Category Archives: Bridges

The Sweet Smell. 2nd July

Dryhurst Bridge 26 to Whaley Bridge

This morning the view consisted of a man picking up after his dog. He pleaded with it not to deposit right next to Oleanna but failed. He also failed to pick it up as Mick discovered when we emptied the yellow water!

Not quite a mile away we approached New Mills. The exterior walls of the Swizzles Factory covered in a white powder. We wondered if you licked their windows would it taste of Love Hearts, Refreshers or Parma Violets? Two of the workers turned round and gave us a jolly cheer as we passed by all the time inhaling the very fine sugar that hung in the air.

Is that powered Love Hearts on the walls?

Once under Thornsett Road Bridge the aroma turned to vinegar and chips as a family sat on a bench, a bag steaming in everyone’s hands. Gosh they smelt good!

Round the bend to the winding hole. New signs along the towpath warn of Giant Hogweed. When last we passed it looked like the plant had been sprayed, but after three years it is showing itself again on the off side. For those unaware this plant can give you very bad burns, so it’s best avoided at all costs.

Approaching Carrs Swing Bridge we passed the chap who’d followed us up the locks last week, he’d made it to Bugsworth Basin already where he’d had problems with the bottom being too close to the top. We could have pulled in here but decided to continue on wards.

A chap offered to help with the last swing bridge, but I needed to work off my bacon buttie from breakfast and other than the instructions lying again regarding the position of the key I was fine, I need practice for the obstinate ones on the Leeds Liverpool we’ll be encountering soon.

At last the boat we’d been missing along this stretch showed itself. It’s been hard to miss for sometime due to it’s colour, we once moored right next to it on Lillian creating a yellow glow that could be seen from outer space! In the last few years it has seen some alterations, extensions, additions and has had a Reliant Robin van added to both bow and stern, creating a cratch and pram cover. We’d seen that it had been for sale in the last year. Unique to say the least.

A possible space to stop with a view showed itself just as two vehicles drove along the small road to reach the water works. To me it was an unsafe cat mooring, appealing trees on the other side of the road and not enough traffic to keep Tilly from crossing it and then being freaked and dashing home just at the wrong moment. We carried on.

The Whaley Bridge version of Swiss Family Robinson

Whaley Bridge Branch Junction. Left or right? There was no space on the Tesco moorings as boats seemed to have set up camp there, so we chose to go right, not wanting to arrive at Bugsworth Basin too soon.

That bilge pump gave a duck a bit of a shock.

Just before the basin at the end there was enough room for us to pull in on the 7 day mooring, we tied up to the rings, avoiding plenty of walkers passing us. The back doors were opened.

What brilliant trees! Wow here was going to be good. Oh except this outside had a fast flowing canal on the other side, that was no good. Then a lady was getting concerned about me, was I lost? LOST!!! No way was I lost. I knew exactly where I was Thank you! Tom put her right before she tried to pick me up and check my cat tag, she wouldn’t have manged it anyway.

Then Bang! Splutter Bang! What was that?!! I wasn’t worth hanging around to find out what it was. Better to be inside in the outside, safer. I did my best stare all afternoon to try to get them to tie up a different outside, but all they did was sit and watched the wall! I even tried sitting as neatly as possible, but that didn’t impress them enough either. Apparently I wasn’t born with the piercing laser stare that Houdini had, my predecessor. So in the end I gave up and when they had vacated the sofa I took pole position, Tom didn’t light the stove though.

Act 2 of A Midsummer Nights Dream was enjoyed. Swapping Oberon for Titania made for an updated, inclusive and at times hysterical twist to the plot. I studied the play for O level and still really wish the beginning could be trimmed somewhat so that you get to the mechanicals and fairies sooner. I know it’s all about laying out the plot, but it was boring at age 16 and it still is. Thank you Duncan for insisting we watched it.

0 locks, 3.33 miles, 1 right, 1 swing bridge, 0 help required, 1 yellow ~~car boat~~ vessel, 7 day mooring, 1 backfiring motorbike, 0 lasers, act 2, 1 dark noisy mooring, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh bucket, 1 unhappy cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/aJD5EwueJ71faPgs5

Tilly Sheep, 30th June

Smith’s Bridge 14 to Hill Top Footbridge 20, Peak Forest Canal

No rain for a change this morning, but it still took us a while to get going. Around midday we finally pushed off our eyes set on a few possible places to stop today, hopefully with views.

On my walk yesterday I must have had my head down due to the precipitation as I’d not seen The Cage in Lyme Park. The tower was originally built in 1580 as a hunting lodge where ladies of the estate could watch the hunt, it was also used as a banqueting hall at night. I knew it was there as we’d walked to it Christmas 2016. Just as the building itself makes a good view, it also commands views right across Manchester on a clear day.

Plenty to look at along the moorings. A speeding boater who’s ended up on the bank, a climbing tree.

Two old tractors and an interesting collection of all sorts just by Bullocks Bridge 13.

We pootled along through the wooded section, passing High Lane where an arm is used by the North Cheshire Cruising Club. The back gardens of the houses at this end of the Macc need some TLC, they are very poor in comparison to those further south.

The pushing in boat was happily sat on it’s mooring. Wonder if they made it home in time?!

The large carved wizard came into view along with our first choice of mooring for the day. Sadly several other boats had beaten us to it, one with a slightly tuffty nervous version of Tilly on the stern, who kept a close eye on us.

There was space for one boat, but the towpath was narrow and I suspected one of the other boats belonged to Tilly’s friend Ben, he has two cats. So for feline peace we continued onwards.

The next mooring was also full, a shame as opposite there were Tilly sheep, more commonly known as Zwartbles Sheep with their white feet and tipped tails.

Goyt Mill wasn’t as busy as we’d remembered it, but that’s a sign of the times now. We did however wonder how long we’d have to wait for lunch as we felt a touch peckish after passing some teenagers smoking something rather fragrant!

Hope the owners have mended their ways, it was horrible down here

Next we passed a boat that looked like it wouldn’t be floating for much longer. Sadly we witnessed a sinking boat along the moorings here four years ago, the chap was on board trying to plug the hole as the water flooded in! Attempts were made over the next few days to raise it, but sadly it just kept sinking.

