Blog
Blog history
October/2016 - June/2017
touching upon:
Shropshire Union Canal
Macclesfield Canal
Peak Forest Canal
Caldon Canal
Trent & Mersey Canal
Wednesday 14th June 2017-Trent & Mersey Canal
Onward from Eturia along the T&M we arrive at the pleasant Market town of Stone. Along the way we have taken the bus to Stafford, Newcastle under Lyme and Stoke on Trent. We are in the heart of the Potteries, that area of Staffordshire that became a centre of ceramic production in the early 17th century, due to the local availability of clay, salt, lead and coal. In 1776 James Brindley, the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the Grand Trunk Canal to connect the two rivers, Mersey and Trent and Stone became the headquarters of the Canal company. It was backed by Josiah Wedgwood who saw that it offered an efficient way to bring raw materials to the potteries and to transport finished wares to his customers. The Grand Trunk eventually became the Trent & Mersey. We have moored up by the chandler for the night while we wait for some spare parts.Thursday 15th June 2017-Star Inn-Stone
Mooring by a pub is a mixed blessing, near beer but noisy nights, so we didn’t get that close. The Star Inn is right by the Star Lock which is rather infamous. During the building of the canal and on completion of the Star Lock a grand opening was held, and during this ceremony a cannon was fired in celebration. However disaster struck and the cannon damaged the new lock, requiring a re-build. What idiot thought it was a good idea to fire a cannon ball for ceremonial purposes? Or was it a Waggoner?Thursday 23rd June 2017-Great Haywood Junction
Leaving Stone on the 19th in a heatwave we have travelled slowly down the Trent and Mersey, visiting Weston-on-Trent where you can moor conveniently by The Saracen’s Head pub. The town’s other pub, The Woolpack, has disappeared which is sad but not disastrous as it wasn’t close to the canal! We are floating gently in this area whilst we wait for Stuart and Virginia to bring our Granddaughter Amelia for her first boating holiday although at six months she may not fully appreciate the finer points. We have arrived at Great Haywood Junction where the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal branches off at the beginning of its 46 mile journey down to the River Severn at Stourport. We shall be cruising this canal but first...Thursday 6th July 2017-Shugborough Hall
We are doing the tourist thing with our visitors and going to the ancestral seat of that photographer to the nobility, the late lamented Patrick Litchfield. Shugborough Hall is in the hands of the National Trust who took it over after the death of the 4th Earl in 1960 in lieu of death duties. But the most interesting previous occupant of this Georgian pile is not Patrick but his ancestor Admiral George Anson who made a staggering fortune in prize money on the high seas. This aspect is explored in more detail in “Shugborough Hall” as part of “Canal Places”.Saturday 8th July 2017-Staff & Worcs Canal
Our visitors have left, suitably awestruck by our hospitality, not to mention the limited confines of their accommodation. We have entered the S&W and pass through the interesting “Tixall Wide” where the canal becomes an artificial lake, built to placate the owner of Tixall Hall who could not bear the thought of commerce polluting his hallowed acres and preferred to pretend it wasn’t happening! The Wide is overlooked by an amazing Elizabethan Gatehouse.Saturday 29th July 2017-Wightwick Manor
Having spent a week at Penkridge for shopping, boat chandlery, bus rides to local towns and replacement of our water pump which had started to make some very strange noises. We have eventually arrived at Wightwick Lock near Compton. On the way we have passed Compton Lock (which is the first lock ever built by James Brindley) as well as Autherley and Aldersley Junctions leading, respectively, to the Shropshire Union Canal and Wolverhampton. Nearby is the extraordinary Wightwick Manor, an icon of the Arts and Crafts and PreRaphaelite movements. More in “Wightwick Manor” as part of “Canal Places”.
