Into Manchester

Welcome to my new blog - blog.com has become so slow as to be nearly unusable and extremely frustrating!

Firstly some pictures from yesterday

 Bridgewater Canal

 Moored near Little Bollington

And todays....

 Giant Hogweed on canalside

 Bridgewater Canal through Sale

Man U's ground at Trafford next to the Bridgewater Canal

Bridgewater Canal near unscenic Old Trafford - I think this is Throstle Nest Bridge!

We started our journey into Manchester soon after 9am.  A couple of miles took us out of the attractive countryside into the sprawl of Manchester.  First Altrincham (where the cheese comes from, see yesterday's blog) and then Sale.  Here the canal is broad and deep and presents an impressive gateway into the city with some areas pleasantly tree-lined.  It didnt last however as the canal narrowed and passed through areas of semi-industrial wasteland with only Manchester United's Old Trafford ground being the main point of interest.  Also there was the extravagantly identified Throstle Nest foot bridge - we couldnt see any throstles in evidence.

We moored in the old wharf area of Castlefield near the centre of Manchester at 12:30, and to our surprise found a mooring without too much difficulty.  However, sadly, the whole area looks tatty and depressing, made worse by large piles of domestic and kitchen rubbish left by other boaters as there are no appropriate facilities available beyond the normal council street bins.  There are plaques around commemorating the Inland Waterways Association's role in preserving the area.  Perhaps they shouldnt have bothered - the city itself doesnt seem to care. There is simply no comparison with Birmingham's Brindley Place area where the canal forms an essential part of the city scene.