To Bugsworth Basin

We came this way in the summer of 2010 but the weather was grey and wet so we saw nothing of the countryside.  The canal forks at the end and we took the right-hand branch (do forks have branches?) to Whalley Bridge which confirmed our dismal view of the canal.


Today, in October, the sun shone all day; we took the left prong to Bugsworth Basin and we are in a different world.

There was the occasional lift bridge to negotiate......

...and a few swing bridges.......






 





......fortunately no breach like the one in 1973.........










.......and a wonderful open space with room for dozens of boats at Bugsworth Basin.

Even the sunset was glorious.





Goodnight Bugsworth !

(Don't) Miss Marple

Marple is the end of the road as far as the Macclesfield canal is concerned and we have to turn left, descending the sixteen locks, for Manchester.  However we have decided to give ourselves a break and are turning right tomorrow on the Peak Forest Canal out to Bugsworth Basin. Legend has it that Agatha Christie was delayed on a train at Marple station and settled on the name of her lady detective there.

As we passed through Macclesfield we saw Rainbow Lorikeet moored ont he bank.

The scenery along this canal is typical Peak District: steep valleys and lots of hills.  The canal is lock-free for most of its length which is a remarkable achievement in this terrain.  It is achieved by skirting the hills and employing embankments.

Some of the canal architecture is also remarkable.  Most of the numerous bridges are stone built and are interspersed by the abutments of derelict swing bridges




Every time the tow path changes side it is transferred by an elegant turnover bridge.









Twelve miles in six hours but still 39 extra locks to do.

Day 6 is Lyme Green

The celebratory shower this morning was a little disappointing : the water started tepid and cooled off the longer it ran.
Rather a short day today: just three miles to Lyme Green so we could take the bus into Macclesfield to do some grocery shopping.
But not completely uneventful.  At Oak Grove we passed Nutshell and Fulbourne both moored up.   It looks as though Ken  & Christine have not sold Nutshell yet.Fulbourne  often winters in Aylesbury althought the first time we encountered it was back in the 1990s when we were both participating in the BCN Marathon.
The Fool's Nook is closed due to flooding: couldn't see a re-opening date.
Still an extra 39 locks to do

The Well-Behaved Bosleys - Diversion Day 5

Well, I opened the curtains late last night and looked out: I am sure I could see sheep running on a hillside and daffodils under the hedge but I may have been mistaken. We resumed our northerly leg of the diversion this morning intending to get through Congleton and possibly up the only flight of locks on the Macclesfield Canal. 

Bridge 75 in Congleton, however, had a better idea.  Why don't we just sit underneath the railway for the foreseeable future?  After about 30 minutes of ineffective effort we managed to reverse out of the bridge and away from whatever the obstruction was.  She who must be obeyed encouraged an oncoming boat to go through the bridge and when it lurched to one side she was able to locate the obstruction. Armed with this new knowledge our second attempt at negotiating the bridge was now successful and we escaped the clutches of Congleton..

Apart from the stop lock at Scholar Green there is just one flight of twelve locks between Red Bull on the Trent & Mersey and Marple at the other end.  Bosley Locks are the best-behaved locks I have ever encountered.  When ascending a narrow lock the incoming water initially washes you back but then suddenly the undertow drags you forward.   On some canals, particularly the Staffs & Worcs this can be quite vicious but Bosley Locks do not exhibit any desire to drag the boat into the top gates. When we arrived today a boat must have preceded us as every lock was full and required emptying before we could proceed. 

Our reward for all this work is at the top lock: the service block here is smart, well equipped and clean.    

I feel a celebratory shower is called for.

Journey today = 8 miles and 12 locks

Remaining diversion -  39 locks

Diversion Day 4

We finished the southbound leg of the diversion and are now heading north on the Maclesfield Canal.  Still a long way to go but at least the compass looks right at last.
Nicholson's Guide suggests climbing Mow Cop (1100ft) to look at Wales in the dark.  I think I shall open the curtains later tonight and pretend it's Wales.
Journey today - 7 miles and 16 locks
Remaining diversion =  5 miles   51 locks

Lock Cottage FOR SALE

If you don't fancy a tin tabernacle then how about a lock cottage?
Savills is auctioning this one on the Grand Union by Uxbridge Lock




Follow the link below for more details - it's lot 97

Lock Cottage - Denham

Badgers - TB or not TB?

The badger cull is back in the news accompanied by much emotive argument. Feelings are very strong on either side and I don't intend to add fuel to the fire. It seems clear that we shall not really know if culling badgers will be effective in reducing TB in cattle until it is done, despite all the work done by Krebs.
However one aspect of the situation  I have not heard anyone voice is that we are currently culling about 30,000 cattle a year which have TB whilst the badger is protected from such treatment. Perhaps redressing the balance might be worth the anguish of those who prefer badgers to cattle.




Cuddly badger?

or cuddly cattle?

Lock 57 (Diversion day 3)

We had a day off yesterday as we were babysitting the grandchildren.
Returned to Gecko this afternoon and our son helped us up ten locks in 90 minutes which was much better than we would have achieved without him.
We are at Hassell Green tonight near lock 57.  
Last time we were here there was a lovely sunset. see: Sex Change at Tin Tabernacle

We have heard good reports of the restaurant here but can only judge it on the home-made flapjacks which are excellent. 
Remaining diversion = 12  miles &   67 locks

Salt of the Earth

I understand from one of my regular readers that I may not be alone in my interest of industrial history.  This came as  something of a shock as I rather felt I was communing with myself on this blog.
If you are interested in the salt industry around Northwich there is a very interesting booklet written by Colin Edmondson - A Pocket History of the River Weaver.  It is all composed from original sources unlike many of the derivative offerings in the bookshops: it is only some 36 pages but is more informative than books many times its size.  Colin lives on a narrowboat in Cheshire and can be contacted at:
colin@colinedmondson.com
Ask him about the other books he has written, and mention where you found his name.

Diversion Day 1

After Gecko's nose job yesterday we had to stay overnight at Kings Lock.  Down to our last 50 litres of fuel and the boatyard has run out.  The tanker arrived around 11am and we were refuelled and on our way before noon.


Tonight in Wheelock, near Sandbach.....











....where the cows work shifts







 

6 miles and 5 locks accomplished
Remaining diversion = 14 miles and 77 locks.