We decided to carry on through Marple today as we have to return next week to wait for the locks to reopen. Yet I still managed to take around 30 photos of the two snake bridges.

The curves of these two bridges are very pleasing, most probably helped by the curving ramp being wider. Very few boats were moored up on the visitor moorings leaving ample space, but we carried on.

Under the last bridge of the Macclesfield Canal, hanging a right onto the Peak Forest Canal. Two boats were moored up here, maybe sitting out the wait for the locks next week.

We pootled along hoping for a view and enough depth below Oleanna to be able to pull in. The B6101 hugs the canal for a while, admittedly a lot lower as we continued to follow the contour around the hill. As it started to move away and houses with gardens took over we considered stopping.

Just a touch further on and all of a sudden there was a gap in the trees, the other side of the wall wasn’t too steep, the towpath wider than normal. But was the depth sufficient? Thankfully it was, which meant for the remainder of the day we got to enjoy the fantastic view across the valley to Mellor Moor.

Tilly headed out to explore, finding winged friends still a touch too difficult to keep hold of thank goodness. The local Crows, Magpies and Jays shouted their displeasure at her. Blimey the towpath was busy, don’t blame the walkers as the canal has so many good views.

A request for bread had me get out the packet of Spelt flour we’d been sent as a substitute on one of our deliveries. I’ve not used Spelt before so followed the instructions, mixing everything together and then ‘pressing’ it 100 times. I took this to mean one action of kneading. It came together very quickly and was very glutenous.

It was left to rise then another 100 presses before being put in a tin to rise again. Not sure if the boat had been quite warm enough to get a full rise, as the side hatch and back doors were open. When it came out of the oven it didn’t seem to have risen anymore. We’ll have to see what it’s like when it’s cut into tomorrow.

All the rain we’ve been having has helped to fill reservoirs on the Leeds Liverpool, today the news came through that Wigan and the other locks will be opening earlier than planned, so from Friday the canal will be open again.

We also had the news today that the River Soar is being locked down through Leicester for the next couple of weeks due to the increase of Covid-19 cases. All boats between Turnover Lock 27 on the Leicester Line and The Hope and Anchor on Wanlip Road can now only move for essentials again.

0 locks, 4.11 miles, 1 right, 0 Olga or Betty in view, 2 many cats, 1 barging narrowboat, 1 dry day! 2 boaters with munchies, 1 mooring with a great view, £20! 50mbps download, 34 mbps upload, 1 canal open early, 1 canal closed.

https://goo.gl/maps/bnRsPyzTYw6BSiWeA

Feline Fashions. 27th June

Bollington Embankment to Tilly Trees (Braddocks Bridge 19)

Geraghty Zoom this morning. Topics covered were tadpoles, caterpillars, Thomas’s PHD and hot composting was touched upon, but strangely enough nobody was interested in what we could add to their bins! It was good to see everyone as ever.

Conversation also turned to the five step road map for theatre and live music to be able to return which the Government announced on Thursday evening. This has to have been written on the back of a beer mat and would have served much better purpose if it had been left in a pub! There has been no mention of extra money for the sector to help it wait in the dark and no dates of when the stages might be able to be implemented, so the entertainment sector still balances on the edge of a knife with zero support.

The first two stages of the road map are already allowed. Whoopee! Oh hang on, ‘physically distanced rehearsal and training with no audiences; and physically distanced performances for broadcast and recording purposes,’ well that has been happening for the last three months anyway!!

I could go on, but instead I’d like to share a few things that are or will be happening in the arts.

Next Monday rehearsals for Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor will start, this was a production postponed from the summer season. It will star Sir Ian McKellan in the lead role. Production dates are still to be confirmed once Government guidance on how and when the theatre can reopen safely are announced. Who knows how long they will be rehearsing for, good job Bill Kenwright, the producer, has a bit of money behind him.

A unique performance has been created by Chippy Theatre and Oxford University, taking an irreverent long view on plagues and pandemics. This is streaming for free on line at Contagion Cabaret.

This autumn Derby Theatre will be creating a series of journeys around the theatre, Ghost Light. It will be available for one household or small bubble at a time. Production dates still to be confirmed once Government guidance gives the go ahead.

ENO are launching Drive and Live. In September the company will be performing in the grounds of Alexandra Palace to an audience in their own cars. La Boheme and The Magic Flute have been adapted into shorter versions and will have suitably spaced singers and musicians.

Then there are our friends at Animated Objects Theatre Company in Scarborough. This weekend should have been Armed Forces Weekend. They had been working on various projects with the community. But for obvious reasons the weekend has been cancelled. Despite this their Young Peoples Red Arrows, inspired by the RAF aerobatic team, gathered on Scarborough beach on Friday in formation with rainbow vapour trails. Scroll down this page to see how they made the Red Arrows.

Mick headed off to the Co-op with his mask at the ready to top up on a few fresh supplies and our Saturday newspaper. He would have visited the butchers too but storm clouds were rumbling overhead. Sadly he’d left a loaf of bread and had to return later in between rain showers to collect it.

Mid afternoon we decided to move on a touch, to give the birds a break from Tilly. So we pushed off, passing Clarence Mill. Yesterday the old work boat NB Prince had been moored opposite on bollards but in the evening the Bollington Wharf crew brought Butty Beetlejuice, towed by one of their dayboats and Prince was returned to the wharf. We wonder if the bollards were put in when this end of the embankment was worked on earlier this year.

Last October the canal was closed here and dewatered due to leakage. An 80 meter section of the canal bed was relined and 66 meters of wash wall rebuilt. The stretch was reopened ten days before lockdown was implemented. Then the towpath reopened only three weeks ago and very smart it looks too.

The offside vegetation in the bridge holes is doing nothing for our cabin sides. I’m considering getting our shears out and standing in the well deck at each bridge and trimming what I can as we go through, the brambles have taken over somewhat.

Sugar Lane Bridge adds a whole new angle to the Macc bridges. It is built on a skew which adds extra curves to it’s structure, quite an optical illusion as you pass through.

