From terry@talwaldron.freeserve.co.uk Fri Apr 30 22:44:56 1999 Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 20:07:07 -0000 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: mailing list Subject: Trip Report Christmas 98 and New year 99 Part 4 [The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] Crew: Sue and Terry and Clyde Boat: nb Stella 4 Jan Grey overcast and light rain to start the day, Clyde not keen on going for his morning walk. Away at 0845 and stopped Lymm for Sue to go to the Chemist and get some fresh bread and cream cakes, the bakers about 100 yards form the canal very good for cakes and cheeses. The long lines of boats at Lymm and Grappenhall give rise to slow progress, you can however pass them at very slightly more revs than on other canals, must be a bit deeper here. Stopped at the Bridge Inn - Sale for a pint and lunch, we had been warned this not the best place to moor so took the precaution of sitting at a table where we could keep an eye on the boat. There are rings for mooring to right outside the pub. A very good inexpensive meal. The run into Manchester is through built up and industrial area, last time we passed through the canal was very dirty, they have cleaned it up a lot but the doggie walkers do not clean up after their dogs. A number of old industrial buildings being knocked down at Trafford, I was pleased to see a lookout workman keeping his eye on the canal and stopping the demolition crane as we passed. We were both amazed at the container terminal and the height they stack the containers, the fork lifts zoom in and drop one onto a pile that is already 4 high and zoom away just as quick. The largest fork lifts I have seen anywhere. The Metro link and its station at Salford Quay progressing well. got to Castlefields at 1520 so went up the arm to the right of the locks, looked as though it may get noisy at night with the three pubs/nightclubs so turned and went into the festival basin. As dusk set on us I decided to try and get some night shots of Stella in the basin, had to lie down to get the camera stabilised and took two shots, spotted two people walking down the centre arm, went to the other end of the basin to get another shot, the two people appeared to be heading for Stella, getting closer and looking closely at the boat, I thought rather interested gongoozlers so walked back to the boat and approached them asking 'Are you looking for any boat in particular' to which the reply was 'Sue and Terry'. They were not gongoozlers but Mike and Su from CuŁtural Confu$ion who knew we were aiming to be in the area. We invited them onboard for a drink and a chat. We enjoyed their company for a couple of hours and an enjoyable chat, we were invited back to their boat if we were to be still there the next day. Had a quiet evening onboard. 12 Miles 5 Jan Took th Metro from GMex Station, about 300 yards from the boat, to Market Street to go shopping in the Arndale centre, needed a new pair of boots, mine had split right across the sole. Spent the day shopping and back by metro to the boat. Mike came round and we went to CuŁtural Confu$ion, a 51ft gary Gorton shell which had been fitted out to a very high standard by its previous owners. The passageway through the boat is a bit wider than normal and allows removal of the cassette from the Thetford into the passage, also allows easier passage and the additional width liked very much by Sue. I had so much wanted to see inside a boat which had one of the Kuranda Marine diesel stoves and talk to the owners - now I had my chance, I am impressed by the amount of heat it gives out and how little fuel it burns. The interior of the boat has beatiful woodwork, light oak? trimmed with darker panelling that has all been shaped by router. All the doors have heavy brass catches, the side hatch has a catch of a type I have not seen before and looks very secure. As it was dark I did not have the opportunity to look at the outside but a very nice boat indeed. Went out for a couple of pints with Mike and Su to one of the pubs just along the road from the boat. We enjoyed their company and hope to meet them again - this can be considered as a Micro GIG. 0 Miles by boat part 5 to follow