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What not to do with a hose!

Wednesday 1st August - Pierpoint locks to Church Minshull   Today also could have been called ‘Canal blockage’, or ‘Ruffled Feathers and 2yr old behaviour’. A long day seems to bring more interesting events. 19 locks completed today, not a day to repeat too often – hard work and this is supposed to be a leisurely pursuit! Who are we kidding?   After casting off at 7am, we watered up at Wheelock around 11am. I blithely stick the nozzle of the hose in the brass waterpoint on the boat, and sta
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OUCH!

Thursday 2nd August – Church Minshull to Swanley Bridge   Final day of the EPIC journey, we awoke to more sunshine.. wow, can’t believe it.. both the sun and the end of what’s been a brilliant summer of travel.   Setting off at 8.15 with a mere 6 locks ahead, although advised by Dale and Kathy that it would probably take about 6hrs, we knew we were on schedule to achieve our aim to arrive in time to sort things out in order to travel the following day down to Cornwall.   We know where th
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This is Mint!

Tuesday 31st July Congleton to Hassall Green   Shopping called for first thing – so we didn’t get going till 11am, but that allowed the sun to warm us up a bit first. We were really appreciating the warmth. Travelling down the Macclesfield we were again loving this part of the countryside with the Friesian cows in the fields, farmers tedding hay, and gathering in the silage. If we can get a mooring here on the Macclesfield, that would be heaven.   Down at the aqueduct on the end of the Mac
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Preparations and on the move

16th to 30th July   This last week, we had many phone conversations regarding our plans for the next fortnight, mostly revolving around what the weather was doing – RAIN or NO rain? It had importance because we could either decide to move the boat at a leisurely pace or crack on. This was the last fortnight Lynne has off to join me in order to get the boat to the marina for electric hookup before our long planned for holiday to China, and Lynne’s daughter had expressed a desire for us to jour
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It never rains but it pours!

10th to 21st July Lynne went back to work and left me to take the boat from Lyme Green to Bugsworth Basin to pick her up on Friday 13th July when we had arranged to meet Angie and Steve for a days pootle down the Peak Forest Canal and back. I won't bore you with the journey up other than to say this was the first time I have done lift/swing bridges single handed.   My very first lift bridge on the Peak and all big headed, thought 'hey I am experienced now so this should be a doddle', so I dr
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Never trust a woman's ''it not very far''

Posted by Alex & Linty.   ‘NEVER trust a woman’ – evening of Sat 7th July   Moving back upto what’s become a favourite mooring at Lyme Green (near my mum’s) and experiencing the SHOCK of some SUN!!!… we decided to get the bikes out and take a ride out to Fool’s Nook and just beyond, to the winding hole to see if it really was a 60’ one, and allow us to turn there. (We’d not taken much notice of its actual condition on the way up, and sometimes they get a bit clogged with flag iris and be
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The many uses of a toothbrush?

Posted by Alex & Linty   The many uses of a toothbrush – morning of Sat 7th July   Cleaning teeth? Normally, yes. Using an old one to get into those nooks and crannies when house cleaning?….mmmm yes. Cleaning jewellery? …mm on occasion. Testing a macerator on a toilet? Not usually, but yes it happens.   At least to us. Blundering about in the middle of the night on a necessary visit, AFTER using the loo, and flushing I hasten to add, I knocked a couple of items off the shelf in the bat
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Rain, yet more rain and Marple Locks festival

25th June- 1st July Rain, more rain, downpours and Marple festival - Posted by Linty   We returned to the canal centre through torrential rain, after my daughter's pagan wedding, though flooding on many roads requiring detours before we reached the boat. We didn’t mind too much, we were in no hurry. However, I did contact my neighbour at home to check the house was alright. We were fortunate, more so than some nearby under 3ft of water, as our bungalow is raised up and the ground slopes away
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Lynne's big day

June 9th - 50TH BIRTHDAY.     I know I said I wouldn’t add anymore to the blog until we were both together again for the next 2 weeks but after seeing the pictures of Moreton Hall, well I just had to mention it.   As you can see from the pictures that it was another gorgeous day, the house is quite stunning. It is amazing to see how people lived in the Tudor times and how some of the words we use today are derived from the things they did then. We went on the guided tour so got a lot more
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Macclesfield revisited 2.

