TNC On Tour 2003 - 9 (XP)
Neil Arlidge
Bit of a NPBC cruise day really (Would that moaning Minnie Steve Haywood
please take note!)
We had to get to 13:00 booking for Rochdale 9...BUT had to get diesel at
Portland Basin, just round corner at Dukinfield Junct. They did not open
until 09:30, so an attempt at a 3 hourish 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! ;-)
Nice run down the rest of the HNC - certainly a wonderful canal and not THAT
narrow!
Got to Dukinfield Junct at 09:00. A local liveaboard boater was just moving
his NB off the diesel point in the basin, for which he had opened up. 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 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 NB's apparently moored overnight outside the mega
24hr ASDA. A few cruddy pounds in the Clayton Flight, but still nothing
picked up on prop.
After the two boats in front went 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. Condom count round the underground Lock 85
revealed a"healthy" 30!!!.....******(censored to not appear prejudiced!)
Eventually moored up in Staffordshire Arm at 15:50.
Just to prove that TNC are in no way racist we went to the "Happy Seasons"
C****y in Chinatown.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
Follow the travels of the TNC at http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk