TNC On Tour 2003 Page 8

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2003

8 - Stalybridge to Castlefield. Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Ashton Canal and Rochdale Canal.

Thursday 26th June 2003

We had to get to 13:00 booking for Rochdale 9...BUT had to get diesel at Portland Basin Marina, just round corner at Dukinfield Junction. They did not open until 09:30, so an attempt at a 3 hour passage of the Ashton Canal was to be undertaken. We set off at 07:35, after an early morning shop in the Stalybridge 24 Hr Tesco.
Peaceful quiet night in Stalybridge. NB Toby was still moored outside the Stalybridge Harridan's cottage - we now know the number!
Martin steered us carefully past the collapsed retaining wall after ASDA Tunnel. Rocks had been piled in the canal to hold it back and you have to go very close to the mill wall opposite. Amusing for the occupants, seeing as this had been turned into apartments.
It had been a lovely run over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal - certainly a wonderful canal and not THAT narrow! We got to Dukinfield Junction at 09:00. A local liveaboard boater was just moving his narrow boat off the diesel point in the basin, for which he had opened up. We went bow into basin as this would make it easier for a quick getaway, due to angle of turn into basin. The owner arrived early at 09:15 and after a quick fill up, 40quidish at 32p / Litre.
We were back on the Ashton Canal at 09:40. 10:20 saw us at Fairfield Junction, the start of the locks. Just before the jam factory we hit an oblivious angler's roach pole............we were just in tick over and he probably was asleep. We felt a bit rotten as we think the "crack" was the handle breaking. Nice run down the locks, getting to "Piccadilly Basin" at 12:55. The Ashton is MUCH improved, in the section from Dukinfield to Fairfield we managed a 1500 RPM run and did not go down the weed hatch once.
Two narrow boats had apparently moored overnight outside the mega 24hr ASDA. There were a few cruddy pounds in the Clayton Flight, but still nothing picked up on prop. There were two boats in front of us down the Rochdale 9. We eventually followed at 13:00 and got to the bottom at 15:50.
The new out of place "Northwich" gates and gear slowed things down as the paddles are nowhere near the size of the old Rochdale gates. Eventually we moored up in Staffordshire Arm at 15:50. That evening we went into Chinatown and tried to get into the Ying Sang Chinese restaurant, but it was fully booked, so we ended up at the "Happy Seasons" - somewhat disappointing.

Friday 27th June 2003

This was a recovery day / day off. Neil, Peter W and Martin W went to the East Lancs Steam Railway at Bury via Tram (a bit of an annual TNC pilgrimage). Motive power was one engine in steam - the Hughes Fowler LMS "Crab". We were allowed to use our return to Rawtenstall as a Rover ticket, so did two round trips.
After this we checked out the new station buffet bar at Bury. The rather moribund café had been turned into an open access bar last December and boasted 238 different real ales since then. At least 8 real ales were on. All that were sampled were well kept. On arrival we had mega breaky fry up, for just a couple of quid. Glad to se that the railway is now realizing the local potential of their new station building.
After this we went back to Manchester and into the Science Museum. That night it was eat on board (another of Martin W's excellent from scratch spag bols), to await the arrival of Ian "The Helmsman" Clarke, due in around 21:30. After some confusion we discovered Ian in the rather noisy southern basins, surrounded by bustling nightclubs - glad we were in the quiet Staffordshire Arm.

Early departure from Stalybridge. Lock No 6 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Stalybridge. Melbourne Street Bridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Back Melbourne Street Bridge. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Lock No 5 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The new Caroline Street Bridge No 102. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Caroline Street Bridge No 102. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bayley Bridge No 103. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Approaching Tame Aqueduct No 105. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Tame Aqueduct No 105. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Tame Aqueduct No 105. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Clarence Street Bridge No 106. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Tame Lock No 3 W in the distance. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Tame Lock No 3 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Plantation Lock No 2 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Tame Lock No 3 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Plantation Lock No 2 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Hydraulics all round at the bottom gates of Plantation Lock No 2 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Plantation Lock No 2 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Texas Street Bridge No 108. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The narrows after Texas Street Bridge No 108 was the Whitelands Tunnel - now opened out. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Ashton Lock No 1 W. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Ashton Lock No 1 W. Minerva Road Bridge No 110 beyond. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Ashton Lock No 1 W. Whitelands Bridge No 111 beyond. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Whitelands Bridge No 111. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The basin below Whitelands Bridge No 111, the end of the Ashton Canal. Ashton - Under - Lyne.

Railway bridge. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

The ASDA tunnel. When will the towpath be built through? Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

Cavendish Street Bridge No 30 and the retaining wall collapse beyond. Cavendish Mill on the offside. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at the ASDA tunnel. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

Approaching Dukinfield Junction. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Bridge No 30 and the retaining wall collapse. Ashton - Under - Lyne. Ashton Canal.

Dukinfield Junction from the Lower Peak Forest Canal. Backdrop is the rebuilt Ashton Canal Company Warehouse. This now is used as the Portland Basin Museum.

Earnest in Portland Basin Marina, which is just at the end of the Lower Peak Forest Canal.

Astra - Ed Mortimer's stylish little trip / day boat at the end of Portland Basin. Lower Peak Forest Canal.

