4 years !

 

We have now just completed our fourth year aboard Narrowboat Inca . In the last 12 months we have been to London then up the Thames and onto the river Wey from there we went up to Oxford and then to Birmingham . It was then down to Droitwich and up the river Severn to Stourport . From there up on the Llangollen for a few weeks before going up to Chester and Ellesmere Port . We then had another trip down onto the river Weaver .Then it was all the way back down to London again with a few stops on the way and a couple more weeks in the capital. Over the Winter we headed back towards the Midlands and dropped down the South Oxford canal to Banbury where we got iced in for a few weeks. In the last 12 months we have covered 1,231 miles and done 874 locks. Our trusty 43hp Beta engine has run for 1,276 hours and not missed a beat.

Our totals for the four years are.. miles covered 4,544 ( mostly steered by me ) , locks 3,239 ( mostly done by Carolyn )  . Engine hours run 4,320 . Toilet cassettes emptied 653 and every single one done by me. Blogs posted 716 again all by me. Bottles of Red wine consumed by me ???? probably in the thousands ,and I have enjoyed every single one. We are now well in to our 2017 cruise and heading North to explore some new canals that we haven’t visited before.

As you can see we are genuine continous cruisers and are always on the go. Under the terms of our licence we only need to do just over 20 miles a year and move a short distance every 2 weeks ,but it was always our intention from the start to try and see as much of the UK canal system as we could before hanging up our windlasses and moving onto the next phase of our retirement. ( What ever that is )

 

                                                                                                      Happy Days

Lovehearts

 

Another early start from our mooring at Bollington and Curly is slowly but surely falling out with me , she just doesn’t like early mornings. We are soon passing Clarence Mill which once again is another mill converted in to flats. Talking to a local yesterday he said that a 2 bedroom unit would set you back about £200,000 although they are very spacious.

At bridge 13 just past Middlecale farm we came across this most amazing outdoor workshop . Although it seems to be just for display it is most impressive.

It might just look like a post , But honest to God when I clicked the button to take this picture there was Kingfisher sat on the top of it.

The end of the Macclesfield canal and this is the junction at Marple . We will eventually head down the Marple flight of locks which is on the left when we exit , But we are going to head right and spend a few days in Bugsworth Basin.

Not something you see very often on the canals and what a well maintained old wooden boat this is .

We went through three lift bridges during our cruise along the Peak forest on our way in to Bugsworth basin and at everyone we met another boat and it ended up with Carolyn operating each bridge. It’s funny how that always seems to happen to us.

Nearly at the end of our cruise and we head through New Mills which is famous for it’s sweet factory . It’s the Swizzles Matlow factory with it’s best selling product which is Lovehearts . As you cruise by you get the scent of the sweets being produced in the factory and it’s always good to get a wave from the people who are working inside .Needless to say Curly wanted to stop and see if she could get a tour around the factory.

After a great near six hour lock free cruise we arrived at Bugsworth Basin .On entering we turned right and went to the end of the basin before winding and coming back to the bottom basin .

We then picked up this mooring (top of picture on the right) in a near empty basin. The moorings here are 48 hours although we have been told if we want to stay a bit longer we could ask the Warden for a short extension. With Carolyn and Curly wanting to stay here as long as possible it looks like we could be here for a few days.

 

 

 

                                                                                                          Happy Days

Yarn Bombing

 

With an estimated six hour cruise and a flight of 11 locks in front of us we pulled ropes through rings from our mooring below Bosley locks at 07.50 ,much to Curly’s annoyance as she loves to have a lay in.

Entering the bottom lock and you can see that it’s been Yarn bombed . We see this all over the country on locks it’s also called storming, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting or graffiti knitting and is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk.

You just have to admire these beautiful stone built locks as you ascend the flight. Just imagine the amount of work that went in to making these stones and then forming the locks and all with hand tools.

With mitred top and bottom gates Curly comes in to her own as she can now open and close gates and on this visit has become competent in not only lifting paddles but also dropping them.

Nearly at the top of The Bosley flight and as Carolyn brings Inca up and in to the lock where the views are absolutely brilliant.

A rare picture I know ,but just occasionally I do the odd lock or two.

Eventually at the top of the flight and we are at 518 ft above sea level and in to the foothills of The Peak forest . We now have the use of the service block to get rid of our rubbish and waste . Why all services can’t be like this I will never know . It even has showers and washing machines. For what we pay in licence fees to Canal and River Trust it’s about time they supplied more facilities like this throughout the canal network.

What a waste of money this sign is although CRT seem to think it’s funny …The money could be spent so much better on improved maintenance and facilities.

