Category Archives: Macclesfield Canal

Chocolate Fingers. 27th September

Bullocks Bridge to almost Hyde Bank Tunnel, Peak Forest Canal

We really need to get better at getting a move on in the mornings, we didn’t get going until 10:45, we’d a bit of catching up to do from yesterday, plus a flight of locks along with other things.

Three miles to Marple, it was windy! We were glad to see the chap still has his collection of things at Bullocks Bridge, spotted a boat that had come up Bosley ahead of us a few years ago, it doesn’t look like it ventures far now. A cat got a chin rub from a passerby, then had a serious grump on at a woofer on the towpath. Passing Goyt’s Mill a gust of wind caught my cap and very nearly had it in the drink!

A message came through from our house. A leak had manifested itself overnight following feral weather on the North Yorkshire coast. Some time was spent trying to talk to someone who’d be able to at least go and have a look to see what the problem was, all we got were answer phones to talk to, hopefully someone will call back.

**Sylvester and Peter keeping an eye open for fly tippers at the services**

There was one space left in Marple, we tried pulling in, the wind making it hard so an Andy manoeuvre was required. All very well except the local ducks were convinced I’d have several slices of white sliced and were positioning themselves right in the crush zone. I waggled my hands to try to get them to move, but they just thought it was pre-dinner entertainment and Mick thought I was suggesting he brought Oleanna in further. No ducks were harmed in the end and all they got from us was the weed on Oleanna’s hull.

Mick had a prescription to pick up and a pint of milk to buy. Then it was lunchtime. Then we could push off again. The new services in Marple have opened, big fanfare! They have been closed for years whilst some new housing was being built. But now there is a stone built building with elsan, water, toilet and if you go around the corner behind a locked door is a room filled with red Biffa Bins of all varieties! I should have hung onto our recycling. There are also many bird boxes, bird feeders and a rather nice bench all provided by Marple Men in Sheds. There are also five EV charging points, each space was full, no car was charging up though.

Under THE Macclesfield roving bridge and the end of the Macclesfield Canal. Left please! The top of the Marple flight of 16 locks, a drop of 207ft 10″ that’s very nearly 13ft each. Mick hopped off and topped up the top lock. Then we were on our way down.

A chap stopped to chat, as the water dropped I had to excuse myself as I’d no longer be able to hear him as Oleanna descended into the depths. He went to chat to Mick who had now come back having set the lock below filling. In Lock 15 I had quite a wait, Mick came back saying there was a boat coming up. With the pounds here being quite short and the wind blowing a hoolie we swapped over, he could do the do-ci-do.

**Mick waiting to move across the pound**

The lock below us had it’s bottom gates open, I could see the interested chap chatting away to the man from the uphill boat, the lock ready, but just chatting. They moved over into the next lock, once the bottom gates were closed I lifted a paddle so our locks worth of water would help fill their lock rather than just run round over the bywash. I opened our gates, the lady from the boat below opened her gate, the chap ignored the fact that the lock was ready and carried on chatting on the stern. Come ON!!!! Wake up smell the coffee!! The lady shouted repeatedly to him, I was about to join in and Mick had the back door of Oleanna open ready to give a blast on the horn. He looked up, ‘oh it’s ready, are the next gates open?’ Yes and there’s a boat that’s been patiently waiting for you to get a move on. The lady and I smiled a knowing smile at each other, we were on our way again.

**Gate beams overhang the lock bridges**

There’s always gongoozlers down Marple. There’s always pissers coming out of the lock walls going down Marple. In the next lock we paused so I could go below to close all the windows to save having puddles inside. The wind blew, the bywashes flowed making some hovering a little difficult. Mostly Mick walked on ahead to set the next lock filling whilst I closed the top gate and dropped paddles before waiting for him to return. One gongoozler said Mick was walking three times as far as the boat was moving. True.

The sun was out. In a couple of weeks the flight will be filled with golden trees, today it was still pretty.

One of the locks had very new looking paddle gear on the top gate, a recent stoppage this last week. Then as the water level dropped in one lock we could see where it had been rebuilt recently. New stone work with dints in it to try to mimic the older stonework. The Marple locks have had a tendency to narrow and several have had to be rebuilt in the last few years as they have narrowed too much. Quite a lot of the stone work overhangs in some of the chambers, stepping out by a few inches!

**Fancy stone work either side below the** lock

The bottom gates overhang the lock bridges, meaning you can operate the gates from the bridge, you just need to climb up to the top to operate the paddles. I’m a little bit short for some of the gates, but Mick didn’t seem to have a problem with them.

A boat was heading up, a lady appeared with a windlass. ‘They don’t half take time to fill these locks’ she said. As I passed NB Somerton the chap at the stern made mention of Tilly, I think his dog sat on the roof was Hannah. Nice to meet you even though very briefly.

**Rows of Chocolate Fingers to help you get your grip** (just humour me)

We descended the next lock, Mick said we’ll see how well the next few retain their water and I said to myself how nice it was that all the pounds were full, no struggling to get over cills today.

Then at the next lock we discovered why the uphill boat had been taking their time to ascend, a bottom paddle a good few inches up, there was also a top paddle partly open too. Some of the paddles won’t close fully if the gate is open, Mick had had to return to a few himself as we came down the flight.

Under the railway and across the aqueduct, views out towards the north east. Through Rose Hill Tunnel, no longer with a roof. We were now at our preferred mooring, but so were quite a few other boats. It took us a little while to be able to find a place to pull in close enough to the bank, only slightly on a list!

16 locks, 4.6 miles, 1 left, 1 new service block, 2 look outs, 1 months pills, 1 pint, 1 hat saved, 1 aqueduct, 1 very slow man, 1 hire boat catching us up, 0 time for shore leave.

Mine, It’s Mine! 26th September

Holland’s Bridge to Bullocks Bridge

A late morning waking up, it must have been all that sea air. No time for a cuppa in bed, we’d places to go, a new outside to tie up for Tilly. But it was raining! It had been dry virtually all the time Mick was away, now it just rains! Radar checked, it might be dry by 11:30. Time to edit more socks.

