On the Staffs on Worcs canal going around Wolverhampton some of the route was hewn out of rock and was obviously so hard that the builders could only cut a narrow channel, luckily there was a passing place, I
cannot imagine what would happen if the earlier convoy arrived here all at once, the passing place was
only one boat long.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
over the A5
Another traffic jam here, but for the cars and not for us, something large was being escorted up the road with lots of flashing lights.
Its very strange looking at roads now and seeing the queues, we often travel parallel to railways or roads and see the speed of modern transport and then think back to the days when the canal carried all the heavy goods.
Its very strange looking at roads now and seeing the queues, we often travel parallel to railways or roads and see the speed of modern transport and then think back to the days when the canal carried all the heavy goods.
traffic jam near Wheaton Aston
Something not expected on the canal, except sometimes at busy locks and near the hire boat centres, this eventually sorted itself out but was interesting whilst it lasted as sometimes the speed we were
travelling at was below the engine tickover speed. So we had to pop in and out of gear.
travelling at was below the engine tickover speed. So we had to pop in and out of gear.
Woodpecker
Heard this bird before we saw him - probably at Gnosall where we stopped for lunch, we have seen a few Kingfishers but never keeping still enough to take a photo.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Woodseaves cutting - high Bridge
The days journey included another cutting, known for its high bridges.
We were followed a lot of the way by a canoe, but it kept vanishing, in the end I asked what they were up to, "picking blackberries" was the answer.
The end of the cutting has a double arched bridge with a telegraph pole (sans wires) in the middle.
And so we reached Norbury Junction, now a good boating centre - but not a junction as the other canal no longer exists.
Good moorings and an excellent and helpful marina.
We were followed a lot of the way by a canoe, but it kept vanishing, in the end I asked what they were up to, "picking blackberries" was the answer.
The end of the cutting has a double arched bridge with a telegraph pole (sans wires) in the middle.
And so we reached Norbury Junction, now a good boating centre - but not a junction as the other canal no longer exists.
Good moorings and an excellent and helpful marina.
Woodseaves cutting - and canoe
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'.
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'.
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!
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