A quick flit up 5 locks at Tyrley and we were away through more glorious scenery, including the Woodseaves Cutting, cut entirely by hand and deep in the rock.
It can be a bit interesting, and despite reversing hard we were rammed by a hire boat - you should have seen the look on the faces of the passengers in the front as they realised what was going to happen - still boating is said to be a 'contact sport'.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Evening at Market Drayton
Like this evening looking out at a blue(ish) sky and the sun setting behind the clouds.
Rain - at Market Drayton
Rain drops. and Evening sun.
A very nice Market town - we stayed a night - moved off and the heavens opened again so moored the other side of the town on very nice moorings.
The weather has certainly changed since we started out many weeks ago, many days are now overcast and cool, although there have been some very nice evenings.
A very nice Market town - we stayed a night - moved off and the heavens opened again so moored the other side of the town on very nice moorings.
The weather has certainly changed since we started out many weeks ago, many days are now overcast and cool, although there have been some very nice evenings.
Mending Audlem lock
Luckily we were above this lock at Audlem when a paddle(used to control the flow of water) snapped off. As usual BW were on the job very quickly and despite working in torrential rain, stopped the flow of water, found the snapped off bit and replaced a broken shaft - all in the space of about half an hour - cheers.
When the rain appeared to stop we moved off to Market Drayton.
When the rain appeared to stop we moved off to Market Drayton.
Audlem locks - some off
The Shropshire Union is a very beautiful canal, well looked after with lots of mooring places specially marked - these are needed as the construction of the canal means you cannot get near the towpath bank. Think of a saucer shape made of large slabs of rock, only the middle is deep enough.
We avoided going off to Wales down the Langollen, not to be undertaken in peak hire boat season!
Nantwich we are sure is a very nice town, but on two visits we have not been impressed. And so after a night's stay moved on the Audlem. Mainly known for its flight of 15 locks, we moored after the first few and shopped and then the rains started - and haven't stopped since - or so it seems.
We avoided going off to Wales down the Langollen, not to be undertaken in peak hire boat season!
Nantwich we are sure is a very nice town, but on two visits we have not been impressed. And so after a night's stay moved on the Audlem. Mainly known for its flight of 15 locks, we moored after the first few and shopped and then the rains started - and haven't stopped since - or so it seems.
English salt mine
So on down the Trent and Mersey to Middlewhich, taking on water and supplies - poor moorings though, almost impossible to get near the bank. One thing the town is famous for is the production of salt, which can be seen lying around in great white heaps.
Here we left the Trent and Mersey and trun on to the 'Shroppie', at a very busy junction, made more interesting by the first lock being a boats length round a blind turn under a bridge.
Here we left the Trent and Mersey and trun on to the 'Shroppie', at a very busy junction, made more interesting by the first lock being a boats length round a blind turn under a bridge.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Moored in Bugsworth Basin
And then we arrived in Bugsworth Basin, built in 1796.! The local village changed its name to 'Buxworth' in 1930, to remove the connection with bugs!
We didn't stay very long as despite looking very nice the basin is now next to the A6, and so still at the centre of a transport links - noisy ones.
We moved around the corner to Whaley Bridge, shopped in Tescos and started on the return journey.
We didn't stay very long as despite looking very nice the basin is now next to the A6, and so still at the centre of a transport links - noisy ones.
We moved around the corner to Whaley Bridge, shopped in Tescos and started on the return journey.
Peak Forest Canal
A typical view along the canal, note the very good tow path, much used by walkers, joggers and fast moving bikes. Makes a change from bits of the canal with no edge, but a bit 'unromantic'. Mooring was a bit problamatic as the edge was mainly a rock slope.
View from Peak Forest Canal
Much of the canal looks out across the valley with the railway and hills in the distance - just here we had railway, canal and railway in a sandwich!
swing bridge
And another swing bridge, at least these are in good repair, and once unlocked with a BW 'security' key move fairly easily. There are a few whcih carry only a footpath operated by a chain hanging across the canal, it is supposed to be left on the bottom of the canal out of the way of boats.
typical working boat
You can imagine the scene here in the days of horse drawn working boats, many of the bends and bridges are 'blind', and can lead to some interesting events, even when only moving at a max. of 4 mph.
Busy scene at Marple junction
And so we waited for the working boats to go up to Bugsworth for the weekend, and then moved on to Marple and turned right in to the peak Forest Canal
Saturday, August 05, 2006
The Swing Bridge
Mary in charge! Stopping the traffic and moving the bridge all with a single finger - and left handed too - When we started there was no traffic, but it suddenly appeared from no where and had to wait.
Crew returning for his tea
He does so like his food! Notice the ears being used for extra propulsive power!
Canal Bridge at macclesfield
The bridges are all built of local stone, and look immaculate compared with the old brick ones we re used to on the Grand Union. Just imagine cutting and shifting all that stone by hand!
Bosley Locks
The only flight of locks - all 12 of them rising 118 feet in about a mile. Hard work but interesting, fairly unique in having double gates at both ends of the lock. Easy to operate, and filled quickly.
Sunset over Congleton
And so on to the Harecastle tunnel - where they close the door behind you as you enter - very spooky.
