Stalybridge, Street Fest & Puppuccinos

From Dukinfield we'd only planned to travel a short distance but found ourselves going all the way to Stalybridge. Will walked ahead with the pups to open Stanley Lift Bridge then rejoined Vicky. We left the Peak Forest Canal by taking a right at Dukinfield Basin. Technically we turned onto the end of the Ashton Canal and travelled a few hundred metres, through ADSA tunnel (yes, it did have an ASDA built on top of it) to join the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Whitelands Basin. We'd planned to stop here but the first lock came upon us so suddenly and the area looked dirty and was noisy so we decided to plough on up 4 locks to the first available mooring at Stalybridge.

The Huddersfield Narrow was originally opened in 1811 but fell into disrepair, closing in 1944. It fully reopened just 25 years ago in 2001. Over a course of 20 miles it travels across the Pennines up 32 locks, through the 4.951km Standedge Tunnel, then down a further 42 locks. It's going to be quite a challenge!

The short section we travelled today was very industrial, with lots of waterside mill buildings, two brick chimneys, multiple bridges, graffiti and new factories. There were also many short tunnels. We think the reason for these is because when the canal closed, many sections were infilled and built upon. Restoration required the excavation of the original course underneath the established structures. Unfortunately the maintenance isn't as good as it has been on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest. At several points Vicky had no choice but to drive through low, overhanging hanging tree branches.

We moored in the second of two spaces available on the off side in a short pound below Lock 5 West in Stalybridge. A scrubby, narrow treeline stood between the path and a roughly surfaced car park where Leo took great delight in foraging 😒

A great advantage to travelling this far is that we were only a short distance away from Stalybridge Street Fest that evening from 5-9pm. Armentièr's Square was filled with food trucks proffering culinary delights from every cuisine you could imagine while music from a live band contended with chatter from people arrayed at and around wooden tables and benches. Contrasting with the leisure walkers of the Peak Forest Canal, the people of Stalybridge are quite loud, rough and ready but so warm and family orientated. Vicky's chair wheel got stuck in a grating, but it wasn't there a second before a festival goer in a hi vis vest stepped forward and hoiked it out for her!

We postponed our traditional Friday night pizza for yummy sweet and tangy Pad Thai noodles, followed by an espresso for Will and a cucumber and mint iced tea for Vicky. Afterwards we went to a stall where they were loaning out large butterfly wings for free. The current clientele were all under five but Vicky couldn't resist and the facilitators were happy to oblige. Once they'd picked a red set out for her they asked Will if he'd like some and to their delight he said yes. We had our photo taken and went did a circuit of the square. There were a few surprised glances but people were in a live and let live mood and our cheeks were aching from grinning by the end.

On Saturday we managed to get out ahead of the thunder, lightening and torrential downpours when taking the pups into Stalybrige in the morning. Will left Vicky at a cafe with a pot of tea while he popped back to Rainboat to video call his Great Niece for some maths tutoring then rejoined her for a look around and cake at Florence and Almelia's Café. Tiger Lilly and Leo had been really good so when we saw there were puppuccinos available we caved and got them one each. We don't know who they gave more pleasure to; the dogs eating them or us watching them eat them! 🥰Leggi altro