Ashton-under-Lyne

Once we moored up on Sunday we were both pretty worn out after our Ashton 18 experience, we had dinner and vegged out for the evening, there were still quite a few people walking up and down the towpath as it was a sunny Sunday evening, a lot of them stopped for a chat and quite a few families were out enjoying the weather.

We were going to head off first thing Monday but it was a nice spot so we stayed on. We went for a stroll back to the junction just as a boat pulled in and moored up, we got chatting to Les and Sharlene on Life's Dream and they were telling us of their not so good experience on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, again lack of water, paddles not working and gates leaking. We enjoyed a cider with them before venturing into the town to see what was around.

Ashton-under-Lyne is quite a big town with a 24 hour Asda right by the canal, there's also Lidl and Aldi. The town has a big outdoor market area and also a fair size indoor market and all seemed to be thriving. There is a good choice of cafes and eating places too. Just a short walk from the main town is the massive Manchester IKEA, where we picked up a few bits and bobs and also enjoyed our free hot drink as it was a weekday and we are Family members.

The Town Hall

Portland Basin houses a museum in the old warehouse and has exhibitions of the industry of the area, again all free and definitely worth a visit.

On Tuesday afternoon we were sat back at LJ after a morning around town, James heard raised voices outside, looking out to see what was going on there were a couple of policeman trying to persuade someone to come back up the embankment of the River Tame which runs alongside the canal, we then had a ring side view of a 'Police, Camera, Action' style operation with the helicopter overhead and four policeman on the ground, after a good 15-20 minutes the culprit emerged and was walked off down the canal. A job well done and interesting to watch.

Police operation

Job done

We headed off around lunchtime today but only a short way, first just around the corner from our mooring was a lift bridge, under the M67,then through Hyde and the Haughton Dale Nature Reserve, stopping just before Woodley.

Another converted warehouse

Old industrial units

Moored up just before Woodley Bridge

Today 4 miles

Total 318.75 miles and 194 locks