UK Canals - Journey reports

Coventry Canal:Tamhorn House Bridge

A boat was just exiting Colwich Lock as we arrived, so a quick passage.  The bottom gates have very short beams due to the proximity of the bridge and on the limit of operability for the lock operator.  I usually reckon on leaving the boat in the bridge hole and going up to help.   After Rugeley traffic started to build up, but the Armitage “tunnel” was unoccupied but with a boat waiting at the other end by the time we got there.   A couple of bridge hole experiences on the way and then a short wait at Wood End before the couple of Fradley Locks, both with volunteer lock-ins and no wait at all.    Once on the Coventry a slow boat suddenly appeared out of nowhere ahead of us.   They were aware and found an opportunity to let us pass soon after.   Not that we are speeding, just cruising at a steady speed.  

Our night spot puts us in good position for Hopwas and Fazeley in the morning, with final destination top of Atherstone.

Trent & Mersey Canal:Little Haywood

All our mornings thus far have been chilly, even requiring a coat.  Not so today.  Yesterday was wall to wall sunshine, but never warm in a chill wind.  Today promised very hot.   We tried our usual early start, but others were there before us and we had a small queue at the top of Medford, which persisted al;most all the way down to Stone bottom Lock.    We have a new plan.   Slightly longer days, but getting home a day earlier, required with lots going on.   So after Stone we just plodded on through Aston, Sandown and Weston Locks with opposite direction traffic all the way.   After Hoo Mill there seemed to be far fewer boats moored than usual, but still a wait at Haywood Lock.   This was out last today and we found a good spot just before Little Haywood Bridge.    Sat out for a while in the sun.   Mad!   Lots of walkers about though, some possibly in a large group suffering from the heat taking the shade of a large tree.   Later on popped up to the village pub.   LIke many village pubs, looking half deserted, but a nice welcome nonetheless.

Trent & Mersey Canal:Barlaston

We got to Harecastle Tunnel North entrance at around 7:30.   The tunnel opens at 8:00 am.    The tunnel keeper was just opening up his office and after about 15 minutes came round, gave us a leaflet and advised us that we would be waiting until 9:00 as there had been a boat at the other end waiting overnight.   As it turned out there was only one and it was fast, so at 8:45 we were on our way, followed by a “ginger” hire boat.   The new tunnel light works fine.    The tunnel is always an eerie experience and it does not do to dwell on the brickwork of the low sections roof where subsidence has taken place and it is necessary to crouch.  What the heck am I doing in here?   Well the tunnel has been there since 1827.   It is in a way just like a video game.

Upon exit we carried on with just a short wait at Stoke top lock and each lock thereafter.   Trentham Lock was ready for us and Barlaston our night stop soon after.

Macclesfield Canal:Red Bull

 As planned an early start with the first lock full promising an easy descent.   Usual routine with Pat ahead opening next lock gates leaving me to deal with the already dropping boat.  However the Bosley flight is not straightforward as there is very little access from the bottom of some of the locks directly (without going through the hassle of mooring up).  So in this case Pat would walk back, however, this does not cause delay, just extra footwork.   Pat was a little slow in getting lock 7 ready and this turned out to be due to the fact that she found the pound below empty and had to fill it first (opening top and bottom paddles, gates closed).  Fortunately the pound above is a long one.   Apart from modest leaks to and bottom gates there was no obvious reason for the empty pound especially considering the amount of water coming down the flight from our passage.  At lock 11 we met the first up coming.     So on then to our planned mooring at Red Bull aqueduct.    Since we passed in the opposite direction around 4 weeks ago the vegetation has grown prolifically.    The towpath edge is now 3 feet or more tall with at least two annual growth of saplings in places.   Of particular concern are the bridge holes where offside growth obscures the line of the bridge on that side, sometimes both sides.    The Macclesfield bridges are all pretty standard however so it is possible to imagine the sides from the curve of the upper stonework.   I got to reason that all these bridges were built from stone sourced from the ancient version of Ikea, just like flat packs today.

