captain birdseye

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

This is why I use cheap carabinas and carry a few spares, they are easy to snap on

First night stop out at Moore at the Red Lion and then travel into Castlefield the next day. I would try and get up the Nine wide locks and the Ashton flight in one day and moor out at Ashton just round the junction on the Peak Forest. It is only an extra hour fro Droylsden and a far nicer spot to stop. Remember to take time to go up the upper peak to Bugsworth it's worth the few hours boating and a good place to stop. You can easily get to Bollington the next day an Congleton the day after from there. I would also recommend a stop at Little Morton Hall down anear the bottom of the Macclesfield, I'm sure somebody will be on in a minute to tell me the bridge number, its a very well preserved Tudor hall. Last night of the trip either stop at the Salt Barge at Lion Salt Works or go past the Marina and stop at the boat lift, you can turn round here and it would give you time to explore this unique structure and there is always the Stanley Arms for a meal and a beer.

friends pop up stall at Bugsworth on Saturday when we were there and at Bollington on Sunday when we passed through. Both had volunteers chatting to the people walking and cycling along the towpath

Earlier horse boats tended to be sleeker as Maximum carrying capacity wasn't such a concern in the early days. Horse boats definitely accelerate faster than motors, as when the horse leans onto the pull the rope tensions providing instant acceleration and then the horse walks on.

Like this

Just cheap Krabs not the screw type, only lost a couple when the button on the bow has got caught and they gave out under the strain. So they do work as a weak link. They also make hanging the fender and adjusting the length of chain a doddle, far easier than a shackle

I use carabinas, easy to snap on and off and essentially an open link so release when under too much strain

we moor at Furness Vale which is a nice pleasant place to be, and an easy drive for you from Glossop. We live towards Mottram and pop over broadbottom to the Chinley road and then through Hayfield to New Mills doesn't take long. Also you have the advantage of easy trips to Bugsworth, Marple, Poynton and Bollington if you fancy a night out for a pint and a meal. Incidentally our boat draws over two feet and we have very little trouble apart from slowing down for a few bridge holes as previously described

There's always time for a lunchtime pint, it's about four hours from Lymm to Castlefield

Have you got the Lymm Brewery Tap on your list, try the Dunham Dark a mild brewed to the legendary Chesters mild recipe Anyhow, it's a sunny day I'm off for a poter round to Bugsworth and a bit of a crawl followed by the Vale on Saturday and back to the Oldknow on Sunday

Also don't forget the Vale Inn in Bollington it's Bollington Brewery's tap, and the Samuel Oldknow in Marple has great beer and pork pies and its a five minute walk from the ring o bells

If you moor at Bugsworth and fancy a change with good beer, walk up the lane beyond the Navigations car park for about ten minutes and you come out at the Old Hall and Papermill both sell a great range of beer and do good food, and they walk back to the Navi before dark to finish off the evening on another six real ales

Yes, I agree if you like a decent pint Stone is a great stop. With Limestone's brewery tap(The Bore Hole) , a Titanic pub (The Royal Exchange) and the Swan at the bottom of the locks (if you are a member, don't forget to ask for CAMRA discount) and it's a good place to shop

The Bridgewater is deep so you can get a move on along it. Lymm is a good place for a night, try the brewery tap just near the little aqueduct in the village. The bakery in the middle of the village does great pies and pastries. Dumham Massey about an hour nearer Manchester is an interesting National Trust park and hall to visit. I'd go for a trip into Liverpool if time isn't a problem, we were going to go last year but were thwarted by stoppages. I'd personally come back via the Huddersfield as there is less grot, but the Rochdale route also gives you the Ashton delights. The Peak Forest is my home canal so I know it well, it and the Macc are a bit shallow but you shouldn't have too much trouble, remember a loaded fuel boat does the route every odd week and so keeps a reasonable channel. Bugsworth is well worth a visit with three decent pubs within a short walk(if you are into beer). Marple is a great little town. My other favourite stop is Bollington, head for the Vale Inn (Bollington Brewery's Tap) across the cricket field from the embankment. Little Morton Hall, down the bottom of the Macc is a short walk from the canal and well worth it. There are lots of good places to see and its a nice canal take your time and enjoy it.