Category Archives: Theatre Design

Six Years. 23rd July

Greenberfield Bottom Lock to Keld Well Bend, the Curly Wurlys.

A damp day sadly but we hadn’t planned to go far and it was all on the flat. We pushed off just gone 10 with our post breakfast cuppas in insulated mugs, meaning we’d get going sooner.

The farmers were still out turning the grass and raking it up ready for collection. NB Whistle Down The Wind showed off its steam chimney and water gushed into the canal on a bend, obviously being pumped from somewhere.

After a couple of miles we reached East Marton and the Double Arched Bridge. This is where we moored on our second night whilst on our first hire boat together, not quite managing to reach a mooring where we could walk across the fields to Thornton-in-Craven to a friends house for a meal. A lift had to be provided and we were glad of it after 12 locks and 5 swing bridges that day.

The Cross Keys pub at East Marton also has memories for me. This is where my best friends Grandad, Grandpa Lee used to bring us to celebrate his birthdays. A long table would be laid out for his 15 to 20 guests for Sunday lunch all ending with Grandpa Lee telling us a shaggy dog story and nearly always getting the punch line wrong having to be corrected by his grandchildren who’d heard it numerous times before. I always give a wave to him as we pass.

We pulled in at the water point just a little further on to top up the tank. I had a walk back to take some more photos of the bridge. I’m considering turning my illustration/painting skills to capturing scenes from our canal journeys to add to my Etsy shop which could do with a bit of a boost. Hopefully if popular this would give us a touch of pocket money whilst income from theatre is none existent.

With the tank full we pushed onwards, not much further, with our fingers crossed. We hoped that we could find space at our favourite mooring on the curly wurlys.

The canal sticks to it’s contour and winds round Langber TV mast, first it’s on that side then ahead then the other side, but soon you forget it is even there as the views open up around you.

We could see that there were boats. One along the last straight before the canal ties itself in knots. A cruiser on the end of the bend. A grey boat sat where we thought we’d like to be, we pulled just past it, maybe a touch too close to the bend. I walked round to see what space there might be on the other side. Two boats but a length just in front of them which seemed to be just a touch further from the bend than where we’d pulled up. We pulled round and moored up, hoping we were leaving enough space in front of the first boat so they still had a view from their cratch.

When asked by people which is our favourite canal we say the Leeds Liverpool. When asked which is our favourite bit, we say the curly wurlys. Last time we came through we didn’t manage to climb the locks early enough in the day to reach here as it was dark.

Time to see what Tilly made of it. Well she had a good sniff around and then jumped on the wall. Yep not bad. NOt bad!!! She just wanted to get her head down and find friends.

The afternoon stayed damp. My starter stayed flat. I’m running out of brown rice flour and am getting a touch disillusioned with it. I fed it one last time and decided to use the discard to make some crackers. A good amount of fresh rosemary and thyme went into the mix along with a scattering of sea salt. The result was really quite tasty and certainly crunchy. I may be making more of these!

I’d found a pack of gluten free pizza dough in the drawer the other day, so that was used instead of a sourdough base. It was okay, but lacked much taste and was only a vehicle for the ham, caramelised red onion and goats cheese topping.

We also finished watching the second half of Amadeus from the National Theatre. Salieri and Mozart were great performances. It was enjoyable but I really wished I’d been sat in the theatre as there were obviously things happening just out of shot that I’d like to have seen.

Three boats came past. Two hire boats who we thought had managed the bend well, so we looked away. Then a big bang followed by a 58ft 6inch scraping noise all the way along our rubbing strakes. The boat in front of us was a touch more peeved than we were, shouting out their hatch as the scraping noise continued for another 50 odd foot before the tiller was pushed over, as the hire boat ended up facing into the off side bank. They were being followed by another boat who had been managing to hold their course well until they had to slow down. Mick offered tiller advise which helped. They were both just heading to wind, but luckily they returned with out making contact.

Today there has been a flurry of emails regarding Chippy Panto. So far there is no news. The government have only given the entertainment industry aspirational dates for reopening to full houses. Under current guidance Chippy would only be able to have 40 to 75 in the audience, not enough to cover the cost of opening the building for the day and all the additional cleaning required between performances. Along with audience safety there is also the safety of the acting company and creative staff both on stage and off in such a building. It may be that all entrances have to be from SL and all exits SR and no audience participation! Not quite panto.

The doors currently remain firmly closed to help preserve the theatres future for years to come. The Governments rescue package still has no guidelines as to how it will be distributed and whether it could be used to guarantee the show. We all carry on waiting.

On a much lighter note, the title of todays blog. Six Years ago today we climbed into our Peugeot 207SW dropped keys off to our house with the rental agency in Scarborough and headed to Sowerby Bridge where NB Lillyanne (Lillian) our bright yellow boat had been waiting for us. Houdini our second mate did not know what was happening and found a shelf in the wardrobe very comforting for the first few days. So six years ago we set out for a year afloat and we’re still here, on our favourite mooring. Not a bad way to celebrate, well we’ll postpone the celebrations till tomorrow when hopefully the weather will have improved.

Our mooring here on the 3rd September 2014

0 locks, 3.78 miles, 1 double bridge, 1 full water tank, 1 wave, 1 damp day, 0 sourdough pizza, 1 boring doves pizza, 32 tasty crackers, 0 news about 0 news, 1 woofer stand off, 360 degree views, 6 years.

https://goo.gl/maps/PRCaTijmr3YLtCKt8

Up Up Up! 14th July

Scotsman’s Flash to Haigh Golf Club, Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Main Line

The view yesterday hadn’t really been worth lining up with our galley window. The bank being really quite high meant that even when stood up on tip toes the view of the flash sat behind the towpath.

We tip toed around the goose pooh and pushed off reaching Poolstock Bottom Lock a little before 8am. These locks are locked overnight to help conserve water levels in the Wigan area. We’ve come across one of the pounds being very very low before in Wigan, the wait for C&RT to fill it sufficiently for us to scrape along the bottom took into the afternoon and Mick even managed to polish some of Lillian’s mushroom vents whilst we waited. This morning the locks were unlocked and waiting for us, plenty of water about.

By 8:20 we’d ascended the two locks, clicking the anti vandal locks back on at each paddle. At Wigan Junction we turned right, a quick look to the left and we could see crew working the lock, this was likely to be NB Billy who we had a rendez vous with just around the bend.

Last night on the Wigan Flight Crew page there was mention of another boat moored below the locks and four facing the top of the flight, possibly waiting to comedown this morning. We pulled in behind NB Merganser and I walked up to chat with the Lock Keepers. We had arranged to share the locks with NB Billy, but Billy is a historic 62ft long boat and the Wigan flight is a maximum of 62ft, would it be wise for us to share with them? In some locks they might need to go a touch on the diagonal meaning one boat at a time. The Lockies suggested we shared with NB Merganser and they’d let NB Billy know what was happening.

Four young lads stood by the bottom gate, were they here to help or hinder? One Lockie said he knew a couple of them and they were alright. The lady from Merganser (Lindsay) said that they had helped a single hander yesterday and he couldn’t stop singing their praises. So all of a sudden we had six crew and other volunteers about too.

