Stories
I have many fond memories of being out on the cut since I started boating back in 1996. After regaling numerous people with some of my stories, it was mentioned that I should write them down into some sort of book. Well, personally, I think a book is a big project and something which I don’t have the time, patience or the know how to do, but I would like to get some of these memories jotted down and this is the page which they’ll be added too.
The Coal Run on “Ambush”
When my old friend Brian was still with us, he used to crew for Derick, on the Leeds Liverpool boat Ambush. I was never awake when they set off from our moorings to do the fortnightly coal run, as they left at about 5.30am, but I do remember standing further down the bank in complete awe as they arrived back after a days run, covered in coal dust and sweat. Now,I know some people would disagree with me here but I am quite a shy and reserved character, and didn’t think it was appropriate to be asking to join them on the run.
I didn’t have to, as it turned out though, as one night, when sat in the pub at the age of 14 (I was on Pepsi, mind) we were discussing the days run with them when they returned and Brian questioned Derick about whether I was up to helping them or not jokingly. They must have discussed this earlier and Derick also got involved with the micky taking. Not only did they hook me but they also reeled me in and I was delighted at the outcome, I was to crew with Derick and Brian the next time the were to go on the run. It was only a couple of weeks until the next time but it was like waiting for Christmas to come for a kid.
Eventually, after what seemed like a life time the day before, a Friday, came round. We were discussing the run and they confirmed that it’s an early kick off with a short run to Agden, where they stopped at Hesfords and the Barn Owl moorings for the first drop off, and then onto Lymm’s Agden moorings and finally onto Lymm Village for the regular customers. It also came about that the early starts were to be just before 6! It was definitely going to be worth it though.
After an early night and some much needed sleep I found myself sat on the engine room hatch shivering with the cold. Smoke was already rolling from the chimney in the bow cabin, meaning that Derick was up and about and shortly after the bow cabin hatch was thrown back to reveal a grinning face. “Managed to get up then, eh?” was my greeting, along with a mention that we could get going as soon as Brian appeared which he did after a few minutes. I was put to use, firstly with undoing the bow rope and pushing the great hulk of iron into the main channel, running back, I was all set, perched in front of the tiller on the stern cabin.
As we closed in on Timperely bridge I quickly became aware that I was getting colder and colder as time wore on, and, wanting to prove myself never mentioned it but then again, I don’t think I had to, the shivering must of given me away. The sun eventually woke up and started to rise, and I was sure that soon enough I would be warming up, and if that didn’t work the heaving and throwing of coal bags would do it for me.
Arriving at the Barn Owl Inn at Agden, the first customers flagged Derick down. As most of the customers were liveaboards, their stoves consumed a great amount of coal, and so, with shirt sleeves rolled up, I jump into the hold to start chucking up the 25KG backs of coal. By this time I was much warmer, with it being 8.30 the sun was now properly up and the wind had dropped, but I don’t think I have ever been so cold before. If I remember rightly it was February, and as I didn’t know better I wasn’t properly dressed for the occasion. When we set off it was pitch black and I remember trying to conserve as much heat as possible by curling into a ball whilst sat on the hatches, with my eyes watering from the biting wind.
Onto Lymm CC’s moorings at Agden we chugged, where more bags of coal and diesel was transferred to the boats, and then finally through Outrington and onto Lymm. As you come through Lloyd’s Bridge and round the best, past the woods, you have a long straight stretch leading upto Lymm Cruising Clubs main moorings and their Clubhouse. A fellow cruising club must have visited them for the weekend as the cut infront of the clubhouse was littered with boats and although it is a wide part of the cut, its on a bend and as we approached the boats moored 4 deep we realised that we wouldn’t make it through the small gap. Derick engaged reverse to slow Ambush down, but the bows started to swing across to greet a small fibreglass cruiser. Realising what was about to happen, Derick clutched in and revved the engine to straighten the 72ft long, 14ft wide boat up and back into the Channel. In the end, in his words “I just went fer it!”. The boats were bumped apart, knocking and banging together knocking each moored boat out of the channel, Derick was cursing for the stupidity of not leaving a “proper” boat channel. I’m sure that if anybody would of come out to complain they would have surely got an earful and been sent back into their boat with their tail between their legs! Round the bend and through the bridge we went, finally reaching Lymm Village. More customers had their coal buckets and diesel tanks filled and then we stopped for a bit of a chat to catch up on the latest news, and of course, gossip.
The days run was over, and it was time to wind to return north along the Bridgewater using the winding hole just through the village in Statham, near the Star Inn. It was a quick run back really, which we managed in good time due to not having to stop. A pint of beer and a packet of crisps gave us something to look forward to when we returned and with the hope of being given the chance to go on another run, I was happy.
As it turns out, I did get many more chances to crew with Derick, through the summer as well as the winter but, as usually happens, with time and circumstances, things change but I am sure I’ll get the chance again, and I’ll love it just as much, I’m sure.
