TNC On Tour 2003 Page 10

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2003

10 - Ellesmere Port to Fiddler's Ferry. Manchester Ship Canal, Upper Tidal River Mersey and Sankey Canal.

Sunday 29th June 2003

John Chapman "The Navigator" and Frank Smith, the West Bank (Widnes) Yacht Club Secretary (carrying a combination of ALL local knowledge of the totally uncharted Mersey above Eastham) arrived just in time for a 07:30 departure for a zoom down to Eastham Sea Locks, the exit of the Manchester Ship Canal out into the Mersey. VTS gave us clearance for departure and to be locked straight out at 08:00, some 3 hours before high water Eastham. We knew this was much to early, but were warned by Nigel Bowker, the barge master who accompanied Chris Coburn, that Eastham have a habit of buggering about pleasure craft departures.
Arrival at 08:00 Eastham were true to form and we had to wait for the Westminster Dredging Co's suction dredger "WD Severn" and a MSCC tug to enter first. We were placed right behind the rather large "WD Severn", Neil expecting them to get some glee at us being blown about as it left. We eventually entered the large "80ft" (wide) lock at 08:25 and exited at 08:55. As the dredger was about to leave Neil tied on and we stayed put as the tug was blown about - Ho Ho!
It was straight down the Eastham Channel, for a bit to clear the entrance dolphins (wooden markers) and the known damaged remains of further dolphins downstream. Eventually at 09:05 we turned and started up stream, rather gingerly on the Springs (8.6M Liverpool) flood. As expected we soon had a controlled grounding as we did not clear the Eastham Sands. After about 15 mins we stopped sliding across the sands and were off.
Ince Bank was caught at around 09:45 (we should have been further over the northern side) and at 10:00 we floated off and started to make rapid progress. Eastham was in constant contact and seemed rather unduly concerned about our groundings. A passing and circling police helicopter was given the thumbs up sign and soon shot off.
From now on Frank Smith expertly guided us up the channel to Runcorn Bridges, from Hale Head (10:25), now close to the north shore. Just before Runcorn Bridges (10:55) we had some difficult manoeuvres, as we had to swing out from the bank (to avoid some nasty underwater sticky out sheet piles, that had only recently sliced the keel of a visiting yacht.) and go across the flood to go through the central arch of the railway bridge.
All went well, just as well as we had now caught up with the full bore of the flood. We were taking the now main southern channel, which we saw on our reccy goes hard to the south bank. Around Old Quay the scour / erosion had uncovered a nasty line of piles, part of old bank protection. We knew where the covered section of the piles were and past between these and the just visible ones with out incident.
Half way to Fiddler's Ferry we, as predicted grounded again. Here the flood was weak and we hung around for about 15 mins as a cheeky very shallow draughted catamaran from Fiddler's wandered about without grounding using a small outboard (no sails and centre board up!)
Owing to the very obstructive behaviour of a certain other "Captain", who claimed "ownership" of the water above Warrington Bridges, "Captain" Arlidge decided to heed the threats and only proceed to Fiddler's Ferry. At least here we would be rather more welcome and could be the first narrowboat to enter the lock since it's re-instatement by Warrington Borough Council, to serve the small yacht harbour, which is, of course a small section of the Sankey Canal, with dropped bridges replacing the swing bridges at each end.
We still had plenty of flood left when we arrived at Fiddler's Ferry, more than enough to have got us up to Warrington and Howley Weir. After Ian had negotiated the many small yachts and did a rather "in one" wind against the flood, Neil took over to do the very slow, controlled approach to the lock against the still fierce flood. Coming as close as we dared to the bank, the bow was put in and a sudden burst of full power used to heave the stern round, which by this time was still in the force of the flood. A small "pivot" was done on the upstream lock wing wall, but we were soon of and a controlled entrance into the 70ft lock chamber (pass at 12:15 and in at 12:30).
There was rather a large welcoming committee, including Anthony Dooley (who must have a rather good video!), Steve Parish and David Long from SCARS.
At 12:50 we were tied up in pole position, ready for our departure the next day. A 25.9Mile trip in 3 Hours 10 minutes. That night we walked into town and went to the rather indifferent "Wacky Warehouse" pub, the "New Inn" - well at least it was still serving food on a Sunday evening. Unfortunately the "Ferry Inn" pub, on the pleasant waterside was not doing food. The weather for our passage was a perfect Force 2, Westerly.

Leaving Ellesmere Port. Manchester Ship Canal.

Ellesmere Port Wharf. Manchester Ship Canal.

The very pleasant Manisty Cutting . Manchester Ship Canal.

Ellesmere Port Manisty Wharf. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Straight. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham. Manchester Ship Canal.

Rather a lot of boat graffiti on Sheer Legs Oil Berth. Eastham. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Locks. Manchester Ship Canal.

