Well the Rochdale Nine, we did these last year and it took us hours; this year, we came equipped with a crew! We needed to empty the Elsan, so took the opportunity to reverse round, empty the Elsan and take on water in Castlefield and then onto the Nine! The first three locks were Ok, tough and very hard work. Then Lock 88, we couldn't close the header gate - call Canal & River Trust and they fished out a metal fence, which we thought was quite awesome!
Then three of our crew had to leave us and so Fiona, Stella and Chris finished the last four locks on our own (with assistance from some passers-by opening lock gates).
There was one funny incident involving a goose and three goslings, who had got seperated because Mum & goslings were on towpath and Dad was in the canal, so shooed them back to the canal, but not before she threw her wings out to protect the goslings from the dogs, who wanted to say hello!
We finally finished after 5 hours, moored on the Ashton Canal, ready for another 18 locks tomorrow! We will check the weed hatch again in the morning, as NBGracie was very sluggish coming out of the last lock.
So, not quite, crying and cursing, but another good day. Sunshine, reasonably warm and NOT raining!
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