Day 1: Return to Boroughbridge.

5th October 2013 (10.5 miles/16 locks). Pippin had been at Sowerby Bridge for 5 weeks after our epic trip. Now all we had to do was get her back to her winter mooring at Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire. Only 88 miles away but by boat there was a lot to consider.

There was the shorter days, it getting colder, the river sections that could be in flood and closed at the slightest hint of rain in the hills and then there was the dreaded tidal Ouse!

We intended to do the trip in 2 sections. First section to Selby. Second section onto the tidal Ouse and finally back to Boroughbridge.

We set off from Sowerby Bridge at 10am. We came down the previous night to prepare the boat and ourselves for the return.

We soon hit our first minor problem. Because there was a leak on the Salterhebble section, you could only pass through the Salterhebble 3 locks between 10 and 2 and with the aid of CART staff. Luckily, when we arrived, the lock was prepared for us. We descended  with another narrowboat who had been waiting for 15 minutes. We quickly past through the 2 top locks and then the guillotine lock and with both crew's working together, we made good progress to Mirfield. We stopped for the night on the visitor moorings. The other narrowboat was going no further than Mirfield. We did not want to moor outside the supermarket as there were a few 'kids' hanging around. It was a good job we did because we heard next day from the crew of another narrowboat that they had had problems with those very kids!

Day 23: return to Sowerby Bridge.

8th September. We had been 'out' for over 3 weeks! The weather has been kind to us. A lot of decent sunshine and warmth. Very little rain and only the odd cold night. Can't grumble.

We set off quite early from lock 15. We needed to. If we didn't make the big Tuel lock by about 4pm, we would be stuck for another night on the canal with the car in spitting distance. The night had been the coldest so far and the little wood burner was called into action for only the second time. As we left our mooring, a spooky mist sat on the water and as we cut through it, the sun was already up. You could be in shade and in the cold mist one minute, and then we came out into an opening, the sun hit us and the warmth was very pleasing the next. An uneventful trip down the canal was only slowed down by a boat in front of us who had just gone through lock 5. We would catch them up at the big Tuel lock and descend the final 3 locks together. Helped through by CART staff, it was a bit of an anti-climax and all we had to do was sit on the back of our boats and chat to the lockie.

We finally exited lock 1 and our mooring for the next 5 weeks was just on the left at Shire Cruisers. We were back! We reversed into our birth, tied up and turned off the engine. What an adventure!! Would I do it again? Yes, but only when we are retired with a lot more time on our hands. But it had been good fun and we proved to ourselves that we could survive on a boat for at least 3 weeks and  more.

We just sat for a while and thought about where we had been. Wow!!

All we had to do now was tidy up and pack things into the car. We would soon hit the motorway. What a contrast and we already longed to be back on the canal.

My next blog piece will be our final return to Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire and the real journey's end.

Day 22: Fancy bumping into Timothy West and Prunella Scales!

7th September. We had almost made it back to Sowerby Bridge but there was going to be one more big surprise!

The lockie unlocked the gates at 10am. A boat was coming down! It had moored on the summit pound overnight. Funny thing was, there was a little lady, can't have been more than 5 foot tall and she was doing all the lock work. Doing the paddles. Opening the big heavy gates and then closing everything afterwards. Yet on their narrowboat were 2, yes 2 men. I though one of them could of have helped her and I was shocked to see that they both remained on the boat! But I did wave as they went past me while I was sat on the back of our boat drinking coffee. No, I didn't just watch her work through the lock by herself but shouted to her to leave the lock gates open so that we could easily move into the lock!

Anyway, we were soon over the summit and going back down the Rochdale and down into Yorkshire.

The first lock back down't canal.

We progressed down the canal and things were going OK when we saw a paramedic at the next lock. Oh no! Had someone fallen in or hurt themselves! We just had to ask him. He was working that day but not on what I thought. He was actually waiting for a couple coming up the canal on a Shire Cruisers hire boat. Not any 'old' couple but the canal crusaiders themselves. The one and only Timothy West and Prunella Scales from Waterworld fame!

