TNC On Tour 2003 10 "Blackslugmarine in Merseyland" (XP) LONG
Neil Arlidge
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. Also 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.
Saturday 28th June 2003
We started off from Castlefield at 07:00, to be sure of early arrival at our
08:00 booking down Pomona Lock, onto the Upper Reaches of the Manchester
Ship Canal and the River Irwell, through central Manchester.
Arrival was at 07:20, so we moored up and had a cuppa and breaky. The
Bridgewater Canal lads arrived at 07:45 and soon had us down into Pomona
Dock - 08:10.
We had a couple of hours to explore the River Irwell, before our booked
passage down the Ship Canal, starting10:00, at Mode Wheel Lock.
Ian Clarke was most annoyed that Manchester had become just like the River
Thames, bloody rowers everywhere! We sped up to Hunt's Bank, by the railway
bridges, where the flow had become quite strong, due to the recent rain -
conditions looked good!
After this Neil took the helm and crept up against the current, ready for
contact with the bottom / submerged debris at any time. Well we never did
actually touch!..and got to just above the second bridge above Hunt's Bank,
where we grounded on concrete, on our last passage up here in 1995. Beyond
here is a tightish bend and because of the high flow rate Neil decided to
call it a day and beat a slow powered reverse against the current. (08:40)
The backwards decent was until we were round the corner, below Hunt's Bank -
railway bridges, where the flow was less and the river wide enough to ensure
a safe wind. (08:50) At 09:30 we were hanging around above Mode Wheel Lock,
drifting aimlessly in the wind. It is now possible to moor overnight in
Salford Quays, but we decided against this, as it was easier for Ian Clarke
to find us in Castlefield.
At 09:55 a MSCC bod appeared and began preparing the (large) of the two
locks. We faffed about a bit while the lockies chosen ropey technique was
adopted - rope loose, with him putting slip noose round his rather oversize
bollards. 10:25 we were out of Mode Wheel and foned the Latchford Locky for
traffic info down to Latchford - his responsibility. He said we would
encounter the Mersey Ferry "Royal Iris", just above Latchford, on a day trip
to Salford Quays. Rather mundane journey, with no ships berthed. Barton Lock
(Large) arrive at 11:50, depart at 11:25 - we were now in the swing of
things. Irlam Lock (Small) arrive at 11:50, depart at 12:05. Just as
Latchford Lock came in view, we could see the bulk of "Royal Iris" leaving,
using the ships bins. A rather large breaking was bow wave soon appeared,
but this subsided as he approached us. Much camera clicking on both sides.
We met Newsgroupy Dave Croft at Latchford, who was to then whizz down to
Walton Dock to get a piccy of us attempting to "enter" Walton Lock. A brief
detour into Walton Lock and up to the gates of the decrepit and totally
silted up lock then ensued (14:00 - 14:10). Dave got some piccys of us from
the bank. The corner of the dock was rather silted up and much black grunge
was kicked up on our departure.
Below Latchford we were under Eastham VTS, they said we would encounter one
of the green Arklow grain coasters going to Cerestar Wharf - "Arklow
Venture" around Bank Quay and a large suction dredger ship later on.
We did indeed pass the "Arklow Venture", just above Bank Quay Swing Bridge,
who slowed to the degree we hardly felt it pass. Here we could look across
the Mersey..to see no water at all. Weaver Junction was at 15:50 and not
long after the "WD Severn" dredger past us. A couple of bright orange hulled
ships berthed at the rather stinky Stanlow Oil refinery berths - the
Petredec LPG Tanker "York" and the UCT Multitank Tanker "Multitank Balearia"
.
Arrival at Ellesmere Port was at 17:15, after a rather laid back run down
the MSC. This was in the lower holding basin, below the lock and swing
bridge by the Holiday Inn. Ellesmere Port Borough Council requires 24 hour
notice for operating this bridge. I can't for the life of me see why this is
not a BW Bogmaster key padlock, seeing as no traffic is allowed over it!!!
Anyway we could not rely on the Council coming out at 07:45 to let us out.
That night we toured moribund Ellesmere Port, but Ian and Neil did find the
rather good, heavily patronized Indian takeaway. As usual Ian totally over
ordered and we had a total blow out meal, with much left over for the
following day.
