Trafford Centre

Today's Canal - Bridgewater (Main Line and Leigh Branch)

It was a bright and sunny morning as we awoke - a tad later than most days!

Before setting off, Mike took a look at the underbridge (short aqueduct) close to whe3re we stayed overnight. It seemed a long way down to the road but even so the height clearance for vehicles is restricted to just over 9 m.

It seem

s that the bridge has an unusual device to set the height. If an oversize vehicle does attempt to pass under it will catch on the large horizontal beams that are suspended over each side. However, they can be lifted and potentially release the trapped vehicle rather more easily with less damage to the structure.

The fashion for wide beam boats, many for permanent occupation, seems to have come to the Bridgewater and we have seem many moored up. We have not had to pass any on the move, fortunately although it is wide enough in most places (there are exceptions) not to cause a difficulty. Currently there is a growing problem on the north Oxford where such boats use a marina on a canal that is otherwise only really suitable for narrowboats. There are now restrictions on how they can navigate but not everyone abides by them. We have seen three moored gto the towpath including this one which has a much more distinctive design and marks it out from those that all seem to come from a factory that produces very square sterns.

Over the past decade (see here for example) we have seen the former Linotype factory be abandoned and then the site gradually redeveloped and just a few iconic parts of the factory incorporated. 

It looks now as if the only piece left to be used  is the part with the original name. As it is now shrouded in scaffolding we hope that in another year we will see what is finally to become of it.

The stretch before Sale is very straight - as can be seen looking back under Sale Bridge - and a hint of the number of people using the towpath, walking, cycling, dog walking, jogging, babies looking after Granny and almost everyone is happy, if not keen, to engage in a fleeting exchange - sometimes just a nod but often, particularly with the little children, a furious wave, positively encouraged by parent or grand parent. It may be trite, but it does seem if walking by water makes life seem just that bit brighte - or perhaps the blue skies also helped!

We tied up and walked the short distance to the shops. It does seem if Trafford Borough make a positive attempt to promote this town centre as the place for small independent traders.

The main street was pedestrianised a while ago but recently another square has been renovated, opened out and given a new lease of life. The finishing touches are just being made.

We continued after lunch.

Just before Waters Meeting we stopped at Stretford Marina to top up our diesel tank - only 50 litres but as we are heading next onto the Lancaster, with limited suppliers, we want to keep the level right up. As we have commented before they are very helpful and cheerful here - a good place to stop if in need of any of their services. After talking about our last visit in 2019 when the lady dropped our fuel cap into the water (which they very graciously agreed to replace) she remembered that they had some time later recovered it and kept on a shelf. As they did not have a key (not sure that we can find ours either!) she handed it back to us. Now that is called service!

At the junction we turned left onto the Leigh Branch - left in the photo is towards the centre of Manchester.

Shortly afterwards we passed the substantial Kelloggs factory busily producing tomorrow's breakfasts for millions of homes across the country. Perhaps just as well that most do not know why Corn Flakes was invented!

Last time we came along here the bridge carrying the Metro railway extension to the Trafford Park Shopping Centre was still be worked on. The line is now open and feeds the traders and economists insatiable demand for shoppers.

We moored for the night - as we were doing so a profoundly deaf young man doing a photo project on 'barges', along with his carer and interpreter took and interest in what we were doing. So we spent]y some time explaining how the canals came to be built and the extent of the network. We also explained that our craft was a narrowboat, not a barge . . .

Christine wandered around the shopping malls for about an hour and a half but despite the myriad of 'stuff' on offer, she returned as empty-handed as she entered!

9.3 Miles - 0 Locks