I stayed around as the lads closed gates and lifted paddles, the oldest suggested he was a volunteer, he certainly knew about each lock and which ones to take extra care on, he’d trained up his two brothers to help and it was the forth chaps first day with them. He had a meeting to go to so wouldn’t be around all morning. Once the boats were rising the lads walked up to the second lock to empty it ready for us. With the gates closed behind us I lifted a paddle for NB Billy who was just appearing behind us with quite a few blue topped volunteers in tow.

The railings around the house suggest mooring round here wouldn’t be a good idea

At the second lock the lads closed gates and lifted paddles, with the boats past the cill I was happy to walk on to the next lock to set it. The older chap headed off back down the flight leaving his crew with us. As Mick came into the third chamber we conferred regarding the help on hand and just so long as either Lindsay or myself stayed with the boats the extra assistance was very welcome. The lads were great at setting locks, opening gates etc, but if something went wrong would they know what to do?

Well that was the last we saw of them, we could see they were setting ahead for NB Billy, but we seemed to have lost our extra pair of hands. Never mind, we soon picked up an official volunteer on a bike with a life jacket who just headed on up the flight ahead of us setting the next locks.

Lindsay and I worked the locks whilst Mick and John moved the boats. Lock after lock after lock, all the time Dixie (?) their dog sniffing around and taking note.

Gates with winding gear were new to Lindsay as were the box ground paddles (do these have a name), I warned her about the clough ground paddles they’d come across the further they got towards Leeds.

The men chatted away at the stern whilst us ladies caught little glimpses of conversation as and when we could hear each other due to the water. They have been moored at Aqueduct on the Middlewich Branch this winter. Out for three weeks they are hoping to reach York and then head south on the Trent and move to Dunchurch Pools Marina near Rugby. They had left Aqueduct last Friday and come down the Trent and Mersey working their way through 9 locks compared to our 91! No wonder it’s taken us a touch longer!!

On reaching Lock 77 we were told by John, on his bike, that we’d we swapping with boats coming down hill in the next pound. You could tell by the amount of water coming down the bywash here that they wouldn’t be the only boats we’d encounter.

Between 76 and 75 we did this again, two single handers with several volunteers assisting. This was handy as it meant more people to hold the towpath side bottom gate slightly open. If this gate goes back into it’s recess it is a right bugger to get out to close the lock again. Add into the equation social distancing! Lending a hand to close a gate right now is almost pointless, because if you stand 2m away and pull the gate all your effort is minuscule compared to being able at the end of a beam.

John warned us of the next few locks which would need to be filled quickly as the bottom gates leak and the pounds above are short, so taking your time means you run out of water. With Mick and John warned to stay well back we wound the ground paddles up and then cautiously the gate paddles.

Not being able to see what the water is doing from your gate paddle is a touch concerning, but Lindsey and I watched out for each others, a nod for more water, a hand up to stop. This worked pretty well.

One top gate was more than just a waterfall. As both boats came in the bows got a good wash down. Glad we’d elected to have the cratch cover closed (normally open on narrow lock to save them getting torn). Once up both boats had to retrieve bow lines that had been washed off gas lockers into the chamber.

Now we appeared to have picked up another crew member an octogenarian with a walking stick who insisted on the chain being wound a certain way on one of the gates and then walked up to open the next gate for us. I did my best to keep my distance whilst he insisted on helping to pull a gate closed.

The count down to the top was now in full swing, arms, legs and backs starting to complain a touch, was now a good time for a muffin? Yes but we’d forgotten to bring them outside with us and with all doors locked it was a touch too much effort to get them.

Two left to go and we had helping hands again from the volunteers. The penultimate lock has top gates that really don’t want to stay shut, so as we closed them a paddle was quickly opened to set it for NB Billy now only a couple of locks behind.

The top lock 65 takes time to fill, the amount of weed sitting above the top gates is not wanted in the flight or adding to problems with gate paddles so only ground paddles are allowed. This does mean you get the chance to chat with the chaps. As John and Lindsay were going to head straight off and we were after water they pulled out first.

We may see them again as the Barrowford Flight is currently out of action up to the summit, but they are likely to zoom on ahead with places to go and miles to cover, whilst we take our time. It was lovely sharing with them.

We pulled in at the services, set the water going, collected rubbish for the bins and emptied the yellow water making use of the elsan.

As we finished topping up NB Billy rose in the final lock, the young crew having a ride in the large well deck as the volunteers wound the paddles. Thanks all round for the crew, although I think the lads were hoping for more than just a handshake!

We pushed off again aiming for a mooring we’d stopped at in 2014 on Lillian the night before we decended the flight. A quick check of Waterway Routes and Paul confirmed it’s location with a big M suggesting there would be armco to aid our mooring.

A restful afternoon with Tilly avoiding walkers and cyclists and the occasional golf ball being teed off across the way.

We should manage that by the end of August

During the morning I’d been sent a link for The Garden. When I’d first chatted to Lynda regarding the show over a year ago, her producers brief was that they wanted the show to be ‘Lovely’. Since then lots has happened and the play has been re-imagined into the Lockdown Edition. I know I’m biased but it certainly has turned out to be ‘Lovely’. The thought of all the actors recording their lines on their phones at home, Firielle under her duvet to soften the sound and then sending them in to Amy (director) and Penny (digital production) who have put images to text to sound to animation to music (a lovely song by Rhiannon Scutt) to my illustrations. Lovely.

23 locks, 4.5 miles, 1 right, 1 left, 1 swap of partners, 4 going down, 3 up, 4 lads, at least 5 volunteers, 1 bike, 1 woofer, 1 dry day, 1 broken down cruiser, 2 locking pals, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 0 rubbish, 6 covid handshakes, 4 tasty muffins, 1 friendly cover mooring, 1 lovely production, 2 pooped boaters, 215 foot 6 inches higher.

https://goo.gl/maps/veqYTx8UoTbcAGwZ7

Semi-detached Chandeliers. 10th July

Telford Basin to half a mile west of the M60, Bridgewater Canal

Another yawny morning with the alarm going off, time to tackle the Rochdale 9. First time we did this we had 6 crew, although one of them just wanted to sit in the bow and be seen in her white fluffy coat! Second time was last year with Graeme and Clare on NB Mr Blue Sky along with an old college friend of mine Doug. This trip involved avoiding needles and torrential rain.

Last night a boat had pulled up on the otherside of the canal, managing to tuck themselves into a very short arm on the towpath. We’d tried to get their attention to see which way they were heading, to see if we could team up, but no one was to be seen last night. This morning we got a wave from the galley as we turned out of the basin, a very tight fit for a 58 ft 6″ boat. Nobody came dashing to see which way we were heading so we carried on on our own.

We made sure we turned down the Rochdale, as this is where six years ago Derek made the mistake of turning right and ending up teaming up with us to go across the Rochdale, giving himself a longer route back to his mooring than planned!

Dale Street Lock 84 is the first, currently with scaffolding giving a bit of shade from rain on the southern side. Here as at most of the locks the water was way above the level of the top gates. Some extra leg power was needed to get the top gate open, then I could empty the chamber. The walk way across the top has two hand rails, which with my camera bum bag and the extra inch around my waist from Lockdown made it quite a squeeze to cross over the lock gates.

Both paddles needed to be lifted otherwise the incoming water would have overtaken the outgoing, keeping the lock at a level too high to be able to push open a bottom gate. I waited, and waited, had the level equalised? Were the gates stuck? Was I a weakling after yesterday? I swapped sides. Tried and tried again. Waited some more, then tried and tried again. Blimey!!! It felt like we’d be stuck here forever, Mick being deafened by the waterfall behind him.

