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Book 18 |
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Book 18 |
Canal Cruising 2022
An e-Book and website by Cyril J Wood
The title photograph is of Gnosall on the Shropshire Union Canal
Click here for the latest entries or on the required section below to follow links
| Chapter 2 - Easter Cruise 2022 | |
| Chapter 3 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 2 | |
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| Chapter 7 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 4 | |
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Introduction |
Chapter 1 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 1
As what seemed to be a long winter drew to an end and the 2022 boating season looms, we were hoping that after nearly two years of disruption, the COVID-19 pandemic is finally coming to an end and our normal boating activities can resume. My first weather photograph for the Granada Reports Weather Forecast was of Liverpool's skyline at dawn, taken from Egremont Ferry in Wallasey. A screenshot of the forecast and the original photograph are shown below for your appreciation...
A screenshot of the Granada Reports Weather Forecast...
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... and the original un-cropped photograph
At the end of February COVID-19 restrictions were being eased and the weekend before the first Lymm CC Committee and Monthly Club Meetings there was a work party at our Agden Moorings to clear over-hanging plant growth and burn the rubbish afterwards. After taking part in the work party we started to empty the stuff stored beneath the boat's aft cabin bunks in preparation for Paul and I converting the two single bunks into a fixed double bed. When we had completed all we could do we had our tea, turned the central heating up and stayed the night, returning home the following morning.
The Agden work party in full swing...
... and the cuttings being burnt afterwards
The following week one of my photographs of Castlefield Junction in 1986 was used in Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year Winner's Film. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the image transmitted as I sent them a full size, uncompressed scan from the original 5 x 4 inch, large format transparency.
The Castlefield Junction photograph screenshot...
... and the original 5 x 4 large format transparency scan...
... and the programme's photographic contributors' credits
Next on my "To Do List" was to remove the aft cabin bunk frames. Paul and I started with the port side frame which we removed, lowered and refitted. The floor covering was removed and the partial stripping down of the steps that gave access to the aft deck. Whilst we had lunch I started filling the boat's fresh water tank. After I was satisfied that there were no water leaks and the tank was partially filled we continued with the bed conversion. With the lowered frame reinstalled we were ready for the same exercise on the starboard side and the fitting of the bed base sourced from Ikea the next weekend.
The port side bunk frame removed...
... part of the frame lowered and ready for re-fitting...
... and the lowered frame in place ready for the same exercise with the starboard frame
For the next phase the following weekend, I moved the boat to the water point as some of the power tools such as the chop-saw borrowed from Paul's son Ollie were too heavy and bulky to transport down the moorings. We had a great deal of difficulty removing the room divider that separates the aft cabin from the corridor and after removing the starboard bunk frame it was removed using a jigsaw. Not the way we would have preferred but due to the order the boat was lined out originally, this was the only way of doing it. Next, the framework was shortened in the same way as the previous bunk frame was and the steps removed. When the frame was in position the bed base purchased from Ikea was modified, assembled and placed on the now completed framework.
The Ikea bed frame in position
Workmate and chop-saw on the water point
Steps removed and the second phase of the double bed installation completed
We then had accomplished all that we had set out to do this weekend. With the boat's water tank filled and the tools put away the boat was returned to its mooring. We had planned to continue the following weekend but Paul and Wendy tested positive for Covid-19 the work was put on pause. A couple of weeks later it was Paul's turn to go onto the water point at Agden where he was having new aft deck boards fitted by his eldest son Martin so we took the boat down to Lymm, topped-up the fresh water tank and emptied the toilet whilst Ange did some Quartermaster chores. On the way back to Agden, at Oughtrington we passed a swan sitting on her nest... no doubt she was sitting on a clutch of eggs.
Martin fitting Paul and Wendy's new aft deck boards on nb Adreva...
...and the power tools used
The swan at Oughtrington sitting on her nest
Instead of returning to our mooring we breasted-up on the side of Paul and as Paul finished off his deck boards I started to refit the floor covering but could only fit a few pieces. The bed frame end piece/top step support was cut to size and fitted, the top step (an off-cut from Paul's deck boards) was cut to size and fitted then the bed frame front fascia was fitted.
The new top step and bed end piece/step support in place
With the steps and fascia completed and the bases in place area was tidied up and the bed was now ready for the mattress to be delivered and put in place but this would have to wait until after the Lymm CC opening cruise. We attended the Opening Cruise Dance and made arrangements to leave the boat outside the Clubhouse ready for the mattress to be delivered later in the week.
Lymm CC Opening Cruise Procession
The completed double bed frame awaiting the mattress to be delivered
Later on the following week Michael drove me up to Lymm with the mattress. On arrival, we put the mattress in place and returned home. The following weekend was the Lymm CC Committee Dinner after which we christened the new bed. We made the mistake of leaving the cellophane covering ion it as it would have to be removed again for the fitting of the headboard Paul had made for us. I say mistake as the bed rustled when we moved during the night.
After returning the boat to its mooring we loaded the car with tools and materials not required ready for our Easter Cruise to Liverpool.
To be continued in Chapter 3 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 2
Chapter 2 - Easter Cruise 2022
Thursday 14th April 2022 We arrived at Agden in brilliant sunshine on the first day of our holiday ready to start our extended Easter Cruise. I brought the boat up to the water point and we loaded our stuff on board. Before long, Paul and Wendy arrived. They moored alongside us and after they had also loaded their boat we set off, mooring just past the underbridge at Dunham Massey. After tea I did a few jobs whilst Ange put our clothes and other stuff away.
