8th May

Today is Carolann's Birthday, so the day starts with a lot of singing and birthday greetings.

This is the day we plan to cruise to Manchester.

It's an early start, we started cruising at 7. a.m. arriving at the top of the Fairfield Locks at 8.00a.m. eighteen of them, all the paddles are locked and have to be un-locked to use and locked again after use. Two swing bridges to ad to the work.

Entering lock six we picked something up on the prop. so while we descended the lock I lifted the back deck and started to remove a full boiler suit from the prop. As the lock emptied the boat moved back towards the gate, disaster struck as there was a full water fall coming over the gate, the water was pouring on to the open back deck and into the open engine room, plus all over me. I tried to push with my hands whilst standing in the full force of the water fall against the gates but no that didn't work I then had to try and throw the Stern line up to Jo at the top of the lock, on the third attempt she caught the rope and pulled the boat forward. Water was everywhere and in every thing near the stern. Mopped up stripped off a full change of clothes.

11.00 a.m. we stopped at Asda after the 11th lock, had a coffee and some birthday cake, did the shopping, then started on the final locks of this set. We finished them feeling tired and a few aches and pains.

Now we face the final set of locks to get to the centre of Manchester. Nine big double locks, a lot of them with only short lock gate beams, with a contraption of a winch, chain and a pulley block. This with a lot of water coming down and over flowing the top gates like a full waterfall meant the gates took a long time to empty. At the final lock which is outside a restaurant /cafe complex, with lots of people enjoying Sunday afternoon in the sun, Carolann had a mass rendition of "happy birthday".

Swung round into the Castle Quay and moored up at 4.30 p.m.

In the evening we went to the restaurant at the last lock for a birthday diner.

27 Locks, 8.5 miles.