In the end extra body weight was needed. Oleanna was pulled over to beside a ladder and Mick climbed out, his and my combined weight got the gate moving at last. By this point in the rain I had just about decided that this would be the last time we’d come this way, would things improve the further down the locks we got, or just stay such hard work?

From here we’d only have to deal with the amount of water in the pound above the lock, a far shorter pound of high water than at the first lock, so hopefully patience would work rather than brute force.

The next lock was decidedly quiet, yes it was only a little after 8am, but last time there had been lots of activity at Piccadilly Lock, two chaps having just scored and preparing to make the most of their investment.

The lock took a bit of time to open, only one paddle seemed to be needed at the bottom end. I couldn’t see in the dark if the level had equalised so had to ask Mick for a closer observation down in the lock. The bottom gates on Piccadilly Lock are worked with your windlass and chains around a drum. I pulled up the slack on the chain and then lent on the windlass the gate flexed a touch, water still cascaded over the top gate. Re-adusting the windlass for more leverage worked and a chink between the gates allowed the excess water to pass through, job done.

Lock 86 has no towpath access from either end, so a lift was needed. This lock needed topping up a touch and the last boat through hadn’t quite closed the paddles at the far end. With this all settled we could carry on downhill.

Back onboard to reach 87 where a boat was handily moored on the lock landing. Only one thing for it but to walk through Oleanna to her bow then walk across their stern. The back doors were open and a slight sign of life within. Maybe it’s a good place to moor, maybe they were broken down and awaiting an engineer, who knows, we managed.

On Canal Street proper now, bunting and rainbows to be seen everywhere along with the odd giant bumble bee.

It rained, it stopped, my poor hood was getting confused. Each lock was descended then a wait for the moment when that little bit of an extra push would get the gate moving and we could be back on our way again. Tilly sat in the window and watched as I made the outside go up. She does it quite well, glad she kept moving the outside as there were no trees to be seen!

At Tib Lock 89 two police constables walked up, had a little chat with Mick just after I’d opened the bottom gate. They seemed a touch disappointed in not being able to help, so I suggested they could close the gate for me. One pulled at the gate not allowing the other to help, he said he was being Gentlemanly, but a woman’s touch was needed to finish closing the gate. I think we made their day.

The building alongside Albion Mills Lock 90 is now almost complete, this was a building site last year. I wondered what was behind the shaded glass on the ground floor as I squeezed past the lock beams, hopefully those inside can only see as much as I could see in.

The bars below Deansgate/Castlefield Metro Link looked like they were setting up for the day, masked people on the trams and top decks of buses waved to us, I think they were smiling as we waved back.

The amount of water coming down Tunnel Lock 91 had already brought the water below the lock up to the same height as the towpath through the tunnel, all I could do was add to it. I took my time opening the paddles hoping not to swamp a runner on her way through.

A short walk now to Lock 92 Dukes Lock. I timed my walk alongside Oleanna, keeping level with her meant she sucked the water from the towpath as I walked along, keeping my feet relatively dry.

Our first time through Dukes Lock the sun was out, drunk gongoozlers at the pub made daft comments and the fluffy coat sat in the bow as Mark and I struggled to get the bottom gates open, two of us on one windlass pulling at the chain and Anne trying to do the same on the other side of the lock. I now know at such places two windlasses are far better than one for extra leverage. Today however there was just me and one windlass.

Mick could have climbed up a ladder to help, but he was concerned about the water cascading over the gates and would rather stay on the boat to keep it well away from being submerged. I waited and waited, hoping the amount of water coming down would ease soon.

It rained and rained. No gongoozlers today. No one around to offer an extra pair of hands. This lock was not going to beat me.

First I took up the slack on the starboard gate chain, adjusted it’s position for maximum movement should the bloody thing move. I tried bouncing it. I tried waiting some more.

Then I tried the port side. Adjusted the windlass again, bounced it, bounced it some more all the time the water still flowing over the top gates a good four inches thick. If only I could just get it open enough to release the pressure on the gates and get the level to equalise.

The next bounce felt different. I re positioned myself and tried again a chink between the gates appeared, was it enough. Another go and it moved just a touch more, water rushed out between the gates. Thank f***k for that! I had beaten Dukes Lock 92! Mission Manchester was complete.

A week ago we’d planned on staying in Castlefield for the night, tomorrow I’d be joining a demonstration at St Anns Square in front of the Royal Exchange Theatre to raise awareness of the sectors plight, at the time nobody thought the government would come up with a rescue package.

The demonstration was to be socially distanced and one thing that all theatre people know and understand is how to find ones mark. With enough Stage Managers and LX tape we would all have a mark to stand on 2m away from everyone else, masks were also to be worn. I was willing to make a stand amongst strangers from my theatre family, if at any point I felt unsafe then I would leave.

But last Sunday the package from the government changed all that. Feeling was that we should see how the package was to be distributed and what guidance came out before coming together to stand.

So there was no need to find a mooring for the night. We did however take a little jaunt up to Grocer’s Wharf. Frank and Helen’s boats were socially distancing themselves at opposite ends of the arm. A chap in a widebeam warned us of how shallow the end was so we took great care not to get stuck, winded and came back. All just for a bit of filming I wanted to do.

Now we could have a cuppa and a cheese scone each as we left Manchester, well Tilly had to have one didn’t she!

With deep water beneath us Oleanna could cruise along at speed.

As Waters Meeting came into view so did a narrowboat with it’s pram hood up, going the same way as us. We both hoped that it wouldn’t be a slow boat, we’ve followed them along here before. Fortunately the slow boat soon pulled over to let a friend hop off, Mick took the opportunity and cranked Oleanna’s engine up to overtake. The chap at the helm had no idea we were there, not surprising with his pram cover up! But his mate soon shouted to him as we sailed past.

What was the rush? Well we had trees to find, as soon as possible!

Barton Swing Aqueduct was in our favour and we sailed straight across, a large ship moored a short distance upstream. Then slow going past the moored boats until we reached the M602 where we slowed right down. An old work colleague was stood at her gate chatting to her neighbour, she’d not seen a message I’d sent. We’ve tried to wave hello whenever we’ve passed and today at last we succeeded. It was lovely to see Cat, maybe one day we’ll get chance to stop and have a proper chat, maybe even a drink.

The lighthouse is still there, today surrounded by the aroma of steak and chips from the pub opposite. No stopping yet.

Onwards the water gradually turning orange. This stretch has changed through the years we’ve been passing. A new line of houses now look older next to the even newer ones. The semi detached houses must have come with the option of a chandelier above the staircases as we could see them through each first floor window above the front doors.

The other thing we are noticing more and more is the number of cars parked outside peoples homes on week days. Are these people working from home? Are they furloughed? Are they going to still be able to afford the repayments on their red Porsche parked on their drive in a couple of months time?

Two Leeds Liverpool Short boats sat outside Worsley Dry Dock as a big wide beam approached us. Mick pulled us in to one side allowing them to pass.

The amount of water they sucked out from beneath us created a five drawer moment inside. I wondered if I should have put all the pots and pans away and hoped that Tilly was managing to cling on to the sofa as we tilted right over.

Obligatory photo at Worsley, the orange water contrasting with the white and black.

We then ducked under the M60 and it’s slip roads and headed out into green countryside. Once we were far enough away from the road noise we pulled over to find a suitable spot with sun and trees. We’d have power whilst Tilly had trees.