By 11:45 we were bored of waiting and made ready to push off, full winter waterproofs today, have to say I prefer my padded waterproof trousers , my summer ones need replacing. Through a couple of bridges to the water point by the C&RT yard. Here we could also empty the yellow water into our big container ready for an elsan. It rained.

Now how far would we get along the summit pound. Our aim was not far from Marple, but would we last that long? Thankfully the rain started to ease and with a locker lid mopped down I had somewhere to sit down.

One boat on the Macclesfield pontoon with a git gap in front of it! The pontoon isn’t straight so maybe they didn’t feel the need to nudge up as maybe there wouldn’t be enough room for one behind. Onwards towards Bollington. Under Bridge 29, a roving bridge which is always picturesque even if you can’t fit it all in the frame. Up on the hillside I could see a tower, I zoomed in. WC in it’s brickwork at the top a little white door next to it. Just what could it be. Mick checked the OS map and nothing was obvious. Was it a folly, a water tower, a ventilation shaft, a toilet?

On an old 1923 map the hillside shows several quarries and Turret Cottages, the tower had turrets. The cottages, now three, used to be two cottages, a smithy and an explosives store. More info can be found on the Happy Valley website Sadly I can’t find anything about the tower.

Under Bridge 28. The house right by the bridge for sale. This is where the Bollington zoo commences. Giant turtles, Crocodiles, Gorilla, a Panda and her baby, Giraffes everywhere if you look hard enough through the town.

Opposite the Adelphi Mill is Bollington Wharf the home to NB Alton the coal boat. Paul must have just stoked the back cabin stove as it wasn’t being a very good advert for the smokeless fuel! We waved and said hello to Brian and Ann-Marie busy filling the back of a van with 20 litres containers of red diesel, these most probably headed to boats in the area but not reachable on Alton.

The embankment would have had room for just one more boat, but we weren’t anywhere near ready to stop for the day. Earlier in the year the embankment sprung a leak. Clay was puddled a couple of times to stop the water escaping. New stop planks sit close to bridges either end of the embankment, just in case.

Past Clarence Mill where we slightly spooked a hire boat coming towards us. Then on under the wonderful Sugar Lane Bridge 26, built on a skew but retaining all the curvy attributes of the Macclesfield Bridges.

Past Lime View Marina. Would the same boats still be there? Was there still a phone in a pramhood, yes! The hedge alongside the towpath a touch too leafy to be able to see across towards Stockport. At last the Blue Boat, NB Jubilee Bridge whom we’d met on the Huddersfield Narrow back in our yellow days on NB Lillyanne.

Hang on! That boat, it’s mine! Well it’s got my name on it. Handy size for a theatre designers studio and it has a stove too. I wonder how many feet long it is? Wouldn’t need the outboard if we towed it. Hmmm.

A modern house is for sale overlooking the canal on the way into Poynton. A boat had just pulled up on the water point, taking their time in tying up. We wanted to drop off our rubbish, hoping that the bins were still there on the way to the car park. They were. So was the little conveyor belt in Bailey’s Trading Post that we’d seen back in 2020. Three boats nestled together behind the arched bridge at Braidbar Boats, two new boats being fitted out for excited boaters, the other we’ve seen about.

The wind was building up, rain couldn’t be far behind. Should we pull in opposite the moorings where the Del Boy boat now resides. The fencing now just about Tilly proof would stop her from getting lost for hours, but might not leave her with enough interest. Onwards that bit further and a space showed itself before Bullocks Bridge. We slotted in playing dog shit hopscotch as we tied up.

One job left to do, light the stove, we’d gradually got colder and colder outside, time to get Oleanna all cosy again.

I mastered some popcorn bobbles on pair 39 of my socks, these look a touch like autumnal berries. Unfortunately when I’d got so far with this pair I’d checked my gauge and it all seemed a touch too big, so I’d reduced my stitch count to four less. Now it was finished it seemed to have shrunk! I should have stuck to my instinct and kept the extra 4 stiches. Well at least it will allow me to add in a red line or two to help tie in the berries better when I re-knit the first sock tomorrow!

0 locks, 8.3 miles, 1 hour short of planned mooring, 1 full water tank, 1 Pip boat, 1 better than expected day, 2 hours, only 1 taken, 1 Tilly proof fence, 20 x 20 litres, 1 smoking boat.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/abSXfcJo5isRGdnR7

Duvet Day. 25th September

Holland’s Bridge

Tilly had the right idea this morning. I then had a better one.

To help use up some yoghurt I hunted out a recipe for some pancakes. It sounded good, light fluffy pancakes made with yoghurt, eggs and gf flour. I added in some blueberries too. They were nice, but I wouldn’t say they puffed up that much to be classed as fluffy though.

More sock editing, by the end of the day I’d managed to get half way through the photos, reducing the space they use up to about a fifth. I’ve also added a page to start showing off the socks I’ve knitted. This will gradually get added to, as and when I have the time.

I considered walking into Macclesfield to have a look round, but that would have meant a walk down a hill, to then walk up a hill, then the same on the return. My left knee suggested that my time would be better spent editing photos instead.

Quite a few boats have come past today, plenty of hire boats doing the Cheshire Ring, all bundled up to keep warm.

The ash bucket was moved to the stern of Oleanna for ease of access and the fire lit. Tilly only popped out a couple of times today then she just settled down on the sofa, being cosy. Much better than having an altercation over who the towpath belongs to with another boat cat two bows away. I’m sharing it nicely with them today as you suggested.

Mick’s train journey was a lot easier back from the south coast, this time via London, his final train arriving back into Macclesfield 7 minutes late. He managed to bring back the rain with him and some strong winds that make the nappy pin on the cruiser in front squeak in a really annoying way! I think tomorrow we’ll have to move on.

Left over campfire stew tonight with mashed potato. Just as nice as it was first time.

0 locks, 0 miles,10 more socks edited, 9 added to the blog, 357 photos deleted, 1 stove lit, 1 Mick home, 7 minutes late, 1 handy mini glass dome for model making, 1 rainy evening.