PreRaphaelite Woman
Thursday 10th August 2017-Staff & Worcs Canal
Continuing our slow passage down this seemingly remote and attractive canal we have diverted along the Stourbridge canal to the small Basin in Stourbridge where plan to leave Wild Rose in a few days time for a short trip to Poole. Having made this arrangement we go back to the S&W to visit Kinver. At the very beginning of the 20th Century Kinver was known as the “Switzerland of the Midlands” which would only have been credible to anyone who had never seen Switzerland. But this is a nice town, nevertheless, and it boasts the Rock Houses. There is a geological formation of sandstone overlooking the town known as the Kniver Edge and for many years people burrowed into this rather soft rock and/or used existing formations to make for themselves cave dwellings. There is more in “Kinver Rock Houses” as part of “Canal Places”.Wednesday 23rd August 2017-Staff & Worcs Canal
Our visit to Poole completed we have drifted past Cookley and Kidderminster to arrive at Stourport on Severn. Here we move from canal to river pausing by the town’s basins. Neither Alison or myself are keen on rivers as they tend to have very limited facilities for mooring. It’s nice to be able to stop more or less anywhere when you have seen something interesting or simply wish to explore. But rivers, attractive as they may be, don’t usually allow this.Thusday 24th August 2017-River Severn
We have ventured onto the River Severn. Our plan is to proceed down the river until we reach the junction of the Droitwich Canal, pass along this short canal until we reach the Droitwich Marina where we shall leave Wild Rose while we take a few days break in Edinburgh, and then continue along the Droitwich until it joins up with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal leading us to Worcester and back onto the River Severn down to Tewksbury and onto the River Avon. Stratford here we come.Monday 28th August 2017-Droitwich Basin
This is a very pleasant mooring from which to explore Droitwich Spa. Founded on salt production, the canal has only recently been restored and there are a number of exhibits to explain and celebrate the industrial heritage. Also they have a local Saint...Saint Richard, which is nice.
Monday 11th September 2017-Worcester and Birmingham Canal
We have arrived at Worcester Diglis Basin where we prepare for the next leg of our River Severn voyage down to Tewksbury. As we wander round the town we come upon memorials to Elgar who spent a significant part of his life in the city. After me…1…2…
Diglis Basin
Tuesday 12th September 2017-River Avon
An uneventful, placid passage on the Severn has brought us to the beginning of the navigable Avon. At the aptly named Avonlock a pleasant lock keeper kindly charges me £50 for a seven day license to reach Stratford and we moor up at King John’s Bridge. Being of mean disposition I work out a full seven day itinerary for the trip as I want to get my money’s worth.
From the Severn
into the Avonlock
Wednesday 20th September 2017-Stratford Canal
We have visited Pershore, Evesham and Bidford on a delightful river trip until we reached Stratford and moved back onto the canal system. Unlike other rivers that we have known the Avon offers plenty of opportunities for mooring and winds gracefully through the countryside in an intimate fashion. Also the riverside fishermen smile kindly upon us as we disturb their slumbers unlike their brethren on the canals... Under the beneficent aura of Will Shakespeare one tends to overlook other aspects of Stratford but there is a butterfly farm and in a couple of days, a food festival!
Shakespeare’s mother’s place,
we did knock but she wasn’t in.
Sunday 24th September 2017-Stratford Canal
Left Stratford after a very pleasant stay. We wandered the stalls of the Food Festival, attending a course on making sourdough bread and sampling all manner of delicacies. Also stocked up on some exotic cheese and a bottle of mead, How medieval is that?Thursday 28th September 2017-Stratford Canal
The Stratford Canal seems to consist mainly of locks as it makes its way towards Kingswood Junction where we will move onto the Grand Union Canal to continue our big loop around Birmingham and then north to spend Christmas.Thursday 2nd October 2017 – Grand Union Canal
Onwards towards Warwick and Leamington Spa but in order to get there we have the Hatton Locks to contend with. A flight of 21 wide locks refurbished in uncompromising concrete in the 1930s. They stretch ahead in an aggressive vista to strike fear in the heart of a timid boater. In fact they are relatively easy being well maintained. Also we had a CRT volunteer to help throughout the flight who took pity on our age and infirmity so we managed the whole lot in 2 hours 45 minutes which is pretty good going.Thursday 5th October 2017 – Grand Union Canal
Arrived and moored up in Leamington Spa where we will spend a few days lounging around.Monday 23rd October 2017 – Oxford Canal
We are heading north through peaceful, pretty countryside. Everywhere are the undulating evidences of medieval ridge and furrow farming. It is amazing to think that these fields have been in pasture since the 15th Century enclosures without ploughing during that time. One can only imagine the agonies of the peasants kicked off the lands they had farmed for generations to make way for sheep and the vast profits of wool. We arrive in Rugby to excellent new towpath moorings, Tomorrow we go shopping.Monday 16th October 2017 – Grand Union/Oxford Canals
After Leamington Spa we have wandered the watery ways along the Grand Union, along to Napton Junction where the GU and the Oxford Canal join up for the short section up to Braunston where they separate again. We moored up for predicted high winds from Storm Brian which didn’t live up to expectations except for the weird sun effect resulting from winds picking up dust from Southern Europe.Sunday 29th October 2017 – Coventry Canal
Having left Rugby we continue to the end of the Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction and then onto the Coventry Canal. We drift, past Bedworth, Nuneaton and Mancetter, which was the scene in AD60 of Boudicca’s last stand, to fetch up, for the day, at the foot of the Atherstone Locks.