The paramedic said that we could be on television. We went through another 4 locks and nobody. Was it a joke? Well at the very next lock was a camera crew. They did have the camera aiming towards me as I exited the lock. Maybe my 5 seconds of fame!

Their hire boat was moored below the lock and I took this pic:

Tim said hello as we passed but Prunella was sat talking to a young lad. Probably the director.

I will be watching channel 4 next year to see if I did make it onto the silver screen but I won't hold my breath!

We continued to Todmordon where we stopped for a break and to look around the antiques shop. The Buckby can had already been sold!

A few more locks and we moored for the night by lock 15. Tomorrow we would return to Sowerby Bridge.

Day 21: Almost back in Yorkshire

6thSeptember We wanted to make it back to the top of the Rochdale so that we could go over the top and back into West Yorkshire tomorrow. There were only 16 locks and 8 miles to the summit. We had done all the hard work yesterday with an amazing 29 locks and 10 miles.

We had been with the couple on't narrowboat all day yesterday and did make good steady progress, but we had a goal and set off alone at 9 into light rain. The forecast was not to good but after a few miles and 4 locks, the rain stopped and I believe that the sun even poked its head out from behind the heavy grey clouds.

Good progress up to the summit and we moored at the visitor moorings just before lock 37 which was padlocked. It would be open tomorrow at 10am and we had an early night as the rain started to come down again.

Day 20: Manchester 18

5th September. After a busy day and night yesterday, we had to be up early as the booked passage up the 18 starts at 08:30. Ourselves and one other narrowboat were making the accent. A friendly couple from West Yorkshire. They had been out cruising since April. Makes our 20 days so far seem a little tame.

We were at the 1st lock of the 18 waiting for the CART staff to arrive. Three turned up. Was it that bad? Not really. One guy would see us up and the other 2 started right away on clearing up some of the crap that always seems to end up in't canal!

We made good progress in warm late summer sunshine and before too long we were back at lock 63. This is where we waited to come down the Manchester 18 nearly 3 weeks ago.

We just kept on up the Rochdale and stopped just before the M62 underpass. The one where they can move the towpath for wide  boats. Not the best mooring but it started to rain and we had gone as far as we could today. Tomorrow would be a final assault up the Rochdale and hopefully reach the summit.

Day 19: back down to the boat and the Rochdale 9!

4th September. It is confirmed. We are mad. This is how today went. We had a lie in at home. We did not expect the canal to re-open until Friday and therefore a few lazy days pottering around the house. We were sat in our dining room, having a cup of coffee. It was 10am and the sun was shining. It was warm and dry and little wind. In fact a great boating day and we were stuck at home.

Just then my iPod went bing. An email had just dropped in. I had a look at my emails half expecting more junk mail. It was an update from CART. I had signed up to regular updates. Guest what? The canal was open. But it was only 10am. I bet it was open late yesterday.

Well now it was all hands to the pump. Get ready! Get packed! Car refuelled. Food! Etc...

The plan was to get back to Manchester. Do the Rochdale 9 and moor at the safe New Islington basin overnight. I had already booked passage on Thursday to go up the Manchester 18!

From being sat at home at 10am to starting up the Rochdale 9 at 3pm. Then getting to New Islington basin around 5pm. Then walking back down the Rochdale 9 to retrieve the car. Then driving back to Sowerby Bridge to leave the car there. Then getting the train back to Manchester and walking back to the boat at 10pm. Yep, must be mad but the adventure continues!!!

Day 18: still in Manchester!

3rd September. Well, the boat has been left stranded in Castlefield Basin in the middle of Manchester. Surrounded by high rise office blocks and hotels. A million miles away from the beautiful countryside on the Llangollen canal. But in a strange way, I actually like this city centre vista. The old and new buildings towering above old canal. And that very tall hotel dominating the skyline. What is it called again? I will do a quick Google and it's called 'The Beetham Tower'!

