We left our overnight mooring around 11 this morning after Brian from NB Alton delivered some coal and diesel by road to us. He's a fantastic bloke - a true working boater!
Didn't take us long to get to the northern portal of Harecastle Tunnel but first we had to cross the Trent & Mersey on the Macclesfield
Its a sharp right turn from the Macc onto the Trent & Mersey and Smiffy did it perfectly!
And as you can see the water is full of iron! This is the bridge that
Bosley Flight this morning in winds gusting up to 25 mph! Still we're through now
This hill is called The Cloud
Looking forwards on the Macc
Scenery.............
Tomorrow - the Harecastle Tunnel all being well and we arrive in time to go through.
We set off this morning in good time to reach and descend the Bosley Flight. Weather was very chilly and blustery.
The wind started to become a problem around 11am. Twice it blew us to the side and twice we were grounded. When we got to the summit there were some people form CRT here effecting repairs to vandalised services. There was also a volunteer lock keeper here who advised us that we would at 60 foot be better mooring up for the night and seeing if the winds dropped in the
Its been a glorious day today, sunshine and blue skies. Its also been very much a wildlife day well apart from meeting coalboat Alton en-route!
We came across a Muscovey Duck or two
And also these strange ducks...............never seen ducks like this with tufts before
We passed the Hovis Mill in Macclesfield where Freedom Boats are based. Looks like the mill has been converted into apartments now
And since we got here early we found a nice spot to moor fo
Just before we left Whaley Bridge I took this picture. Does anyone know what it is?
Shame this happened to this boat
Flowering about a month late
Marple Junction
Along the Macclesfield Canal
Moored at Higher Poynton for the night.
Woke up to find the upper basin where we moored was iced over and it was blowing a gale.
Washing and cleaning done we have moved around to the other arm at Whaley Bridge. Not that Bugsworth isn't nice it is. The wind was blowing Limestone dust into the boat so we decided that it would be a shrewd move.
Can highly recommend The Fryery chip shop in the village.
Depending on the wind we may or may not make our way back up to Marple tomorrow.
A chilly start to the day but nevertheless a pleasant trip down to Bugsworth Basin.
There is still some snow on the high peaks
And still some on the banks of the canal
Some splendid views along this part of the Upper Peak Forest
Arrived at our mooring for tonight
4 hours 16 locks and a little helper turned up windlass in hand to help us through. Hope it was worth the pint at the end Kevin.................you were a big help.
Lots of gongoozlers once we started to get into Marple. I don't think I've answered the same questions so many times in one day!! But then what goes around comes around..............we used to be exactly the same.
All the locks on the Marple Flight are pretty deep.
The end is in sight!
On
I am happy to report that have finally escaped the suburbs of Manchester and are currently sat waiting to descend Marple Flight tomorrow.
Had to stop part way for Smiffy to remove a huge length of banding that had wrapped itself around the prop and had fun with an oncoming boat on a shallow bend. We both ended up grounded whilst trying to pass each other!
Apart from that the day has been nice if not a little cold.
Woodley Tunnel
Entrance to Hyde Bank Tunnel
Decided to top the diesel tank up and top up with water so reversed back to Portland Marina. Overnight mooring with electric for 6 quid! Yes please!! Everything that needs charging is on charge.....phones, toothbrushes, shaver and camera.............best not waste the opportunity!
And we got in here so we must be able to get out!
We shall be leaving here tomorrow afternoon. Looks like we are set for the Marple flight for Sunday,
OK so washing is boring but seeing as I don't yet have an automatic washing on the boat it was launderette time today.............mind you Johnson's Dry Cleaners offer a washing, dry and fold service wash for a fiver (small bagful) so they got it all!! Won't be ready to collect until Saturday. But we have moored at a nice spot so there's no hurry.
We paid a visit to Portland Basin Museum today............wow free entry! Highly recommend anyone pay a visit if they are in the area. They have r
Been a really long day today so this is only going to be a short entry .............set off from Piccadilly at around 8.30 this morning in the snow. Onto the Ashton where it continued to snow for most of the day.
Pleased this section of the canals is behind us. The Ashton is hard work.........long and arduous. Nowhere nice to moor so you just keep going...................
The nicest thing about today is where we are now moored.................peace and quiet at long last.
Well that was an experience and one we are not likely to repeat in a hurry!! I have never been so cold in my life...............sun, wind snow and then the Rochdale 9!!!
Don't get me wrong Manchester has a landscape all of its own and we don't mind some urban backdrop for a change. We found out today the Kellogg factory has an arm of the canal all of its own though I suspect its not used anymore.
This was one lock we didn't attempt to go through...............who would want to b
Usually I am lucky enough to be a healthy chap only suffering from the usual coughs and colds associated with winter but as the title of this blog entry indicates the 2010/11 winter brought something very different.
Early December 2010 I caught a 'winter cold' which lasted a few days but the symptoms went on for about three weeks. Just when the throat stopped tickling and I could sleep at night without coughing I started to get the occasional dizzy spell. It only lasted a second or two and
Left Bridgewater Marina at Boothstown around 10 a.m. and made our way to the Barton Aqueduct, passing through Worsley on the way. Some very pretty buildings in Worsley including this one:
And the water was this colour:
Lorenz Canal Services cleaning the Bridgewater Canal in Water Womble
Crossing the Manchester Ship Canal - Barton Road Bridge
It was extremely windy going over the Aqueduct! Islonian didn't come away unscathed either. We lost a fender a
Still sat here ever optimistic that the weather is going to improve. We find out tomorrow if the aqueduct is open. If we can just get to the other side of Manchester..............................
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