Onward and upwards.

At Barton Locks we had the usual cheerful chat with the two blokes on duty. The whole thing seems to work just like the Goole Docks I was used to, where the controls are not in air conditioned control cabins, as they would be today, but everything is outside and operated by big steel levers and brass handles and the like. Very satisfying I'm sure.

Like a lot of 'normal' canal locks the gate didn't shut properly until the water was let in. The top four locks are much deep than when we entered at Eastham, but of course that depends on the river levels.

You may think with such a big lock that the flow would be wicked and the boat would struggle to stay alongside. In fact I think they only opened the same side paddles and we stayed on the side quite easily. We developed the technique of them taking up a rope from for'd and they made it fast on the side as here in Barton Lock. I would try to position the boat so that the rope was more or less up and down when Helen made it fast. I then just steamed ahead into it as a spring and used the tiller to keep the stern in. s the water came up we moved ahead a little more. When we were near the top we could let go and leave the side ready to exit the lock quite easily.

A we left Barton Lock you come to the M63 Motorway Bridge and behind it a newer one still.

The Barton Lift Bridge was only opened in December last year after many delays due to the 500 tonne road bed collapsing in May 2017. It is a dual carriageway bridge built to relieve pressure on the local road systems. It is jointly funded by Peel Holdings (MSC), and Salford and Trafford Councils. Although it says it is open there didn't seem to be much traffic. This may be to do with the fact there is some 'discussion' about how to pay for the ongoing maintenance etc. Is this going to be a toll bridge? If so I hope they make a better fist of organising it than they did at the New Runcorn Bridge.

The two other bridges at Barton are older, and perhaps better known. The closer is the Barton Road Swing Bridge. It was opened at the same time as the MSC in 1894. It was in trouble in the past for causing great delays if it opened during peak times for the workers going to and from the world's largest industrial estate on the right bank, Trafford Park. The Canal Co had to agree to not open the bridge during the peak periods, if possible. It was hit by a ship in 1948

Right next to the road bridge is the Barton Swing Aqueduct that may be familiar to canal users on the Bridgewater on the way to Wigan. It is a wonder of Victorian engineering. It was also built at the same time as the canla and was opened in 1894. Both were built by Sir Edward Leader Williams and are both Grade II* listed.

Before getting to the last lock of the day we passed Cerestar's Berth. This is part of the Cargill Company. It was converted to process wheat in 2007 from using imported maize. The cost of wheat became 20% cheaper. The wheat all comes from the UK and is mainly from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire. The products are used to create sweeteners and other products for the food industry. The wheat comes via road but also by ship, via the canal.

The last lock on the Ship Canal are the Mode Wheel Locks. Previously the Mersey and Irwell Navigation ran through here before the Ship Canal and there was a water powere corn mill on the site of the locks. It was called Maud's Wheel and this became Mode Wheel over time. They raise the canal up 13 feet. It was seven hours since leaving Eastham lock that we pulled into Mode Wheel Lock and the end was nigh.

Salford Docks have become the site of the Media City with BBC and ITV having studios and production facilities. This would be the reason for the array of satellite dishes to transmit productions around the world.

Next to the antennas are the new studios for the making of Coronation Street. You can see some of the facades from the water. Previously they had been near the Museum just near Castlefield Basin.

The next bridge is the Media City footbridge that connects the two banks, and the Imperial War Museum, North. After that is the Lowery Lift bridge is outside the Lowery Museum and Outlet Centre. There seems to be a lot to do round here which may be useful.

I was taken by the light on this bronze glassed building.

We are there. That is 6 minutes short of 10 hours since leaving our pontoon at Sathouse Dock in Liverpool, and a long held wish has been fulfilled. Thanks to Helen and Amy who indulged me, and hopefully enjoyed the experience.