Coming Out Of My Ears! Pip and Tilly’s 23rd 24th September

Holland’s Bridge

Our location had been chosen for three reasons.

1 An outside that Tilly hopefully wouldn’t use up within one afternoon.

2 Somewhere not too far away from civilisation and shops to keep me occupied should I need supplies.

3 Near to a train station for Mick. Bollington had been considered but that would have meant a bus ride, here was just a walk down the hill to Macclesfield Station.

Monday.

Mick packed a bag after breakfast, then checked the status of his train, a direct service to Southampton. It was cancelled! Thankfully there was a train an hour earlier, so the packing had to be a touch quicker and off he went. Thankfully Tilly was far too busy to follow him along the towpath.

His trip? A belated 65th Birthday present from Marion and John, a days cruise around the Isle of Wight on the PS Waverley. Last year they had been booked on a trip from Portsmouth, but a storm meant it was cancelled and the PS Waverley ran away around the coast before the winds arrived. He is under instruction to take photos, even been sent with my camera, I’m hoping he’ll write a post about it.

Why haven’t I gone too? I don’t like lumpy water and the thought of being on a boat that might be lumping around all day is something I simply wouldn’t enjoy, I’d feel quite trapped, so I’ve opted to stay on board with Tilly.

My main job today was to wait for NB Alton to arrive. Out on their fortnightly run along the summit pound, we’d placed an order for some coal and a diesel top up. At 1:30 I heard the hooter as they came under Holland’s Bridge. Brian at the helm and Paul lugging the coal about. 2 bags on the roof and one in the well deck. Then they moved up to top us up on diesel, £1.04. Good to see Brian out on NB Alton, it’s always good to support the coal boats.

My knees were complaining today after working the locks on Saturday, but I managed a walk to the nearest post box and then around the block before returning to get on with some knitting. Pair of socks 38 had the top finished off. Yarn for pair 39 was selected, Autumn Golds. I may add some berries to them too as up on the Macc the trees are filled with them at the moment.

The afternoon was spent knitting in front of On The Basis Of Sex 2018. A film based on the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was the second woman to serve as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. She specialised in sex discrimination and the law, and takes on a case where a man was unfairly discriminated against because of his sex in a tax case. If she won then the case could be used as precedent challenging laws that discriminate against women.

**Tilly did a good job of keeping my knees nice and warm**. ***It’s a very important job***

Tuesday.

Mick was guaranteed to be having a cooked breakfast in his hotel this morning, so to be fair to myself I cooked some mushrooms on toast, very nice they were too. This was to give me enough energy to start weeding out photos. Our storage is constantly filled, so some time editing photos was needed.

Long gone are those days when you took a camera on holiday with you, a roll of film, maybe two if you could afford it. 36 frames if you were extra flush. Photo opportunities had to be considered, you couldn’t go wasting that film or flash cubes! Twelve years ago I took it upon myself to scan all my Dad’s slides and I was surprised at how few were rubbish! Maybe he’d wheedled them out, but knowing him they would have been there to keep the numbering system correct. I had to edit them, so scanned any with people and places that meant things to Andrew and myself. This gives us a wonderful resource to look back on when ever we want without having to arrange a dinner party, dig out the projector and a screen, then spend hours sorting the slides into order (that’s where the numbering system came in).

Now we have digital cameras, phones, all so easy to press the button three four times to get that one good shot. On a day like today I’ll take just a handful of photos, but on big days when ascending the Anderton Boat Lift I took getting on for 120, the night time flotilla on the Thames, well it could have been 3 to 400! As I go through them I edit out the bad ones, but there is more editing needed. Mick has already moved a couple of years of boating photos to a different Onedrive as we keep reaching our storage limit and we don’t want to pay for more space.

**Socks socks sock coming out of my ears!**

I had an idea when I started this years sockathon, a means of showing all the socks off. So as I finish a pair they need recording. Not just one photo, but several, hopefully one day I’ll find enough time to compile them all together. So I have a LOT of photos of socks, several of each. Today I sat down thinking I’d manage to get through the big folder and make it considerably smaller. Well after 4 hours of auditioning photos, I needed a walk.

Along the canal, past the Old Hovis Mill and the basin. The collapsed wall just by Black Road Bridge has been rebuilt, for years the rubble of the wall lay across the closed towpath. Now open, but big cracks are showing, it looks like someone has hoped that adding more mortar in places will help. I fear it’s only a matter of time before big chunks collapse again.

The pontoon moorings were full. I turned up Buxton Road to walk to the Co-op. A few new shops/cafes/bakery. Tommys Bar and Pizza looked interesting even though there was a big shutter behind the windows. Then a couple of doors up was Early Bird Bakes. Not open today and sadly they are unlikely to sell anything for me, but it looked very interesting. They are open four days a week and their bread takes 48 hours to make, lots of tasty sounding pastry labels sat on the empty shelves. I suspect it’s a place well worth a visit if you come this way.

This evening I’ve had a go at stuffing some peppers. The outcome was tasty, but I should have got the peppers cooking before I stuffed them! Next time! There’s two left over for lunch in the next couple of days too.

Reports from the south coast came through all day. Lots of every exciting things to look at, an hour of lumpy water, I was right not to go. I could track PS Waverley as it made it’s way round the Isle of Wight, even visiting a garden in Portsmouth!

By the end of the day I think I’d achieved editing 1/3rd of my sock photos. Guess what I’ll be doing tomorrow?

As a reward I turned on The Great British Bake Off, it must be autumn. Maybe I should have a go at the technical challenges each week as I’m not going to be busy with panto this year. But maybe our waistlines would like it too much!

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 sausage days, 0 one told me they were sausage days!!!! 79 litres, 3 bags coal, 2 short walks, 253 photos of socks down to 74, 53347279 left to edit.

What’s In The Trees? 22nd September

Crow Holt Bridge 52 to Hollands Bridge 39

There was an hours worth of shore leave whilst we had breakfast and joined the Geraghty zoom. Subjects included Blue Peter badges, pig swill, Tuesdays or Thursdays, copper nails and chicken costumes. Everyone was present today apart from Sean who hopefully wasn’t wearing a green trouser suit!

