Sorry it's a bit late this time around. Also, to counter the complaints last
year that having the account in all one file was too long - I have tried to
make this year's account in more bite size chunks.
My 48 cruise, and final School cruise, starting in 1976 with the Hatton
School, then form 1980 with Fakenham High School. The first year with Willow
Wren, then Ashby Canal Transport (plus one trip to Ireland - but that's another
story - that we won), one year with UCCL, and since 1987 with Graham Wigley on
the Collingwood - who has encoruaged us to travel wide and far - The Manchester
Ship Canal, every branch of the Ellesmere Canal, to Norwood Tunnel on the
Chesterfield, Uttoxeter Canal, Aylesbury, Northampton, Goldalming, Tower
Bridge, Irwell, Runcorn Docks, Huddersfield, Montgomery, Hungerford, Duke's
Cut, Ellesmere Port, and every part of the BCN (except Norton Canes and the
Engine Branch). Last year we had be thwarted in our attempts to travel the
Rochdale - so the plans for the final trip were Liverpool to Salterhebble. But,
the best known plans.....
The Last Cruise?
Fakenham High School Canal Clubs July Cruise 2006 from Liverpool to the
Pennines
Friday 7th July, 2006
We had a good journey in Mr Haydens minibus to Liverpool - only missing one
unsigned turning in Everton. The rundown appearance of street after street of
boarded up houses showed a different side of city life. Seb was waiting at the
gates of the Eldonian Sports Centre, where the boats were moored. After a
welcome from Graham our steerer, Darren and I took the younger ones for a walk
along the Liverpool Docklands.(A long walk according to Dale) Passing the piers
we watched the Isle of Man ferry dock, then past the famous Liver buildings
themselves to the Dock Museum where some ancient boats float in the docks. At
this time Tesco dot com rang to say they were ready to deliver luckily the
older guys were still onboard and had the job of unloading and sorting the
victuals for the week, whilst we strolled back. Afternoon tea (6pm) was
followed by the first grappling session and soon a bike, fishing rod and 3
chairs emerged from the depths. The back wheel of the bike
fitted the boat bike, and the chairs became useful in the Ashs hold. Next the
first of many excellent meals meatballs with fried potatoes and carrots,
followed by a banana crunch. Afterwards football was played in the Sports
Centre Grounds, whilst others grappled or sung to the guitars. Eventually two
balls ended up inside the enclosed locked all-weather pitch. But with a little
help James was able to squeeze through a small hole 5 foot up in the fence and
retrieve them. 11.30 lights out and sleep to the sounds of city life (including
a pop concert). An excellent mooring site in the City, with the gates locked at
9.30p.m. toilet and water available and very helpful staff.
Saturday 8th July, 2006
Saturday, after a good first nights sleep, was an early start, all washed by
7.15 and cereal breakfast cleared away by the time the BW men came at 7.50 to
escort us out of the city. A sad length of canal started our journey, razorwire
very evident, houses and streets turning their backs on the waterway. At Bootle
a depressing litter strewn Welcome to Bootle Town Centre sign and moorings
epitomised it all. The canal was also often covered across with weed. However,
the BW men swung open all the bridges as we approached, and kept an eye on us
from the few vantage points where the canal opened up to its neighbourhood. The
whole attitude even down to the few waves from the toddlers reminded one of
the Manchester/Ashton townships attitudes of the 1960s. Compare this Liverpool
City view of canals with those at Manchester Castlefields or Birmingham Centre
makes one realise the lost opportunities to the people of Liverpool. Hopefully
the new canal for the City of Culture in
2008 will turn the fortunes of the waterways of the area. Aintree Racecourse
was again hidden behind tall fences, although we could see the speedway racing.
The second half of breakfast omelette sandwiches arrived and James and
Little Jamie showed their efficiency as washer uppers. At 12.40 the BW team
left us at Maghull, having completed a good job. At last we saw a moored boat.
Stopping at Lydiate for an excellent salad lunch then a trip to the village
stores to stock up personal supplies. Darren and James then did their first
swing bridge enjoying holding 2 cars up! Meanwhile Stephen had indulged in a
new hobby counting the number of balls floating in the canal. 54 an hour on
average we soon worked out most of us having given up at 100 scored! On the
other hand we also saw two water voles (not rats!!) on this length.
Swing bridges were now the main planned exercise of the day so a group woke
Ronnie up to walk to the next bridge pity they misread the map, getting off
at bridge 27 rather than 29 but it gave them a good 3 mile stroll. Mooring at
6.10, we then helped a man regain his windlass from a lock on the Ruffold
Branch watched a Leeds & Liverpool barge moor, then had Ronnie and Michaels
chicken sweet and sour the only problem was for the cooks washer-upper who
found that the boil in the bag rice had burnt in the pan! Well thats a first.
Dale battled away uncomplainingly for hours at the job. By now it was raining
hard so Pit and other games became the order of the evening.
Sunday 9th July 2006
After a very blustery and wet night we discovered the leaks in the top
sheets and the Y11s rearranged their beds. After a good breakfast and briefing
we set off in the drizzle at 10, reaching the first lock at Appleby at 11.30.
Very large, deep and daunting. Graham gave the Health & Safety briefing then
described how to work the lock slightly differently to our usual narrow locks
of the Midlands. 4 more locks and we moored at Wigan for ASDA and B&Q. It was
the largest ASDA anyone had ever seen. The cooks for the next few days set
forth with their petty cash in hand, returning with laden shopping trolleys and
bursting bags. The rain was also stopping. 2 more uphill locks, past Wigan
Pier, then a sharp turn onto the Leigh Branch, where the bridge above one lock
was being reconstructed. The towpath diversion lost us and eventually James
and I were scaling ladders, jumping over holes and sliding down slopes to get
back to the boats. But we were rewarded by Sonny and
Dales fresh cream cakes. Now, high above the surrounding landscape, we gently
cruised to Worsley, where we moored at 9.20 pm gleaning the World Cup
progress by the cheers and otherwise from the local pubs we passed. A fantastic
evening spread of a quorn bolognaise made us rethink Vegetarian Meals. Followed
by real apples sliced and cooked with a crumble. Congratulations to the cooks,
Sonny, Dale and Big Jamie from us all. The football game finished when the ball
went swimming in the canal so back to the music of Kevs and Sonnys Guitar
and Mikes Sax taking us to supper time and bed at 11.30 again.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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