Nice quiet mooring at Dunham Massey
Friday 15th April 2022 The next morning dawned bright and sunny and we set off
planning to reach the Trafford Centre. On the way we stopped at Stretford Marina for water, fuel, toilet and rubbish emptying and carried on to our planned destination for the day. Once moored, the Trafford Centre was visited for a little bit of retail therapy.
At Stretford Marina for ablutions, water and rubbish disposal...
...and later at the Trafford Centre
Saturday 16th April 2022 The good weather continued the following day and we set off, crossing Barton Swing Aqueduct. A boat from Worsley Cruising Club pulled out on us and dawdled all the way to Leigh where we stopped for lunch and a quick visit to the canalside Aldi. The boat in front of us waved us through Plank Lane Lift Bridge and closed it before Paul reached it as there was quite a bit of road traffic waiting to cross. Ange waited until Paul and Wendy were close to the bridge and opened it for them. We carried on for a mile or so and moored for the night.
Ange raising Plank Lane Lift Bridge for Paul and Wendy
Our mooring for the night past Plank Lane
Sunday 17
th April 2022 We set off at 09:30 the next morning hoping to have passed through the Wigan Locks by lunchtime. We passed the sad sight of the Dover Lock Pub which had been empty for a while and looked even worse that when we last passed it due to it suffering a fire. We don't think that it will be too long before it is demolished.
The sad sight of the Dover Lock Inn after suffering a fire
Unfortunately when we arrived at Poolstock Locks the pound between the two locks was empty... and when I say empty it was nearly dry! There were a couple of other boats waiting and we asked if C&RT had been informed. We were told that they had and were expected about midday as there was work being completed up the Wigan Flight and they were waiting for concrete to set before they let water down the flight.
The pound between Poolstock Locks awaiting refilling with water
We waited, and waited and at 5:45pm we saw movement on the lock. It was a member of Worsley Cruising Club setting the lock for boats coming in the opposite direction. We were told that someone had let water down and we should be able to pass through soon. We managed to pass through the lower lock and the pound above it without too much trouble but we made sure that we kept to the middle of the channel as the full navigable depth had not been achieved as yet. We passed through the second lock, joined the main line of the canal above Henhurst Lock, below which we moored for the night.
Monday 18th April 2022 text
Timetable for our 2022 Easter Cruise
Sunday 17th
April
2022
Monday 18th
April
2022
Tuesday 19th
April
2022
Wednesday 20th
April
2022
Thursday 21st
April
2022
Friday 22nd
April
2022
Thursday 14th
April 2022
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Agden to Dunham Massey
Friday 15th
April 2022
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Dunham Massey to Trafford Centre
Saturday 16th
April
2022
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Trafford Centre to after Plank Lane
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Plank Lane to Henhurst Bridge: Wigan
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Wigan to Burscough
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Burscough to Bridge 10: Melling
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Melling to Liverpool
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Liverpool
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Liverpool
Saturday 23rd
April
2022
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Liverpool
Sunday 24th
April
2022
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Liverpool to Bridge 10: Melling
Monday 25th
April
2022
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Melling to Burscough
Tuesday 26th
April
2022
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Burscough to Dover Lock: Abram
Wednesday 27th
April 2022
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Abram to Trafford Centre
Thursday 28th
April
2022
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Trafford Centre to Moore
Friday 29th
April
2022
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Moore to Runcorn
Saturday 30th
April
2022
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Runcorn
Sunday 1st
May
2022
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Runcorn
Monday 2nd
May
2022
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Runcorn to Agden
Epilogue to Easter Cruise 2022
Text
Chapter 3 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 2
Text
To be continued in Chapter 5 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 3
Chapter 4 - Summer Cruise 2022
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Timetable for our 2022 Easter Cruise |
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Lymm CC Members Participating in the 2022 Summer Cruise |
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Epilogue to Summer Cruise 2022
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Chapter 5 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 3
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To be continued in Chapter 5 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 3
Chapter 6 - Autumn Cruise 2022
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Timetable for our 2022 Autumn Cruise |
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| Date TBC 2022 | - | Agden Mooring to ? |
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Epilogue to Autumn Cruise 2022
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Chapter 7 - Canalmanac 2022 Part 3
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Our Canal Cruising Experiences and Milestones During 2022 |
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The story most probably continues in...
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Book 19 |
Canal Cruising 2023
Health and finances allowing!
or select another book below...
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Contents Click here for the latest entries or on the required section in the Contents below to follow links |
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| Forward | |
| So You Want To Go Canal Cruising? | |
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| Our Boats | |
| Ruby | |
| nb Squirrel | |
| Adeline | |
| Canals on Screen | |
| Canals Through the Ages (Coming soon) | |
| Photography Introduction | |
| Photographic Experiences | |
| Camerascape | |
| Photoscape | |
| Canalscape Gallery | |
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Shroppie - The Shropshire Union Canal System (In Preparation) |
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| The Manchester and Salford Junction Canal | |
| Mersey Connections (In Preparation) | |
| Canis Canalus | |
| Shannon | |
| Site Map | |
| Go to the | |
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| Website | |
| e-mail link - cyril.wood@virgin.net | |
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"Canalscape" and "Diarama" names and logo are copyright |
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Updated 29/07/2022
