Trent & Mersey here we come

Hi gang,

We retrieved our washing this morning,



Then we got on the move again,



With the good captain steering a steady course through some of the Macc's more interesting architecture.





and on into open waters.



We arrived at a VERY narrow, VERY long stop lock. The character of the canal changed from the fine stone bridges and narrow gaps to simple, crude that'll do bridges with nice wide gaps.

We stopped for lunch on an aqueduct over the top of the Trent & Mersey. Before doing the last quarter of a mile to the junction of the two canals. The T&M has nice orange water just like the Bridgewater used to have back at home before they cleaned it up. Interestingly the T&M has pairs of narrow locks side by side, you just use the one that's working for you at the time. We've done six today only twenty two tomorrow. No wonder it's know as " Heartbreak Hill "

Some don't make it !



Only kidding, it's a mile marker.

Service Wash

Hi everybody,

Sorry no pictures today, the web site won't let us post any.

We've made it all the way to Congleton, not bad for a fortnights travelling! and we've found a laundrette too.

Jen tried to get us some tea last night but it gave her the slip, tricky things these spring lambs.

We set off in the morning straight into the tow path rush hour. Four people and five dogs !!!!

We made it to congleton, loaded up the bikes with washing and went off in search of a washing machine. We found one but it's a service wash and won't be ready until the morning so we're stuck here until then. So we made good use of our forced shore leave and did some shopping for provisions.

Then I continued my battle against the engine noise. The stern is or rather was full of gaps that let the engine noise escape. I been finding and plugging them the whole cruise, got serious today and made up some extra panel pieces to plug the larger voids. Flushed with success I stripped, cleaned and re greased the stern tube greaser and realigned the stern gland compression plate. In simple terms I stopped the drip drip water leak around the prop shaft.

So that's us for now, hopefully photos for you all next time.

Wash day

Not gone far today, sailed to and then down Bosley flight of locks.

Another leisurely morning, and off in search of adventure and a washing machine. We seemed to be of great interest to the cows today ????





We arrived at the top of the Bosley flight of twelve locks where there is a convenient way station complete with toilets, showers , laundry, water and waste.

We filled up with water, dumped our rubbish, had a long luxurious shower ( not our water or gas ) but no laundry. You needed a BW payment card which we didn't have. We could get one two days down the line from a BW office. Which just happens to be the weekend, and you guessed it the offices shut on the weekends. Hey who needs clean clothes anyway.

Then we made our way down the flight.



Then we moored up at the bottom on a monumental embankment, or I imagine it's very impressive, you can't see it when you're sat on top of it. It was an early finish today so it gave me time to indulge in my new obsession. Cheese coiling the ropes.





Yes I know it's a bit sad, decorating them with rubber ducks maybe a step too far even for me. The captain runs a tight ship and everything has to be ship shape and Bristol fashion.

Where's Maya ?

HI everybody !!

Sorry it's been a while, communication black spot. Sheep don't need mobile broadband coverage.

Where were we, oh yes, moored up with Jens porcine pals. We didn't have far to go to Whaley bridge so there was no need to rush Saturday morning so we treated ourselves to a lie in and listened to the dawn chorus, with backing vocals from wild deer and something that screeched? En route we stopped at a handy canal side super market and stocked up on provisions. I shan't mention the captain testing the waters, I think she told you herself.

Another lazy morning in Whaley bridge while we waited for the good captain's parents to join us. Who brought us all kinds of useful stuff, licences, engine manuals, etc. The we set off for the Buxworth branch and Bugsworth basin. A very old wharf complex where limestone was brought down from the hills to be processed and loaded onto the barges. Where we met the narrowest bit of canal yet, a gauging stop.






I had to concentrate so hard on getting through clean I almost phase shifted into an alternate dimension. Interesting old place bugsworth, none of the buildings remain, except the pub " The Navigation " highly recommended, good grub. All the old workings and track ways for the trams can still be seen on the ground.

We dropped our guests off at the junction with the main canal and made our way back to the piggy mooring.

The next morning we set off for the Macclesfield canal, but on the way we passed through New Mills, home to the swizzle factory. I paid tribute with a drumstick lolly salute.



There was no time to dawdle though, we were facing a dead line. We were to meet up with Phil & Elaine just north of high lane. Then as we entered the Macc we met some old duffer doing a six million point turn in the canal, after quarter of an hour watching him prat about I just barged my way past, he may still be there yet. We met up with our dinner guests only to be cut short by a virulent attack of the raj's revenge on the good captain. Must have been a bad weevil in the ships biscuits. A mercifully short but unpleasant event, after a couple of hours rest the captain was something like back to normal. We carried on for a couple of miles to find a quiet mooring for the night.

