1July
Another month starts and we head off into Manchester, the trip in through Sale and Altringham was better than expected, the canal wide and looked after then we approached Man proper, we arrived at the first of 9 locks that would lift us up through to the Ashton canal, the locks had lots of water flowing over the gates and most had winches to get the gates open as the lock beams wern't long enough and very tough going, one lock was buried under a building, not a good place to be! We finally reached the top and were disappointed to find no descent moorings, we stopped between office blocks on the only moorings we could find, they certainly don't welcome you. We will head off tomorrow without exploring the city as there is nowhere to leave the boat.
2 July
Well today marks a special point in our trip, we are as far north as we are going, from here it's all 'down hill', we didn't sleep too well last night as we wern't moored in a very nice spot, luckily we didn't have any nasty suprises duing the night although there was a lot of singing and shouting going on on the road nearby at 2.30 and a bunch of youngsters walked past the boat talking and gigling at 3.30 so you tend to cat nap with one ear open! We had a quick shop this morn then set off in heavy showers to climb the 18 locks to get to the junction with the Peak Forest canal and the slow journey home, but we didn't get to the first lock before we had a blanket round the prop so whilst sheltering from a heavy shower under a road bridge I had to get the deck boards up and fish about in the weed hatch finally removing said blanket, luckily this is the first time in our travels we've had this problem, I think it's more due to luck than cleaner canals judging by the rubbish floating in them! We also met a bunch of lads by a swing bridge who helped open it then jumped on the boat roof from the bridge but got off when asked (nicely), a little unsettling though! We finally made it as far as Portland basin opposite the junction where we will join the Peak Forest and decided to call it a day although it was only 3.30, there is a museum in the warehouse here and a cafe so time for a coffee and cake then!
3 July
Awoke this morning to the sound of old cars arriving at the basin opposite, there was to be a classic and vintage car show so after brekkie we wandered over to check them out and bring back some memories before setting off south to moor by the Marple aquaduct at the bottom of the 16 locks of the Marple flight ready to tackle them tomorrow.
6 July
We awoke early and set off up the locks at 7, we met a boat coming down who had started at 6.15, and I thought we were early! The weather was sunny and we finally reached the top at 10.30 having climbed 215 feet to the summit, this is the highest canal in England at over 500' above sea level, we were rewarded by great veiws across to the Pennines, we finally moored up in Buxworth basin near Whaley Bridge, it used to be a very busy basin in it's heyday shipping limestone and quick lime from the quarries nearby but eventally it fell in to disuse and was nearly lost forever when a new road was built nearby but luckily it was saved and makes a great place to moor (the Navigation Inn wasn't bad either!) Shelley and I walked over the hill to Whaley Bridge but most of it was closed on a Monday, we did find a little cafe though, we strolled back and relaxed before checking out the menu at the pub. The next day we set off and returned to Marple where we were to join the Macclesfield canal and moored just before the junction then walked into town for a look round, we found a quaint cinema showing Ab Fab so decided thats what we would do that evening. This morning we topped up with water, got rid of our rubbish then set off to moor at Higher Poynton where we shall meet Shelley's friend who lives nearby this evening.
8 July
Met up with Shelley's friend Sandra and husband and had good meal at pub, the following morning set off for Macclesfield in the rain, moored at lunchtime and in afternoon walked into town whilst dodging showers, from the canal the walk takes you down into the valley and then a steep climb up to the town centre, we certainly earned our coffee! This morning we set off to cruise through the Cheshire countryside and down the 12 locks at Bosley under the high fell called 'The Cloud' then on through Congleton to moor under the gaze of Mow Cop castle which was built as an imitation ruin in 1750. Tomorrow we will leave the Macc. and join the Trent and Mersey canal which we did back in 2008 so then we will be on familiar ground.
10 July
Left Mow Cop after a heavy shower and pottered on to cross the Trent and Mersey canal then round to join it after stopping to visit nearby supermarket then after clearing everything from the roof and stowing the canopy we entered the 2925 yard long Harecastle tunnel which in places comes down low overhead, not for the claustrophobic! After 40 minutes we emerged on the south side of the hill and found a good visitor mooring by a lake, following a much needed cuppa we walked round the lake then settled in for the evening, it was on this spot in 1765 that Joshiah Wedgwood, he of pottery fame, cut the first sod of what was to become the Trent and Mersey canal 11 years later. This morning we set off to moor a little closer to Stoke town centre ( still a good walk away), the only mooring we could find was outside a Toby carvery, well that's sunday lunch sorted! After a walk into town and back followed by lunch we walked down for a cuppa with an old friend from Bradford on Avon marina who happened to be moored nearby.
12 July
Very wet yesterday so decided to stay in Stoke, I took the train back to Crewe and rescued my van and took it down to Rugeley where we hope to be by Thursday as we are off to Suffolk on Friday for a family reunion, I the returnd to Stoke ready for the off this morning. Today we left Stoke in the rain and cruised down to Stone to find a good mooring above the last lock (and Star pub). So far we have covered 500 miles been through 430 locks and put 290 hours on the engine since Bradford on Avon! let's see CRT complain we are not continuous cruisers!!
14 July
Very busy morning yesterday, first boat passed us at 6.45 then 5 more before we managed to get to the lock 20 yards ahead, it was to be a slow day as every lock had a queue of at least 4 boats and took an hour to clear each one. We finally managed to get to Great Heywood and moored within site of Shugborough hall, this morning we reached Rugeley where, you'll remember, I had moved the van on Monday, we spent the day shop hopping and tomorrow we will set off to Suffolk to meet up with family then return on Sunday, so no blog til then.
18 July
Well that was a great weekend, Friday we drove down to Suffolk to meet up with the family at my aunties farm, it was good to see the rellies again and catch up with the gossip, we left Sunday morning and drove back stopping for sunday lunch in a pub at Lutterworth on the way. This morning we stocked up with goodies at Tessa Cohens shop before casting off and motoring on to join the Coventry canal at Fradley junction then south towards Tamworth to moor in the afternoon as we decided it was too hot and a cold drink followed by a BBQ on the towpath would be good.