Freedom at last! After negotiating her way across the towpath between the speeding cyclists and runners she shot straight up a tree.

I suspect over the next five hours she conquered most of the trees in the near vicinity.

9 locks, 9.81 miles, 2 winds, 1 very tight turn, 2 much water, 0 druggies, 0 Graeme and Clare, 1 fluffy white coat required for next time (there will be a next time as it wasn’t that bad), 2 lefts, 1 right, 1 rainy day, 1 slow boat, 2 motorways, 1 canal highway, so many boats all of a sudden, 3 scones, 1 cheery wave, 5 drawers, 1 happy cat, 42 trees!

Don’t forget that from Tuesday 14th July The Garden Lockdown Edition will be available to watch on line. Get your tickets now! Link here

https://goo.gl/maps/Tgd56Vozh9ac8FjLA

It May Be Historic … 3rd July

Whaley Bridge to Lower Basin, Bugsworth Basin

I bet through Lockdown the 7 day mooring in Whaley Bridge was nice and quiet, not now with the easing of restrictions, the amount of traffic on Buxton Road is so noisy. But at least it meant we were close to the town to do a bit of shopping this morning and do our bit for the local economy.

Opposite the Transhipment Warehouse is an overspill with a walkway across it. Normally this takes away any excess water down into the River Goyt from the summit level, the feed for the canal coming in under the warehouse. But this feed right now is not flowing, we believe it normally comes from Toddbrook Reservoir, the one with the overflow spillway that started to collapse in August 2019.

C&RT had looked into using water from Combs Reservoir another feeder, but a culvert blockage has done just that, blocked the flow of water. So to maintain the water level a series of pumps have been set up. Firstly water is being fed from Combs Reservoir into the river system and when it reaches the overspill in Whaley Bridge it is then being pumped out of the River Goyt into the canal to maintain the level.

Two huge pipes run up the overspill, one spouting water into the basin and two large generators sit behind fencing to power the pumps. I suspect the second pipe, currently dry is powered up when the lock flights at either end of the canal are opened up, so as to replenish the water faster.

Into town where people stood in short queues outside shops. The bakers could wait and we carried on to our main goal, the butchers. Christmas 2016, E. Wild and Son had provided us with a very nice goose for our dinner, their bacon was also especially good. So today we decided to treat ourselves with a proper joint for Sunday and a few slices of their bacon, yes I know our freezer is full of bacon, but this is especially good smoked bacon. As it was Mick who went into the shop he also managed to come out with a pork pie.

Next the Co-op for some milk and then the bakers for a shop bought non-sliced loaf as a treat. Then we made our way back to Oleanna resisting the 40 gins at the off-licence.

The sign to Bugsworth is hidden at the back

Covers rolled up and we winded and headed back to Whaley Junction where we turned right to Bugsworth Basin. The drizzle was gradually growing into proper rain as we came past Teapot Cottages and approached the water point. By the time we’d tip toed around the goose pooh and tied up it was raining properly, we really shouldn’t have bought that big bag of charcoal in Bollington!

Pablo (the warden boater from the basin) arrived at the water point and handed over a card to do with diesel polishing, which we didn’t want and tried to give back, but instead we were given a second one! As the water tank filled Tilly had a freshen up of her pooh box, sadly using the last of the nice odour control litter. She’s not done badly as this was bought just before lockdown.

Where to moor? Which arm? How close to the pub? How close to the A6?

We decided to see if the little arm off the Middle Basin was free so that Mick could fit the new bow fender whilst standing on dry land. One boat was moored there with it’s engine running. Next we tried the Upper Basin, plenty of room there but nowhere suitable for fender fitting. With a Sainsbury delivery booked for tomorrow evening we decided to head back to the Lower Basin where the van can pull up along side us.

Stepping off the boat, you quickly realised that life was far too short to try to avoid the goose pooh. They reluctantly moved along a bit and made space enough for us to moor up, whilst we squelched through their deposits.

Tilly of course was chomping to go out, so the back doors were opened and we awaited her response.

A quick dash across to the wall, a look around. Then a jump onto it to see what lay beyond.

The other side had to be better than the outside. But there was another rushing canal! Apparently it’s called Black Brook and it makes a lot of noise! Only one thing for it, go back inside and perfect my stare to get the stove lit.

Amazing it worked!

0 locks, 1.18 miles, 1 right, 1 chunk of lamb, 6 rashers, 1 pork pie, 2 pints, 78 blueberries, 1 loaf bread, 2 pipes, 1 damp poot, 1 show postponed to 2022, 1 grumpy cat, 1 silencer required for news conferences.

https://goo.gl/maps/qwWywVwudogThkRr6

Bees, Bums And Bridges.1st July

Hill Top Footbridge 20 to Dryhurst Bridge 26

We woke to rain and a layer of cloud hid the view across the valley. I opened up the curtains so that we could hopefully watch the clouds roll away as we had our cuppa in bed.

It really is astonishing that your average towpath user seems to have no idea that people can hear every word inside their boat or that they might be looking out of the window. Yesterday we had two chaps walk past who appreciated Oleanna’s lines and did not stop raving about how gorgeous she was for a good ten minutes, thank you we appreciated your comments and agree with you.

This morning a young lady stopped by the side of us to warm up before going for a run. She stretched and lent over right in front of our window totally oblivious to the two of us catching up on news supping our mugs of tea sat in bed. Even Tilly had to have a closer look. I have chosen the photo very carefully as I know this post will go live at 8am and to retain the ladies modesty! Her running partner soon arrived and off they jogged leaving us with only the cloudy hillside again.

Due to having run the dishwasher yesterday evening after 8pm, our batteries were in need of a charge. With little sun around at the moment that meant we’d be needing to run the engine, should we stay put or move whilst it charged the batteries? We decided on the later eating breakfast whilst outside remained dry. Of course as we rolled back the covers it started to drizzle and then it got heavier. We sheltered for a while under the pram cover and as it seemed to be easing we pushed off to creep our way further towards Bugsworth Basin.

Having had a few days with no obstacles, today we had bridges that would need moving. The first Turf Lee Lift Bridge, operated with a windlass. It took quite a lot of puff to wind it up and not so much to bring it back down again, all the time it rained. I was regretting my choice of trousers over shorts.

Then Wood End Lift Bridge which serves a house and a compound of some sort. A few years ago it was changed from a wind up wind down to an automated bridge. The position of the control panel obscured behind bits and pieces on the towpath, luckily I remembered this and didn’t cross the bridge hunting for it.

An interesting boat sat just before the bridge landing. Two layers of small portholes had what looked a touch like pairs of victoria sponge cake tins welded together which acted as swivelling shutters for the portholes.

Round the next bend to Higgins Clough Swing Bridge, another advertising to turn the key of power 3/4 when a full turn would be a better option! But the bridge was easy to move once the locking mechanism had been released.

So far anywhere we’d thought of stopping had been occupied, so when we came through Disley and saw space alongside another boat with a view we pulled in hoping the depth would be good for us. I say this as we’d spent some of the cruise getting here bumping our way along the bottom ten foot out from the bank.

There was depth for us, so we tied up sharing the ring at the front with the other boat. Tilly was let out to explore. I tried encouraging her to pose for a photo in front of the view, it never works! As I took photos I realised there was a bee trying to get in through the hatch. Another look and there was another, and another! The hatch doors were closed and I went outside.

