Like this evening looking out at a blue(ish) sky and the sun setting behind the clouds.
Monday, August 21, 2006
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.
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