Chasing the sun

We set off from Stalybridge following the course of the old drain, now a modern lock and tunnel through the town. 

We had to wait at the 2nd lock for C&RT staff to mend one of the paddles. There are plenty of moorings this side of town but it's not a particularly nice area to stop. The canal moves on close to the town but seemingly isolated and in the country. 

At 1 o'clock we arrived at the last lock on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and turned onto the Ashton Canal. 

The captain working the last lock of the day. 

Very soon we went under the bridge onto the Peak Forest Canal at Ashton-under-Lyne. We found some convenient moorings, complete with mooring rings, and stopped so that we could have a look in the Portland Basin Social and Industrial History Museum. 

And was it good!? It tells of Tameside's social, political and industrial history with a 1920s street, sound effects, computer interactives and displays on hatting, printing, coal mining, clog making, etc. Entry is free and we managed to grab tea and cakes just before they closed at 4pm. 

Cobble stones on the bridge over the canal. 

We enjoyed a much quieter night, so much so that we slept through till 9 o'clock. 

So, on Sunday, a slightly later start than usual but at last we are heading south. The low pressure that has been hanging around over Scotland has meant that we've been having wet weather while everyone down south has been having a heatwave. Time for a change, I think. 

The first bridge of the day was a lift bridge for which you need a handcuff key and windlass. One of the walkers who stopped to chat whilst watching me operate the bridge commented that I (obviously) didn't need to pay to go to the gym. And that's the delight of canal boating, you get regular exercise over the course of the day. 

Anyway, we moved on through Hyde, Woodley and Top-O-Th'-Hill until we arrived at Romiley. Once again, mooring rings available and we popped into the Duke of York for a bite of lunch. What we hadn't realised was that there was an Aldi store almost on the same corner. 

After lunch we went for a walk around the Chadkirk Estate where they have St Chad's well and chapel. Unfortunately the chapel was closed - we were just too late to see inside. We then followed various paths back to the canal and thence to the boat for a roast lamb supper. 

Slept well again but only till 7 o'clock this time.