captain birdseye

Scholar Green between the T&M and the Macclesfield used to have two

Ashton Canal to the Huddersfield Narrow. The junction is at the wharf below lock 1 West the Ashton canal continuing beyond it's junction with the Lower Peak Forest at Dukinfield Junction

Simple question, what is Coventry Basin like for mooring overnight whilst visiting the city

Or go across the branch and up to Audlem, Winding below the locks

Our house is about half an hours drive from our mooring, near enough that we can pop over Friday afternoon and even in the winter months potter round to a pub in another forty minutes and get away from it all for a weekend. We find it good that when we go to the boat we are away from home, even if we are fettling we are out on our boat not at home which we decided would be the thing if we moored near home, i.e. we would go do the job and go back home, as it is we go do the job and then cruise off somewhere for the evening, we are however close enough to do this any day we are free.

I went to a talk by Jay from RCR about engine maintenance and electrics, he was a very knowledgeable bloke and was good at answering questions and explaining things. If the courses they run are as good it should cover the OPs requirements.

Anti clockwise, first night stop at Wheelock. clockwise first night stop at Anderton or the Salt Barge. My preference would be anti clockwise. Coming down the Ashton taking water with you, also if you are running late you can have a long day motoring along the Bridgewater or T&M. Don't forget to take your time going up Cheshire locks, they can throw the boat about a bit until you work them out.

We have an engine room and back cabin, the engine room is great for drying coats etc. and also for storing all things engine related along with brushes, mops bucket and so on, so a good use of room, the engine is also a good radiator after it has been running all day, if it's too hot we just leave the engine room doors open. You also see the engine all the time so keep it clean, and notice any pipes or covers working loose before they cause problems, and they are easier to work on. The children took over the back cabin, one in the cross bed and one in the side bed, the table cupboard housing toys etc, it has become their little house. All in all a great move from a boat with a cruiser stern.

By a few I mean enough, not too much Chris

So long as its OK while I'm at the pub for a few i'll be fine at Windmill End

Cheers, I thought so but was just wondering how quiet it is there for leaving the boat all evening. Is the chippy down the road from there still open, its years since I was last around that area but am passing through next weekend

Simple question, what's the best place to stop overnight for a session in Ma Pardoes

And Moor in the car park at Tesco in Stalybridge

At least you only had to do the run out of Manchester once, Me and Mac had to go back and do it all again, and it was just as hard long a day . It was very nice to meet you and I am glad you got over the hill in one piece, I hope you get back home soon

Just because I was passing today, here are a couple of pictures of the "Nash"

Marple is open and so is Bosley as of Yesterday

One o the worse things I have ever had on the prop was a few years ago during the Foot and Mouth outbreak. On the Huddersfield Narrow there were Carpets at both ends of each Lock which were soaked in disinfectant. The idea being you stepped into them if you left the lockside and so didn't transfer any disease between locations. They were staked down but somebody had thrown one into the canal. not only difficult to get through the weed hatch but very smelly, I was covered in the disinfectant by the time I had finished with it.

Apart from the rubber fender we got round the prop in the sixth lock of the year, (lock 7 Bosley) people that boat with fenders down through narrow locks should thrown off the cut. the next biggie was a C&RT special, one of the eco bank protection jobbies made out of a net filled with coir or some such material, and no it didn't come up the weed hatch but with a lot of cutting and pulling with a boat hook from the bank we got it off

We have never had trouble with Daphne or Spey anywhere apart from Marple. Have a natter with Bob or Ian Mac on Daphne. Alton and Bargus regularly travel these areas with little or no problem

For how long this time , last year they managed a couple of weeks

Was still on the Caldon last year with same owner alongside One of the Cowburn & Cowper boats, is it Skylark. I will have a look next week as I go past

BilgePump, yes it was nice chatting to you on Friday over a pint as we waited for water, funny where you bump into people. BillH and Alan, i'll see you Monday morning. Mac is starting at the top and hunting for water and will let me know how levels are and I'll meet the convoy at Piccadilly just after half seven. See you all in the morning

Lemon Juice is good for loosening hard grime, Autosolve is also good. I use it to get the worse off and then go over with Peeks which gives a better shine than autosolve. Barkepers friend powder with a bit of water or lemon juice is also very good

try the Caldon hiring from black prince. Pretty canal once the first half day is over not too many locks and has the advantages of a steam train to ride on checkhttps://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/calendar that has lots of activities over the holidays and also waterworld at Stoke https://www.waterworld.co.uk/ for the children to play in. We have children that are now 11 and 14 and it is one of their favourite trips. We are doing it again at Spring half term

As above there is a regular service to Stafford Stoke and Birmingham. Fat more pleasant