A few brave boats had come past us already. The wind and quite a lot of rain in the air. We’d have to brave it too as we needed to move nearer to Macclesfield or Bollington today. Winter waterproof padded trousers came out to go with waterproof coats and we pushed off a little after 11am.

Back in our NB Winding Down days we’d headed up this way one bonfire night hoping to be able to watch other peoples fireworks over looking Macclesfield. We didn’t manage to get far enough, so moored up close to a house and enjoyed our sparklers and a couple of fireworks of our own.

Today on the offside there was lots to glimpse at between the trees. What looked a bit like a bike track with ramps etc, all covered in plastic sheeting. Some of these have been made around trees and sections of walling have been added. Is this a hobbit town in the making on the steep bank? I’ve tried to find out about it but to no avail.

No locks today, just two swing bridges. Royal Oak Swing Bridge behaved itself and I managed to catch two cars as Mick brought Oleanna through. The Fools Nook pub is still for sale and a canal side house is coming along nicely with a very large glazed room which currently looks like it’s being used as a carpenters workshop. Wonder if they are aware that the end wall and french windows are leaning out at the top?

A line of armco right next to a great stretch of wood, perfect for Tilly, but too far away from shops, we carried on leaving a lady washing her roof down in the rain.

Broadhurst Swing Bridge was closed. I hopped off with the key of power to do the honours. This bridge is manual, pop your key in, turn, lift the handle to release the bridge, then push. It’s always been tricksy to find the right place to turn your key to, but someone has marked the position on the lock, very handy you just need to know to turn your key anti clockwise.

Now the big swing round to the Gurnett Aqueduct, views opening up to the hills even on a very wet day. There were a couple of spaces on the aqueduct, but what lay behind the fence was a little worrying for the cat health and safety committee, so here was rejected. NB Amy Jo and NB The Boat were moored up together at the far end, we’d last seen NB The Boat on the New Junction Canal in March.

**Looking down the houses at Gurnett Aqueduct**

Under Foden Bank Bridge 43, one of our favourites with it’s canal roving bridge hugged by a road bridge. The bridge builders had perfected their curves by the time they got to this bridge. Then we made our way along the side of the big wall that holds back the land east of the canal.

Between bridges 40 and 39 there is a stretch of mooring, we’ve once managed to pull in here. Back gardens open out into a wild field just perfect for cat exploration. Enough to keep Tilly occupied without needing to venture near to roads. We pulled in, adjusted our position a touch to avoid something under the water. Now we could settle down and get out of the rain. That’s when they open up the doors for me, so that I can get wet!

After lunch I put together a pot of Campfire Stew, so that it could slowly cook on top of the multifuel stove. I’d seen the recipe a week or so ago and fancied a go at it, you are meant to do it in a slow cooker, but it worked well on the stove. Jacket potatoes cooked in their too to accompany it, plenty of left overs for another meal next week. Very tasty, I’ll be making that again.

0 locks, 4.3 miles, 2 swing bridges, 2 held up, 1 wet and windy day, 1 ideal mooring 4 cat, 4 Mick, 4 Pip, 1 big vat of campfire stew.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/R2VXzQcfCxMfwujW7

Robing Peter. 21st September

River Dane Aqueduct to Crow Holt Bridge 52

Supplies were on board for a breakfast, best to use them up before they go off, plus it would give us fuel to work up the Bosley flight this morning. Tilly was given an hour to explore, returning in good time for our departure. Several boats arrived to go up the flight. Two ascended the first lock, here there is enough space to wind and then descend back to the long pound below. When we arrived one such boat was just starting to come back down, they’d had to empty the second lock to have sufficient water to wind. They were planning a cooked breakfast too, the lady stayed to help with gates and paddles leaving the men on board to put the frying pan on.

**Such a lovely mooring below the locks**

I opted to work the first few locks, knowing there would be some problems with levels on the flight, we could always swap over should we need to. The Bosley flight have double gates both top and bottom, meaning no heavy gates to push, you just have to do a bit of walking round as there is no walkway across the top gates.

**Turning under the bridge for lock 11**

Today would be spent trying to estimate whether there was sufficient water to get Oleanna over cills. At Lock 12, the bottom lock, it didn’t look too promising, I walked up to run some water through. Half a lock and the wave it created helped to get Oleanna out of the lock and into the pound on the corner.

The next pound also looked a touch low, we’d not see any by washes flowing today on the flight. Third lock up there was a boat coming down, that would help with levels. They were taking their time, so when Mick could step off Oleanna I walked up to lend a hand. As I went to lift a paddle I turned to check the chap on the boat was ready, his partner said, ‘you won’t get anything from him!’ Oh well, if something happened as the boat descended I’d be blaming it on the bottle of red at the stern.

We thankfully seemed to meet downhill boats at most locks, bringing down water with them, rather than us robbing Peter to pay Paul. People kept mentioning the pound between locks 6 and 7 being really low, but they also mentioned that it was most probably sorted by now, but keeping to the middle would help.

At every lock I’d gauge how far down the cill was before the water raised over it. Trying to work out where the level would need to be for Oleanna to get over the cill, every pound looking a good 18″ to 2ft low.

I requested my walking pole. I’d rather be operating the locks than trying to get Oleanna out of a fix due to low water. The A team were needed both on the ground and at the helm, if my knee complained I’ve a few days rest before anymore locks.

Up lock 7, I could see a boat just coming into 6. I lifted the paddles at 7 and up rose Oleanna, the level stopping a good couple of feet low. Mick brought Oleanna out of the lock, enough water, and then reversed back in so as to avoid any affects from the building wind the higher we got on the flight. Water came down from above and then both boats headed across the pound. Oleanna had already grounded by the time the downhill boat got close. They got closer still just about nudging one another before the other boat could continue.