A few facts: 515ft high; 47 floors; 9th tallest building in the UK and the tallest outside London. It is tall.

Anyway, we went home to refresh and wait for the canal to re-open.

Day 17: Back into Manchester to stay!

2nd September. Yep, back into Manchester to stay. Well not for ever but for a few unscheduled days. We set off around 10am for a steady trip to Manchester and the dreaded 'Rochdale 9'. With no locks and only about 12 miles to do before the '9' we were not in a hurry. 

The worst thing was trying to book the 'Manchester 18' for the next day. It took ages to get through, leaving message after message. I eventually managed to speak to someone as we approached Manchester United's football stadium adjacent the Bridgewater canal. The news was not good!

A hire boat full of drunken lads had walloped the lock gates on lock 87 on the Rochdale 9 and dislodged the lower gates! These gates could not be closed properly and therefore no passage! How long before re-opening? I was told the end of the week! It was Monday and our plans were in ruin.

We got to the safe moorings in Castlefield basin and tied up. We were gutted. What would we do now? Wait it out. Try the Leeds and Liverpool? Abandoned ship? We had to have a good think.

The L&L option was quickly decided against. 127 locks and about as many miles was too much. We thought about it but a call to CART told us there was a stoppage near Burnley until Thursday at the earliest! We decided to abandoned ship. Not as easy as it sounds. It meant getting things ready to leave and retrieving the car from Sowerby Bridge. I walked to the railway station feeling very disappointed. Head down and with only the Nicholson's waterway map to guide me, it took me a bit of time. I got to the station, bought a single to Sowerby Bridge and joined all the commuters making there way home from work! What a different world it was from my waterway's world.

Anyway, got back to the car which started 1st time. Strange to drive again and got back to Manchester. It the took me around 45 minutes to find Castlefield's basin! I eventually found it but could not get near the boat! I was on the wrong side of the canal but near enough to load up and get out of there!

What a day!

Day 16: back onto the Bridgewater.

1st September. I could not believe that it was now September. We had been out on this trip since mid-August. It was now becoming a way of life! That was one of my plans. To see how we live on a boat for a prolonged period. Yes, only 3 weeks but longer than ever before. Questions like: could we do it? How would we live together in a confined space? Provisions? Breakdowns? Family? Plus lots of other questions.

Well back onto the trip. Today we would pass through Dutton stop lock with a rise of 6 inches! Wow! Soon after the 1200+yd Preston Brook Tunnel. Our last big tunnel. We had the scars of 'tunnel battle' to carry home. A knackered tv aerial ( but it still worked!). A bent and twister stove chimney! A loose boiler chimney. Lost glasses and a lot of scrapes to the cabin sides. Especially the grab rails. All would need attention when we finally get home.

We were back on the wide lock free Bridgewater canal. Yet again we made good progress in sunny conditions but it was turning a little cooler. We were going to moor just before the long boring stretch through Sale and in open countryside. Almost there we past a pub with a very inviting mooring right outside. We did a 180 and moored outside. We had a nice carvery with beef, pork and all the trimmings. A nice change from baked beans!

Next day we would be back in Manchester but we did not know of the problems that lay ahead of us!

Day 15: To the site of the 2012 Dutton breach!

31st August. Our aim was to stop at the site of the 2012 breach at Dutton with good moorings. That was why today was another short day of 10 miles and no locks. Wow!

We stopped for a visit at Anderton boat lift visitor centre and through Barnton and Salters Ford tunnels.

Moored waiting for the right tunnel time.

We reached the Dutton breach site but the moorings were full! We just managed to moor on the edge of the site but missed out on the lovely views over the Weaver valley.

Day 14: Back up the T&M and those wasps!