Our mooring can be recommended as a pleasant spot, quiet with good piling and grass edge.  (Hate stones). We are just before the Aqueduct over the T&M.

Macclesfield Canal:Bosley Top Lock

Set off early as usual, pullover and padded jacket!  No rain this time.  Scarcely saw another boat until about 10:30 after arriving Macclesfield.   The usual visitor moorings by bridge 37 are a bit scrappy with rough edges and uncut vegetation.  Lots admiring remarks about the paintwork!   Pat needed a few essentials which only took 20 minutes and we were off again.   The two swing bridges were dealt with without problem and after 5hrs 10min we reached Bosley top lock extended moorings.   We tied up after the first boat we saw there but then realised that the canal was quite narrow with rushes on the opposite bank, so thought better of it thinking we could move to some spaces further on.  However, these turned out to be permanent moorings, so we carried on looking for the top lock visitor moorings, but couldn’t find them.  It really looks as if there are none.   Perhaps we missed the sign on the way.   As it appeared that the lock-keepers were all having a barbecue by the facilities block I thought I would ask but didn’t get a definitive answer, rather “oh you’ll be alright there” meaning the end of the permanent mooring block near the water point.  So we are happy, but still find the situation strange to say the least.

The sun came out for a bit and it became slightly warmer, but didn’t last.  Got a couple of little jobs done.  Planning to refit the cratch cover tomorrow.

Macclesfield Canal:Higher Poynton

June 25th Furness Vale to Higher Poynton

Happily the batteries looked good this morning, but will keep a close eye nevertheless.   Raining this morning and it continued on and off until midday.   We left early as usual, taking it slowly as the canal is quite shallow and there is no point in trying to speed.  The many narrow bridge holes and demolished bridge narrows call for skill, especially where vegetation obscures the navigation line through.   Get the line wrong and you find yourself either scraping the sides or unable to steer out without ending up in the bushes.  Worse with the lifting or swing bridges. The view across the valley are stupendous and there is the feeling that in many places the cut is on the edge of a cliff.  Nowhere more so than at Marple where the canal does go over the edge at the first of many deep locks.   However, we turned left on to the Macclesfield Canal.   So few boats moving today but still the inevitable bridge hole contest.   Arriving at Higher Poynton we drew up to the trading post by Braidbar Boats ex colliery arm.  I felt embarrassed asking for a pumpout and diesel in the rain, but “no trouble sir”.   129 litres diesel.  Matches the record earned on the Basingstoke Canal almost 16 years ago.   I keep a dipping stick with calibrated marks.  It does help to know how much there is in the tank, remembering that the fuel is not taken from the bottom, but a little way up to reduce the chance of picking up sludge, so you are never really sure where the “bottom” is.  Marine 21 anti diesel bug added.

Peak Forest Canal:Furness Vale

At 8:00 a small trapdoor in the dock gate seal was opened and water flooded in, just like filling a lock.   It took quite a while and when complete the dock gate was lifted out and the boat roped out taking great care not to scratch the gunwales.   Quite a tricky operation actually and done very slowly to avoid the nearby boat.   Once moored, it was time to return our car to Brinklow to be available when we arrive there later.   So nice having a railway station within 100 yards of the marina, though Brinklow requires a taxi.

Peak Forest Canal:Furness Vale

At 8:00 a small trapdoor in the dock gate seal was opened and water flooded in, just like filling a lock.   It took quite a while and when complete the dock gate was lifted out and the boat roped out taking great care not to scratch the gunwales.   Quite a tricky operation actually and done very slowly to avoid the nearby boat.   Once moored, it was time to return our car to Brinklow to be available when we arrive there later.   So nice having a railway station within 100 yards of the marina, though Brinklow requires a taxi.

Peak Forest Canal:Furness Vale

We return after three weeks to find that the boat has been re-painted and looks fantastic.  However, still in dry dock.  It comes out tomorrow.