A load of old rubbish again and again!

OK, so the sun was shining as we set off from our mooring this morning and headed for the first of the 15 locks anticipated today. The scenery certainly deteriorated as we progressed! Stopping only for water and a cup of coffee at one lock we continued on while dad had the chance to start wittling his stick for the Calder and Hebble!

I had to stop to clear the weed hatch just before one lock and pulled out a large mass of plastic and a pair of boxer shorts! As I entered the lock, Hillary on NB Tree Sparrow who we have been paired up with for the past 2 days shouted at me as her engine stalled. I reversed out to help her, (our crew were the other side of the busy road preparing the locks!) I picked up something again and had to stop rather rapidly - it was the tracksuit bottoms to go with the boxers! Finally we managed to both moor up breated on the lock waiting area to clear things out. NB Tree Sparrow had picked up a large amount of rope that had wound very tightly round the shaft and even started to pull into the stern gland tube. Much cutting and sawing from us all and we managed to shift it one hour later.

We navigated the rest of the flight on tickover whilst dodging the amazing collection of bikes, trollies, pushchairs, wheelbarrows, road signs, pallets and other assorted unmentionable or unidentifiable objects!

The first glimpses of what look like hills and vaguely Pennineish scenery could be glimpsed at this point.

And yep! They still have water shortages - here's one example of todays lock to prove it!

Final mooring was at 4.30pm at Littleborough. One obvious liveaboard was taking up the entire, and what turned out to be the only deep, mooring with rings so we are both on the lock waiting area, NB Tree Sparrow in a tree; literally, and us moored about 3 foot from the bank listing on the mud - apparently it's quite a good lock waiting area which is well maintained and used!

Tomorrow we have 4 locks to do to meet the BW man at lock 44 who will escort us through the summit. Opinions of the Rochdale so far? Uninteresting, dull, filthy and hard work although we have had no local trouble whatsoever and everyone we've met has been extremely friendly - even the fishermen all smile, engage eye contact and say hello or start a conversation! We just hope the top part and the way down is significantly more rural, tranquil and interesting!