30th August. Today was going to be a short boating day. We covered just 10 miles and 6 locks. I had to have a good look at my log to find out why? 

Coming down the Middlewich locks was very slow going and it took us over 2 hours! We also made a stop in Middlewich to visit Morrisons and stock up on provisions. At around 3 pm we started north up the T&M and only made it to bridge 182a just south of Northwich. We would have of moored earlier but as we came into moor we disturbed a wasps nest in the canal bank. The sight of me at the tiller trying to outrun those angry wasps at 4mph made us laugh. I just had to grin and bare it and hope they didn't like my aftershave!

Day 13: Back onto the Middlewich and more queue's.

29th August. Through Wrenbury lift bridge with 3 other boats in convoy. We were 3rd. A strange thing happened after the next manual lift bridge. The guy in the lead boat, got through this lift bridge and then proceeded to close it! We were not far behind him but he closed it and was on his way? The rest of us could not believe it. The boat in front of me went through and decided to stop. I soon caught up the boater who had closed the bridge in front of us at the next lock. When asked why he closed the bridge, all he could say was that in the past it had been left open. But 3 boats were directly behind him? My thinking is that he did not want to loose his place in the queue's at the next lock. Fool!

Anyway, we swiftly moved down the canal, up the Shroppie and back into the Middlewich at Barbridge junction. An evening mooring once again in open countryside near bridge 16 was delightful.

Day 12:The lovely 'Mere's'

28th August. We had spent a night on the canal, in the woods, beside a lake! Yes, all in one place. This Llangollen canal was full of surprises!

Beside Blake Mere, just after The short Ellesmere tunnel, we watched a lone swan on the other side of the lake. With 2 other boats for company, we felt safe. Woods after dark are a spooky place!

We had come up the 6 locks at Grindley Brook with no delays. On our return, it was a different story with a 5 boat queue in front of us. We eventually got down the flight and motored on and about a mile past Marbury Lock, we moored for the night in open countryside.

Day 11: Queue's at the locks!

Day 11: 27th August. We were away at 10:00. We didn't want to get stuck on the narrow's and made good progress back to the Aquaduct. One boat ahead of us, and 2 behind us. I knew that the Aquaduct was a bottleneck and when we arrived, there were 2 day boats waiting to go over and in front of us was a nice narrowbeam white Dutch barge. The owner was keeping an eye out as 3 boats were coming over. I was just hoping that no other boat would enter the Aquaduct at the other side. The last boat was very slow - they were busy taking photographs!

Anyway, they left the aqueduct and it was like a Le-man start. White barge first, us, the 2 day boats and various other private boats in our wake's!

Quickly through Chirk tunnel and back out into the open countryside. Then we hit the first lock and a queue of 8 boats in front of us! It took us 2 hours to get through. Queue's at locks were to be very common on our return down the Llangollen.

Day 10: llangollen

Day 10: 26th August. No boating today. Just chilling in Llangollen on a beautiful warm sunny day. The long trek back starts early tomorrow!

Day 9: Llangollen.

Day 9: 25th August. As we were only about 8 miles from Llangollen, we had the luxury of a lie in. Not to late mind you. We still had our latest goal within reach. 3 boats past our moored boat heading for the Aquaduct. We could take it no more and decided to go for it!

As we clung to the south side of the Dee valley, we had glimpses of Ponycycylite Aquaduct  to our right and soon we were approaching this magnificent structure.it was a busy canal. Ahead of us were tour boats, hire boats, day boats and private boats. Infact boats everywhere! 

We were lucky and got straight onto the Aquaduct.

Wow! The views were fantastic. I could now appreciate the phrase 'boats in the sky'! We could not believe it. Our little narrowboat had come all the way from North Yorkshire!

On the Aquaduct.

After the Aquaduct is Trevor and a sharp left turn for the final narrow a shallow approach into Llangollen. The hills were closing in and the views were superb.