**Lots of mud moving about, but not Oleanna**

Oleanna didn’t slide back into the channel as hoped as the other boat headed away. Plenty of revs, swilling up the mud, it took some time to get free and back heading to the lock. Then she stopped again. We’d need more water no matter what. The pound above looked okay, hopefully a wave of water would lift her and get her moving again. I wound up a paddle, it had the required effect, Oleanna started to move again, only to stop short of the lock. More water required enough to help her in over the bottom cill. Here’s hoping there was enough water in the pound above to reach the next lock.

Was that a boat ahead coming down or going up? I’ve been fooled heading to lock 5 before as it’s actually lock 4 where you can see people moving. Which ever lock it was they were heading away from us.

I walked up to lock 4, leaving Mick to close the gates behind as he exited. Only the wind caught Oleanna’s bow, pushing it towards the towpath and leaving it there on the bottom. Mick reversed back to the lock and tried to straighten her out, to no avail. The boat pole was needed to give her a big shove, this took time for her to start moving, then it was get back on board quickly before it could happen again.

The higher you get on the flight the better the views. Today the sun was out, only a few clouds in the sky, just a shame that the wind was getting stronger. In the past we’ve had fog, we’ve had murmuration’s of birds, we’ve had very hot days sandwiched between two single handers, plus we’ve had lots of mud. But every time we’ve enjoyed the flight.

**Not bad looking the other way either**

A downhill boat came into view, but they were pinned against the bank by the wind below Lock 2. The lady went to help. Pole and engine together got them moving and into the lock, more water for the pound below. I warned them about the levels further down, the lady warned me about the level up to lock 1!

I walked on ahead, not wanting to end up with both of us on the boat stuck in the middle, not being able to let water down. But the pound was pretty good, just about on the bywash, the only one that had been!

We rose up to the top. The A team had succeeded bringing Oleanna onto the summit pound of the Macclesfield Canal. Low levels hadn’t stopped us and Mick being at the helm giving her some wellie helped too and thankfully the lock gates were light enough not to cause me problems.

**Sadly the beautiful day wasn’t to last much longer**

Water, rubbish and yellow water were sorted. Then we fought our way off the bank and gradually cruised our way past the line of moored boats without the wind pushing us into them. Time to moor up. Thankfully there was some armco a short distance on which would do us. Tilly was given three hours shore leave, most of which she used despite rumbles of thunder rolling around the hills.

The wind got stronger. The rain came, thunder, lightening, a few good cracks. The upturned pan over the mushroom vent PINGed as rain hit it. One or two rogue drips made it inside, but it was far far better than it had been with a rusty bottomed mushroom vent. Here’s hoping the pan is still there in the morning!

12 locks, 1.7 miles, 1 bottom cill, 4 top cills, 0nly just enough water, 6 or 8 downhill boats, 2 poles, 1 attempted push, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 27 cracks of thunder, 1 very very close, 1 upturned pan pinging away.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8n5xhbGgMLafpBfD9

UB40 For Breakfast. 20th September

Limekiln Lock 42 to the Dane Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal

Today had a touch of a musical theme to it.

UB40 with There’s a fish in mi bed what am I gonna do?

This morning a notice came through from C&RT, the locks at both ends of the Macclesfield Summit were to reopen this morning at 9am the level on the summit pound having been restored. Volunteer Ken had been right yesterday, in that it wouldn’t be long before they opened up again. Cruising Plan A31 could now be put into action. Just a shame that by early afternoon we’d had another notice from C&RT saying that due to vandalism and pounds being drained the Huddersfield Narrow was closed between locks 4E and 6E. We hope this will have been sorted by the time we get there.

We pushed off a little after 11am, there was just one more of the Cheshire locks to ascend. I decided to work the lock and let Mick bring Oleanna up. Then it was the 90 degree right hand turn at the junction.

Last time we came along here, we still had covid restrictions, a group of friends sat outside on their balcony bundled up in coats. Today as we turned towards the Macclesfield Canal autumn arrived. Wind and the fluttering of leaves from the trees, we’ll soon be commenting on leaf porridge/soup.

The boat yard just before you turn to go over the Trent and Mersey has gone, the buildings look quite dilapidated and no boats are moored outside. Looking down across to where we’d come from, no-one had taken up our mooring yet. A giant weed island was tethered to the offside bank by rope, just where we were to pass an oncoming boat.

ABBA with Thank you for the burping the wind you’re giving

A Heritage Hire boat was just going up Hall Green Lock, all 1ft 3″ of it. With double gates at the top the chap walked round to the other end of the lock to open both gates and then when closing them he did the same. A very long way round when you can just walk over the stern of your boat to close the other gate, but that’s one of those things you pick up. They had difficulty moving off, would we?

I reset the lock, the woofers in the lock cottage woofed away as I clicked the paddles up. Should we stop for water here, no we’d do that in Congleton instead.

Hall Green Bridge 92 is the first with the Macclesfield shaping. The bottom of the arch curves inwards towards the water and the sides of the bridge curve outwards to meet the ground. Lovely, just annoying that someone has moored their boat right in front of it!

Teapot Hall is for sale, and Rosie the boat that used to moor close by is nestled on a mooring a touch further away. I wonder if the tea pots are part of the sale? The first time we ever came this way we had another boat right up our stern, they soon asked to over take us hire boaters. We didn’t catch up the Heritage boat ahead, they were returning to base anyhow and I suspect our progress through bridge holes would be slower than theirs.

Tilly railings came into view, so did Ramsdell Hall. There was space for one more boat at the 2 day mooring, but we’d not travelled far enough yet to stop for the day or lunch. We carried on another mile or so before pulling over for a quick lunch, our stern not wanting to meet with the bank. Will this be the way of the Macc?

Beatles with Being for the benefit of Billy Tights

Onwards slowly. We always forget how slow the Macc is for us. Coasting through bridges is often quicker than under power. The big white wall of Congleton came into view, only two boats moored up. Over the aqueduct.

**Do you ever feel like the odd one out?**

Now we had boats coming towards us, just as the bridges increased in number. These must be boats that had come from the locks this morning. I think by the time we’d moored up I’d counted ten.