A small group of bees were milling around the cabin side, had we disturbed a nest? If so we certainly needed to move for both ourselves and them. Luckily Tilly was just sussing things out, stood on the wall, so a very easy pick up and was deposited back into the boat.

The chap from the boat ahead returned and we all decided that the bees obviously had made a nest behind the old shuttering along the canal edge and were a little bit peed at us being so close to their front door. We pulled Oleanna back, still managing to have sufficient depth and tied the bow to what had been the stern spikes. We could now settle down for the rest of the day.

During the afternoon we watched Act 1 of Midsummer Nights Dream from The Bridge Theatre. A wonderful example of how ‘Live’ theatre brings the audience and actors together. Theatre is a live experience, a unique performance every time for the audience in the room. In this case the audience playing an extra part as they looked on and at times got in the way of the actors and stage management.

If Covid-19 hadn’t arrived, this week you’d have been hearing very little from me as I’d have been busy putting the finishing touches to The Garden at The Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield. Last minute touches of paint, stitches in costumes and helping actors do buttons up and tying laces for those who excel at other things. Tonight would have been the opening performance of the show.

Here’s a link to the Lockdown Edition which will be on line to view from the 14th to 28th July. Tickets are available at: https://thegardenlockdownedition.eventbrite.co.uk

0 locks, 2.08 miles, 3 bridges, 60 turns up, 40 turns down, 1 button, 1 push, 1 pair of pants, 1 wet day, 7 bees, 60 ft pull back, 1 tooth, 1 delivery secured, 1 surprisingly good loaf of bread, Act 1, 0 first night, 1 designer missing designing.

https://goo.gl/maps/GHW1qR9ssxt1VF3N9

Sheep Worrying. 29th June

Smith’s Bridge 14

A day for not doing much really. The wind and rain didn’t make the thought of moving very appealing, even the hardiest crew member Tilly wasn’t impressed with the weather. I think the amount of footfall here yesterday actually had more to do with her choice than the weather.

As there is still a chance that a project I’ve been offered with Dark Horse Theatre Company might happen next year I decided it was way time I did a bit of sussing out for it. The production will have a lot of projection in it and after watching Small Island last week I decided to get in touch with my friend Jen. Jen was a Scenic Artist at The National Theatre and had worked on the show. The constant background of projection had made me wonder what colour the back wall had actually been. Almost certainly not white as this would have allowed light to bounce around all over the place, but was it grey?

She came back with the response that the back wall had been heavily textured and painted in several shades of grey. If I’d been to see the show I’d have been able to appreciate the texturing and the work that had gone into what on the TV screen at home looked more like a plain wall to project onto with just a bit of something to break it up a bit.

I sent another email to a good friend, normally a lighting designer, currently redesigning his garden, for a touch more information. Then I settled down to do a bit of hunting around for flight/boiler suits and hats for the cast to wear. I will soon need to provide a costume design so that it can be incorporated into the animation for the show.

The day being so damp and chilly Mick lit the stove and gave Oleanna a glowing warm interior. Tilly appreciated this and took pole position on the sofa for much of the rest of the day.

Think someone doesn’t like speeding bikes

Mid afternoon it looked like outside was drying up a touch, so I decided to see if there might be any views to be seen from the hill up towards Lyme Park. Mick wasn’t so keen so I set off on my own, making sure he knew what route I’d be taking.

I returned to the water point, at the Trading Place I realised that the chap yesterday hadn’t been constructing something in the doorway, but it was actually a little trolley that he could put peoples purchases on which would then slide to the doorway for them to collect. Shame I didn’t take a photo.

Over the bridge and straight up the track to where it forked, a quick check of my map and I took the right fork, still heading up hill. Cattle grids to keep the sheep in and plenty of farm traffic. There were tractors moving large round bales of silage from one place to another, builders pickups and a large transit that seemed to be visiting every farm in the valley. It took a while to climb up the hill past all the farm yards sadly missing many of the disused mine shafts as I went. The area used to be filled with coal mines.

But once I was above all the tractors and mud I was able to catch my breath and admire the grey view towards Stockport and Cheadle Hume.

Fields of sheep sat either side of the track. A few woolly beasts had found the tastier grass on the wrong side of the hedge which lead to a game of chicken, in a sheep kind of way. I kept myself right up to one side of the track hoping not to worry them too much, as they all carried on running away from me up the track. But soon a gate stood in their way! What were they to do? I carried on walking up the side, then all of a sudden the one brain cell between the six of them jumped into action, one sheep making a dash for it past me, the others followed suit, panic over.

A large banner covered a gate outside the last house on the track. This must be where Heather Broadbent lives. Last year she started on the around the world yacht race. Glancing at her blog and facebook page, it looks like the boat, CV21 got to Australia before the rest of the race was put on hold due to the pandemic.

National Trust tracks up towards Lyme Park

Through the next gate I was on National Trust land. I had no idea how much of my planned route would be on their tracks and the gates would be closing in half an hour. I reckoned that as soon as I started to head down hill I should be fine and I would soon be crossing over fields to the next track to make my descent, so I should make it in time.

Ladder and dog flap, Tilly would just step through

A large wooden ladder, with a handy dog flap below it joined me onto the North Cheshire Way for a couple of fields. Of course as I changed direction the wind now blew drizzle at me, so with my coat zipped right up I continued across the wet grass.

A section of dry stone wall was mid way through being mended. All the stones had been laid out of the grass, graded into sizes and the top stones all ready to go back sat in a line.

Below in the field I could hear a ladies voice. The milk heard gathering by a gate. They’d be heading for milking. Would I get to the farm before them? She opened the gate and off trotted Mable ahead of the pack, leading the way to the milking shed. I think she got there before the last straggler had left the field. Luckily for me the route to the milking shed didn’t involve the track down hill.

Back on tarmac I passed Platt Wood Farm with immaculate gardens and then veered northwards. A short distance onwards was a rather fine Volvo Amazon Estate sheltered out of the rain.

The house it was next to was for sale. At first it looked like the house was detached and the sign suggested it came along with some woodland. Now if we got a mooring at Higher Poynton we’d be able to walk from boat to house quite easily. A shame we’ve not got £600k to spare! And it’s only a semi!

By now the drizzle had turned to rain and I was glad I was mostly sheltered by the tall hedges. Over the canal again at Bullocks Bridge and a very damp walk back to Oleanna. Mick had suggested he might move the boat so that we didn’t have to listen to the music from across the way for another evening, but due to the rain the side hatch had been kept shut, well until the skies dried up again in the evening! Oh well, we’ll move on again tomorrow.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 wet blowy day, 3.2 miles walked, 6 panicked sheep, 1 round the world yachts woman, 5 minutes on National Trust land (worth a years membership), 1 cosy boat, 1 pair of soggy jeans, 2 much Oasis.

Button. 20th June.

Thurlwood Winding Hold to between Townfield Lock 46 and Kents Lock 45.

One visible bubble this morning on the Geraghty Zoom which got a cheer from us all, Kath and Sean sat on the same sofa. There were also birthday wishes for the youngest member of the family, Penelope who had her first birthday this week. Lovely to see everyone as ever.

Mick had already been to the Post Office for our newspaper this morning, popping a birthday card in the post and buying a bag of potatoes he felt we needed. So once we’d said goodbye to the family we were ready to push off.

