We set off down Marple Locks at about 8:00am. These are deep single locks and the water pressure on the bottom paddles makes them the stiffest I have ever had to use. Continuous winding is just not possible in some cases with a standard windlass, but a different puchase necessary on each quadrant. Each lock has a bottom end bridge, so there is no need to leap gates, but the bottom access is non existent for most except for a few stone steps leading into mid air and fenced off. Clearly something is missing, though I can't see any trace of what. We got down the 16 in 2 hours 20 minutes and carried straight on to Dukinfield Junction and Portland Basin.
At the bottom of Marple Locks - View from the Goyt Aqueduct through the arches of the nearby railway viaduct.
A mega shop in Asda followed. Sadly, today, I have to report that no TV picture is possible due to large blocks of flats all round. Rather unexpected actually, so we'll have to use the internet.
Mooring at Dukinfield Junction. Portland Basin is in the background.
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