Moving on and we are soon passing through Macclesfield and the marina. With the Sun out what a perfect day for cruising . Next to the Marina is yet another old factory/warehouse that’s been converted in to living accommodation .

After a good six hour cruise we arrived at Bollington and picked up the very end mooring on the aqueduct . With it being so shallow it meant our arse end being out a bit ,but as we could get the front in fairly close we were happy with that.

After a night here it will be another good cruise tomorrow as we want to get off The Macclesfield and then onto The Peak Forest Canal and hopefully make it all the way in to Bugworth Basin at Whaley Bridge.

 

                                                                                        Happy Days

The Cloud

 

We pulled pins at 08.30 with a bit of mizzle in the air. Not deterred we pressed on towards a mooring we wanted for the night which was below Bosley locks and with a local hill called The Cloud in the background it has to be in the top ten picturesque moorings on the canal system. One thing that is unusual on the Macclesfield canal is these distance markers . We thought they looked a bit like gravestones when we first saw them.

We stopped mid cruise to pick up some essential supplies ( not wine ) in Congleton and as you can see we are moored opposite the old wharf that has now been developed in to a housing development as have similar old factories and mills along this canal.

I’m not sure what they feed the Cows on up this way but they sure are a funny colour.

After a good three and a half hour cruise in rain ,mist and fog we finally got to our chosen mooring spot just below Bosley locks , Isn’t it strange that as soon as you moor soaked through to the skin that the rain stops and the Sun comes out .our mooring sits below The Cloud or Bosley Cloud as it is sometimes known . At 343 metres (1,125 ft) in height, it is one of the highest hills in the area. Its heather-covered summit plateau is crowned by a trig point from which extensive views over Congleton, Biddulph, Macclesfield, Holmes Chapel, and the Greater Manchester area can be enjoyed. The Cloud sits at the northern apex of a triangle formed by the broken ridge which runs along the border between Cheshire and Staffordshire and the hills stretching south through Biddulph Moor into Staffordshire. The plan was for Carolyn and Curly to have an afternoon climbing to the top and soaking up the views ,but as soon as Curly saw how far away and how high it was she decided against the idea.

What you don’t realise when you moor here is that you are actually floating on the Dane aqueduct which carries the canal at a great height over the river Dane. With Curly having no fear of heights she swings on the railings over the river making my legs turn to jelly.

Tomorrow it will be an early start as we tackle the 11 locks of The Bosley flight. We have done this flight before and as I remember it was a pleasure to do.

                                                                                                                 Happy Days

Stoke on Trent

 

We pulled pins from our mooring opposite the Wedgewood factory at 07.10 with the intention of getting through Stoke on Trent as soon as possible .Such a shame yet again that this is another city that has a bad name for canal travellers although I believe that money is shortly to become available to be spent along the canal through the city . Whether this money will be spent to make some safe secure moorings remains to be seen.

The first lock of the day was only about half an hour away and seemed to be a bit deeper than previous locks on this section . Yet again there was the gap in the lock cross over bridge to allow a horses rope to pass through .

Passing the Bet 365 stadium which of course is the home of Stoke city FC.

The canal through Stoke is absolutely hammered with Graffiti . Although most of it is a mess occasionally you see something that you look at and think that’s very good.

Now this is a bit different . Someone has decided to clad their narrow boat . I’m not sure that the idea will catch on.

You know you are in the Potteries when you see these old bottle kilns .Just how good is it to see that they have been retained and not knocked down.

After passing a few local Scoates openly doing drugs we came across this mess in the canal . As always when we see floating crap like this we knock Inca out of gear and coast through as to try and avoid the propeller becoming fouled.

Arriving at Etruia and we pass the old meat rendering works . Good job it’s not operating now as the smell must have been horrendous.

I bet this pottery was a hive of activity in it’s day. A bit of a shame to see it like this ,but I guess it’s time move’s on.

A skip full of pottery . No doubt it never made the grade and has just been chucked …

Arriving at Harecastle tunnel and we were waved straight in and had a good uneventful trip through . We have never been through in this direction before and were surprised at how loud the fans were after we entered and they shut the tunnel door behind us.

Looking back at the North portal as we leave the tunnel and you can see the colour of the water which is a bright orange colour. You can also see the old disused tunnel on the right.

After exiting Harecastle tunnel it’s only a short cruise before we turn left and leave the Trent and Mersey canal and then join the Macclesfield canal.

How the other half live ! . Just past this house we picked up a mooring for the night with exactly the same view that this multi million pound house has .Then tomorrow our view will change as we head North up the Macclesfield.

 

                                                                                                                          Happy Days