1st June   Another cloudless sky, couldn’t ask for more on our next leg up to Bugsworth Basin. Started at 07.30 as its was such a gorgeous day. Peak Forest Canal, what can I say? I thought the Macclesfield Canal was narrow and shallow enough but the Peak is something else! The narrows were narrower and the shallows shallower, it was about now that I wished I had gone for a plastic cruiser. They were steaming away with no problems having such a small draught. We must have got stuck at leas
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Macclesfield revisited

27th to 30th May   On my own on the boat for a few days, so, did a bit of maintenance plus fitted a few more bits and pieces. Beginning to feel like our boat now and not just a new boat that we are on. Not much to report really, as I am just moored up or pootling back and forth between Lyme Green and Macclesfield while waiting for Lynne to return from work.   31st May   Lynne is now back on board and we are moving up to Marple before going up the Peak Forest Canal to Bugsworth Basin. W
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Overtaken by a Canoe!

24th – 26th Macclesfield and environs   Today, 24th, we moved down to Armco moorings by the side of an industrial park, just half an hour from Fools Nook, obtained some oddments for the boat - shoe storage, hose attachment, white spirit, funnel for when we do an engine oil change. Then moved on to the Macclesfield Canal Centre, completing watering up, emptying the cassette toilet, pumpout for the other toilet holding tank, and got rid of trash and recycled glass – wine bottles…… hic! (That w
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A 'normal' day?? WOW!

May 22nd / 23rd - Congleton to Fools Nook VM   POSTED BY LINTY Watched a swan defending his missis and babies against a yappy dog last night. Just too late with the camera to catch that, but did get the family once things calmed down.     The Macclesfield Canal is noted for being narrow – built so it was just wide enough for two boats to pass safely in the centre of the channel. As time passes, though, the margins become overgrown with weed, and encroach on this channel   - rafts o
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Bovine encounters of the muddy kind.

Monday 21st May. Bovine encounters of the muddy kind.   After a brilliant visit with 'Muppet' and Sue - old Royal Navy Friends - who looked after us royally while we were here. Lynne being dropped off and collected at the bus station and us also ferrying us both around - a big thank you!   Lynne arrived back today after being dropped off by 'Muppet' at 10.45 grinning from ear to ear as she walked down the towpath to meet me, a true Cheshire Cat! After a suitable greeting we got down to w
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Never, never mock other people getting wet!

Week 5 day 2 – Tuesday 15th May – Bridge 138 to Kent Green Never, never mock other people getting wet!   We were up early 6.30 so that we could top up with fuel/coal/logs from Ivor and still get off at a reasonable time as we needed to move to a mooring for me, while Lynne went back home to do her 4 day shifts before returning to the boat. We were hoping to get on to the Macclesfield around Kent Green area as there were facilities just a little bit further on that I could reach easily single
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Unexpected but welcome visitor

Week 5 day 1 – Monday 14th May - Kings Lock to Hassal Green   Got up early so we could go into town to stock up on groceries, found a Tesco express then moved on to Somerfields and finished getting what we needed. Weather not to bad and looks to brighten up later.   Had a good start with the weather improving slowly and completed ~Booth Lane Locks ~ by 10.45 arriving at Wheelock at 11.45. Topped up with water again – I really don’t know where all the water goes because we don’t appear to b
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‘Bloody Fishermen’

Week 4 day 7 – 13th May - Bramble Cutting to Kings Lock. ‘Bloody Fishermen’   The weather although cool was quite bright with the sun breaking through occasionally making the trip to Kings Lock and the various locks a nice relaxing pootle, arriving at Kings Lock quite early.     Once there at the Kings Lock moorings we decided to do the last lock and moor opposite the Pub of the same name. On our exit we found 3 boats already on the Visitor Moorings and the one space left full
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12th May (oh God save me from hire boaters)

