StarUKKiwi

We are moored up next to the maintenance unit for CRT - they haven't anything in that yard thta remotely looks like a mile post!

We have bought a Springer - she is a middle aged lady (like me) but in good condition & I hope we will get many years from her - she is 52 foot long, so big enough for the two of us & 2 dogs

We have just done it - we brought Gracie up from Waverton, up the Shropshire, onto Middlewich and did the Cheshire Ring in reverse to Macclesfield - the Rochdale 9 were everything everyone says - the gates were awful, but we managed - we moored overnight in Piccadilly Basin and if I moored there again, I would moor up as you come out of the lock to make it easier to turn right onto the Ashton; or turn right and morr up in the small basin there. The Ashton Flight was OK, you have to watch the bottom gates though - some tend to open up again, so if you can hld them shut and get the top paddle open it's easier - we moored in Portland basin (ASDA just over the road) the bridges are mighty low so take your Chinese hat off beforehand! I can recommend teh 16 locks in Marple, stay in the left hand channel or you'll get stuck like we did! Other than that, if you have time moor up at Posset Bridge (Lock 12) and you are right next to the shops and if course Bugsworth Basin at the top of the Peak Forest is a must!

Thanks you guys for helping us in Marple Locks last week - glad to have your details when we're cruising

it was daunting for me and I had OH and a helper on the day! I don't know how you'd do those locks single handed - all credit to her - Portland basin was pretty

Oh yes, the dogs! Actually OH is originally from Marple, but yes, that was us - I think it was a dare - they had been shouting all night & we ignored them

That is one legend trip Ian Mac We did the Rochdale Nine on the Friday of Gay Pride - we had a helper (thank goodness) and made it up into Piccadilly Basin OK; (didn't need an access key) OH comment when he saw the lock from Castlefield Basin, was "It must be broken (AS water poured over the top) and we'll never open the gates - Fortunately, a couple coming down had their grandson with them and he opened one gate on his own - unimpressed with Piccadilly Basin as a drunk idiot tried to cast us off at 4am - he'd got the centre line untied (I'd had time to get dressed) and was in the process of untying the stern rope when I came out and asked him what he thought he was doing to our boat - at which point he said he was undoing her for a laugh, I did tell him to go forth and multiply and he ran off into the adjacent flats a bit shamefaced - we got our own back at 6.30am when we went off up the Ashton & the two boats opposite carried on up the Rochdale.and I let our two Labradors have a play before we left - Telford basin at the bottom of the Ashton would be my choice in the future

That reassures me - ours are 13 and OH quite worried with how they'll cope! I keep saying they'll be fine

ROFLMAO

We are hoping to move to Nantwich eventually; but wanted to try Macclesfield out first as I work in Stockport and it's on a mainline to London when I have to go down there for meetings.

What they said - we are moving aboard ours on Friday and plan to do half the Cheeshire Ring to get her from where she is moored now to Macclesfield - Kevin at Macclesfield Marina (Google Freedom Boats) has residential moorings coming up and is about a 5 min walk to the Mainline train Station. If you e-mail him, he can give you prices - apparently there might also be moorings on the Bridgewater - Dean may know if there are any in the centre of Manchester at new islington

Fascinating - do they have an equivalent in Cheshire does anyone know - I have discovered my great-grandfather, on my Grandmother's side) was born on a narrowboat - he was called Josiah Preston and apparently his father had a fleet of narrowboats that went between Stoke and Middlewich (as far as I can tell) but I don't have nay boat names

Thanks for all the advice - I think I know what to do now! Buy a charger for the Dell - I have a 12 volt for the phone & buy a washing machine when we moor up and have landline power and then work out which is the best solution when we have the Solar Panels fitted (and I am a bit more knowledgeable!

IMHO; I would go for the Springer and get Cratch cover on - Gracie is a Springer - well cared for - as others have said - when you walk on-board and the boat wraps itself around you, you'll know

I can't see it would be "free" in that sense as you'd be paying a higher licence fee? In theory, it sounds good; but proposals often get washed away in the doing

Thanks for all the replies - we are getting solar panels fitted as well but until we do and work out exactly what we want; I wanted something for when we are cruising - we have a residential mooring in MAcclesfield, so hookup when we're there - it's the next fortnight when we are getting there and updating blog etc I wondered about

We follow Dan Brown and Sort of Interesting as well - his book is good and what he managed to realise in his 20's and make true - we are now at 5 days and counting to Gracie

I do have a Dell laptop - obviously this makes a difference? We are buying a second one for on the boat and are looking at Toshiba - we are planning on getting a small twin tub washing machine, so will need something to power that - unless anyone knows of a 12 volt washing machine?

Can someone advise? We move onto Gracie at the end of the week and are cruising for a fortnight anti-clockwise - she is a 1978 boat and so works on 12 volt lighting and has gas fridge etc. this is fine for us; however, we do have two laptops, a Blackberry and a mobile to charge - I have a car charger for the BB, and phone; but wonder what is the best inverter to buy - because time is now limited, i have checked Halfords (I live near Broadheath Bridge #30 on the Bridgewater) and see they sell inverters - my question is are they any good and can anyone suggest elsewhere. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_183975_langId_-1_categoryId_255206 http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_242529_langId_-1_categoryId_255206 There is also a Maplins adjacent to Oxford Road Bridge in Manchester http://www.maplin.co.uk/600w-12v-inverter-48724 I am unsure on which is the best - please be nice!

what we thought - I saw a post on here about having a piece of paper & pen by the door, together with a bin - you write down all the things you should have brought and put in the bin all the things you didn't need; then swap when visiting family! An excellent idea (I just hope the bin isn't overflowing!) Exactly - debt free - no utility bills to pay! (well apart from Council tax as we have residential mooring)

Good survey but if doing one for the VM Instead of open questions - make more that people can respond to and thus makes it easier to analyse

Always follow the money and findout who benefits - you won't go far wrong!

Thanks all - it is G-minus 8 - I finish next Wednesday for 2 & a bit weeks so we cruise (I think baptism of fire would be the term!) Our first holiday in 6 years and a new home to boot!

We have exchanged contracts on our house and complete a week on Friday - then we move onto Gracie and sail her from her current moorings anticlockwise round the Cheshire Ring to Macclesfield, where we have found our residential moorings - we are "officially excited" We have a blog - (link thingy below) that we have named after our boat Gracie - so looking forward to the next phase of our lives