Sunday 29th June 2003
John Chapman "The Navigator" and Frank Smith, the West Bank (Widnes) Yot
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 was 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 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 right 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 maneuvers, 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 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 behavior 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 yot 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 yots and did a rather "in one" wind against the
flood, Neil took over to do the very 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 use 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 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.
Monday 30th June 2003
After a bit of a rest in the morning we were locked out of Fiddler's Ferry
Lock at 13:00, to punch the last half hour of flood, to be sure of not
getting stuck on any of the sands on a falling tide. Frank Smith was again
our guide and we decided to go the easier northern channel route. This would
not involve any maneuvers in front of the Runcorn Bridges. It was absolutely
foul weather, but Dave Croft managed to get some very good moody pictures of
our arrival at Spike Island (West Bank, Widnes) Lock. We did in fact touch
the top of one of the sand ridges (by now on a falling tide), but Ian took
off the power and we drifted back into the narrow channel, so a "Chris
Coburn" was narrowly averted. As usual Neil stole Ian's thunder and did a
rather good entrance into the waiting lock, surrounded by many onlookers.
(13:50) After a trip round the basin we moored up pride of place, right
outside the club house. Of course we were the second "modern" narrow boat to
enter Widnes Lock on the isolated bottom section of the Sankey having been
upstaged by the "other" salty narrowboater! ;-)
That afternoon, good old Frank Smith took us on a reccy trip up to Runcorn
Hill to see the channel out below Runcorn, with our own eyes. Due to a
rather nasty haze, the course below Hale Head was impossible to see. Frank
also took us to see the "end " of the Bridgewater and the visible course of
one of the two Runcorn Flights of the Bridgewater Locks down to the Mersey /
Ship Canal, which was in remarkably good shape, with a footpath running
through part of it.
That night we took Frank's recommendation and had an excellent fish and chip
supper, from his local chippy.
Tuesday 1st July 2003
That morning John Chapman programmed his GPS with all the latest waypoint
info. After persuading John the Spike Island Locky that we REALLY did want
to leave as soon as there was enough water, we were eventually locked out at
12:50, some hour before high water. Mersey Rescue were about in a small RIB,
trying to catch a manless dinghy. After doing this they contacted us and
said they were glad to shadow us for a while, as they were concerned we had
enough power to get through the Runcorn Bridges. They followed us to beyond
Hale Head, after this a rather larger RIB took over to shadow us to
Liverpool.
There was fairly flat water in one of the ebb channels, round West
Bank...BUT as soon as we came round to the bridges, it was like hitting a
brick wall. Ian kept some in reserve and left Earnest at 2200 revs. It was
painfully slow just before the bridges, but strangely we took off through
the arches and started to make solid progress. The fall in water level from
the upstream end of the piers to the downstream end could clearly bee seen.
Below the bridges there was the dog leg to do to get in the channel, but
Frank said it was more important to make this gentle as we wanted complete
control of our position. We were now managing around 4MPH against the flood
and started making progress to Hale Head, which we had to skirt round, going
more out to the centre of the estuary, before making an arch round to our
next way point, the sticky out Liverpool light gantry.
It was just before this that the prop shaft noise started.......the ebb had
come almost immediately and we were OFF!
Just as well as Neil had prepared Earnest for maximum salty travels.
Periscope exhaust was attached, Mikuni bung in and the front battened down.
It now began to get a bit choppy, a nasty wind over tide short sea, causing
a fair bit of bottom plate banging.......Neil then dumped the last of the
water to further lighten the bow and stop it slamming around in the not too
thick stainless steel water tank.
· The next section was the most dodgy, going over a bit indeterminate
channel and skirting some spoil ground before coming round Garston Rocks,
then finally into the deep water, buoyed Garston (north) channel. All went
well and by the time we were in the Garston Channel we were really moving.