A sneeze this morning had not agreed with my back, so as twinges came and went I avoided bending down and left all the covers and ropes to Mick. Walking and standing would most probably fix it, hopefully moving some lock gates would help too.

We’d already been overtaken by the boat from yesterday so it was a nice surprise to see a boat coming towards us, at least one lock would be in our favour, we hoped.

As we get higher the water gets more orange

The first locks today were Lawton Locks, they always look tidy and skirt around the back of houses. The canal was here first of course, but it feels like the locks are almost an extension of peoples gardens. There was plenty more footfall than we have seen here before, but then it was a sunny Saturday morning.

As Oleanna approached the middle of the Lawton Locks I could see our leapfrog partner leaving the top lock and another boat entering the other chamber to come down. The middle lock is not paired so the descending boat would have to wait. As their boat appeared out of the lock I signalled to leave the gates for us. The chap at the helm tried to stop his mate but he just carried on closing up. When he came down to join me at the lock I apologised for not having left the gate open on the lock below, Mick had already closed them by the time I’d seen them.

Onwards and upwards we continued. At Halls Lock 49 Mick entered the lock and nudged up towards the top gate as usual. I lifted the first paddle halfway to get Oleanna settled. There was a crunch noise. I’d looked away for a second and quickly looked up. What was that?! I expected Mick to know what it was, but he had no idea. Everything seemed to be okay, Oleanna still rose in the lock.

Then as she got higher I realised what had happened. Links attaching the bow fender had given way and it sat on top of the lower one we’d added last year. The fender must have got caught somehow and the weak links given way which is why they are weak so as to stop the bow from being held down and causing a bigger problem.

Thankfully no harm done, we’d not noticed her getting caught up on anything. With the drag of the locks being so great on the Trent and Mersey we wanted to put the button back where it should be. We brought Oleanna out of the lock and Mick was going to pull in where we’ve moored twice before, but with the towpath so over grown there was nowhere to pull in. He carried on to the next lock landing, moored up and got the tool box out.

Only one shackle of a suitable size in the box. Maybe cable ties would do us for the time being. With Mick kneeling on the bow, he could just about lift the fender into position but not do anything about it. The boat hook was required to enable me to help. The hook looped into a link of the chain then the two of us pulled upwards. They are heavy things but luckily with both of us holding onto it neither of us took all the weight. So my back didn’t twinge and Mick could connect the chain back together and tighten the cable ties.

On closer inspection Mick had used two lockable carabiners on the button, not fully done up. Both of them had given way and straightened out. For now the cable ties will do us and Mick will try staying back in the locks.

Church Bottom and Top locks both had to be emptied and we made our way up them gradually. A huge dead fish sat in the grass alongside the bottom lock, it was this big! At least two foot long, honest. Mick didn’t see it and I was too busy to take it’s photo to prove it.

The moorings below the church were empty, we decided to carry on just a bit further as it was still bright.

Rounding the bend under Liverpool Road, the milk farm was decidedly none stinky today. I don’t think we’ve ever passed in the summer, it most definitely has an aroma the rest of the year.

NB Mellow sat on it’s mooring and a handy Sainsburys bag enabled me to re-enact the photo I used to take when we passed on Lillian.

Onto the home straight to Red Bull, we made our way up Townfield Lock and then decided to call it a day. We’re well on schedule and there s more sunlight here along with it being a better place for cats to explore. The railway is closer than further up, but we knew we wouldn’t be disturbed overnight as the line isn’t in use as much as it was pre-covid days.

My back had survived, enjoying doing locks, but it now deserved a good rest.

There is now a trailer for the Dark Horse production of The Garden Lockdown Edition I did the illustrations for. Next month the full production it will be available to watch on their Youtube Channel. But for now here’s a taster.

7 locks, 1.91 miles, 2 passing boats, 2 broken links, 4 cable ties, 0 harm done, 0 stink, 6 trains, 1 resting back, 1 pork stirfry, 6 more rows knitted, 0 corn to pick.

https://goo.gl/maps/fBsjLVHKCMkUTuX4A

Avoiding Wet Pants. 19th June

Wheelock to Thurlwood Winding Hole (but not in it, we’re not red!)

More wettness this morning, but the sort that only gets you wet when you’re not looking. We have a schedule to keep to at the moment so today we had to move, which for the most part was dry, just one part that really really wasn’t!

By 11am we were ready, at least one boat had already passed us this morning, maybe our luck would be in that at the paired locks there would be one in our favour. Sadly that wasn’t to be.

The landing has new concrete below Wheelock Bottom Lock dividing the traffic to the paired locks. Up above, the cottage looked as picturesque as ever, sitting alongside the pound, the sun just about out. We soon got into our rhythm, me emptying the locks, opening the gates, closing them behind Oleanna, lifting the paddles and then waiting for the bow of Oleanna to have raised over the top cil. A thumbs up and wave between Mick and myself confirming he’s happy for me to walk on ahead to start setting the next chamber, leaving him to open the gate, drop paddles, bring Oleanna out and close the gate behind.

As Mick brought Oleanna into the second lock of the morning it had started to rain. I picked up my coat from him as he entered the lock, removed a layer so as not to overheat under my waterproof and worked Oleanna up.

A little bit of a walk to the next lock and by the time I got close it was heaving it down! I took refuge under a tree, sorted out my pockets and when Mick came alongside I handed him my bumbag with camera in it so that it could go inside. It took sometime for the rain to calm down to a steadier fall, we could stop and wait longer or carry on, carrying on got my vote.

As I wound the paddles up I could see the steam coming off the backs of cows in a nearby field after the rain. I wonder how long it would be before I started to steam.

Every lock was against us, but the paddles were easy having recently been greased and the narrow lock gates light to move once the levels equalised. Some of the lock beams reach past the small lock bridges, I always push them open rather than pull using the bridge, just so I don’t get pushed over the edge or get squashed by the bridge railings. So on these locks I do what I call the Trent and Mersey hurdles, sit on the beam and swing my legs over onto the bridge to get to the other side. But right now all the beams were awash with water.

Today I’d opted not to wear waterproof trousers and gone for shorts. This would mean getting a soggy bum and getting wet pants if I did the hurdles. So instead I opted to take more time and walk round the locks using the top gates, keeping safe and my underwear dry.

At Malkins Bank Golf Club I could smell burgers being cooked and a sign advertised their chilled medication. We still had some more locks to do before we could have a break though, so we continued up the hill.

Above Longcroft Lock was a boat that had passed us yesterday, most probably the reason for the locks being set against us all the way this morning. The crew appeared just as I reached the lock and busied themselves pushing off from the lock landing. Here sweat peas filled the offside hedge, what a pretty sight.

At Maddocks Lock they pulled away as I emptied the second chamber for us, they’d not seen a boat approaching from above so I walked round and pushed the gate back open.

Then came Mick’s favourite lock along here Hassall Green Bottom Lock. You duck under the M6 and then rise not quite to the same height where you can watch the speeding traffic as you wait slowly to rise in the lock. The south bound traffic was slow and chaps wearing high-vis walked along the hard shoulder.

I prefer the single lock above, Hassall Green Top Lock 57. In years gone by there used to be a shop and maybe cafe here. On the side of the building a Heinz sign boasting 57 varieties. Sadly the sign went some time ago.