The first and second roving bridges of the Macc. The first has a little grace with one path curving round. The second tries but has two corners to it’s shape, a touch too blunt. Maybe these were the first roving bridges on the Macc and they got better and better the closer they got to Macclesfield and then excelled themselves at Marple.

We refrained from topping up with water on the long straight and continued onwards under bridge after bridge after bridge.

We passed boats on moorings with views, we passed boats with reputations made this summer, we passed the mooring we’d stopped at for a trip to York Hospital in 2020 which was cancelled at the last minute. We were checked out by cows. The Cloud hill now in view, dark moody clouds surrounding it.

Did we dare carry on to the aqueduct, or should we stop before, there might be lots of boats wanting to go up the locks after they’d been closed for a few days. We chanced it and found plenty of room to pull into. The sun even came out and so did Tilly for an hours shore leave. Washed bedding hung on the whirligig making the most of what was left of the days warmth, then the stove was lit and we got cosy inside whilst wind blustered around us.

2 locks, 10.4 miles, 2 canals, 1 right, 1 island, 1 shallow canal, 1 hour shore leave, 0.3 of a sock knitted, 1 happy cat, 1 stove lit, 1 blustery night.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FhZRuq1GCy6ie1Dp8

A Boating Fix. 19th September

Rode Heath to above Limekiln Lock 42

The aim was to set off at 10am this morning. Bridget and Storm were going to see if they could park their van up near Red Bull, if they could then they’d walk back down the locks to meet us, we got a message to say they’d succeeded. We pushed off in the slightly chilly morning.

**ZZ Top just about to push out and Bridget waiting for us**

As we approached the bottom of the Lawton Locks we could see we’d caught up with the ZZ Top boat, they were American, husband, wife and brother. One of them had walked up to set the locks ahead and our crew sat on the lock beams awaiting our arrival, both bottom locks open and awaiting a boat.

With three crew we were up the first lock quicker, Mick, Storm and Bridget lifted paddles for the other boat on the paired lock. Next a single lock, we moved on first leading the way and lifting a paddle to empty the lock behind us.

With locks already empty ahead and three experienced crew we were sailing up the locks. It’s lovely to have extra hands to help, but even better when you just know they know what they are doing and should anything go wrong they will react in a necessary way. One person could happily walk on ahead to open gates.

By Halls Lock the sun had burnt through any morning mist that had lingered, it was going to be another wonderful day on the cut.

At Church Bottom and Top Lock a chap appeared with a windlass wanting to come down, we left the bottom lock with it’s gate open for him. But then there was no sign of him and his boat. ZZ Top could be seen approaching, Bridget walked down to let them know what was happening, just as the chap rounded the bend towards the top lock.

Everyone hopped on board to cruise up to the next line of locks. I could move Oleanna straight from one lock to the next with such efficient crew. Only one downhill boat was passed and that was just below Red Bull Lock.

The building here used to be C&RT offices, but there are new owners now. Despite the big blue sign boasting all the services here, there is now a padlock on the toilet and shower door, these services now lost to boaters. A long time ago there used to be washing machines and driers here too. At least there is still water, rubbish, elsan and a pump out.

Here a gang of C&RT volunteers were packing up for the day, they tend to trim the towpath and keep things looking neat and tidy along this stretch, they do a very good job. As Oleanna rose in Red Bull Lock one of the volunteers came to chat. It was obvious we wouldn’t be needing an extra pair of hands. He asked Bridget which way we were going, he wanted to make sure we knew about the current stoppage at Bosley Locks, the summit pound of the Macclesfield currently closed after a sluice malfunctioned dropping the level.

As Oleanna rose I got chance to chat to Ken, the volunteer. He normally works the Bosley flight but as it’s closed he’d come to join the work party here, then see if he could be of assistance to anyone. Our chosen route to Yorkshire is via the Macc, we’re hoping that the levels improve before we get there. Ken thought they might reopen the locks later today, it shouldn’t be too long anyway. We still have a back up plan should anything ahead of us go wrong, well that was until we later in the day heard that the lock beam at Colwick Lock on the Trent and Mersey had failed and the navigation was now closed!

One more lock to rise up before we stopped for the day. Once moored up, I checked Google Earth, the trees looked safe for Tilly, out she went SHOUTING her head off with excitement. Lunch was had onboard Oleanna with cruising flapjack for pudding. The it was time for Bridget and Storm to head off to their baby sitting duties.

What a lovely couple of days it’s been with them. Have they got the boating bug again? I don’t think they ever lost it, at least we’ve given them a fix to keep them going for a while longer.

A load of washing was hung out to dry, then once Tilly returned Mick and I headed off to Tescos for a stock up. Yes Lidl is closer, but they don’t have much in the way of gluten free things for me which needed replenishing. Back on board the stove was lit, I made a giant cauliflower cheese with extras, enough left over for one which was popped in the freezer for later.

11 locks, speedily ascended, 2.6 miles, 4 smiling crew, 0 mellow, 1 splattery poo, 1 lovely day to be boating, 4 hours shore leave curtailed to 2, 2 more awarded later, 2 boxes wine, 1 fully laden bike, 1 boat back where it left 2 weeks ago.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GwyidTP5omKgjmm76

Jiggering And Jolleying. 4th September

Bridge 118 to below Plants Lock 41

Well that new detector! It’s position on the ceiling directly over my head whilst in bed was a problem last night. Around the big test button is a ring of green light which flashes every 30 seconds or so. All detectors tend to flash, but this one was SO BRIGHT that it felt like the aliens were invading. Yes I tried turning over and I did have my eyes closed but the light flashed through my eye lids time after time after time! I’m aware that I was awake trying to ignore it for at least two hours, thankfully then I fell asleep.

**Byebye, see you again somewhere sometime**

We couldn’t be tardy this morning, we’d something to tick of the ‘Next Time’ list. A quick chat with Mike on NB Alchemy before we pushed off. It was really good to be able to meet up, until next time, happy cruising for the remainder of the year.