Week 4 day 6 – 12th May - Saltersford Tunnel to Bramble Cutting. (oh God save me from hire boaters)   Early start yet again! Up and making tea at 06.15 and ready to go at 7.30, so I like to take it nice and slow – that’s what being retired is all about. Lol. As we had plenty of time we took a quick walk down to the River Weaver and Saltersford Lock. Huge locks, you could get four or perhaps five narrowboats in it side by side. Had to wait until 08.00 for the tunnel as it’s a timed entry.
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Week 4 Day 5 - Lymm to Saltersford/Barnton tunnels

Posted by Linty on Alex's blog -   Friday 11 May – Lymm to Saltersford/Barnton tunnels   The Bridgewater is touted as a lovely canal. That may be so, but for me Worsley stood out, as did Lymm; with the latter fairing better in my opinion – picturesque gorge up the middle provided an evening walk before our Chinese meal. Other than that, the canal was remarkable only for the poor condition of its facilities for boaters unless you are a private moorer.   This morning, setting off at a ci
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week 4 day 4 – 10th May

week 4 day 4 – 10th May - Worsley to Lymm   Another early morning, damn I hate it being light so early! Woke up at 6 am today and this is after laying there for half an hour or so thinking about getting up! So did the right thing and made Lynne a cuppa in bed. Weather dull and overcast with rain forecast for this morning, great. Windy too, but you know, I feel at home with it and no longer worried, hey does that mean I am now an experienced boater?? Lol!   Set off at 8.45 towards Lymm wi
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week 4 day 3 – 9th May

week 4 day 3 – 9th May - Dover Lock to Worsley   leisurely start this morning – 9.10 – decided to just go with the flow and see where we end up. We did want to do some shopping as we were getting low on milk. Best news today, NO LOCKS! Just nice easy cruising, taking in the scenery and enjoying the day. Supposed to be raining this morning and sunny this afternoon but so far its sunny periods and warm this morning, so knowing how our weather goes its probably going to rain this afternoon?
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Week 4 day 2 – 8th May

Week 4 day 2 – 8th May – Red Rock/Wigan Flight & Dover   Intending to do the hard slog of the flight today if possible, we set off for the top lock around 08:30. Wigan lock flight does not have a good reputation as an enjoyable experience, rather one to be endured. I am not surprised.... 21 locks in a day !! It is also recommended to be done early before the Oiks come out of the woodwork. Also to be avoided is weekends and Bank Holidays.   Lynne rang the BW offices as soon as they ope
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Week 4 Day 1 - 7th May Red Rock to Wigan Flight

Bank Holiday Monday 7th May – Wheelton to Wigan (Red Rock Visitor Mooring)   Today was really the first day without any incidents to ‘enhance’ our travelling!   Very leisurely moving along towards Wigan, we planned to find a boatyard for a ‘pump-out’ (empty our loo tank). The light had come on this morning to say we were full up! No warning, just red lighted as full. This is one of the items we argued with the boat builder about, we wanted a gauge and he fitted a tank full indicator. We wan
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Week 3 Day 7 – 5th May

5th May - Saturday Dave & Sue gave brought us back to the boat, as it was getting on we decided to go straight to the pub ‘The Malthouse at Wheelton’– how surprising? Lol – no not for a drink although we did have one just to show willing, it was to have a meal and treat Dave & Sue for being so generous collecting and dropping us off at the boat. They stayed with us overnight Saturday and all being well with the weather we would take them off for a pootle down the canal on Sunday.  
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Week 2 day 5 - 27th April.

Posted by Linty.   Week 2 day 5 – 27th April – Above Rishton Bridge 106 to Classic NB yard at Johnson Hillock Top Lock   A cloudy overcast day, on looking through the blinds from my very comfortable and warm bed. Mmmm not such a nice day as yesterday, and the water was rippling from the strength of the breeze. Not good when we have Blackburn locks ahead of us today.   As before, we were off early at 07:20 and cruised uneventfully along the valley to the outskirts of Blackburn. Already we w
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