After what seemed an age, we came past Llangollen Wharf and into the newish basin where we would spend the next two nights. As we went into the basin we were walloped by an out of control trip boat which was being pulled by a horse. No reverse on that boat?

We had made it to our journeys end. A great achievement. The only issue - we had to go all the way back!

Day 8: We made it to Chirk!

Day8: 24th August. We were on the Llangollen canal. A beautiful rural canal. Wish we could spend more time on it but we aimed to get to Llangollen tomorrow, the day before the bank holiday. The first thing you notice about the Llangollen canal is the number of hire boats- loads of them everywhere. Well that is how we started many moons ago. 

We were away early at 08:00. We new Grindley Brook locks were a real bottleneck and we started up the flight just before 08:15 in light rain. No other boats on the move and in just over 45 minutes we were at the top lock. Here we saw the lock keeper for the first time but we were already leaving when he saw us! Must be the rain. 

The rain didn't last and the sun was soon out again. The progress up the Llangollen was faster than I had ever thought possible and once again we kept on going. Another 12 hour day but it was worth it. Just after 8 we moored adjacent Chirk marina. Tomorrow we would make it to our goal - Llangollen and the superb Ponty-thingy  aqueduct!!

Day 7:-Onto the Llangollen canal.

Day 7: 23rd August. Our first goal (Llangollen canal) was within our reach but what a day it was going to be! The weather was kind once again and we set off along the Middlewich branch canal in bright warm sunshine. Heading west to Barbridge junction we had to pass through the 2 remaining locks on the Middlewich branch canal. The first of these locks will never be forgotten. The trip so far had gone with little incident but that was all about to change.

Hurleston Locks.

I had read about the very narrow first lock on the Hurleston flight and was prepared for it. I was not prepared for the lock ahead of us on the Middlewich being 'narrow'! My problems started the previous night. The fenders were down on one side but the other side were up. As we approach the lock, one of the fenders that were up must have fallen down! I did not see it and went into the lock. No problem at first but as we started to rise, I heard the exhaust behind me gurgling! I quickly realised what was going on and shouted to Dawn to close the paddles! I let some of the water out and the boat was wedged high and dry, 6 inches above the water and 6 feet up the lock! After a bit of head scratching we decided to cut the fenders off, flush some water in and hope the boat moves! With a bit of engine to help we were unstuck but it was a reminder not to be too complacent.

We reached the Hurleston flight and one of our goals: the Llangollen canal. The bottom lock was extremely narrow! Only 1/2 inch spare either side! We were quickly up the flight and just kept on going. We reached the bottom of the Grindley Brook flight and stopped for the night. Another long and traumatic day.

Day 6: Through Middlewich

Day 6:- 22nd August. We left our mooring and past through the chemical works at Northwich. A complete contrast from the beautiful scenery that we had just left. Middlewich is much more plesent. After passing through the big lock, we stopped for provisions at the new Morrisons store.It would be a nice salad tonight.

Our first narrow lock greeted us soon after we set off. One of the lower paddles was out of action and it took a bit to empty after a boat had just gone up. These 3 locks at Middlewich were very busy. There is a hire base just below and just above these locks. If you hit them at the wrong time you could be there for ages!

It took us 2 hours to get through the 3 Middlewich locks and the first lock on the Middlewich branch. After passing through the second lock, we moored for the evening in open countryside. Yet another long day of 9 hours.

Day 5: Trent and Mersey

Day 5: 21st August. The good weather continues for us. We set off around 9 for a steady trip to Lymm. A nice little town with good moorings. Our aim was to get onto the Trent and Mersey canal through Preston Brook Tunnel. Once again we made good progress and entered the north portal of the tunnel in the afternoon. The tunnel was just over 1200yds long! We emerged at the south portal after 20 minutes and through the stop lock and onto the Trent and Mersey.

A very nice contour canal with great views down into the Weaver valley. A steady trip down the canal and we soon reached Anderton and the impressive boat lift. We would leave it until the return leg for further investigation.