Then looking back behind us I waited for the glimpse of White Nancy standing high above Bollington. I’d wanted to have a walk up there, but being a fare weather walker today it hadn’t seemed that appealing. But plenty of people were up there enjoying the views. Instead from down on the cut we caught the occasional glimpse through the high hedge towards Manchester.

Just a small section of what we could see through the trees

Between Barton’s Bridge 22 and Hibberts Brow Bridge 21 we were taken aback by a pink haze. On the offside behind the trees, the hill was a mass of tall pink flowering plants. Was it Rosebay Willowherb? No the hill was covered with foxgloves. We’re used to seeing them singly or on clumps but on mass, blimey! Just like a carpet of bluebells, only pink and a lot taller. More and more kept coming into view. Sadly my photos don’t do them justice.

When we reached the stone fence posts we knew it was time to pull over. Further on and we’d be close to a road, here would do for Tilly as it did in 2016. But before the doors could be opened there was something I had to do.

She gave me all the usual rules, ‘Blah blah blady blah, 2 hours blah blah!’ Then was about to open the door, when She stopped. I was picked up and put on the sofa, just what was going on and using up my precious shore leave?

Oh NO!!! She was undoing my collar, this could only mean one thing! But three months hasn’t passed yet!! How DARE She, especially when She’d just given me the Blah blah rules! My legs shrank and I managed to escape, She wasn’t being quite as forceful as usual though.

The cat proof cupboard was opened, had she moved the horrid neck cooling, evaporating, squeezy, up your nose, bleurgh stuff? No!!

Out came a new cat tag collar. My old one was just that, old! Recently it has taken to stretching just a little bit too much and getting caught around my arm when squeezing through small gaps. This has necessitated returning early so She could sort it for me. The new one is a touch in your face (not mine as I can’t see it when it’s round my neck) as it’s bright red with fishes on it. She tried it on me for size, expecting to have to loosen it, but I am a slender feline and it fitted just right at it’s tightest. But She had to take it off again as it required my cat tag adding to it so that shore leave would be permitted.

The new bell was checked to make sure I would sound like me, and it did. With the fish blowing bubbles upwards my new cat tag collar was popped back around my neck and the back doors opened up.

My apologies that there are only a few decent photos of my new collar, I posed for a couple, but my time was limited as there were trees to climb!

0 locks, 1.99 miles, 9 zooming, 1 newspaper, 1 chicken, 1 wobbly head, 2 outsides, 1 white nancy, 45835432526 foxgloves, 1 good sounding bell, 1 red collar, 1 photo shoot abandoned due to trees, 4742 trees, 1 vat of chilli.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pzoeg5hUjjM9iGW27

Re-hinged. 26th June

Crow Holt’s Bridge to Clarence Mill Footbridge 26A

So much for a day of rest and staying put! Instead the alarm had been set as we needed to be on our way, come rain or shine. It was most certainly a rainy start. Coats were soon put on over our shorts and light rain accompanied us.

One trip on NB Winding Down had us seeking out a good vantage point overlooking Macclesfield on a Bonfire Night, sadly we ended up giving up and moored in front of a house, setting off our one rocket and swizzling sparklers around in the dark. That house is for sale right now, shyly hiding behind it’s huge hedge. Luckily the estate agent took a drone with them to get a good photo for the house details! Details here.

At Royal Oak Swing Bridge I hopped off, crossed the bridge, popped a birthday card in the post, had a little look at the lovely old cars in the pub car park and returned ready with the key of power. Only one car held up today, I suspect a couple more had seen the barriers and changed their route accordingly.

The brolly came out for us to have some shelter. In the past the next swing bridge has been a bit of a pain to move. Today it moved fine once I’d jiggled my key around in the lock to find that it required a full turn anti-clockwise rather than the 3/4 suggested by the instructions!

I hopped off again at Lyme Green. A visit to Pets at Home required for our second mate. Despite the rain we had to carry on, luckily it gradually dried up.

The hills came into view as we rounded the next bend, these will be with us for the next week or so as we follow the 518 ft contour line northwards to Marple and Bugsworth Basin.

Passing over the Gurnett Aqueduct we approached Macclesfield. A snake bridge backed by a road bridge guided us towards the big wall that holds the higher side of Macclesfield back and stopping it from falling into the canal.

Maybe it should have been extended as someone’s garden has fallen onto the towpath closing quite a long stretch.

Passing the big mill we could see the back of a well photographed boat through the next bridge hole. We met NB Alfie in Market Harborough quite a few years ago in our yellow days, but we tend not to get recognised now that we blend into the masses.

The pontoon moorings were just about full, NB Winton’s Folly sat at the far end. The view has improved since we were last here. We remembered a site meeting with several chaps wading through weeds, but now instead of scrub land The Bridges stands tall alongside the canal. Manicured gardens surround the winding hole. Quite nice retirement apartments if you have enough cash to spend on one!

Back out into the countryside. There’s a length of new (to us) stonework, was this where the towpath was falling into the cut or was this where the cut had been trying to escape through the towpath?

Clarke Lane Bridge 29 another snake bridge, still not as curvy as it could be. A bit further, past Kerridge Dry Dock and on to Adelphi Mill, Bollington. The canal was filled with boats, only space for one at a time through here. We were now most definitely back in Alton Land.

Back in 2016/17 Brian and Ann Marie who ran NB Alton, the coal boat up here, had just purchased Bollington Wharf. At one point we’d considered launching Oleanna here, but sadly she was delayed. But today we were paying a visit for a touch of work.

A couple of summers ago our gas locker hinges had broken, Johnathan at Tyler Wilson replaced them for us when we were in Sheffield last. But sadly somehow one of them had given up on us again a few months ago. So the locker lid has been hanging on by one hinge all winter and needed seeing to.

We knew that Bollington Wharf would be capable of doing the job for us, so Mick had called them yesterday. Photos had been sent through and last night Ann Marie had emailed back asking if we could be at the wharf between 1 and 2pm today, a three to four hour cruise from last nights mooring. Then Steve would have a closer look and see what he could do for us.

