch to the bathroom door which does not close properly in some weather conditions! before long we reached Dutton Stop lock - which seemed to be even less of a fall than when we were here a few weeks back. Progress had been so good that not only were we an hour earlier than our schedule but also had to wait ten minutes for the opening time on the hour.
As soon as we were through the tunnel we had completed the Trent and Mersey and were onto the Bridgewater Canal. Although one of the first commercial canals in the country, it is very wide, deep and well maintained so we sped along and found a mooring spot not too close to the railway lines and far enough away from the motorway not to be disturbed.
However, we did have first to complete the Trent and Mersey Canal up to Preston Brook and the Bridgewater canal into Manchester followed by the Rochdale Nine. Along the way we also had three tunnels two of which have set times for boats to enter.
We rose early and surprised Brian, our guest for the Royal Cornwall show who normally sets out before we are awake! In any event, we set off just after 7:30 and found the road generally not too busy, although an overturned horse box at one junction did cause a bit of a delay but not as much as it might have been. In the end we reached Anderton a little ahead of our schedule (About five and a half hours after leaving Wadebridge) and quickly moved the boat out from the marina so that we could off-load from the car straight into the boat.
We then felt that we had enough time in hand to go back into the marina to fill our fuel tank - there are very limited facilities for some distance ahead of us. Having achieved that - Uplands Marina is not the easiest in which to manoeuvre for the diesel point - we came back out to the canal-side to moor whilst Christine unpacked and Mike drove back down to Teddesley to meet Andrew and to leave our car. At the end of this trip we have to arrive at Teddesley in time for a re-paint that we have committed ourselves to!
We rose early and surprised Brian, our guest for the Royal Cornwall show who normally sets out before we are awake! In any event, we set off just after 7:30 and found the road generally not too busy, although an overturned horse box at one junction did cause a bit of a delay but not as much as it might have been. In the end we reached Anderton a little ahead of our schedule (About five and a half hours after leaving Wadebridge) and quickly moved the boat out from the marina so that we could off-load from the car straight into the boat.
We then felt that we had enough time in hand to go back into the marina to fill our fuel tank - there are very limited facilities for some distance ahead of us. Having achieved that - Uplands Marina is not the easiest in which to manoeuvre for the diesel point - we came back out to the canal-side to moor whilst Christine unpacked and Mike drove back down to Teddesley to meet Andrew and to leave our car. At the end of this trip we have to arrive at Teddesley in time for a re-paint that we have committed ourselves to!
In the end we managed to leave Anderton quite quickly after unloading Andrew's car (he has left his at Anderton) so that we could make the next slot through Saltersford Tunnel - Barnton Tunnel does not have a formal restriction but it is so close to Saltersford that traffic is reasonably controlled.
We reached Barnton Tunnel entrance and could see that it was clear - once through it was a short trip to the next tunnel and there were two boats already waiting for the six o'clock slot - we followed them through.
It was now a pleasant sunny evening although heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow at some stage.
Whilst we continued along the remainder of the Trent and Mersey, Mike fitted a catch to the bathroom door which does not close properly in some weather conditions! before long we reached Dutton Stop lock - which seemed to be even less of a fall than when we were here a few weeks back. Progress had been so good that not only were we an hour earlier than our schedule but also had to wait ten minutes for the opening time on the hour.
As soon as we were through the tunnel we had completed the Trent and Mersey and were onto the Bridgewater Canal. Although one of the first commercial canals in the country, it is very wide, deep and well maintained so we sped along and found a mooring spot not too close to the railway lines and far enough away from the motorway not to be disturbed.
Tomorrow the challenge begins in earnest.
8.3 Miles - 1 Lock
8.3 Miles - 1 Lock
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