We called into the sanitary station for water and once again to empty the bog (my job!).

We moored just around the corner from here in open countryside. Another good day'S boating.

Day 4: Through Manchester and out the other side.

Day 4: 20th August. We had to be off early for the 09:30 booked passage down the Manchester 18. So at 07:30 we were off. There were 2 other boats going down. A 50ft narrowboat, a 25ft Dawncraft cruiser and ourselves. As we are only 26ft long we could all fit in together.
At 09:15 the lockie opened the lock 65 and we were ready to go. The little cruiser, who had set off just behind us was nowhere to be seen? Five minutes later he zoomed around the bend and into view. The red face bearded owner was all flustered. All he said was blasted carrier bags around me prop!
We made steady progress down the 18. No problems except all of us eventually were down the weed hatch clearing rubbish from our props. Mine was a strong fabric strap wrapped around the prop. The type you find on ruck sacks. Anyway, by 13:30 we cleared the 18. My 2 fellow boaters decided to stop at the New Islington Basin but we continued down the Rochdale 9.
It was only 16:00 when we reached Castlefields so decided to keep on going down the Bridgewater canal. By 19:30 we reached a nice countryside mooring near Dunham town bridge and stopped for the day. Yet another long day of 12 hours and we were ahead of schedule.

Day 3: Down the Rochdale we go...

Day 3: 19th August. At 09:30 the lock keeper arrived to unlock the paddles on the summit lock 37. By 10:00 we were locking through alone. The weather was kind with sunshine and cloud. We had a long day ahead of us as we wanted to reach lock 63. Here are safe moorings near the Irk Aquaduct and a good launch pad for the Manchester 18.
The lockie helped us down the Littleborough flight and we were soon at Smithy Bridge. Good progress and we even had time to call into the Asda by bridge 58. We even treated ourselves to a Big Mac!
We reached lock 63 around 19:30 and settled to some tea and a rest. It had been a long day but the days goal was reached and we were all happy with our progress. Tomorrow was the dreaded 'Manchester 18'!

Day 2: Up the Rochdale we go.

Sunday 18th August:-
The rain had left us and we set off from lock 15 in grey damp conditions. The sun came out at Todmordon where we topped up the water ( our hose was just long enough!), emptied the bog and topped up our bottled water for drinking.
We past through the guillotine lock 19 and proceeded quickly up the canal into beautiful moorland scenery in what was now a sunny warm afternoon.
Before we knew it, we had reached lock 36. It was padlocked and we therefore settled there for the night. We were a bit restless at first as the short pound where the visitor moorings were was very low. We expected to ground overnight but when morning came, we were OK.

Day 1: Sowerby bridge to lock15

Saturday 17th August 2013:-
After a restless night on Pippin, we woke to sunshine and cloud. The forecast was for rain later so we wanted to get away ASAP. This was scuppered by other boaters. 5 of us wanted to go through Tuel Lane lock. I was booked in 3rd but we ended up being last through because a hire boat went straight into the lock and all plans were ruined. To say that I was annoyed was an understatement!!! Anyway, after being ready to go at 8am, we finally got through the big lock and on our way at 12 noon. Half a day wasted already and we had a schedule to keep to.
The trip to lock 15 started in bright conditions but by lock 6 of the Rochdale, it started to rain heavily. By lock 15, we were soaked through and decided to stop for the night. Funny thing, even though we were last through Tuel Lane Lock, we had past the other 4 boats by Hebden Bridge!

THE START OF OUR JOURNEY.

My first ever blog! Let's see how it goes...

Well tomorrow, Saturday 17th August 2013, we finally set off on our narrowboat journey to Llangollen! It has been over 10 months in the planning. We plan to take our 26ft narrowboat over the Pennines from North Yorkshire to Wales! Must be mad. Updates will appear on a regular basis..

Kev of narrowboat PIPPIN.