The sun was out and we were greeted with cheery smiles all round as we tied up. We’d messaged ahead a week ago for a new V fender as ours is starting to look tatty, shackles and fixings were also needed. A top of diesel too.

Yesterday Mick had mentioned that an overhanging branch at one of the locks had left a mark. I’d taken it that he had meant the gunnels, well that’s easy enough to touch up. But when I stepped off the boat I could see what he meant. A wavering scrape all down the starboard side, a second one in places too. Blimey, it looked like someone had attacked us with a key! Hopefully some coloured polish will help.

Steve came and managed with quite a lot of difficulty to get the locker lid off, he took it away to see if he could push the pin out. But sadly this wasn’t going to be that easy and the other side of the hinge would be even harder, the pillar drill would need to be used to drill out the pin, so the offending bits were angle ground off and taken away.

A new stainless steel pin was added then the hinge welded back on. A couple of hours later the locker lid was working again. We said we’d try and time our next trip onto the Macc with the other hinge giving up.

A very friendly place for all sorts of stuff

Because the locks have been closed for a while the wharf hasn’t been as busy as it should have been, so we’d timed our phone call very well. Thank you to all for the speedy repair.

We pootled on a short distance further and found ourselves a space at the embankment, underneath the big red brick chimney of Clarence Mill and settled in for the rest of the day. Thunderstorms had been forecast so I refrained from getting some primer on the new hinges, sadly the rain didn’t arrive.

This is when I noticed another mark on the cabin side. A bridge had bitten us on the port side this morning. Looks like Oleanna will be getting a wash and polish soon.

Tilly headed off across the lane alongside of the embankment and spent quite a bit of time there until she was called back for dingding. Once dingding is served the back doors are kept closed and shore leave is at an end for the day.

Sometime later I could hear the alarm call of some birds in the trees nearby. It sounded like they were telling Tilly off! Then the penny dropped. After Mick had had a shower he’d left the bedroom door open. When it’s hot we leave the front doors open but close the bathroom door, the bedroom keeps cool, but Tilly can’t get out. She must have just sauntered out for a bit more friend finding.

Fortunately for all concerned, apart from Tilly, I’d heard the commotion. She’d found a friend and was being busy. I provided a distraction just long enough for a quick escape, once Tilly realised her friend had gone she gave up and came home with me, leaving the towpath nice and calm again.

0 locks, 8.01 miles, 1 more alarm clock, 4 queue boats passed, 1 birthday card, 1 new collar, 64 litres, 1 huge bag charcoal, 1 V, 3 shackles, 1 bag sticks, 1 mended hinge, 2 hours sorted, 2 scratches, 1 escapee, 1 friend rescued, 1 little thug.

https://goo.gl/maps/tiQtDDhESWb5YSiR7

Armed With Masks. 23rd June

Stanier First Bridge 62 to Congleton Bridge 61

Three quarters of an hour was what Mick was told when he got up and gave Enterprise a call first thing this morning. Phone signal can vary a lot around the system and living inside a metal tube doesn’t help. Quite often we need to go outside to get enough signal as leaving your phone propped in a window doesn’t always work when waiting for a call.

Enterprise were picking another car up this morning so once that was collect the two cars would meet Mick in the layby by the bridge, hand over the keys and leave in the other car. All sorted.

Whilst he walked up to the bridge I started to sort breakfast as my phone decided to have just a little bit of signal and bing at me. Answerphone. An hour earlier a message had been left from York Hospital cancelling my appointment tomorrow morning, they would write to me with another appointment. B**ger! The only reason we had a hire car was to drive to York!! Oh well can’t be helped. I tried calling Mick but by the time I got through to him he was walking back along the towpath with keys to the car.

We had other things planned for today as we had a car. A Click and Collect from Sainsburys in Stoke and a trip to Trentham Shopping Village! We know how to live!!

The drive from Congleton along the side of the hills has spectacular views, but very few places to stop and admire them. Soon we were on our way to Kidsgrove passing over the bridge alongside Red Bull Services, the cruiser, I can report has moved on. Then we were soon zooming along the A500 keeping a steady distance from the Trent and Mersey through Stoke. Familiar landmarks jumped out to let us know where abouts we were compared to our usual route.

At Trentham Gardens/Shopping Village we were surprised at the number of cars! Blimey, would we survive this little shopping trip for essential supplies! We successfully found a parking space in the shade and ventured out to find the shops we wanted.

Every morning I have a cup of Whittards Afternoon Tea, it is my favourite and life simply wouldn’t be the same without it. We’d last stocked up in Oxford at the end of last year and about two weeks ago Mick announced that we were very nearly out! A check as to see if they would be reopening their shops gave me hope, some but not all. Sadly none were on our planned route. I checked on deliveries and their method of shipment is by Yodel, not guaranteed to be taken at a Post Office via Post Restante. Only one way to get tea was to drive to one of their open shops.

I enquired if they still do refills, hoping to save myself a few pennies on my favourite brew which isn’t cheap. The lady said yes, we’d see how much she’d be able to get in my pouch. 200 grams followed by another 200 just squeezing in. That will keep me going for sometime. Sadly it seems that the 50p off has vanished, but then I now have a six months supply again.

The assistant donned a mask and gloves to weigh out my tea and hand sanitiser was there to use as you walked into the shop. It all felt relatively safe. Mick stood outside and had decided to put his mask on, I followed suit. People milled about, most without masks, most keeping their distance, it just felt safer wearing a mask.

Holland and Barrett next, but they had no gluten free flour. Then Grape Tree, they had no flour but did have a pack of Psyllium Husk which I haven’t seen since we were in Doncaster! Then a birthday card for my brother. Hallmark was a touch busier and even though they had a one way route marked on the floor it was hard to keep away from other shoppers whilst trying to find the right card.

Procook was our last port of call for a new quiche tin, quinoa crust seems to like pulling the non-stick coating off the one I have! Here we were two of four people in the shop and despite there being several routes for a chap to get to his wife he insisted on walking right by us, Twonk! Sadly they didn’t have what we were after, so a hunt on line will have to do. Time to make our exit, it’s not nice being near so many people.

