The 1995 Tour Page 5

Manchester Ship Canal, River Weaver, Chesterfield Canal, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation and Erewash Canal.

Woke up about 06.00, to endure Julian’s 20 minutes ablutions! At 06.30 we were off.
Got to Mode Wheel Lock, just as truck pulled up. The two self employed Lockies soon had the LARGE Mode Wheel Lock (350ft x 70ft) open….maybe they were expecting something a big larger?! We stayed nearer the back of the lock and draped our new long lines over the rather oversize bollards. As the water was dropped the top gates, though only a few inches open, slammed shut. Due to depth and width of the gates, we were bobbing up and down until we left the lock!
Out of Mode Wheel Lock at 07.15. Pass under Barton Swing Aqueduct at 07.45, which for some reason was swung open for us!
Barton Lock – 07.55 to 08.15 – yet again the large one and the same lockies who had driven down in their van. Passed the green Arklow grain carrier coasters on the Cerestar Wharf. Irlam Lock form 08.40 to 09.00 – large one again. At Partington Oil Berth we were aware of a ship approaching the Cadishead Viaduct. It was going slowly and we thought that it would be turning at this point – best to get out of it’s way! Shot through bridge hole and crept up to piling boulders as it slowly passed. (09.30) Hardly noticeable draw.
Arrived at Latchford Lock and got cheerful welcome from the resident locky who had sorted out our entrance problems! Small lock (200ft x 50ft) – 10.35 to 10.45. Passed Moore Lane Swing Bridge at 11.30. The Runcorn Bridge over the Mersey dominates the skyline from now on. Once round the corner Runcorn and Weston Point Docks were passed. Coming across the wide entrance to the River Weaver it became quite choppy. Arrived on the corner of Weston Marsh Lock at 12.55. No pontoon or landing, just had to hang onto corner of stonework.
BW lockies were predictably late. They were coming out from Sutton Swing Bridge, as this lock is not kept manned. After giving them another phone call they eventually turned up at 13.20. Once in the lock we phoned up Eastham VTS to say we had left the Ship Canal. Came out of Weston Marsh lock at 13.35.
Keepered through the large Dutton Lock – 14.35 to 14.50. Passed through large Saltersford Lock 15.35 to 15.50. Passed by the other side of Anderton Lift at 16.20. Nearly went up the wrong turn into Witton Brook – it seemed nearly the size as the main channel!
Eventually stopped for the night in Northwich, just above the swing bridge (16.50). Danny and Julian shot of to catch food shops and checked out the restaurants. In evening, went to half decent Italian, very near bridge (De Souzas.)

We pass Pomona Dock / Link Lock. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Colgates Wharf. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Trafford Road Bridge. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Coming up to Salford Quays - that were Manchester Docks. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Salford Quays. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Salford Quays. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Salford Quays. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Salford Quays. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Looking back at Trafford Road Bridge. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

"Rainbow"ship. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Old minesweeper. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Mode Wheel Locks. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.	Mode Wheel Locks. Upper Reaches of the M.S.C. / River Irwell. Manchester.

Coaster ready for Manchester dry docks. M.S.C.	Mode Wheel Large Lock. M.S.C.

Mode Wheel Large Lock. M.S.C.	Mode Wheel Large Lock. M.S.C.

Leaving Mode Wheel Large Lock. Mode Wheel Large Lock. M.S.C.	The new Trafford Park Lift Bridge. M.S.C.

Cerestar Wharf. M.S.C.	One of the Arklow Coasters. Cerestar Wharf. M.S.C.

Colin. M.S.C.	Looking back at Trafford Park Lift Bridge. M.S.C.

One of the Arklow Coasters. Cerestar Wharf. M.S.C.	Barton Swing Aqueduct has been left swung! M.S.C.

Barton Swing Aqueduct. M.S.C.	Barton Swing Aqueduct. M.S.C.

Barton Road Bridge. M.S.C.	Colin and Dan at the helm. M.S.C.

Looking back at the Barton Bridges. M.S.C.	Barton High Level Bridge. M.S.C.

Barton Locks. M.S.C.	Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.

Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.	Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.

Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.	Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.

Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.	Leaving Barton Large Lock. M.S.C.

Hulmes Bridge Ferry. M.S.C.	Irlam Locks. M.S.C.

Original Victorian Gaffitti! Irlam Locks. M.S.C.	Leaving Irlam Locks. M.S.C.

Irlam Railway Viaduct. M.S.C.	The River Mersey enters from the east, below Irlam Railway Viaduct. M.S.C.

Partington Basin. M.S.C.	Partington Basin. Old and new ships graffitti. M.S.C.

Partington Basin. A lot of ships painting has been going on. M.S.C.	Cadishead Railway Viaduct. M.S.C.

Stolt Oakwood tanker. M.S.C.	Stolt Oakwood tanker. M.S.C.

Leaving Cadishead Railway Viaduct. M.S.C.	Warburton High Level Bridge. M.S.C.

A small M.S.C.C. workboat. M.S.C.	Thelwall High Level Bridge (M6). M.S.C.

Thelwall High Level Bridge (M6). M.S.C.	Latchford Locks. M.S.C.

Latchford Small Lock. M.S.C.	Latchford Small Lock. M.S.C.

Leaving Latchford Small Lock. M.S.C.	Latchford Railway Viaduct. M.S.C.