As the boat in front of us pulled out of the lock I enquired as to how much further they were heading today, just far enough to escape the noise from the M6. I hoped we’d pass them in that case. Coming towards us was NB Tad A Drift who had spent much of lockdown around Hurleston, I think they must have been moored above the locks and come past us to go shopping in Nantwich periodically.

A lunch stop was needed before carrying on so we made use of the rings above the lock for a short break before carrying on to Pierpoint locks 55 and 56. The on line moorings by Hill Farm Winding hole are now empty, maybe the new cow sheds don’t mix with boaters. We soon passed the boat ahead and then had a boat coming towards us, at last some empty locks.

The cottages above Thurlwood Lock always look pretty. The flowers in their gardens today despite being damp looked wonderful, a slightly yellower than normal daisy stood out and had to have it’s photo taken.

One of the cottages on the towpath had a for sale sign. There had also been a cottage for sale at Malkins Bank. Interesting how much more an extra bedroom and pretty brickwork will cost you!

Up one more lock into the long pound at Rode Heath where we moored up for the day. The soggy covers done back up and Tilly allowed to venture across into the trees away from all the woofer walkers.

Time for me to do my sign and take a photo for the #freelancersmaketheatrework campaign. Yesterday when I’d first come across this there had been 500 posts on Instagram, today it was over 1000. Actors, Directors, Wig Makers, Fight Directors, Writers, Costume Makers, Stage Managers, Riggers all sorts of people just wanting to be recognised as part of the industry and not be forgotten. Around about 200,000 people make up 70% of the UK theatre workforce.

People Powered was set up early on in Lockdown. A collective of freelancers from across the entertainment and live event industries came together to help the NHS and other frontline services after their work was stopped. They have been helping with deliveries, over 300 radios going into ITU’s, Wobble Rooms for NHS staff to relax in, structures have been erected creating more space for triage at hospitals.

Then there have been actors returning to medicine to help. We’ve all seen the costume makers busy making scrubs for the NHS, now making masks for one and all, I actually know a lighting designer who has dusted off his sewing machine to help too.

Theatre and event people are all good at solving problems, it’s part of why we do the jobs we do. So many have been turning their hands to where extra help has been needed. Others have been doing their best to keep their creative juices flowing, producing footage, radio dramas to keep people entertained when we all need it most. The entertainment industry has been working from behind closed doors for the last three months. As I say we’re good at solving problems, but right now there is one that we haven’t as yet got a solution for and that is a way to reopen theatres and venues and be able to do what we all do best, live entertainment, sharing the experience with others in one room.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/320711?fbclid=IwAR0NScvrUUidkF7PWoFONIX8yfn52Fz50GLJ4jT5ZGZZ1xEZVwSQTYylqg8

14 locks, 3.63 miles, 1 down pour, 2 dry sets of pants, 17 steaming cows and 1 bull, 1 boat ahead, 3 empty locks, 2 hours shore leave, 2 many woofers, 1 soap box still, 1 of the 70%, 1 lovely widebeam still for sale.

Image may contain: sky and outdoor — It really is a lovely boat

http://wbstillrockin.blogspot.com/2020/06/price-reduced.html

https://goo.gl/maps/QzB5754TRHvepEyb7

Starting From The Bottom. 17th June

Bramble Cuttings to Rockery Railway Bridge 158

With a distance to cover today Tilly had no choice but to stay on board this morning, the doors were kept firmly closed. A boat pulled up for a short while at the other end of the moorings, possibly just to give his dog a comfort break.

We pushed off about 10:30 headed northwards. The nearest winding hole about two miles away at Whatcroft Flash. The sun was doing it’s best to show and a damselfly decided to stop and soak up some rays on the phone that currently runs Waterway Routes as we cruise. My photo doesn’t really show how much the turquoise on it’s tail zinged out.

A short distance further a tree was down across the cut, leaving a gap just wide enough for a narrowboat to squeeze past. Soon we came across a C&RT tug boat, whom we thought might be heading that way to help clear the blockage, but they were there to move skip boats about.

No moorers at Whatcroft Flash, another favourite spot of ours, but then the towpath was showing how much rain we’ve had recently, a right quagmire. We winded with ease at the wide water and returned to towards Middlewich.

A very Cheshire house with giant bear to guard the log pile

My messages to people at Chipping Norton finally got a response this morning. The feeling there is still quite a positive one, even if the government haven’t given the theatre industry any guidelines for when they reopen. The fact that Will had not mentioned restructuring of the organisation or redundancies on the horizon helped me make my mind up about the job in Vienna. There are so many factors to consider, dates so tight they may as well be a pair of latex gloves, not enough room on the boat for two models, I’d have to turf Mick and Tilly overboard! I’ve weighed up the pros and cons over night taking all factors into account, too many to bore you with. My heart has been shouting ‘Take it take it!’ My trip earlier this year had been a great one and it’s very flattering to be asked back. But my head has shouted louder, I’m not willing to stop cruising (now that we can again) for a couple of months to get two shows designed and I’m also not willing to compromise my work. So very, very sadly I have turned Vienna down. Hopefully they will approach me again as the cheese shop near the theatre needs further investigation and the gluten free Weiner Schnitzel needs another try, it just won’t be this year.

Back on the cut, Mick brought us in below Kings Lock where my young helper was lurking hoping she could help again. Apparently their cruiser has engine problems so they are stuck at the moment and in the last few days she thought she’d helped 23 boats through the lock. A chap was trying to persuade his dog to cross the top gates, the dog reluctant to walk over the gaps. I waited as my assistant wasn’t able to close the bottom gate on her own. The dog then misplaced a paw and ended up in the drink, the chap pulling on it’s lead to keep it’s head above water. Thankfully the chap was young and managed to pull the dog out by it’s legs as the lead had long since slid over it’s nose. Thank goodness we hadn’t lifted any paddles.

Below the bottom Middlewich Lock a chap was doing some work on an Andersen Hire boat. As Mick waited for me to set the lock he chatted to the chap. He is eager to get the hire boats back out with holiday makers, but there have been no dates given to them. He really hopes when the time comes they are given some notice, all his boats are still winterised, they need checking over and making ready for the season. For this he needs his staff who are all currently furloughed. So the Prime Minister standing at a lectern saying ‘from tomorrow you can go on a boating holiday’ will not be helpful.

Starting at the bottom of the Cheshire locks

We worked our way up the three locks each set against us. As Oleanna came into the last one a boat approached from above, NB Ghia (?), we’ve been playing leapfrog with them the last few days. They were hoping to reach Bramble Cutting today to let their cats out, I did warn them that there may now be few friends to find after Tilly had free range yesterday!

With the lock just over half full I glanced to the stern of Oleanna, where was Mick? He’s normally in view, usually about to step off and help open the gate. But where was he? I crossed over the gate just as Mick appeared from inside with water proof trousers as it was just starting to rain. The chap from NB Ghia said he’d done that the other day and now he knew why he’d been given a funny look when he appeared back at the helm. Mick has been made aware of my concern.

This chap had a knack of standing in the way

Onwards to Kings Lock, by now waterproofs were required and rumbling over head meant we wanted to get up the lock as quickly as we safely could to get tied up and out of the soon to arrive deluge! So this was when a helpful(?) gongoozler decided to lend a hand. Normally in the sun this would be fine, I’d carry on as normal and if he wanted to help fine. But trying to keep two meters away as someone stands in the way on the bridge isn’t helpful. ‘Do those things go into the ground underneath and keep the gates closed?’ ‘How do you know you can open the gates?’ All the time the rain getting heavier, he didn’t mind he’d had his fish and chips!

