It's along time since we've been along this route, probably 15 years, and time has taken its toll. Some factories are still working but lots more look derelict, or are now building sites for the sort of new industrial multi-purpose buildings that some investor presumably hopes will get snapped up as the economy improves.
Approaching Salford Junction the motorways assert themselves once more, and as you can see from the bridge pillars it is perhaps not the place to overnight if you don't fancy acquiring some new and unsolicited signwriting for the boat.
Our first issue with water levels was in the pound by the Cincinnatti works, (or ex-Cincinnatti works), where we could get through just fine but a BW man asked us to wait while he refilled the pound. Garrison Locks were also low, and you see us here waiting above the bottom lock for enough water to be let down to be able to make it through the shallows ahead. A personal record here - two trips down the weedhatch in a single pound; once for a pair of trousers and then for a shirt. It was even less fun at Camp Hill Locks when we reached there. Although the bottom paddles seemed to be down, some of the plentiful rubbish must have been holding one open as the lock just wouldn't fill. Eventually we reopened them to flush it out, but by that time the pound above was well down. At the top lock a duck with one duckling left was agitated when she found herself stuck in the lock unable to get her offspring out. Fortunately the duckling was more resourceful and made a raft out of discarded take-away food boxes that happened to be handy, as we slowly filled the lock.
We were much more fortunate than than the boat following, who didn't arrive at Catherine de Barnes until 10.30 having struggled through the locks. All in all though, still an enjoyable if slightly challenging day.
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