Next was Sainsburys to pick up our order, we were early but that was fine as our supplies were in the van already. No substitutes and everything with good use by dates, well it had to be as we’d just driven past one of their vast distribution centres.

Then it was back to Oleanna, the sat nav taking us on a cross country route with more great views. We decided to nudge Oleanna along through the next couple of bridges to where a tree might just give us some shade.

It doesn’t mention anything about cats though!

It also meant Tilly might just have a better afternoon climbing trees. She did need reminding that she shouldn’t be going on other boats!

The final regular news conference was this afternoon with Mr Johnson announcing further lifting of restrictions on July 4th. Hire boats and holiday homes can now be used and leisure boaters will be allowed to stay overnight on their boats at last. Very good news for many. Just a big shame that on the social media boating groups there seems to be a big US and THEM divide between liveaboards and leisure boaters developing. Hopefully everyone will be so pleased to be able to pootle about again once they’re back on the water.

Mick managed to get through to Enterprise to see if we could return the car tomorrow , meaning we’d be able to join the queue for the locks earlier than planned. They were fine about it and have applied for a refund for us, so not such an expensive click and collect as we thought it might be.

Another go at some sourdough pizzas tonight. I’d made the dough this morning and shaped it out before going shopping, leaving it in the cold oven to rise all day. Sadly the bases weren’t quite as good as last time, but still very tasty with caramelised red onion and goats cheese topping.

0 locks, 1000 ft, 1 hire car, 0 hospital appointment, 2 masks, 400 grams tea, 1 card, 100 grams husks, 1 refund applied for, 1 spot on order, 1 very expensive shopping trip, 1 cooler mooring, £20! 4th July, Hooray!!

https://goo.gl/maps/YdcYermYsVVYMzRk9

Past The Point Of No Return. 22nd June

Tilly Railings to Stanier 1st Bridge 62

No shore leave this morning, this didn’t go down too well with the second mate, but at the moment we need to keep moving.

Mick made a phone call to Enterprise car hire. We’d booked a car from Congleton for two days to be able to get to York Hospital for an appointment on Wednesday. But yesterday we found out that the Congleton office is currently closed despite it suggesting otherwise on their website. The next few days have been planned like a military operation and our chosen mooring for the car was selected with locks, shopping, tea and hospital all in mind.

Our hire was moved to the Macclesfield office and luckily the chap today said that they would be able to drop the car off for us, but this would be sometime between 8:30 and 1pm. Returning the car would also have a similar window. This could cause problems on Thursday morning. We’d wanted to get rid of the car as early as possible to then make our way to the bottom of the Bosley flight to join the queue for the locks, a window of only a few hours! Two solutions were suggested, the keys could be picked up as early as they could manage, then the car would be retrieved when ever, or Mick could drive it to Macclesfield and get a cab back for which they would wave the fuel. Things looked more possible, time to move ourselves.

As we had our breakfast three boats went past. Will we be the last in line for the locks when we arrive on Thursday morning? Will we get through or have to wait until the locks reopen three days a week next month?

NB Cuba our locking friends from the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal

We pushed off saying goodbye to the huge bull and his diddy offspring in the field opposite. Before reaching Congleton we passed NB Cuba, was this the boat we shared the locks up to Sheffield with a couple of years ago? A quick look back at the blog and there was the same boat. Sadly no body was in view as we passed so we couldn’t say hello to Rob and Sue.

The foxgloves are doing well along here, sprouting out in gardens and long the towpath edge. Why is it that wild flowers such as foxgloves and rhododendrons are nearly always pink? I remember having white foxgloves in the garden in York.

It used to be a swing bridge as you can see from the curved stonework

Under Billy Tights Footbridge, does anyone know why it has this name? It used to be a swing bridge and the footbridge carries footpaths from one side of the canal to the other. But just who was Billy Tights? Answers on a postcard please.

Approaching Congleton we came across our first snake bridge, also known as roving bridges. These are bridges where the towpath changes sides of the canal and so that the rope didn’t have to be detached from the horse, the bridges snake round on both sides of the canal. You get them elsewhere, but the chaps who built the Macc did it with more style. However the first few of these bridges don’t flow quite so beautifully as those in Marple.

The curve up from the towpath meets the bridge at an angle, rather than continuing the curve, you’ll see what I mean in a couple of weeks when we reach Marple and I end up taking too many photos!

Across the aqueduct, a small version of the one in Nantwich, then the next snake bridge which is a touch more rounded, but still not quite there.

Bridge after bridge all different shapes and sizes

There then follows numerous bridges, high, rounded, square as you work your way past Congleton Railway Station. We took a train from here to Sheffield the day Oleanna got her name painted onto her side.

Then round the long bend with a good view of the viaduct, onto the long straight. Bridge after bridge after bridge line themselves up to pass under.

Alongside Buglawton gardens back onto the towpath, but each with a high hedge. One house looks like they have spent quite a bit of lockdown erecting new fencing on two tiers so nobody can see in or out!

About a mile further on we reached the last winding hole before Bosley Locks, the point of no return! If we didn’t make it up the locks on Thursday we’d have to reverse back to this point to wind, not an attractive proposition!

Before Stanier 1st Bridge 62 we pulled in, nudging back and forth to find suitably deep enough water for Oleanna to sit comfortably. Just a short distance away the busy A54 crosses the canal and here a handy layby to have a car delivered to tomorrow morning.

Tilly wasn’t that impressed as the sideways trees backed onto a track quite a long way down from the towpath. Alongside our mooring the water teamed with life.

The waterline was made up more of tadpoles than anything else all busy feeding on weed, we hoped they’d turn round and have a munch on the long growth on Oleanna’s hull. Some only had tails, others legs, stumpy tails, some already had markings despite being no longer then a centimetre long.

Then I spied something else below the water line. An armour plated alien creature. Checking on this ‘thing’ during the afternoon it must have turned round to show us it’s large clawed front legs. Was this a Signal Crayfish or a native crayfish? Only way to tell would be to lift it out of the water to check on colouring. Neither of us were too keen on doing this, so just let it be. If it had turned out to be a Signal Crayfish then we wouldn’t be allowed to return it to the water.