Amelia with her support team
First lock James…way to go!
Tuesday 7th November 2017 – Trent and Mersey Canal
Our uneventful cruising continues as Autumn draws on. We pass Polesworth, and the useful town of Tamworth holds us for a few days. Onward to Fradley Junction where we join the Trent and Mersey Canal which will take us part of the way north to an eventual rendezvous with Bugsworth Basin where we intend to spend a few days at Christmas. Time to think about some festive decorations.Monday 20th November 2017 - Trent and Mersey Canal
Leaving Rugeley we pass over Brindley’s Trent Aquaduct. There are two interesting points about this structure, firstly the canal doglegs to cross the Trent at a right angle. This because at the time of building it was not known how to construct bridges on the slant(!) and secondly this is the site of the infamous “Bloody Steps” where, in 1839, the body of Christina Collins was carried up from the canal where she had been found, having been abused and murdered by three boatmen whilst travelling to London on a Pickfords narrowboat. Two of the boatmen were hung, the other was transported. Colin Dexter used this as the inspiration for his Morse novel “The Wench is Dead”. Having stopped for the night at Weston on Trent and then finding that the canalside pub “The Saracen’s Head” is closed for refurbishment(*#!#!), we continue towards Stone.Thursday 16th November 2017 - Trent and Mersey Canal
We wash up in Rugeley, quite literally as there is a laundrette here. Rugeley, once the home of my namesake William Palmer, the Victorian “Prince of Poisoners”, is a boaters dream as it is possible to moor up in one place five minutes walk from Tesco, five minutes from Morrisons and ten minutes from Aldi. It being winter we can safely ignore the 24 hours max limits and extend our stay. Very restful.Friday 1st December 2017 – Stoke on Trent – Eturia Wharf
As winter tightens its grip, life on the Canals slows. We have experienced the first of the freezes. Leaving Stone we pause only briefly at Eturia for shortly we will pass, once again, through the Harecastle Tunnel and back onto the Macclesfield Canal to get firmly frozen in again at Scholar Green.Wednesday 5th December 2017
The fourth birthday of our Granddaughters Jorja and Erin. We haven’t seen you or heard about you for two years, girls, but we think about you all the time and wonder how you are doing. Hope you got the cards.Thursday 14th December 2017 – Macclesfield Canal
The ice has released us and we cruise. The day is beautiful with bright sunshine but cold. We pass through Congleton and, on our way, a kind Gent on the towpath extends a pole with a goodie bag containing religious literature and two mince pies. They were delicious.
Tuesday 19th December 2017 – Macclesfield Canal
On the 14th we moored up on the Hightown Aqueduct which a pretty impressive location over looking a deep valley with a high rail viaduct in the distance. The ice grips us and we hunker down in a cosy boat. As soon as the ice thins and the Mallard ducks find clear water to swim in we follow their example and move on to Bollington in the mist. We pass through the 12 Bosley locks and approaching a swing bridge at Oakgrove, it mysteriously opens. As we pass we can see that it has been opened by a cheery man with a bushy white beard and a twinkling eye. I hear the faint echoes of Satchmo in my mind...”is that you Santa Claus?”
Thursday 21st December 2017 – Marple Junction
We are at the end of the “Maccie” and we shall stay a couple of days before moving on to Bugsworth Basin for Christmas.Saturday 30th December 2017 – The High Peak
The year is at an end, we have enjoyed the visit of our son Stuart with Virginia and little Amelia who found her crawling abilities somewhat stifled by the confines of the boat. Also she meets a new friend and realises that “a Teddy is for life, not just for Christmas.” Shortly we shall visit them in Edinburgh for Amelia’s birthday. Tomorrow we stash “Wild Rose” in Furness Vale Marina while we are absent.
