A magnificent mill chimney at Ashton u Lyme

Friday 12th August
At last we've moved again. The weather has been terrible over the last couple of days, at least the weathermen got it right for once.
The mooring we took in Stalybridge was very handy, right outside Tesco, but it was a bit noisy. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights the rain kept any yobbish elements from outdoor antics but last night it was dry and they were out again. There was no trouble, just very noisy with both girls and lads yelling well into the small hours.
This morning we set off intending to get to the top of the 18 lock flight down to the Rochdale canal junction. British Waterways advise that it isn't a good idea to stop anywhere in the flight because of trouble with local youths. However once we get to the Rochdale Canal will find ourselves at the top of a flight called The Rochdale 9. It was here 4 years ago that we were banged on several times in the night by drunken louts. This flight leads down to Castlefields, a nice safe mooring in the middle of Manchester.
We're now tied up just above the 18 locks and hopefully will get down them tomorrow if the weather is kind.

A much better day today. The sun shone for  most of the time as we dragged our way along the bottom of the canal. After a couple of locks the situation improved, and as long as we stayed dead centre we didn't hit the bottom too often.
We continued until the services at Bywith Lock where got rid of rubbish, filled with water and chucked a can. After a spot of lunch we carried on as far as Stalybridge and have moored up outside the big Tesco.
I took a walk around the town and it's depressing, there are a huge number of shuttered shops and for sale signs. Makes me wonder if this huge Tesco has devastated the small businesses around here.
This afternoon I remembered that we had a bit of juddering on the tiller as we came out of the last lock so I took a dive into the weed hatch and sure enough came out with a length of rope. I then decided it would be a good idea to transfer the fuel which we carry as extra in barrels on the back deck into the main fuel tank so that I could put the empties down in the engine room. I don't think it's a good idea to have fuel sitting around on the deck on a city mooring.

After looking at the weather forecast last night we decided to make a start on the journey back towards Manchester. Just after setting off there was a sharp shower but it let up as we approached our first stop, the marina we may spend this winter in. I wanted to have a word with the manager and have a look at the facilities.
As we have found a great deal on this canal, we couldn't get to the side to moor up properly so Cath stayed to look after the boat while I met the man. The heavens opened and poor Cath got a real soaking.
After she changed we set off again hoping to get as far as Roaches Lock, which is the first place we know we can get a mooring. Despite the assurances of The Meteorology Office the rain persisted down and by the time we got to the mooring we were both fed up and damp. Our plan has always been to moor up and wait out any really bad weather but here that wasn't possible because we couldn't get to the side with the shallowness of this canal.
Tomorrow, once again, they say the weather won't be too bad but Wednesday and Thursday will be foul. We'll see!

Sunday 7th August
Yes, look at the date! I still can't believe it. The temperature outside is 12 C, the barometer is 985mb, and it's tipping it down out there.
We have spent a pleasant few days here in Uppermlil, and on Thursday Cath went to the local surgery to try to get her repeat prescription signed by a doctor. They were less than helpful! Having asked her to fill out the usual temporary resident form they then told her that the earliest appointment would be Friday week, and her best bet was to visit the Walk in Centre in Oldham.
Friday we moved a couple of locks further up to visit the facilities block to carry out the usual tasks. We then came back down again as we didn't think it was worth doing the final climb to the  summit if we couldn't get through the tunnel.
Yesterday we waited out the very heavy morning rain and then grabbed a bus into Oldham to visit the Walk in Centre. It's very handily located right next to the bus station so in we went to a desk signed " NHS walk in centre" to be told we're not really a walk in centre, we're a GP surgery but we do offer an emergency service.  Now, what the difference is we don't know. So we filled in the usual forms and waited to be called. To be fair the wait wasn't too long, and when we got to the doctor he was very helpful and did sign the repeat forms without too much persuasion.
Looking back on the encounter at the local surgery it seems as if the staff have been told to make it difficult for transient people like ourselves. For instance, Cath wasn't told that they always keep appointments open to be made 'on the day', just told come back in 10 days time, when she had already told them her present prescription would run out in 7 days. Ah, the joys of being itinerant.

Shady mooring at Uppermill, Huddersfield Broad Canal

We continued our climb to the summit this morning. In lovely sunshine we struggled along due to the shallowness of the canal. At several points we were nearly  stopped by the drag. However we still think it's worth it for the surroundings.
After 7 locks we came to Uppermill, a lovely small town on Saddleworth Moor where we have stopped and may well spend a couple of days here. The local trip boat owner is an expert on Standedge Tunnel and he says we won't get through with our top boxes in place. They're too big, heavy and full of kit to remove so once again I think we won't be going through.
Approaching Uppermill we passed a marina with a 'mooring available' sign outside. On the off chance I gave them a ring and it looks as if this could be the place we spend winter. The price isn't too bad, the surroundings are beautiful, and there's a supermarket only a few yards away.

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 Waiting for lock 10W

Just north of Mossley

After a peaceful night at Heyrod we set off again this morning in light drizzle, climbing steeply through a series of deep locks. It is wonderfully peaceful around here, the canal is almost completely shrouded in trees for most of the time keeping us isolated from most things. 
The canal follows the course of the River Tame and the occasional sights we get of it show an idyllic picture.
We've moored up near Mossley for the night.
After considering the options we've decided to try for the tunnel. It seems a waste to come this far and not try it. There are many 'ifs' to look forward to at the moment: if we wait, if we can fit through, if we get through can we continue up the Broad? Our length makes this problematic, some say we should make it others say it's dodgy. We'll just have to wait and see.

Awkward place for a pylon

Monday 1st August

My idea of 'doing' Standedge Tunnel is now probably not a runner. When I rang up this morning to book passage this coming Friday I was told they'd call back to confirm. They didn't, so after climbing through 8 locks I called again to be told it was completely booked up until the 12th of August. I don't want to hang around that long, and there is another consideration, there is a chance we may be too tall. The top boxes we have could turn out to be a bit too much and I don't want to get to the tunnel, wait a week only to be told I'm an inch or so too tall.

We are presently moored up in quiet surroundings 8 locks up from Staylybridge. As we started the climb out of the industrial area there were the ususal signs of our industrial past, with several derelict mill buildings, but some that had been converted to other uses like smaller units for starter businesses. There are also new water side flats, with people paying over the odds for a view of canal.
The city seems to end very quickly, and soon we were out in countryside with the locks coming at regular intervals. One of the interesting sights around here is a huge electrical sub station with one of the incoming pylons built across the cut.
Our options now are to turn around at the first opportunity and head for Manchester, or to go to the top just for scenery, then come back down again. We'll make the decision tomorrow.