Catch Up Time

Apologies to all you Blogerites out there for us not updating the site recently. We have been enjoying ourselves too much!

Friday 4 July

After tackling the 12 Bosely locks yesterday it was a lock free run for the rest of the route to the end of the Macclesfield canal. We passed through Marple that was the limit of our last trip on the Mac with our previous boat.

A typical mill on the Mac

We then joined the Peak Forest canal that presented us with some stunning scenery.

 

And some obstacles!

Along the way we spotted a fender maker so stopped and got him to make us a replacement 'Monkey's Fist' that is used to prevent damage to the rudder post when the stern hatch is lifted. The existing one has been on for four years and had become a little jaded.

The new one

 

 

We decided to moor at Bugsworth Basin tonight as we were told that Whaley Bridge was a bit dark and noisy. A good choice as the basin has been lovingly restored from the time it was abandoned after 100 years of producing burnt lime. It was a vital raw material for building, farming and the booming textile and tanning industries. It is split into the lower, middle and upper basins. We chose the upper basin as there is no thoroughfare for Gongoozelers here!

No TV signal here to watch the quarter finals so it was into the Navigation that is just behing our berth. We also eat there as it was too wet to walk through the woods to the recommended The Old Hall Inn.

Saturday 5 July

This morning we explored the basin and then walked along the canal to Whaley Bridge.

Enjoying a coffee looking out onto the railway station, the Jodrell Arms and a public loo!

 

We had seen numerous notices for Well Dressings along the Mac and stumbled across one in the village. It is a typical Peak District tradition that the church took over from the Pagans who believed that wells were sacred. They are mostly made from pebbles and leaves and each year a different theme is chosen. This year is to commemorate the First Word War.

 



 

Lunchtime we walked up to the Old Hall Inn and enjoyed a fabulous shared ploughman's lunch Baxter's bitter. This pub is a must for anyone visiting the area, well worth the walk.

After leaving Bugsworth it was back to Marple where we walked down the whole flight of 16 locks to the aqueduct.

We have since learnt that the flight of Ashton  locks are closed for at least two weeks due to the tail gate of lock 10 being damaged. There were no signs anywhere warning users of the Marple flight of the problem that would preclude them travelling the Cheshire ring!

Sunday 6 July

This morning we welcomed aboard Sarah and the two Grandchildren Joe and Martha from nearby Manchester complete with their brightly coloured lifejackets. They have been excited all week about the prospect of coming onto a barge. Off we set with a suitable supply of bread in order to feed the ducks along the way.

The famous Goyt mill at Marple

 

We stopped at Higher Poynton in order to visit the Anson Motor Museum houses a unique collection of over 250 gas and oil engines, many maintained in running order. Take a look.

 

What a crankshaft!

 

An up to date Bentley 12 cylinder 6Ltr engine

A working forge

Making a wrought iron shaft

James joined us later to take in a delightful meal in the garden of the Windmill at Lyme Green.

 

Thanks crew!

 

Monday 7 July

Today was a day for retracing our tracks back down the lower part of the Macclesfield canal.

 

A Turnover bridge

 

We wanted to revisit the National Trust's Little Moreton Hall but sadly it does not open until Wednesday so we humped across the farmer's fields just to take a look from the outside. It is one of England's most celebrated half-timbered houses.

 

Tonight we are moored at the foot of Ramsdell Hall the present owner being Peter Coates, a 'Potteries boy made good' and currently chairman of Stoke City Football Club.

Mow Cop

Wednesday 2 July

So, it was out with the Bromptons to push them slowly up the 25% gradient hill up to the Mow Cop that is 1100ft above sea level. Here are three things about Mow Cop.
1. On the top is an imitation ruin built in 1754 by the wealthy Wilbraham.
2. It was here that the Primitive Methodists held their first meeting in 1807.
3. In 1990 a young taxi driver was murdered three days before Christmas. Only recently has a suspect been questioned by the police.

Wonderful views of the Cheshire Plain

And back down again!

After a quick break

After lunch we motored on to moor up opposite a farm and a herd of the farmer's cows and then walked up to the Robin Hood pub to enjoy the views of the 1126ft precipitous Cloud, that can be seen for miles around, and then for a very nice pie.

Thursday 3 July

A mile down the cut are the Bosley Twelve the only locks on the Mac apart from Hall Green stop lock. A rapid ascent was made in one and three quarter hours although they had double lock gates that made for some interesting manoeuvres in order to close them when exiting.

 

The Hovis Mill at Macclesfield built in the 1820s

 

A Turnover Bridge

Adelphi Silk Mill

We moored today at Bollington the epitome of a northern mill town - at one time there were no less than 13 mills engaged in cotton production; just a handful survive today converted for residential, light industry and retail use.
After stocking up with provisions at the local butcher and the Co-op, we embarked on the long climb up to  the 18ft high Grade II listed monument, 'White Nancy'. It was built around 1815 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. Again fine views from the top where we could see Manchester, the Jodrell Bank Observatory and as far away as the Welsh hills to the West. Well worth the climb.

Don't mess with me!!

A typical Bollington street

So far we have had three weeks of fine weather but tomorrow we are expecting wind and rain!

Heading to the Macclesfield Canal

We made our way into Stoke on Trent amidst a crystal clear blue sky this morning past this huge factory. Not sure what it is though!

Alongside

Stoke on Trent was once the centre of the pottery industry in this country and to some extent, still is. In its hay day there were some 2000 bottle kilns in the area but sadly today, only 47 remain.

At the top of the Stoke flight of locks is Etruria Junction of the Trent and Mersey and Caldon canals. Here is housed  the Etruria Industrial Museum and Heritage Centre on a seven acre site. Jessie Shirley;s bone and flint mill is a scheduled ancient monument that was opened in 1857 and is the only remaining steam driven potters mill in the world! The 1820's Boulton and Watt steam engine is firedup on occasions to work the machinery in the mill to produce bone china.

Times in the past when we have motored through Middleport, it has not been convenient to stop and have a look at the pottery there. Today we did. What a fascinating place it is to visit. Guides take through all the traditional processes that were used and indeed, today it is still a thriving pottery. Although it was open today it was not functioning as it is "Potter Fortnight" in Stoke at the moment and all the workers are on holiday.

Dianne taking an order on the ancient telephone!

Our boat through the potter's window

In order to get up onto the Macclesfield canal we had to pass through the 2926 yard (1.7 mile) long tunnel. There are no air shafts leading up to the surface in this tunnel so as soon as you enter the southern portal, the doors are closed behind you and a ginormous fan is set in motion in order to extract the engine exhaust fumes.

 

One of the many drains.

The colour is caused by the local ironstone strata.

 

Stalactites on the roof 

 

Has he lost his boat?

Spotted 475yds from the exit

The North portal showing the colour of the water

 

On entering the Macclesfield canal at Hardings Wood junction we had to cross the Trent and Mersey canal high up on an aqueduct.

Almost immediately we encountered a Canadian family in trouble with their hire boat. The rudder post had come out of its lower socket rendering the boat unsteerable. Keith hopped on board and sorted and also pointed out that the holding down screw on the weed hatch was stripped and was not doing its job. He advised them to contact the hire company and they simply said that if you can steer and there is no water coming in, then continue with your holiday! Not good advice I think.
Tonight we are moored in yet another peaceful spot ready for the cycle climb up to Mow Cop in the morning.