Ring your order through and you’ll beat any queue

Quickly we tied up on the first rings, battened down the hatches and settled down to lunch as we steamed away inside Oleanna. Still no chips!

Things started to improve so on we pootled. Only two swans today in the whole pound where once we used to count 40/50 odd.

At what used to be the Kinderton Arms a new sign post has gone up, continuing the Thai theme that the pub has had for a while. A small sign in the window advertises delivery.

Near where the Bisto factory used to be we could see lots of orange cables and small traffic cones along the towpath. This is investigative works for the new Middlewich Bypass.

When Booth Lane Bottom Lock came into view we could see some activity going on. There was a boat in the lock and a white circle on the front bulk head made me zoom in with the camera. I was fairly sure it was the ‘Blue Boat’. A couple walked up and down either side of the boat and then a border collie could be seen. Most definitely the ‘Blue Boat’ with Mr and Mrs Blue Boat and their dog, our summer cruising is now complete.

As our bows crossed below the lock we had to remind them who we are, ‘We used to have the yellow boat!’ Back in August 2015 we came across Pat and Roy on the Huddersfield Narrow. We then leapfrogged each other to Keadby Lock. Every year since then we have seen them somewhere on the system, up on the Macc in December 2016 and in Middlewich. We’d been wondering if we’d see them and there they were. They tend to spend winter around Macclefield so maybe they were one of the first boats off the Macc yesterday when the locks were opened for a few hours to help boats escape. One day we’ll find ourselves in the same place and have a proper conversation, after we’ve reminded them who we are.

Booth Lane Middle Lock has had a hand rail added to the steps leading down to the towpath, now you can happily fall in the direction of the canal but not onto the towpath. Not seen one of these before, suspect somebody had a bad fall.

Next Crows Nest Lock, number 67. Nice Lock. This was the nearest lock to our old shareboat base, so on the way out it was Nice Lock and on the way back Nasty Lock! Now it’s just Nice with the large trees alongside. A couple out for a walk stopped and watched as we rose up in the lock, I think it’s the first time we’ve had gongoozlers along this stretch.

Things have changed even more at Elton Moss Bridge. Two boats were moored up outside the old cottage, a chap chatted from the stern of his boat that had an identity problem. Was it a Braidbar boat or a Kingsground boat? Between the cottage and the long wooden shed a new house is being built with large windows over looking the canal. A long line of homebrew barrels filled the wooden shed where Carefree Cruising touch up paint used to live.

Artie never misses an opportunity to advertise!

On we pootled past the new houses and where once the Carefree boats used to wind, now all over grown. Under the railway bridges as the clouds grew dark overhead again. We pulled up to the first free set of rings, then moved along to avoid ants nests. Just as the last zip of covers was done up the heavens opened again, this time a hail storm. Due to the numerous ants outside we decided that Tilly should be kept it, the last thing we wanted was a cat off her face on Oleic Acid.

9 locks, 10.22 miles, 1 straight on, 1 mystery mastic gun, 0 chips, 0 shore leave, 1 helper, 1 hinderer, 2 watchers, 2 ants nests, 1 decision, 0 trip to Vienna, 1 sad designer, 1 full days boating.

https://goo.gl/maps/PivoQJqZ5STNFKMz7

Setting Up Office. 16th June

Bramble Cuttings

Last night we had more rain, thunder and lightening and when we woke it was still peeing it down! As we supped our cuppas in bed we could hear the boat behind us start up its engine and gradually pull away, when it came to taking a peek out of the side hatch we realised we were on our own, the boat in front of us had vanished. Oh well what a shame, Bramble Cuttings all to ourselves!

First job, after letting Tilly out, the yellow water tank. We tried to remember when we last emptied it and we think it was at Calverley! This job normally gets done every three or four days, we’d reached six days. No wonder it was making a slightly odd noise this morning! We considered heading up the canal to wind and return to make the job easier, but that could take a couple of hours and would our space still be here? So instead we pulled back to one end of the moorings with less overhanging trees and set the hose up over the top of Oleanna. The container we pump into had very little room left in it for even one rinse of the tank, the fullest it’s ever been.

The rain last night hadn’t been conducive to sussing out the phone signal. I remembered it wasn’t so good here and certainly in the cabin I only had Emergency calls. With the sun doing it’s best to show itself and the storm clouds having cleared I had a wander around the mooring to see if signal was better. First one picnic bench then another, a couple of faint dots appeared, hopefully that would do. Time to go to work.

Several of our shopping bags protected myself and the laptop from the very wet picnic bench. Then I was ready to make my call. Last week I’d caught up with the Director for Panto and today Helen the costume designer and I were going to have a designers huddle. Comparing notes and references, making sure that the two of us were heading in the same direction with the overall look of the show. After all I could have been heading down the Arthurian way and Helen setting the show in the 60s/70s. But both of us were on the same track. We shared a few ideas and decided which way to go with one character, both a puppet and an actor. Helen will design the costume then I’ll sort the puppet to match. A very good meeting and worth getting a slightly damp bum for.

Bramble Cuttings all to myself, well She and Tom were here too along with a few friends! Fewer now.

Whilst She chatted away I had a good nosy round, claimed all the benches as mine and enjoyed clambering up and down an old tree that had been cut short. Plenty of pouncing possibility. I soon found friends and brought them out of the friendly cover to play with. She wasn’t too impressed and I got taken inside on one occasion, ‘to give your friend a chance to run away!’ But I was soon back outside trying to track it down again. The use of a barbecue stand gave me extra height to see over the tall grass for any movement.

Next I had some thinking to do and an email to send. Yesterday my agent had been in touch regarding designing another show this year. With the theatre industry sitting on a knife edge at the moment this was quite a surprise.

In normal pre-covid and pre-boating days I’d have checked the dates seen that it fitted quite well with panto, said yes and started to pack my bags for another trip to Vienna. But life is not that way anymore.

Austria is ahead of us with Covid-19 and the Vienna English Theatre are starting to put together a plan to reopen later this year. I presume they have social distancing to deal with and then importing their actors, director and designer from England. The dates sit very close to panto and it would mean me being away from Mick and Tilly for a few weeks in a row. I’d return from Vienna and head straight to Chippy. Should the 14 day quarantine still be enforced I would not be able to do both. But if Panto can’t go ahead then it would be a shame to turn it down. So many factors no body knows the answer too. I sent an email to Chippy to see what the current feeling there is.

Mick checked the engine bay to see how much water had made it’s way down there yesterday in the storm. Only water where it is expected to be, the rest still dry, the drain around the engine board did it’s job well.

Early afternoon we were joined by a boat at the far end of the moorings, they proceeded to sand back to metal a portion of their gunnels, but after about an hour the world fell silent again and they pushed off heading towards Middlewich, leaving us all alone again.

The washing machine was put to use, but we didn’t dare hang it out as it would certainly get another rinse as late afternoon the sky started to rumble away again, this was soon followed by more torrential rain.

Thunder? What’s that?

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 empty wee tank, 1 office, 1 load washing, 2 designers in a huddle, 1 designer in a quandary, 2 dinky frogs, 6ft back to metal, 1 boat cat in heaven, 1 thunderous evening, 1 Tuesday roast of pork.

https://goo.gl/maps/WZMGP8SRNqi4NFzp9

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna