Down the 'Rochdale Nine'

The morning after Polar came back to the boat, it was time to leave our moorings in Piccadilly Village and travel right through the heart of Manchester to the Bridgewater Canal. 

This sounded very exciting but we bears were rather worried when Grizzly explained we had nine very big double locks ahead of us, which are the last of the Rochdale Canal, which runs right across the Pennines.  He said they often have lots of water flowing through them which floods over the back gates when you try to empty them, and some have funny gate opening gear with chains and pulleys, so we were relieved that he had found another boat who could share with us, with a kind and friendly couple, called Mrs Jackie and Mr Steve, on board, and a small dog called Dexter. 

We were also very lucky that a nice man called Mr Ian, who volunteers with the Canal and River Trust, came to meet us as we reached the first lock.  He had his bicycle with him, so he could get ahead of our boats and start opening locks for us.

We bears sat in the cratch, where we could see what was happening but were safely out of the way.  After the first lock, we disappeared under the road, very near Manchester Piccadilly station.  It looks very interesting in Polar's picture, but it was very smelly and nasty.  Somehow, we managed to lose Mrs Jackie near here and although Polar went back to search for her, she couldn't find her anywhere!

Because there isn't any way on to the towpath for quite a long way. Mr Ian and Polar had to work the next locks without her.  We were all very pleased when she found us again, especially Mr Steve.

We met some boats coming up, which was good because it meant the locks would all be full up ready for us.  I think they might have been full anyway, however, because there is so much water pouring down this canal.

The Rochdale Canal goes through some well-known areas of Manchester, including Canal Street, and there is a huge amount of work going on to make it nicer and safer for people to use.  We were very glad we had Mr Ian with us because, at the moment, there are several sections where the towpath doesn't join up and you have to get back on your boat to get from one lock to the next.

Looking out as we came through one lock, we saw a huge glass tower rising up right beside the canal.  We bears had never seen such tall buildings so close up! 

Hanley Bear said we were very close to where we had gone on the trams and trains a few days earlier.  He pointed out the railway arches around Deansgate as we went underneath them.

There was even more water pouring down the canal now.  When we got to the very last lock, Mr Ian opened the paddles at both ends to let some water drain out of the pound, so we could get Uppie and Willoughby through the very last lock and out into the Castlefield Basin.

 After all their hard work steering and working the locks, the humans went for a drink, while we bears had little naps. Polar and Grizzly had told us there was still a lot to see and do in Manchester and they were right.

We had a very exciting afternoon ahead of us, at the Museum of Science and Industry, which I will tell you all about in my next post.