Sunday 7th January 2018 – Edinburgh
It’s party time for Amelia as she dons her glad rags for her 1st Birthday and poses for photo opportunities. See that cake!
Wednesday 10th January 2018 - The High Peak
Exhausted from all that partying we return to Furness Vale and move back to Marple. It so happens that the town gave Agatha Christie the name of her female detective Jane Marple and here is the blue plaque to prove it. We are stuck here for a while because of Winter Stoppages while repairs and maintenance work is carried out on canal facilities. In this case it is the Bosley Locks undergoing major work, but they will be opened on the 3rd February for two days to allow navigation and we need to be there.
Tuesday 27th February2018 – Macclesfield Canal
The work has progressed more quickly than anticipated and the lads doing the work, who have become friends, tell us the way is now clear except for the fact that the “Beast from the East” has frozen the canal solid. There is no hurry for the delay means that we have entered into a period of closure of the locks at Red Bull on the Trent and Mersey that will end, perhaps, on the 16th. It’s clear that life on the Canals is slower.Thursday 8th February2018 - Macclesfield Canal
Having cleared the Bosley Locks and thinking our way is now clear we are flagged down by workmen who tell us mournfully, but perhaps with a certain amount of sly satisfaction, that our way is blocked by emergency work on bridge 71 which will last for the next three months!! We continue on to the bridge which has dams built across the canal on either side. It seems that there is a danger of imminent collapse and the buttresses need repair and underpinning. A call to CRT dispels the idea that the canal will be blocked for three months but it should be clear by the 2nd March. To complete the picture similar work is to be carried out on Bridge 67 which is behind us. We are well and truly trapped. We reverse to Bridge 68 and moor up. Things could be a lot worse, we are opposite a water point and close by bus routes into Congleton, Macclesfield and beyond. We have plenty of coal and diesel so settle down to wait.Saturday 3rd February 2018– Macclesfield Canal
Having hung around Macclesfield and environs including visits to Manchester we have arrived at the Bosley Locks but the weather is very miserable and so we delay our descent until tomorrow.
nb Wild Rose
Wandering the Watery Ways…
Blog
Blog history
October/2016 - June/2017
touching upon:
Shropshire Union Canal
Macclesfield Canal
Peak Forest Canal
Caldon Canal
Trent & Mersey Canal
Thursday 15th June 2017-Star Inn-
Stone
Mooring by a pub is a mixed blessing, near beer but noisy nights, so we didn’t get that close. The Star Inn is right by the Star Lock which is rather infamous. During the building of the canal and on completion of the Star Lock a grand opening was held, and during this ceremony a cannon was fired in celebration. However disaster struck and the cannon damaged the new lock, requiring a re-build. What idiot thought it was a good idea to fire a cannon ball for ceremonial purposes? Or was it a Waggoner?Wednesday 14th June 2017-Trent &
Mersey Canal
Onward from Eturia along the T&M we arrive at the pleasant Market town of Stone. Along the way we have taken the bus to Stafford, Newcastle under Lyme and Stoke on Trent. We are in the heart of the Potteries, that area of Staffordshire that became a centre of ceramic production in the early 17th century, due to the local availability of clay, salt, lead and coal. In 1776 James Brindley, the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the Grand Trunk Canal to connect the two rivers, Mersey and Trent and Stone became the headquarters of the Canal company. It was backed by Josiah Wedgwood who saw that it offered an efficient way to bring raw materials to the potteries and to transport finished wares to his customers. The Grand Trunk eventually became the Trent & Mersey. We have moored up by the chandler for the night while we wait for some spare parts.Thursday 23rd June 2017-Great
Haywood Junction
Leaving Stone on the 19th in a heatwave we have travelled slowly down the Trent and Mersey, visiting Weston-on-Trent where you can moor conveniently by The Saracen’s Head pub. The town’s other pub, The Woolpack, has disappeared which is sad but not disastrous as it wasn’t close to the canal! We are floating gently in this area whilst we wait for Stuart and Virginia to bring our Granddaughter Amelia for her first boating holiday although at six months she may not fully appreciate the finer points. We have arrived at Great Haywood Junction where the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal branches off at the beginning of its 46 mile journey down to the River Severn at Stourport. We shall be cruising this canal but first...Saturday 29th July 2017-Wightwick
Manor
Having spent a week at Penkridge for shopping, boat chandlery, bus rides to local towns and replacement of our water pump which had started to make some very strange noises. We have eventually arrived at Wightwick Lock near Compton. On the way we have passed Compton Lock (which is the first lock ever built by James Brindley) as well as Autherley and Aldersley Junctions leading, respectively, to the Shropshire Union Canal and Wolverhampton. Nearby is the extraordinary Wightwick Manor, an icon of the Arts and Crafts and PreRaphaelite movements. More in “Wightwick Manor” as part of “Canal Places”.
