Saturday 17 October 2009

Phew! That was Close.

Ducie Junction 081 “The Wheel” in Manchester City Centre.

While checking our emails etc this afternoon we found several notices from Waterscape advising us of any problems on the waterways. The one that caught our attention was one for the Rochdale Canal which stated

That due to a collapsed wall caused by fire in a mill building between locks 76 & 77 the canal and towpath will be closed until further notice with a review on Monday

Boy are we glad we are through and off that section of the canal as of yesterday afternoon.  Here is a link to the news on the BBC from Paul.

Ducie Junction 076 A glazed tile frontage on Langley building in Manchester. Note the Welsh dragon on the top recess.

A cool but very sunny day was the catalyst for a trip on Manchester’s “The Wheel”, the equivalent of  The London Eye. The view at the top was magnificent although the wheel does travel a wee bit too fast not giving you much time to search the horizon or focus on a particular view. Although we did get a bonus in that we were told we would get 3 revolutions of the wheel when in fact we got 4 before alighting.

Ducie Junction 097Views across Manchester and the Pennines from “The Wheel”. The white posts in the distance are a wind turbine farm.  Ducie Junction 061 The Printworks as seen from “The Wheel” in the centre of Manchester.Ducie Junction 112 Fountain in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.

After some shopping and sight seeing it was time to head back to the boat before it got too cold with the sun disappearing behind the tall buildings and the home time rush. Tomorrow morning we head down the final nine locks on the Rochdale Canal down onto the Bridgewater Canal.

6 comments:

Andy Tidy said...

I am surprised you didnt feel the rumble as the wall collapsed, it was so close. I thought of you when I read the report today. I dont think you would have been too excited about going back over the summit!
Capt A

Paul (from Waterway Routes) said...

You nearly had toasted sandwiches yesterday if this is it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8310054.stm

at here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lord+N+St,+Manchester,+Greater+Manchester+M40+8,+United+Kingdom&sll=53.435719,-4.042969&sspn=26.404524,27.37793&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FRg_MAMdPWLe_w&split=0&hq=&hnear=Lord+N+St,+Manchester,+Greater+Manchester+M40+8,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.493446,-2.205076&spn=0.006396,0.010772&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A

Derek and Dot said...

Hi Capt A
yes we are counting our blessings. We would hate to moor anywhere there or even wind and go back. Someone was looking over us.

Derek and Dot said...

Hi Paul
Thanks for the link, I must admit we were very lucky, we heard all the sirens but as it was behind us we never saw it.

Nb Yarwood said...

Hi Folks
Look out for NB Caxton and NB Matilda Rose, we are on the Bridgewater heading into Manchester. Hopefully we will get the chance to say hello...
Lesley

Derek and Dot said...

Hi Lesley
Comments crossed in the mail :-)
Dot