Stretford Marina

Today's Canal : Bridgewater

The day began dry after a night of quite heavy rain, but with masses of grey, sometimes black, clouds. It was also rather chilly as we set off in good time. Our plan today includes a further good food shop in Sale and also getting to Stretford Marina in time to top up with diesel before they close at 4 o'clock.

The Bridgewater Canal is unusual in having a goodly number of underbridges where mostly roads pass under the canal, very occasional a water course. Of course, other canals have such features but this term seems to be very much the style of the Bridgewater.

From a distance it was the phone box that caught or eye and then the red pillar box. As we came close we also noticed the mangle, the bird and then the brightly dressed drum majorette! Someone mush like unusual statues!

This view of very dark clouds worried us a bit but in fact rain never seemed to come close to us.

Oldfield Keys/Quays is a small semi offline set of moorings and, for boats coming from the south, marks the start of the Manchester conurbation - even if locals here would insist on calling it Altrincham. From here until we leave the Ashton Canal at Dukinfield it is almost all urban all the way.

We have watched over many years as the former Linotype Works has gradually been transformed into modern housing. Mostly new build but a few original industrial parts have been kept. The scaffolding here was in place two years ago when we passed. It looks as if this is the last part of the jigsaw and the developer's website is advertising four upmarket apartments 'now selling' so presumably completion is not too far away. The workers at the top had enough time to exchange a cheery wave as we passed.

A little further on, between Linotype and Urban Splash is what looks as if it was once a bowling club with a well tended grass bowling green as well as splendid club house. Alas, it now all seems abandoned and the grass quickly reverting to its natural condition. However, we have not been able to find out what has happened here.

Alongside Broadhead Bridge stands the Old Packet House, a pub dating back to the late 19C when workers and travellers stopped off here on there 'fast' journey from Runcorn into Manchester. Packet boats plied many canals with urban centres and had special rights of way so that they could go faster than anything else. They managed to offer journey times that at the time must have seemed remarkable, if not quite HS2 standard.

We continued to Sale, at the end of a very long straight stretch where there was room on the few moorings rings for us to pull in and walk down to the shops. Actually, we were able to take the best spot, in terms of minimising walking time with loaded shopping bags! We found Sale to be rather better than Stockton Heath for shopping.

Once back at the boat we had a quick lunch break before setting off once more, mindful of the time to Stretford.

Barfoot Aqueduct crosses the River Mersey, here quite a modest small river, showing little hint of what it will soon become.

At Edge Lane Bridge in Stretford, a plot next to the canal was being cleared of industry when we passed two years ago. Now, this building is progressing well - as far as we could see it is an apartment block of social housing but we have not found any detailed information. (At least the sun shines better here!)

Just around the next bend and Stretford Marina came into view. We have called here several times in the past and always found them helpful and friendly. Today did not break that record - the chap who served us, whom we had not seen before, proudly showed Christine pictures of a baroque flute that he crafted and now plays, as well as his modern classical silver instrument.

As we arrived at the marina we spotted a useful mooring spot just before, where a boat was just leaving. Encouraged by the chap at the marina, we reversed back down to stay the night and leave the centre of Manchester for the morrow.

13.1 Miles - 0 Locks