Saturday 8th July 2017-
Staff & Worcs Canal
Our visitors have left, suitably awestruck by our hospitality, not to mention the limited confines of their accommodation. We have entered the S&W and pass through the interesting “Tixall Wide” where the canal becomes an artificial lake, built to placate the owner of Tixall Hall who could not bear the thought of commerce polluting his hallowed acres and preferred to pretend it wasn’t happening! The Wide is overlooked by an amazing Elizabethan Gatehouse.
Thursday 6th July 2017-
Shugborough Hall
We are doing the tourist thing with our visitors and going to the ancestral seat of that photographer to the nobility, the late lamented Patrick Litchfield. Shugborough Hall is in the hands of the National Trust who took it over after the death of the 4th Earl in 1960 in lieu of death duties. But the most interesting previous occupant of this Georgian pile is not Patrick but his ancestor Admiral George Anson who made a staggering fortune in prize money on the high seas. This aspect is explored in more detail in “Shugborough Hall” as part of “Canal Places”.
Thursday 10th August 2017-Staff &
Worcs Canal
Continuing our slow passage down this seemingly remote and attractive canal we have diverted along the Stourbridge canal to the small Basin in Stourbridge where plan to leave Wild Rose in a few days time for a short trip to Poole. Having made this arrangement we go back to the S&W to visit Kinver. At the very beginning of the 20th Century Kinver was known as the “Switzerland of the Midlands” which would only have been credible to anyone who had never seen Switzerland. But this is a nice town, nevertheless, and it boasts the Rock Houses. There is a geological formation of sandstone overlooking the town known as the Kniver Edge and for many years people burrowed into this rather soft rock and/or used existing formations to make for themselves cave dwellings. There is more in “Kinver Rock Houses” as part of “Canal Places”.Wednesday 23rd August 2017-Staff &
Worcs Canal
Our visit to Poole completed we have drifted past Cookley and Kidderminster to arrive at Stourport on Severn. Here we move from canal to river pausing by the town’s basins. Neither Alison or myself are keen on rivers as they tend to have very limited facilities for mooring. It’s nice to be able to stop more or less anywhere when you have seen something interesting or simply wish to explore. But rivers, attractive as they may be, don’t usually allow this.Thusday 24th August 2017-River
Severn
We have ventured onto the River Severn. Our plan is to proceed down the river until we reach the junction of the Droitwich Canal, pass along this short canal until we reach the Droitwich Marina where we shall leave Wild Rose while we take a few days break in Edinburgh, and then continue along the Droitwich until it joins up with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal leading us to Worcester and back onto the River Severn down to Tewksbury and onto the River Avon. Stratford here we come.Monday 28th August 2017-Droitwich
Basin
This is a very pleasant mooring from which to explore Droitwich Spa. Founded on salt production, the canal has only recently been restored and there are a number of exhibits to explain and celebrate the industrial heritage. Also they have a local Saint...Saint Richard, which is nice.
Monday 11th September 2017-
Worcester and Birmingham Canal
We have arrived at Worcester Diglis Basin where we prepare for the next leg of our River Severn voyage down to Tewksbury. As we wander round the town we come upon memorials to Elgar who spent a significant part of his life in the city. After me…1…2…
Tuesday 12th September 2017-River
Avon
An uneventful, placid passage on the Severn has brought us to the beginning of the navigable Avon. At the aptly named Avonlock a pleasant lock keeper kindly charges me £50 for a seven day license to reach Stratford and we moor up at King John’s Bridge. Being of mean disposition I work out a full seven day itinerary for the trip as I want to get my money’s worth.