We hang around at Eastham Locks to wait for WD Severn and a MSCC Tug. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Locks. MSCC Tug Audrey. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Locks. Waiting to go down to the Mersey. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Locks. Manchester Ship Canal.

Eastham Locks. Departure into the Mersey. Manchester Ship Canal.

Leaving Eastham Locks of the Manchester Ship Canal and off into the Mersey.

Leaving Eastham Locks of the Manchester Ship Canal and off into the Mersey. Ian Clarke, Frank Smith, John Chapman and Martin Clark.

Leaving Eastham Locks of the Manchester Ship Canal and off into the Mersey.

Looking down the Mersey, it does not look very far to Liverpool. Notice the crap state of the entrance Dolphins.

Looking down the Mersey.

Looking back at Eastham. Mersey Estuary.

Looking back at Eastham. We have now turned and are heading upstream with the flood.

Looking back at Eastham. Mersey Estuary.

We are now over the north side. Liverpool Airport. Mersey Estuary.

Looking back. Mersey Estuary.

Waiting for water by Ince banks. Stanlow in the distance. Mersey Estuary.

~
Approaching Hale Head. Weston Point in the distance. Mersey Estuary.

Approaching Hale Head. Weston Point in the distance. Mersey Estuary.

Hale Head. Mersey Estuary.

Looking across to Weston Point. Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges come into view. Mersey Estuary.

Stuck again! Looking back downstream. Mersey Estuary.

Looking back at Seldom Seem Rocks. Mersey Estuary.

Alongside Hale Gate Marsh. Mersey Estuary.

We are tight to the northern bank. Runcorn Bridges in the distance. Mersey Estuary.

The fridge seems to know the way! Mersey Estuary.

We really are a bit early on the flood! Mersey Estuary.

Looking back. Mersey Estuary.

Getting up towards Runcorn Bridges. Mersey Estuary.

New footbridge. Mersey Estuary.

Looking back from Runcorn Bridges. Getting up towards Runcorn Bridges. Mersey Estuary.

Looking across to Runcorn and Weston Docks. Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges. Neil now on depth sounding with barge pole. Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges. Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges. Neil now on depth sounding with barge pole - we seem to have 8ft here! Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges. Going through on tickover with the flood. Mersey Estuary.

Runcorn Bridges. Mersey Estuary.

A lovely un-posed picture of Frank Smith and Ian Clarke - who you can see are intently concentrating. Just upstream of the Runcorn Bridges. Tidal River Mersey.

Anthony Dooley captures us on video from Bank Quay. Tidal River Mersey.

Now safely past the Runcorn Bridges we have still to get through the nasty piled section of channel. The entrance to Old Quay Lock can be seen on the left. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking across to Widnes and the Spike Island entrance lock. Tidal River Mersey.

Passing Old Quay Swing Bridge, on the MSC . Notice the evil line of piles extending into the channel. Tidal River Mersey.

The disused Old Quay Side Lock would make the safest connection between the Upper River Mersey and the MSC. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking back at the Runcorn Bridges. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry Power Station. Tidal River Mersey.

The cheeky VERY shallow draughted catamaran. We are grounded, waiting for water. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking back at Runcorn Bridges. We have just started off again. Tidal River Mersey.

We are making for the piled wall near the pylon, which is where the channel is. Daresbury Labs in the distance. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking back from Randalls Sluices. Tidal River Mersey.

Disused Randalls Sluices of the MSC, just beyond the pylon. Tidal River Mersey.

Strange boilings near Randalls Sluices. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking up, Fiddler's Ferry in the distance. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry in the distance. Tidal River Mersey.

Looking across to Daresbury. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry. The lock is just beyond the first two sail boats. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry Lock. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry. We go upstream to pull in against the flood. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry Marina. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry. Sewage works outfall. Tidal River Mersey.

Ian pulls round against the flood. Fiddler's Ferry. Tidal River Mersey.

Neil gets down to steal Ian's thunder! Fiddler's Ferry. Tidal River Mersey.

Creeping up to to Fiddler's Ferry Lock. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry Lock. Tidal River Mersey.

Fiddler's Ferry Lock. Sankey Canal.

Leaving Fiddler's Ferry Lock and onto the Sankey Canal!............the first narrowboat to do so since it's re-opening.

Fiddler's Ferry Lock. Sankey Canal.

Reversing back to our mooring on the Sankey Canal.

Moored up on the Sankey Canal.

The Rev. David Long, chairman of SCARS welcomes Neil to the Sankey Canal and presents him with a SCARS mug.

The entrance to Fiddler's Ferry Lock - now you see why we wanted to approach it from upstream against a flood tide! Sankey Canal.

The Tour Continues...

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