0 locks, 6.02 miles, 1 viaduct, 4 hours shore leave, 1 hire sorted, 1 order finalised, 53743 tadpoles, 1 alien about to chomp our toes, 3 masks finished.

https://goo.gl/maps/5X4HWxfojQqZJ9gLA

To The Top. 21st June

Townfield Lock 46 to Tilly Railings, Rownes No 2 Bridge 86, Macclesfield Canal

Today we were going to cover some water we’d covered six years ago to the day, but first we needed to finish climbing the Cheshire Locks.

The jolly summer house opposite Red Bull services

Two locks up to the water point. Almost as soon as I set off to set the first lock it started to spit, by the time I reached the lock it was raining. I lifted the paddles and then returned to Oleanna to get my coat before I got totally soaked through. Of course because I did this the rain passed and faded as we made our way up the lock!

A cruiser has positioned itself between the two water points at Red Bull, I realised that as the C&RT office here is closed at the moment they will only get spotted when a number checker comes past. Of course they may have a very good reason for being here, but maybe being on the 48hr mooring would be more helpful to steel narrowboats coming in to use the services.

Rising to nearly the same level as on the aqueduct behind Mick which will take us onto the Macc

Water topped up, yellow water disposed of and all the rubbish added to the bins, we were ready to carry on to the top of the Trent and Mersey Canal, only another three locks to the summit.

Over the last few days we’ve had boats pass us, all of these have been heading for Harecastle Tunnel and today we passed them all waiting for their bookings tomorrow. Normally at this time of year you just turn up at the tunnel, book in and wait for the go ahead, but currently you have to book for one of the four days a week that it is open.

At Plants Lock 41 we rose up to the summit, my new boating PPE gloves now well worn in and showing the amount of locks we’ve been through.

Coming up tothe summit of the Trent and Mersey

In the car park of The Canal Tavern was what looked like a fairground burger van, generator whirring away waiting to serve some customers. We wondered what is going to be built behind the hoardings along side the canal. What will Hardings Wood Junction look like when we next come past?

Time to turn right to turn left onto the Macclesfield Canal. Mick swung Oleanna round and under the bridge. People sat high in their gardens catching up with friends out in the open, hope they had brollies as it was just starting to spit again.

Now we were retracing our bow wave from six years ago on Lillian. Oleanna has never been on the Macc. We remembered our first time approaching Hall Green Lock on a hire boat, our Nicholsons guide warning us of shallow waters, would our deeper draught on Oleanna make it? Would we have to drink the boxes of wine in the cellar to lift the stern?!

Over the aqueduct and the Trent and Mersey Canal

One scrape was all we heard as we approached the narrow channel before the lock. I stepped off and kept my eye open for Woofer deposits, the culprit barking a welcome from the cottage barn door.

Up all 1ft 3″ and we were now on the Macc proper. Six years ago we had been on a mission, heading to Macclesfield so that I could catch a train back to Stone, walk to Aston Marina to pick the car up and then drive to Derby for the Production week of April in Paris. I would then join Mick in Manchester several days later ready to start our ascent on the Rochdale heading for Hebden Bridge.

Today we had other things on our minds. The bridges. Well not the first one, flat with pipes running under it, but soon the first curved opening showed itself. The Macc bridges are our favourite. We spent a winter up on the summit four years ago and fell in love with their curves in every direction. Here’s a link to a post of appreciation . I’m sure there will be many more photos this visit.

With purple flowers growing from the mortar lines and the curves worn by ropes the first stone bridge at this time of year is so pretty.

Then the first high bridge with the uprights leaning outwards the higher they get. Canalside gardens backing neatly up to the water. Numerous things to look at.

Up ahead we could see the very brightly painted NB Rosie moored outside what is known as Teapot Hall. Teapots hang everywhere and true to their word they were sitting outside with a cuppa chatting to a chap. Waves back and forth.

Soon we were passing Heritage Hire Boats. Several of their boats had signs on the back doors saying ‘Thoroughly cleaned’. We couldn’t see if all the mattresses were laid back down in place indicating that they were all ready to go out.

Ramsdell Hall still sits back behind it’s large green lawn, although along the canal edge it looks like the lawn has been used to off load dredging from the cut. Here along the towpath there are railings, black and white and really quite fine. To us these are known as Tilly railings and by Rownes No 2 Tilly posed beside them for our Christmas card back in 2016.

We’ve been lulled into believing that where we want to moor will almost certainly be free, due to their only being liveaboards on the move at the moment. But as we approached the visitor moorings our hearts sank, boats, would there be enough room for us too?

A couple of gaps, luckily the first one just long enough for us, phew! This is a favourite mooring and I’d had my heart set on being here for a night for days. We slotted in and the doors were opened up for Tilly to reacquaint herself with the area. A lady sat in the bow of the boat behind so we had chance to chat. They are also heading for the Bosley flight this week when the locks will be open for a short window.

We all settled down for the afternoon, I took some time to listen to a seminar held by the ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) on safe working practices that are being implemented in some theatres where sets are being taken down for storage and in other venues digital performances are happening.

Andrew Lloyd Webber the other day suggested that one of the new guidelines from the government for musicals would be that nobody would be allowed to sing! On the seminar they discussed opera singing that was being recorded at the Royal Opera House (Live from Covent Garden), camera men and other singers would need to be stood at least six meters away. Then there is the issue of how to deal with the brass and woodwind in an orchestra. Will all musicians be sat behind perpsex screens from now on? How will this affect the sound? All very interesting.

After eating Mick suggested we should sit outside to watch the sun go down. He’s never been romantic, so we’d be allowed to take our phones too so we wouldn’t have to talk to one another!

We did chat as the sun gradually sank in front of us over the next forty minutes. A rather lovely end to our first day on the Macc.