From the Severn
into the Avonlock
Wednesday 20th September 2017-
Stratford Canal
We have visited Pershore, Evesham and Bidford on a delightful river trip until we reached Stratford and moved back onto the canal system. Unlike other rivers that we have known the Avon offers plenty of opportunities for mooring and winds gracefully through the countryside in an intimate fashion. Also the riverside fishermen smile kindly upon us as we disturb their slumbers unlike their brethren on the canals... Under the beneficent aura of Will Shakespeare one tends to overlook other aspects of Stratford but there is a butterfly farm and in a couple of days, a food festival!
Shakespeare’s mother’s place,
we did knock but she wasn’t in.
Sunday 24th September 2017-
Stratford Canal
Left Stratford after a very pleasant stay. We wandered the stalls of the Food Festival, attending a course on making sourdough bread and sampling all manner of delicacies. Also stocked up on some exotic cheese and a bottle of mead, How medieval is that?Thursday 28th September 2017-
Stratford Canal
The Stratford Canal seems to consist mainly of locks as it makes its way towards Kingswood Junction where we will move onto the Grand Union Canal to continue our big loop around Birmingham and then north to spend Christmas.Thursday 2nd October 2017 – Grand
Union Canal
Onwards towards Warwick and Leamington Spa but in order to get there we have the Hatton Locks to contend with. A flight of 21 wide locks refurbished in uncompromising concrete in the 1930s. They stretch ahead in an aggressive vista to strike fear in the heart of a timid boater. In fact they are relatively easy being well maintained. Also we had a CRT volunteer to help throughout the flight who took pity on our age and infirmity so we managed the whole lot in 2 hours 45 minutes which is pretty good going.Thursday 5th October 2017 – Grand
Union Canal
Arrived and moored up in Leamington Spa where we will spend a few days lounging around.Monday 23rd October 2017 – Oxford
Canal
We are heading north through peaceful, pretty countryside. Everywhere are the undulating evidences of medieval ridge and furrow farming. It is amazing to think that these fields have been in pasture since the 15th Century enclosures without ploughing during that time. One can only imagine the agonies of the peasants kicked off the lands they had farmed for generations to make way for sheep and the vast profits of wool. We arrive in Rugby to excellent new towpath moorings, Tomorrow we go shopping.Monday 16th October 20147 – Grand
Union/Oxford Canals
After Leamington Spa we have wandered the watery ways along the Grand Union, along to Napton Junction where the GU and the Oxford Canal join up for the short section up to Braunston where they separate again. We moored up for predicted high winds from Storm Brian which didn’t live up to expectations except for the weird sun effect resulting from winds picking up dust from Southern Europe.Sunday 29th October 2017 –
Coventry Canal
Having left Rugby we continue to the end of the Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction and then onto the Coventry Canal. We drift, past Bedworth, Nuneaton and Mancetter, which was the scene in AD60 of Boudicca’s last stand, to fetch up, for the day, at the foot of the Atherstone Locks.
Diglis Basin
Tuesday 7th November 2017 – Trent
and Mersey Canal
Our uneventful cruising continues as Autumn draws on. We pass Polesworth, and the useful town of Tamworth holds us for a few days. Onward to Fradley Junction where we join the Trent and Mersey Canal which will take us part of the way north to an eventual rendezvous with Bugsworth Basin where we intend to spend a few days at Christmas. Time to think about some festive decorations.Thursday 16th November 2017 -
Trent and Mersey Canal
We wash up in Rugeley, quite literally as there is a laundrette here. Rugeley, once the home of my namesake William Palmer, the Victorian “Prince of Poisoners”, is a boaters dream as it is possible to moor up in one place five minutes walk from Tesco, five minutes from Morrisons and ten minutes from Aldi. It being winter we can safely ignore the 24 hours max limits and extend our stay. Very restful.Monday 20th November 2017 - Trent
and Mersey Canal
Leaving Rugeley we pass over Brindley’s Trent Aquaduct. There are two interesting points about this structure, firstly the canal doglegs to cross the Trent at a right angle. This because at the time of building it was not known how to construct bridges on the slant(!) and secondly this is the site of the infamous “Bloody Steps” where, in 1839, the body of Christina Collins was carried up from the canal where she had been found, having been abused and murdered by three boatmen whilst travelling to London on a Pickfords narrowboat. Two of the boatmen were hung, the other was transported. Colin Dexter used this as the inspiration for his Morse novel “The Wench is Dead”. Having stopped for the night at Weston on Trent and then finding that the canalside pub “The Saracen’s Head” is closed for refurbishment(*#!#!), we continue towards Stone.Thursday 14th December 2017 –
Macclesfield Canal
The ice has released us and we cruise. The day is beautiful with bright sunshine but cold. We pass through Congleton and, on our way, a kind Gent on the towpath extends a pole with a goodie bag containing religious literature and two mince pies. They were delicious.Wednesday 5th December 2017
The fourth birthday of our Granddaughters Jorja and Erin. We haven’t seen you or heard about you for two years, girls, but we think about you all the time and wonder how you are doing. Hope you got the cards.Friday 1st December 2017 – Stoke on
Trent – Eturia Wharf
As winter tightens its grip, life on the Canals slows. We have experienced the first of the freezes. Leaving Stone we pause only briefly at Eturia for shortly we will pass, once again, through the Harecastle Tunnel and back onto the Macclesfield Canal to get firmly frozen in again at Scholar Green.