A mile and a half to cruise and we pulled in on the visitor moorings at Middleport Pottery, with a booking for Harecastle Tunnel this afternoon we hoped there’d be enough time for us to enjoy the pottery. You can wonder around the site for free, but if you pay then you get to go inside various rooms and workshops, if you pay more you can get to go round the working Burleigh Pottery Factory. We opted for the Heritage Trail. With green stickers and a key fob we could guide ourselves round the pottery.

Middleport Pottery was the first pottery to be designed by an architect, the whole process of the factory taken into account with the products flowing through from one area to the next. In came the clay by boat, off loaded, it was cleaned, made ready for which ever process it was destined for, slip for casting, put through a pug mill for Jiggering, Jolleying and pressing into various shapes and patterns. Drying. Biscuit firing in bottle kilns, patterns applied, glazes painted or dipped on, dried again, then into the Glosting bottle kilns for their final firing, then packed up and loaded back onto boats to head of to be sold.

**Dane returning with a hold full of people**

Here in Stoke they had both clay and coal, the canal alongside aided the more reliable transportation of the finished goods. Dane normally sits outside the pottery, but today it was on a cruise through Harecastle Tunnel. Those on the trip were on board from 10am, we passed them coming back a little after 2pm.

There’s a wonderful model of the factory how it originally was, made in ceramic (what else!) this shows the seven bottle kilns that used to be in the factory. Three for biscuit firing (the ceramics could be stacked close for firing) then four for glost kilns (the ceramics needed more space once glazed so as not to stick together in the firing). When the clean air act came in in 1956 new methods of firing were found, gas taking over from coal, tunnel kilns were developed to save having to stack everything up around a bottle kiln, blocking the door and then lighting fires to raise the temperature to over 1000 degrees. Six of the original bottle kilns were demolished, the one that remains does so as it was a part of another factory building and not stand alone.

We saw the old offices. Phones rang as you walked past, if answered you’d get the story of an office worker. We watched a film about the factory processes making all the pottery, then looked at examples of Japonica tea sets, Churchill Toby Jugs, other fancy items.

**Rooms now taken over by independent studios**

Round past various independent studios we had the opportunity to look round a quarter of the moulds used which had been stored in roof spaces around the factory.

Commemorative plates, Toby Jugs, vases all sorts, an amazing collection of jelly moulds too. A mould could only be used so many times before a new one had to be made from the master.

**Looking upwards between the brick walls of a bottle kiln**

The Placing House and Bottle Kiln were next. In the placing house Saggers (rough clay containers used to protect the finer pottery whilst in the bottle kiln) were meticulously packed to make the most of the space, then they were carefully positioned in the bottle kiln, piled high one on top of the other right to the top. More delicate items such as plates would be packed nearer the centre of the kiln. Then once full the door would be bricked up and fires lit around the outside of the inner skin of the kiln, ramping up the temperature to a maximum of 1000 to 1250C, this was maintained for two to three hours before the kiln was allowed to cool down. As soon as it was possible to enter the kiln, the men would start to unpack it dressed in many layers to protect them from the heat. Pay was based on the quality of the goods coming out of the kiln, so if a firing went wrong the wages weren’t paid.

The bath house has a wonderful line of sinks, just enough room to stand in front of them, no elbow room. A deep deep bath tub sat in another area. Was there just the one between all the workers, or several? During WW2 the bath house was one of eleven areas earmarked as air raid shelters, it could hold 38 of the 500 employees, thankfully the shelters were never needed.

The Lancashire Boiler produced steam to power the steam engine next door which kept many things moving in the factory.

Time for a break and some lunch. We could have had oatcakes, we could have had some Lobby (a beef stew) but we opted for jacket potatoes and a cuppa each obviously in suitable cups. Very nice and better than the potato wedges we’d had at Shugborough a few weeks ago.

Next we just had time to look round the Lodgekeeper’s House. A two up two down house with projections of people telling stories of their lives in Stoke. Very interesting, but the rooms lacked a little bit in atmosphere.

It was now 2pm time to push off, we’d the tunnel booked for 3pm. We’d enjoyed the pottery, however it still sits on the ‘Next Time’ list as I’d now like to do a factory tour and have a peruse around the independent studio spaces. The seconds factory shop was still WAY too expensive for anything to be purchased. I’m glad that around 30-40 years ago I visited the factory when it was closed and riffled through skips with a friend, we were students at the time. Items that were not too faulty in our eyes were pulled out and later I was allowed to visit my old school and give them all a clear glaze and fire them. Not the most expert job, but it did give me a set of Burleigh ware bowls and various other items which today would have cost me several hundred pounds.

We pushed off. At Westport Lake a hire boat pushed out in front of us. They went slowly, we followed at tick over, would we make it to the tunnel by 3pm? Thankfully yes. They pulled in ahead of us and a Tunnel Keeper came to talk to them. This took quite a long time as their English wasn’t so good, getting them to shine their head light and sound the horn was testing the keepers patience a touch. As soon as he’d decided that they’d understood everything he came to talk to us.

**Can you show me your light and sound the horn? Please?**

‘Your lucky!’ Why? We’d booked. ‘Your not in the book’. But we booked. I checked the confirmation email. The Tunnel Keeper and Mick were both correct. We had booked and we weren’t in the book for today because Mick had booked our passage for the 11th! We were lucky as someone else had booked and we could tag along behind them, phew!

We whizzed through our safety briefing and were let into the tunnel a few minutes after the hire boat. Our normal speed would be reduced by their normal speed, go too slowly in a tunnel and you loose your steering and end up biffing the walls. Once we’d cleared the portal the doors closed behind us and the loud drone of the big fans kicked in to help ventilate the tunnel. It took a few hundred meters for us to be able to hear each other again.

Around 50 minutes later we emerged at the Kidsgrove portal. The tunnel Keeper here doing his best to keep a group of school kids off the CRT boat. The kids then turned their attention to us, the usual ‘Can I have a ride Mr, I’ve never been on one before’ ‘How much did it cost?’ ‘I could run and jump onto your boat from here’ We talked to them, suggested it would be a bad idea, hoping that we knew they’d not try, but you never know. They soon walked up the steps towards the station and forgot about us as we did about them.