6 locks, 3.82 miles, 1 summit reached, 1 right to go left, 1 aqueduct, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 0 rubbish, 10 rainy minutes,5432738 cherries, 4 waiting for the tunnel, 37 teapots, 1 space just for us, 1 big Dad, 7 Mums, 7 calves, 1 set of colour coordinated railings, 0 Little Morton Hall view, 40 chilly minutes well spent.

https://goo.gl/maps/qZKbFB4QmepCggkQ8

Just Like The M1 And 95. April 25th

Lockdown Mooring 4

This mornings catch up with the Geraghty family involved quite a few sock shots. Kath had received a belated birthday present from us, two sachets of yeast, still within their use by date too. Yeast and flour are like gold dust. It was a very nice jolly catch up with tomato plants and unicorn wings. Good to see everyone.

We then turned our minds to getting our Saturday newspaper, Mick headed off up the towpath on his bike to the garage shop sadly returning with a slow puncture. Some time was spent compiling our first Morrisons delivery for next week. We’d secured the delivery quite a while ago with a few items, now we had to think about what we needed. Not knowing what we’ll be getting in our veg box doesn’t help, but I suspect we’ll get the usual things so we shopped accordingly. Hopefully we’ve covered everything, lets just hope things are still available next week. It being our first ever order with them we don’t know if they do substitutes or not.

Today the towpath has been busy, the busiest we’ve seen it here. First the usual dog walkers, the Huskies, Dalmation, high vis man with his two, the chap who always takes a wide birth with his two dogs and Fudge. Then during the afternoon it turned into the M1, bicycles and walkers, almost a constant stream passing us. One chap stopping right outside our hatch to shout back to his friend, Mick closed the hatch to try to keep our distance, the chap was oblivious. If it was like that here would it be busier on the embankment in town, or are they all venturing further out now leaving the embankment peaceful at weekends.

In amongst our Click and Collect delivery at the beginning of the week I’d added a few treat items. There was a recipe I’ve not made for a very long time, I’d been reminded of it when a certain aroma filled the boat the other evening.

A modification to the recipe was made by swapping the pastry for a quinoa Parmesan crust to dispose of any gluten. This takes a little bit of making but I can highly recommend it, it’s very tasty. Baked blind I then left it in the cooling oven to hopefully dry off touch more before filling it.

Next the filling. Camembert and smoked salmon with a normal egg and cream custard over the top. The other quiche I’ve taken to making in the last couple of years only has eggs over the filling and it quite often isn’t fully cooked when you think it should be. But today reverting to eggs and single cream worked an absolute treat.

If this photo doesn’t flush Duncan Lewis out nothing will!

With homemade coleslaw to accompany a large slice each it was a very nice meal and there’s enough left over to do the same again in a couple of days, have to spread the cholesterol out in these days of lockdown.

Today would have been Fatso, my Dad’s 95th birthday. We spent some of the evening finding the photographic tribute my brother and I had compiled for his funeral eight years ago. Plenty of photos to add to letters and his diary from when he headed out to India at the end of WW2. Plenty more photos, some of which I’ll share with you in another post sometime.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 bike ride, 1 more puncture, 1 newspaper quarantined for tomorrow, 1 leg still resting, 3 sketch books, 10 day menu (subject to change), 8 hours shore leave, 1 starter not reaching potential, 1 smoked salmon and camembert quiche, 2 many calories, 1 big treat, 1 tear cardigan back on the needles, 95 candles, Happy Birthday Daddy Fatso!

Hunting. 12th April

Lockdown Mooring 4

Easter when I was a kid was quite often spent in Buttermere in the Lake District. We would stay at The Bridge along with many others who had become regulars for the weekend. The first sign that the Leckenbys had arrived was our dog Worthington running through to the rear bar to claim prime position in front of the log fire. I strongly suspect my life began in that hotel Easter 1966.

The adults would play Hare and Hounds, the hare leaving a paper trail across the fells for the hounds to track them down. I suspect my brother and I were left with mum in the bar with her G&T whilst my Dad, Buddy and others were scree running on the peaks.

One year we joined in with an Easter Egg hunt at a friends house in York. This was the first hunt I’d ever been on. It was very well organised, each of us with a little basket to collect our chocolate in, special eggs had our names iced on them. I came away with quite a collection I seem to remember.

Amazing what you can fashion with a toilet roll, pink ribbon and some micropore tape

Then there was the year Granny and Pompom came to stay with us and I made myself an Easter bonnet out of pink ribbon. I remember it well, better than that jumper!

Now onboard Oleanna, Easter usually brings with it the not so secret secret purchasing of Easter eggs. These are then normally hidden until our Sunday morning cuppa in bed when we produce them from their hiding holes, “Happy Easter!!!” Well that is how it’s been since we moved to living on a boat. This year however it was different.

The not so secret secret purchase hadn’t been possible for normal eggs, due to lack of space in our shopping bags, restocking the wine cellar was far more important! But two small bags of Mini Eggs had been squeezed into our bags amongst the cabbage and carrots, so we wouldn’t do without.

The shopping on Thursday had been unpacked, disinfected or left for three days before being brought inside. Mini eggs were deemed to need disinfecting to be brought indoors. The new regime takes time and means that things don’t always end up being put where they normally would go. The last I saw of the packets of mini eggs was on the counter top as the Milton solution dried.

Just where had they gone! We had a proper Easter Egg Hunt on our hands. Mick had a look in the obvious places that they could have gone. Nothing!! A girl look was needed!

Just where oh where had they gone?!

Drawers were opened up. The shopping bag drawer now filled with chocolate!

Not there.

I really must get round to tidying these

Nor there.

What about……..

YES!!!!

The first place I should have looked, at least it was the last!

To walk off some of the chocolate we took our rubbish for a walk up the locks to the bin. The big containers have gone from the works enclosure at the top of the locks.

Then we decided to follow the route I’d taken yesterday, just cutting it short to avoid the boggy patch. As we approached Stoke Manor we noticed a black plastic bag on top of a post. Then we turned down the lane and got to Stoke Manor Farm. Here was another black bin bag, what were they covering?

There’s another walking person under the black bag

Public Footpath signs. Is this because someone is isolating and don’t want people traipsing through their farm yard? Is it fear? Well I have to say it made our mind up, we’d follow the footpath on our maps across their yard along the Public Right of Way.