Tuesday 19th December 2017 –
Macclesfield Canal
On the 14th we moored up on the Hightown Aqueduct which a pretty impressive location over looking a deep valley with a high rail viaduct in the distance. The ice grips us and we hunker down in a cosy boat. As soon as the ice thins and the Mallard ducks find clear water to swim in we follow their example and move on to Bollington in the mist. We pass through the 12 Bosley locks and approaching a swing bridge at Oakgrove, it mysteriously opens. As we pass we can see that it has been opened by a cheery man with a bushy white beard and a twinkling eye. I hear the faint echoes of Satchmo in my mind...”is that you Santa Claus?”
Thursday 21st December 2017 –
Marple Junction
We are at the end of the “Maccie” and we shall stay a couple of days before moving on to Bugsworth Basin for Christmas.Saturday 30th December 2017 – The
High Peak
The year is at an end, we have enjoyed the visit of our son Stuart with Virginia and little Amelia who found her crawling abilities somewhat stifled by the confines of the boat. Also she meets a new friend and realises that “a Teddy is for life, not just for Christmas.” Shortly we shall visit them in Edinburgh for Amelia’s birthday. Tomorrow we stash “Wild Rose” in Furness Vale Marina while we are absent.
Sunday 7th January 2018 –
Edinburgh
It’s party time for Amelia as she dons her glad rags for her 1st Birthday and poses for photo opportunities. See that cake!
Wednesday 10th January 2018 - The
High Peak
Exhausted from all that partying we return to Furness Vale and move back to Marple. It so happens that the town gave Agatha Christie the name of her female detective Jane Marple and here is the blue plaque to prove it. We are stuck here for a while because of Winter Stoppages while repairs and maintenance work is carried out on canal facilities. In this case it is the Bosley Locks undergoing major work, but they will be opened on the 3rd February for two days to allow navigation and we need to be there.
Tuesday 27th February2018 –
Macclesfield Canal
The work has progressed more quickly than anticipated and the lads doing the work, who have become friends, tell us the way is now clear except for the fact that the “Beast from the East” has frozen the canal solid. There is no hurry for the delay means that we have entered into a period of closure of the locks at Red Bull on the Trent and Mersey that will end, perhaps, on the 16th. It’s clear that life on the Canals is slower.Thursday 8th February2018 -
Macclesfield Canal
Having cleared the Bosley Locks and thinking our way is now clear we are flagged down by workmen who tell us mournfully, but perhaps with a certain amount of sly satisfaction, that our way is blocked by emergency work on bridge 71 which will last for the next three months!! We continue on to the bridge which has dams built across the canal on either side. It seems that there is a danger of imminent collapse and the buttresses need repair and underpinning. A call to CRT dispels the idea that the canal will be blocked for three months but it should be clear by the 2nd March. To complete the picture similar work is to be carried out on Bridge 67 which is behind us. We are well and truly trapped. We reverse to Bridge 68 and moor up. Things could be a lot worse, we are opposite a water point and close by bus routes into Congleton, Macclesfield and beyond. We have plenty of coal and diesel so settle down to wait.Saturday 3rd February 2018–
Macclesfield Canal
Having hung around Macclesfield and environs including visits to Manchester we have arrived at the Bosley Locks but the weather is very miserable and so we delay our descent until tomorrow.