The hire boat had tried turning long before reaching the junction, but managed to get round after a bit of faffing leaving the way ahead clear for us. We dropped down Plant’s Lock 41, the first from the summit pound, and chose where to moor up, easy as we were the only boat in the pound.

A visit to Lidl was required, then Mick headed to Tescos for bits Lidl don’t do and to pick up a prescription whilst I set about preparing cruising sustenance for a busy day tomorrow.

1 lock, 5.5 miles, 1 tunnel, 1 pottery finally visited, 0 shore leave AGAIN! 2 jackets, £15 for a 2nds cup, 11th September, 2 lucky boaters, 1 straight on, 1 batch short crust, 1 tin of oaty apple energy, 1 folded bit of card over the flashing green light!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JQRSHzqPx19ptvvL7

Breakfast At Brighouse. 27th March

Kirklees Top Lock to Sainsburys, Brighouse

Thankfully it wasn’t raining when we woke, over our cuppa in bed we decided to make our final move off the river before breakfast, after all we’d only an hour left to reach our goal and to end up missing it for a day or so because of a bowl of cereal, well. As we rolled the covers up ready for cruising a cruiser appeared up the lock behind us. No point in rushing to share a lock as that would be too risky in these short locks, we quite often have to go diagonally to fit, tucking in behind one of the bottom gates.

It’s a shame we couldn’t have moored a little further on as the woods had Tilly’s name stamped all over them, but we would have been closer to the M62, the noise level considerably more than where we’d been last night.

Anchor Pit Flood Gate was open waiting for us, we looked around to see if we could see the level board, tucked away in the corner of a gate recess, I only had time to spot it’s location but not the level it showed, hopefully it was amber. Since we’ve been keeping an eye on levels the EA website has shown the level at Brighouse to be 0, a constant 0. This is no help what-so-ever! Thankfully Gaugemap does show heights, minus heights. The level seemed to have gone up by a couple of inches since yesterday, so thank goodness the flood gate was still open.

The cruisier had pulled up on the lock landing, here it is actually quite long, except the end of it is fenced off as there’s not much left that would take anyone’s weight. There was nowhere I could hop off to help him up the lock. He waved us on. Mick and I both tried shouting that we were over long and that he should go first, he stopped chatted to someone, waved again. We weren’t about to jump the queue so waited patiently for him to return to his boat and get out of the way!

Up at the lock were two chaps who were gauging whether to come down onto the river. The gauge here was touching red. They were moving an ex Shire Cruise hire boat to Castleford for some work to be done with the aim of purchasing it. This meant it was still insured by the hire company and they were waiting to see if they were happy for them to proceed onto a river in the red! This meant there were plenty of hands to help.

We worked the cruiser up. He’d bought the boat in Goole and was moving it to Northampton. Because Vazon Sliding Bridge is out of action at the moment he was having to cross the Pennines to head south. First he’d thought of doing the Huddersfield Narrow, but they don’t allow cruisers through the tunnel. Now he was faced with all the Rochdale Locks. He’d then planned on going up the Ashton and up the Peak Forest onto the Macc, he had no idea that the Marple flight was closed. We later told him he’d need to book Tuel Lane Lock if he wanted to be through before the weekend, then the summit pound, then the Bridgewater. What he’d thought would be a relatively easy trip was turning out to be far longer, he’d already asked work for an extra ten days off. This all sounds familiar. When we first crossed from Manchester on the Rochdale on Lillian ten years ago, we teamed up with a single hander, who’s Nicholsons guide was so old that he ‘d taken a wrong turning leaving Manchester. His guide didn’t show the Rochdale being open, after twenty odd locks with us he asked when he’d reach the Bridgewater Canal!

Next it was our turn up the bottom lock and off the river, our last stretch of river for a while that could hold us up. I’d checked the blog from when we were here last, I knew that lifting the gate paddle anything but slowly would fill our well deck with water, so I took it cautiously, lifting the Hebble paddle second just to finish off.

The chaps on the hire boat had kindly emptied the top lock for us and helped close gates. Once up Mick reversed Oleanna onto the water point. Time for a celebratory shower as the tank filled up.

The hire boat headed for the lock, the company must have given them the go ahead. By the time they reach Castleford the chap at the helm will have got the hang of pointing the boat in the right direction, just as well as it’ll be his home!

**We can all breath a sign of relief now**

We moved onto the moorings, told Tilly this was Bumhouse and she’d not like it, even worse than Bumingham! She settled down as we settled down for breakfast, which was very nearly lunch.

A prescription was ready and waiting for Mick in Sewerby Bridge, so he caught the 9 minute train to pick it up. Sadly the Chemist was closed for lunch on his arrival so his return was delayed somewhat. A look in Screwfix for a new kitchen sink plug, nothing suitable without replacing the whole thing, we’ll cope for a while longer.

Next was a restock at Sainsburys. the wine cellar needed topping up and we’d not stopped off in Mirfield for a duck. Sadly no ducks on the shelves here, but there was a Lidl not far away. Thankfully they had what we wanted and some bananas which seem to only be available in Lidl at the moment. A quick visit to Boyes to see if they could help with a plug, a rubber universal one was on sale for £1.10, so we’d not be wasting much money if it didn’t do the job.

By the time we’d stowed everything we decided we’d stay put for the night, an extra rope from the stern would stop us from swinging about on long ropes, it’s always been windy here. To celebrate being off the rivers we treated ourselves to fish and chips Blakeley’s do a gf batter and as we wanted haddock rather than cod even Mick’s fish was cooked to order, very nice it was too.

2 locks, 1.5 miles, 1 ex hire boat, 1 cruiser, 1 full water tank, 1 clean Pip, 1 bored cat, 4 boxes wine, 0 plug, 1 months drugs, 2 trains, 1 duck, 6 big bananas, 0 hot cross buns left, slow internet, fish and chips twice!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VtjuW5p53v953R5k9

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna