We’re a bit battered, Chas has hurt his back, Ann has a dodgy knee and I‘ve strained an Achilles tendon. Mine started on Monday during a heavy session of intervals, so I took a day off yesterday, but I actually felt something give way on my run first thing this morning.
I had a miserably uncomfortable walk 2½ mile walk back to the boat. I may be out of the Manchester 10k now, it’s only 10 days away and I don’t think it’ll heal before then. Bugger.
Mags is the fittest of us all at the moment, how about that!
The cripples convoy got away not long before noon, a short distance and around the corner to Barton Swing Aqueduct.
Moore2Life across the ship canal
Designed by Edward Leader Williams and built in 1894, the aqueduct is swung about a central pier, still containing 800 tons of water.
Looking “downhill”, Barton Road Swing Bridge in the foreground, then the M60, Barton Locks in the distance
The swing aqueduct replaced the original stone-built arched aqueduct over the River Irwell, built by James Brindley in 1761. When the Manchester Ship Canal was constructed in the 1890’s, the arched aqueduct wouldn’t have had enough headroom, so was replaced with the steel structure.
A few years ago we were lucky enough to see the aqueduct in operation.
The oddball “lighthouse” at Monton is still there, standing proud at the side of the canal.
The Bridgewater Canal tends to be in better condition than a lot of the canals that now fall under the jurisdiction of C&RT. Neglect and lack of funding during British Waterways governership has allowed quite a bit of bank damage to occur. Peel Holdings maybe have a bit more cash to splash about.
Bank repairs, Bridgewater Canal style
They even bring their own loo!
Into Worsley
Worsley Dry Dock
Both sheds are currently occupied by Mersey/Weaver flats.
We moored just beyond the iron footbridge, almost opposite the boathouse built to house the Royal Barge during Queen Victoria’s visit to the town in 1851
Tea time, after all we’re only 2¼ miles from where they come from…
Yummy!
Locks 0, miles 3
2 comments:
Sorry to hear about all your injuries you are all experiencing, must be something in the water as James has sprained his ankle as well!! Hope you recover for the Manchester 10K Geoff, we know how you enjoy your running. Enjoying your blog around the north. Best Wishes Doug and James
Hi, sorry to hear about your torn achilles tendon, hope it feels a bit better soon, you’ll be really disappointed having to pull out of the race at this late stage. Please pass on our commiserations to Charles and Ann and of of course our love to Mags.
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