We headed across the fields and took a different path to reach Bridge 99. The fields seemed to be just a touch greener today, maybe Mother Nature had been hard at work overnight.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 Easter egg hunt necessity, 2 bags of eggs, 2 bin bags, 0 Easter epic, 2.4 miles walked, 1 roast chicken, 0.75″ too wide, 1 pulled out sock, 1 nosy neighbour, 1 worrying car.

Two Pronged Shopping. 9th April

Lockdown Mooring 2 to Nantwich to Lockdown Mooring 4

‘No Tilly, sorry’ was a phrase used a lot today. She just didn’t understand that every ten to fourteen days there will be one day where she isn’t allowed out. She was adamant, shouting at the back door, she’s forgotten all about BUMingham! I know we’d asked her to use shore based facilities and for the last ten days she has only visited her pooh box twice, today she could go as often as she wanted, But I’d rather go outside! Her four legs stayed crossed for much of the day, giving in mid afternoon, I could hear her relief.

Another warm, but overcast day to pootle into town. At the green double decker bus kids were playing with a hammock, glad I wasn’t the one lying in it! Then there is the field with what looks like hundreds of old tractors, someone’s collection maybe. All these sights will soon disappear as the hedges and trees are starting to turn green, the Blackthorn is certainly in full flower which is just wonderful.

Several boats had already passed us this morning, we passed them as we arrived at the embankment. There was a space just where the ramp comes up to meet the towpath so we tied up, collected our bags, a bike and the long shopping list and walked into town. It seemed busier than ten days ago, more cars and more people out walking. Last time we’d walked into town Mick had suggested maybe the pavements should become one way, everyone sticking to the left footpath (where two are available) to help with social distancing. We kept to the left, occasionally having to swerve into the road to avoid others.

Once in town we split up for a two pronged shopping attack. Whilst I headed to Morrisons for the majority of the shopping (single shoppers only), Mick went to pick up our meat order and then to Holland and Barrett.

I joined the queue at Morrisons, barriers snaking the line back and forth. I can’t help but people watch, some people just don’t get social distancing. There were a couple of young ladies who seemed to be together. One lady was fidgety as she smoked, swaying back and forth in the line. The gap between them and the old chap they chatted to infront varied between 3ft and 5ft, nowhere near 2m (sorry for mixing units). The chap didn’t seem bothered by it even though he had said to them that he wasn’t meant to leave home, being over 70, but he was now coming out more than ever!

Then there was the chap who leant on his trolley, smoking his roll up. A bit of tobacco straggling out the end was picked out, he then took another drag. Fingers, mouth. He may think he’d not touched the trolley with his fingers, but he had. Once his fag was finished he put on a pair of gloves for protection!

We wear gloves when shopping, mostly to remind ourselves not to touch our faces. There is still a need to wash your hands and disinfect things you touch, they just help to keep us aware until the next sink is within sight.

Holland and Barrett were closed today so Mick arrived before I’d got into Morrisons. We conferred across the queue, Mick headed to join the queue for Aldi. This meant that should there be things missing in Morrisons he could hopefully pick them up across the road.

I finally got into the store and was handed some disinfectant on a papertowel. Was this to clean my hands? The trolley? Both got a wipe and I started.

Stocks were pretty good, only expensive eggs though. The trolley quickly filled up. Our two pronged attack worked, a phone call before Mick had reached the check out and he got eggs and tinned tomatoes. A few other things were missing, but nothing that meant we’d starve. Sadly it looked like we’d be running out of space in bags and on the bike, so no easter eggs! Instead a couple of bags of mini eggs which would fit round other things in bags.

I elected to use a self scan conveyor. Less contact with the shop staff until you realise the cabbage you picked up doesn’t have a barcode! I could sort my shopping as I scanned without pressure. Fridge bag as normal and a bag we’d not need to touch for at least three days, this one can stay outside without being disinfected. All good.

Back at Oleanna the new system of disinfecting things was carried out and the spare items stowed in the cratch, so we wouldn’t have to squeeze past them in the coming days. Hopefully this will be the last time we’ll have to visit a supermarket for a few weeks. We have secured two deliveries over the next three weeks and will place an order with Clem’s the greengrocer from the market, maybe have a meat order delivered too.

As Mick moved us along to the winding hole I made a start on the very important job of making Hot Paw Buns. I mixed up the sticky dough as we crossed the aqueduct, pausing alongside NB Mountbatten to buy some kindling. A quick shower before we arrived back at the water point and then the fruit and spices were added to the dough and left to rise a second time as we pootled our way back towards Hurleston.

We’d made a note of a mooring we fancied trying where the towpath is quite wide closer to the junction.

Here gives us the option to sit out at a good distance from anyone on the towpath. Tilly gave it the once over, checking out the freshly ploughed shore based facilities. This would do, she got so distracted that when she finally came home for dingding she’d forgotten to go, so the only option left was her pooh box!

The Hot Paw Buns with their special filling were ready for us to sample for pudding whilst they were still warm. The marzipan paw print had gone slightly dark in the oven, but was still very very tasty.

Paw prints in marzipan for the final rise

This evening we joined in with the 8pm applause for all those who are looking after us, NHS, farmers, shop workers, carers, lorry drivers. People waved from the top of the reservoir, other boat horns could be heard and applause too in the distance. This week the wardrobe department from the ENO have been busy in their homes making scrubs for the NHS Link. Sarah the first lady in the time lapse was at college with me. I believe there are more wardrobe departments and props makers using their skills across the country doing this too.

0 locks, 5.18 miles, 2 winds, 2 straights, 2 pronged attack, 1 chicken, 1 pork pie, 9 sausages nicely defrosted, 0 market stall, 0 Holland and Barrett on Thursdays, 2 supermarkets, 2 queues, 4 boxes wine, 1 Indian, 4 bars chocolate, 1 loaf, 1 sad gits mince, 1 full water tank, 4th mooring with a garden, 1 pooh field, 8pm BEEP BEEP!

https://goo.gl/maps/VVhHgxwagaWSpDRc9

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna