June 28

A very laid back week. I had expected some crew, but plans changed, so am touring the city, doing boat stuff, and generally chilling. I leave Manchester tomorrow to get a new pram cover fitted, and to vacate the mooring.

I visited the Museum of Science and Industry MOSI, which was a good time, though I met so many groups of loud, obnoxious school children, I have a renewed happiness in my decision to abandon teaching. The museum was interesting, though a ‘work in progress’ as many exhibits had misplaced signs or information that was just plain missing. Still, some great examples of the cotton industry machinery and some good old engines.

Also went to the Imperial War museum North. Also a good museum, though again the school kids were not as polite as the ones I worked with. Lots of detail material that I was very unfamiliar with.

The whole quay area is part of the Manchester Ship Canal,and (theoretically) still in business.The bridges either lift or swing, though there is no commercial traffic that Icould discern, and pleasure traffic is limited by the bureaucracy in dealing with liability fears of the company- hence very little traffic. The opportunity is there to make this as exciting and involving as Liverpool, but is being missed completely. Too Bad. The moorings are ok, but limited, and there are signs all over preventing use of the nearly double area available for boats to moor, even though this is not the Quays  area, and really just an old canal dock area. There are at least 5 basins right here, all with mooring bollards- but signs forbidding use. A large missed opportunity in my view, especially as the moorings here are all full, and that is why I need to leave…

I’ve spend two days trying to get a folding bike for the boat that fits into the lockers. Seems that the PR brochures are ‘imaginative’ in terms of measuring, and what they say isn’t reflected in the real measurements. I’ll keep trying as i can.

Looking for new adventures nest week as I get Tom and Liam back aboard and we do the Cheshire ring canals.