John mentioned that we were now bombing along at around 14.5MPH. The
Liverpool water front certainly shot past. Only one Mersey Ferry was out,
that had just departed and was doing the "long" trip, going down to
Liverpool Docks, before turning to go upstream on the Cheshire side. The
slamming continued to around the Pier head, then subsided. This was due to
the NW (wind over Spring tide) Force 4 now not having much flood to argue
with. Some confusion followed when we arrived at Liverpool Docks, Langton
(Small??!!) Lock (15:30), probably due to John Chapman insisting on using
his known naff VHF. Our Mersey Rescue "shadow" managed to raise the somewhat
laid back Langton Lockies and we were eventually allowed in after a tug,
after aimlessly wandering around in the now gentle swell for nearly half an
hour! ....we might as well taken a trip down to New Brighton. The locky used
the outer "short" section of the lock, the gates being huge 40ft wide tanks
of water, that slide in from the side. No ropes were taken and we just clung
from the one thing we could - the safety ladder. On the plus side the lock
was very gentle and we were soon somewhat near the top - just as well we
were near the ladder. Ian and John immediately jumped ship for the
supposedly waiting taxi and left Neil to the mercy of the rather confused
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board "booking" system. The Lockies eventually
faxed yet ANOTHER insurance certificate to the office and got back a
different locking fee (a touch cheaper at 36.79 quid, rather than the 37.50
quid advised!)
· Finally at 16:45 we set of for a quick 15 minute journey up through
the docks to our allocated "berth" in Collingwood Dock, just below Stanley
Dock and the teeny weeny hole in the wall, where the Stanley Dock Locks
start behind. The only swing bridge across the upper docks was swung by
remote, by the Langton Locky watching on CCTV. We were moored up at 17:00
and soon shut up shop, to attempt to find a pub, or something in the
Liverpool docklands wastelands. We walked up towards the L&L Canal we
happened upon a modern Chinese Supermarket. Above it was a restaurant, the
"Tai Pan" .....that was packed and VERY good, probably the best Chinese meal
I have had in years.
Wednesday 2nd July 2003
The BW passage up Stanley Docks Branch Locks and out of Liverpool was booked
at 08:30, so we went up to the bottom of the flight at 08:00. The dock was
infested with jellyfish and many mussels clung to the changeable water
level. After a wander into the small Eldonian Basin we arrived back to find
the locky team preparing the locks. No problem with the locks and at 09:20
we were at the top and told to begin our "fast as we liked" passage out of
Liverpool. The water is actually pretty deep, but due to disuse there is
much blanket weed and sporadic large patches of Water Buttercup, which
covers the whole canal. No real problem and only three trips down the weed
hatch. The first of the swing bridges is not until Netherton. The BW crew
were there WELL in advance and commented what a quick exit we had made. As
last time we were here, the BW crew were ready and waiting at each swing
bridge and we past out of the last assisted one (16 at Maghull) at 13:00, a
respectable 3 hours 40 minutes, some 10 minutes down on our last exit in
1997.
A pleasant run out of the rest of the Liverpool section, arriving at
Burscough Bridge at 16:10. A rather involved boat was wash then undertaken,
to remove all the nasty salty stains. Having emptied the water tank with a
washing run, we also had another 45 minutes on the water point to fill up.
Eventually we winded in the entrance to the Rufford Branch, then reversed
back to the free Visitor Moorings, trying not to disturb a little old
fisherman, fishing from the "No Fishing" sign.
That night it was a quick walk down two locks of the Rufford Branch to the
VERY excellent "Ship Inn". Timmy Taylor's Landlord on form and VERY good
local steaks. Peter and Neil chose the Stilton Cheese melt variety -
excellent.
Thursday 3rd July 2003
Not much to do to day, we had to be within reach of Tarleton by the end of
the day. Eventually left at 10:00. Somewhat better day, coldish but no rain.
No one about all the way down the nice Rufford Branch Locks. Some had old
style lever side cloughs, just a large "paddle" on a stick to yank out of
the way.....Ah the L&L.Neil is looking forward to this roughty toughty
canal!
We stopped in Rufford, on the VM below the lock at 11:55. In conversation
with fellow Ribble Link travelers it was found out that the pub in Rufford
had closed, so at 13:25 we followed them down to Tarleton VM, just below the
last swing bridge (14:30). Harry Mayor soon sorted us out and checked us all
in for our 13:00 departure from Tarleton and is bringing his diesel bowser
down tomorrow morning to service us and a couple of other boats. That night
we attempted a meal in the somewhat oversubscribed "Cock and Bottle". After
stretching out a pint of Thwaites for nearly an hour (we had been told a
half hour wait would ensue, due to a large party in the dinning room) We got
pi$$ed off and repaired to the excellent "Tino's" Italian Restaurant in the
new centre, that Martin C had spotted on a reccy.
Operational note : Marsh Meadow Swing bridge No 6 is totally knackered. If
the three of us had pushed the arm any more we would have sheared it off!!
Fortunately the TNC scaffold pole soon dispatched it.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
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