Tuesday was a day of fettling the boat. We stopped at the " Trading Post " for a bottle of gas and filled the water tank.







The next stop was some what less glamorous, emptying the loo and refuelling at Lyme view marina. Then we headed off into the countryside once more to moor, erm yeah, play on words, that's it. It was still early in the day so after a spot of lunch and time to let the engine cool. Up came the deck panels over the engine and in I went spannered up. The wiring was a bit of a cob web affair, so everything was cut loose, rerouted and cable tied up neatly. A most pleasing job, we like a bit of order in the engine bay, but there are one or two awkward bits to reach. The good captain sacrificed her dignity and went in !




She has the bruises to prove it was her.

Flushed with success at our fine efforts we went on to cover the plank we use for sitting at the helm, with high density foam. So it can now be called a bench now it's upholstered.

And so to today,

We stopped off in Macclesfield, to visit the silk museum. The good captain insisted on hiking in. Must have been a mile there, a mile around the exhibition and around the town. Then a mile back to the boat, all up hill. She did it too, what a trooper !

The museum was fantastic and a floor of the old mill has been preserved as it was while it was still in use. Some of the original staff from the 1800's still work there.










There are 9,200 threads going into that loom, took two men two whole days to thread it. It then then takes two hundred passes of the shuttle to produce one inch of fabric. I have a new respect for silk, and the people who made it.

Until next time blog watchers, the lock keeper signing off.

Happy As Pigs...

Hey ho, we've been married a week and he called me "fatty" today... But I forgave him, seeing as he lifted me out of the canal (yep, I win the prize for getting my feet wet first!). Next prize is for who bumps their head on one of these barbie-sized canal bridges...



These narrow canals require extra concentration, having someone on bow watch is helpful

So, we reached the heaving metropolis that is Whaley Bridge. Last night we moored in the middle of nowhere peaceful and beautiful, no need for music, just listening to sounds of birds and what we think was the noise of a deer - but it could have been a pig (our nearest neighbours...).
Looking forward to having Mum and Dad come join us for the day tomorrow and a look around Bugsworth Basin.

Take that hill !

Big day today, our first set of locks without assistance from a willing crew. The captain at the helm and the lock keeper at the windlass. Narrow locks are so much easier, you can walk across the boat to get to the other lock gate! It all went smoothly and without drama.





We made the top of the flight and turned left. Towards Whaley Bridge, the canal terminates there, so we'll have to turn around and back track, but it's very scenic, high in the hills with fantastic views. With a chandlery en route with chimneys hopefully in stock.

Moored up for the night now, a few miles short of Whaley Bridge in the most remote spot we could find, peaceful.

That's a lot of locks

Lock keeper here, This daily blog is going well! We set off from Appley locks on Monday a very very slow day we averaged about 1mph, no need to rush these things. We spent the night at Ince Moss where we dinned on pate and champagne while we watched the sun go down.





Then another very slow paced day to Worsley where we moored up for the night.



Then came the busy day, Woke by the good ???? captain at 5.20am and set sail at 5.30am. We went over Barton aqua duct over the ship canal and into Trafford park, passing united's stadium and on into Manchester and the first lock where we were greeted by a choice of three different possible directions, each as promising as the next. We chose well and the nightmare began. It didn't bode well as the first lock despite the torrents of water gushing into it took an eternity to fill. Eventually we were underway again. For a canal that goes straight through the city centre you'd struggle to find it. It's tucked away out of sight and passes underneath many of the buildings. Working locks underground was a new experience. Finally we saw the sun again and stopped for a brew.







Refuelled by a cuppa and rested from the nine wide locks through town, we hung a right onto the Ashton canal, an our first venture onto a narrow canal, by eck it were tight! For our next new experience we arrived at our first narrow lock and rattled our way through the jaws, unavoidable much to the annoyance of the captain! I like narrow locks, Easy to work and fill up quickly and they were also hydraulic which made life a lot easier. Though they are very tight and on a couple of occasions got the boat wedged in on its fenders, still learning. Another eighteen locks done and no more until Marple, Twenty seven in a morning is more than enough.

Then we arrived at the Peak Forest canal and it got even tighter just making the turn onto it was a challenge! The next surprise was a lift bridge, crewman Kelly was sent ashore to deal with it, carry on that man. Just in time to raise it stopping some policemen that wanted to cross.

By this time I was at the helm and got to take us through our first tunnel with only a couple of inches either side and not much more above you don't get any room for manoeuvre over chimneys either, oh dear, still learning!

Today has been a day of rest recuperation ready for the sixteen locks up to Marple tomorrow, oh joy.