Dukinfield Junction from the Ashton Canal "Main Line". Manchester is away from camera.

Walk Mill Bridge No 28. Ashton Canal.

Jeremy Brook Bridge No 27. Ashton Canal.

Guide Bridge. Ashton Canal.

Jeremy Brook Bridge No 27. Guide Bridge. Ashton Canal.

Guide Bridge. Railway yard to left. Ashton Canal.

Guide Bridge No 26, which gave the whole area its name. left. Ashton Canal.

Bridge No 25. Guide Bridge. Ashton Canal.

Bridge No 24 from under the new M60 Motorway link road bridge. Guide Bridge. Ashton Canal.

Bridge No 24 and the Guide Bridge boatyard. Guide Bridge. Ashton Canal.

Railway bridge and M 60 Motorway Bridge. Audenshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lumb Lane Bridge No 21 and a leafy bit of Audenshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at the M 60 bridge. Audenshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lumb Lane Bridge No 21. Audenshaw. Ashton Canal.

Audenshaw. Ashton Canal.

Ridgewater Bridge No 20, Audenshaw Bridge No 19 beyond. Ashton Canal.

Audenshaw Bridge No 19. Ashton Canal.

Good golly!......its the Golden Shred jam factory at Droylsden. Ashton Canal.

Ashton Hill Bridge No18. Droylsden. Ashton Canal.

The hapless fisherman. We felt really bad about damaging his rod............

Fairfield Road Bridge No 17 . Fairfield. Ashton Canal.

Fairfield Locks. Fairfield Junction. Ashton Canal.

Fairfield Locks No 18. Fairfield Junction was at the top. The Hollinwood Branch used to go off where the green fence is now. Ashton Canal.

Fairfield Locks No 18. School party searching for Rosie and Jim. Ashton Canal.

Fairfield Locks No 18. Ashton Canal.

Fairfield Lock No 17. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Fairfield Lock No 17. Ashton Canal.

Clockhouse Swing Bridge No 15. Ashton Canal.

Grimshaws Swing Bridge and Footbridge No 14. Ashton Canal.

Clayton Top Lock No 16. Clayton Flight, Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 15. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Clayton Top Lock No 16. Clayton Flight, Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 14. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 15. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 13. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 14. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 13. Clayton Flight. The Strawberry Duck pub looks rather more welcoming than on our last visit. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 13. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 12. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 13. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 11, Looking down at Lock No 10. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 11 and 12. Clayton Flight. Openshaw. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 10. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 9. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Lock No 9, Six Acre Bridge No 11 and the Bridge Inn. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Six Acre Bridge No 11. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Bottom Lock No 8. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

The old arm above Bottom Lock No 8. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Bottom Lock No 8. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Ashton New Road Bridge No 10 and Bottom Lock No 8. Clayton Flight. Ashton Canal.

The new overnight stopping place - beside the new mega ASDA supermarket. Ashton Canal.

The Velodrome. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Top Lock No 7. Ashton Canal.

The rather done up lock cottage at Bestwick Top Lock No 7. Ashton Canal.

The new City Of Manchester Stadium and Bestwick Top Lock No 7. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Top Lock No 7. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at the A 6010 Alan Turing Way Bridge and Bestwick Top Lock No 7 from Bestwick Lock No 6. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Lock No 6 and Bridge No 8. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Bridge No 8 and Bestwick Lock No 6. Ashton Canal.

Bridge No 7A. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Locks No 5 and 4. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Locks No 5. Looking back at Bridge No 7A. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Lock No 4. Ashton Canal.

The rather low Railway Bridge No 7. Bestwick Locks No 5. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Bestwick Locks No 4 and 5. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Railway Bridge No 7. Ashton Canal.

Pipe bridges above Cambrian Street Bridge No 6. Ashton Canal.

Cambrian Street Bridge No 6 in the distance. Ashton Canal.

Ashton Canal.

Pipe bridges above Cambrian Street Bridge No 6. Ashton Canal.

Cambrian Street Bridge No 6. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Bestwick Street Bridge No 5 Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Bestwick Street Bridge No 5 Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Carruthers Street Bridge No 4 Ancoats. Ancoats Top Lock No 3 in the distance. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Carruthers Street Bridge No 4 Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats Top Lock No 3. The derelict Ancoats Hospital clings to existence. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats Top Lock No 3, Lock 2 beyond. Ashton Canal.

Martin Wilson in action using the granny gear on Ancoats locks. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats Lock No 2. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats Lock No 2. Ancoats Bottom Lock No 1 in the distance. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats Bottom Lock No 1. Ashton Canal.

Looking back at Ancoats Lock No 2. Ashton Canal.

Leaving Ancoats Bottom Lock No 1 from under the cavernous Great Ancoats Street Bridge No 3. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats. Looking back at Great Ancoats Street Bridge No 3. Ashton Canal.

Piccadilly Village. Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

Ancoats. Store Street Aqueduct. Ashton Canal.

Jutland Street Bridge No 2. Ancoats. Ashton Canal.

The now rather pointless Paradise Wharf. It was here in the 1970's that we found a safe overnight refuge in all the dereliction of this area. Ancoats. Ashton Canal.