And to moor at Congleton on the Macclesfield Canal. New territory.
And to moor at Congleton on the Macclesfield Canal. New territory.
Etruria Flint Mill Beam Engine
So on to Stoke on Trent - and finally after years of trying arriving to find the Flint Mill open. Worth a visit if you are in the area. panic when returning to the boat to see a dog just like Charlie on the bank. It was Charlie -we had some how left the door open and he had been on the bank guarding the boat!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
evening below Great Hayward
The sun was just dipping below the horizon when it caught these trees and reflected in the water - and it was all gone in a couple of minutes.
A visitor
Today (sat) the temperature has dropped by 10 degrees (c) nd this butterfly was clinging to the ground, sheltering from the wind.
hair salon at Alrewas
Wonderful village beside the canal, full of very old buildings - unfortunately the day we were there it was also full of Telephone Engineers installing new cable, so the views were limited
oops
And then the balloon and crew vanish into the tree ( or a field of wheat in this case). I bet the farmer wasn't too pleased.
just a bit more gas
Some times things just do not go right - and youhear the gas burner roaring away.
Coming up
We have seen a lot of these during the calm summer evenings - sometimes all does not go well however.
This is take off.
This is take off.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Old Barn-Shardlow
A typical Shardlow building, but not related to the canal. Note the holes in the brickwork, possibily a dovecote?
The Storm!
And then the heavens opened! luckily we were securely moored up before the thunderstorm arrived, and had completed our walk around the village.
Waterpipe detail-Shardlow
Shardlow was a very important canal centre with many preserved buildings from the era of the canals.
Wildlife
The hot sun has meant the wildlife is hatching all the time, a great variety of Damsel flies, and such like, as well as the water teeming with fish.
Trent_Derwent_Trent&Mersey Canal
A crossroads between two rivers and our canal is just below this lock.
Sawley lock
The entrance to the Canal - luckily it was all controlled by a push button panel, so no gate to shove!
Soar-Trent Junction
The last time we did this junction it was so wet we couldn't see where we were going. this time it was glorious sunshine, and we saw the labels pointing up the Trent and the North, the Erewash canal, and the Trent and Mersey
Staircase-Foxton
A few days into the 'Great Trip'. A typical busy day at Foxton flight. Note that we waited until early the next morning when it was more peaceful!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Peace - perfect peace
This is what retirement is all about, relaxing planning the grand holiday cruise.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
kingfisher facing right
Nearly our last breakfast, and this beautiful bird perched outside our window - a perfect end to a glorious holiday.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Double Rainbow at Polesworth
This rainbow was a complete arc with just the hint of a second one outside it.
Now we are in to October the days are definitely less warm, although we have not lit the stove yet.
Moored at Ansty tonight, with only Rugby (Tescos) Braunston and then back up to Crick to go.
Now we are in to October the days are definitely less warm, although we have not lit the stove yet.
Moored at Ansty tonight, with only Rugby (Tescos) Braunston and then back up to Crick to go.
Learners through Rugeley
Coming in to Rugeley to go shopping we met a train of barges being towed by a tug and had to make way for them. Later when moored the remainder of the barges appeared and got in to a pickle trying to avoid moored boats, a boat coming head on at them and the wall! It was interesting watching them extricate themselves. I'm glad we met them all where we did and not at a lock.
Great Haywood Bridge under smoke
Back at Great Haywood we were surrounded by activity, with working boats making their presence felt (heard), there was no mistaking the thump thump thump of the engine making all this smoke.
Danger man at work
Almost the only queue of the trip, with five boats waiting to go down the lock. It is getting noticeably quieter now, with fewer hire boats out.
Monday, September 26, 2005
stepping after prey
Moored at Barlaston (site of Wedgewood factory) I watched a heron for a long time sitting preening its feathers. It was joined by a Magpie - but totally ignored it.
Here he is stepping gently after his prey - I wonder what they really eat - I have never seen them catch anything!
Here he is stepping gently after his prey - I wonder what they really eat - I have never seen them catch anything!
great haywood bridge
We spent a happy couple of days here and then moved on up the Trent and Mersey canal towards Stone (and Stoke on Trent).
Friday, September 23, 2005
sun over Tixall Wide
We sat here for a day of unbelievable sunshine (Thursday). Friday it rained however and so we delayed the start of the next leg of the journey.
Good news of the day is that we may have a house at last!
Good news of the day is that we may have a house at last!
Friday, September 16, 2005
preparing for a cold night
Some people must have listened to the weather forecast!
We are settled in for the night at Ansty - off tomorrow to Hawkesbury Junction and up the Coventry Canal
We are settled in for the night at Ansty - off tomorrow to Hawkesbury Junction and up the Coventry Canal
beyond rose narrowboats
We pass through the swing bridge at Rose Narrowboats and carry on up the beautiful wooded canal. The sun is shining but this can be deceptive - in the trees and when it is hidden by a cloud it is quite cold and we are wearing at least two (if not three) layers of clothes.
Horsley Iron Works cast iron bridge
Day three sees us shopping in Tescos and then on up the North Oxford Canal. This is one of many iron bridges over the tow path leading to now disused pieces of canal
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
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