Chris T

Thank you for your comments. A few boats in our marina have a similar set up to yours (although permanently attached) but the cratch makes this seem more complicated. Yes, Harecastle will be the most used tunnel for us and although our cratch isn't as high as many, I was thinking I could have the bracket to which the light is attached dropped down from the top of the cratch board so that it isn't the highest point. I appreciate that it is difficult to explain clearly/ envisage, I will post some photos when I have worked out how to reduce the file size. Thanks.

I'm trying to avoid drilling holes into our new cratch to fit the tunnel light and wondering if we can get / make a bracket that fits over the top of the cratch frame (unclipping the cover at the top) to temporarily hold the light when going through tunnels. This isn't likely to be frequently, so the light could be stored away when not in use and attached with a terminal block or bullet connectors when needed. Has anyone done anything similar or have other suggestions?

I think this is the first time we haven't been able to stop at all. Not a big deal for us today, but will make it difficult for people wanting to use the locks, and makes Bosley appear the easier option with nowhere else to go once you are near the locks. Of course this depends on how many are actually wanting to use Marple locks in the morning, it may be very quiet.

For anyone planning to go down Marple locks in the morning, we were going to stop there this afternoon for shopping but couldn't find anywhere to moor. Plenty of boats were facing away from the locks so assume they are not 'queuing' but even the lock landing had a boat on it (also facing away from the locks).

The Upper Peak Forest lift bridges didn't like one of our keys today that came from a canalside chandlers, so wondered if that was also an 'ebay' one, sold at 'genuine' price. Our old ones say BW on them but I'm not sure how you know which is a genuine one now. Haggis - I'm pleased to hear that you got back down the locks today and with assistance. We must have passed somewhere yesterday but I didn't see you.

We inherited the dodgy one doing a swap with another boater, I hadn't even realised that there was a difference until I read it on this forum. We do have proper ones.

We saw at least half a dozen assisting there today (some more clued up than others), so hopefully Monday will be similar, being a bank holiday. Perhaps if you're at the top for opening time, you can ask for help before they head off down the flight with other boats. Hope you have enjoyed this stretch. I will keep a look out for you tomorrow as we should pass again.

We have to be home earlier than expected so came back up Bosley locks today. About 9 boats moored at the bottom overnight, only 2 of which seemed to be in a rush, everyone else was very polite and orderly. We entered the flight at 9 and met the first boat coming down at lock 11 surprisingly. He said he'd been sat in the top lock since 8.15 waiting for them to open up. I think around 16 boats went down, the last arriving close to 1pm, so it was busy pretty much the whole time, although definitely doable. I'm not sure how 2 days a week will be in the summer months though. Signs now in place telling people where to moor overnight and not to head for the top lock until 8.30 am. There are loads more mooring places than I remember at the top. Recalling another thread, our eBay 'waterways' key wouldn't work in bridge 49 (fools nook), only a proper BW / CRT one.

No signs in place as yet, well, none on this subject anyway, plenty of others of course. We arrived at the top lock around 9.45 today, nothing waiting to go down so I had worried for nothing and we were straight in. Met the first boat coming up soon after and others at most locks so it was a good trip, and there was more mooring space above the permanent moorings than I remember. Only saw one lockie/volockie on the whole flight, although bizarrely Richard Parry was manning locks 11 and 12. Hubby had a brief chat, reported the leaky paddle at lock 7 and had a bit of a grumble about restrictions. RP didn't seem to be aware of the Harecastle restrictions. I did see Haggis at lock 12 and had a nice chat as we decended. I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip on the Macc.

Hopefully!

Since we moored up, 7 boats have passed us, plus the one that was in front of us as we moored. So we will definitely not be getting up early for the 8.30 opening of the locks.

Thanks for the info. We have just moored near Dane Moss swing bridge in case there is no room above the permanent moorings and will probably do the same in the morning and give it an hour or so to get boats moving. Hoping today's rain may have put some people off.

Had you / they been waiting since the locks opened that morning? Or arrived part way through the morning (which had been my plan to avoid a bottleneck first thing). If the former, that's not very encouraging.

We may brave Bosley this week, while we are still able to. I will report back if we do.

I don't know if it's likely that it could be so busy with boats queuing that it wasn't possible to get through the locks on the day at all (perhaps a North Cheshire Cruising Club trip out) or nowhere to moor to wait. Marple has options to turn and potter about for a few days, but at Bosley you'd have to reverse some way to the nearest winding hole, it's a bit far to send someone ahead to see what's going on at the top lock.

Hello all, We sometimes go to see bands at Eleven in Stoke and have noticed that it's very close to the Southern end of Harecastle Tunnel. Would this be a safe place to leave the boat for maybe 4 / 5 hours in the evening? Or similar question about Westport Lake? We've moored at both locations many times but never left the boat unattended. Taking our own b+b will be much cheaper than the Travelodge if so. Thanks

Lyme View Marina have posted a CRT notice on their Facebook page saying that the Marple services are now closed for a year for a 'development'.

CRT have just sent an email clarifying the stoppage, which is as you said, the upper basin only.😚 sorry I can't seem to remove that little face. New phone, the previous one coincidentally being in the bottom of Bugsworth Basin.

Ooh, that's great news, I just read the bit about boats being out of the basin and assumed. Thank you!

Long closure for Bugsworth Basin coming up. https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/10513099/canalrivertrust.org.uk?p=eyJzIjoiOThucGNBTW5ucnRJYTJNN2t2bXQ2S2czUlRjIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjoxMDUxMzA5OSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2NhbmFscml2ZXJ0cnVzdC5vcmcudWtcXFwvbm90aWNlXFxcLzIwMzY4XFxcL2J1Z3N3b3J0aC1jYW5hbC1iYXNpbi1icmlkZ2UtNjEtY2hpbmxleS1yb2FkLWJyaWRnZVwiLFwiaWRcIjpcImY1N2Y2NjVkZDMzMzQ1NmVhYzZhMDcyYjNkYzcwYzZjXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiMDZiODNhZWUyNzUxYTY4N2VlMTMzNWEyZjJlYWJhN2M3YjU2NjZhNFwiXX0ifQ

Hello, I've read the suggestion to use Milton or thin bleach in water tanks several times before and always wondered how you would flush it through without (dilute) bleach ending up in the cut?

Update on 26/05/2021: We are pleased to advise navigation has now resumed between Bridge 38, Black Road Bridge and Bridge 39, Hollands Bridge on the Macclesfield Canal following a successful testing period. The towpath will remain closed to complete further works. We politely request all customers to navigate through the area with care and to listen to any advice that may be given by the team onsite. A further update will be provided Friday 11 June. Update on 19/05/2021: Works onsite to repair the failed culvert between Bridge 38, Black Road Bridge and Bridge 39, Hollands Bridge on the Macclesfield Canal are progressing well, with a view to re-water the section over the weekend. Testing will be completed early next week and we are hopeful to resume navigation in time for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May. A further update will be provided on Wednesday 26 May

For curtains over our portholes, I bought brass coloured plastic rods for a few pounds. I really don't notice the difference day to day and of course they never need polishing. They may look more obviously 'fake' on the larger windows.

While hubby is away emptying the cassette, thought I'd have a quick wee.... Sadly I've done that more than once too.

The tank was cleaned out and painted a couple of years ago so hoping a clean out will do the trick.