With the culvert fully repaired we finally got the go ahead to travel south, and we’re facing the right direction
Leaving the middle arm at Bugsworth
But of course to get off the Peak Forest Canal back onto the Macc, we had to travel north. Confused? Yes, perhaps this is what happens when you hang around too long.
And this canal really gets its grip on you
Is this art? Or does someone just have too much time on their hands?
There’s definitely some odd characters on this canal
But we were happy to finally be cruising with a purpose, and it was mild enough not to need our thick coats on. No more sitting around, watching the world go by
We turned onto the Macclesfield Canal during the last week of October. Apart from a few chilly mornings, the sunshine had provided enough heat to keep the boat warm, and an extra hour under the duvet had kept us warm up until now.
Autumn at Stanier Bridge 62, on a warm day
Although the boiler drinks more diesel than Eric drinks beer, it’s not economy that fuels our reluctance to enjoy a hot radiator, but a stubborn streak of perverseness that eggs us on to hold off for as long as possible. Not to mention the wardrobe full of handknits to wear. Mooring up at Ramsdell Hall, we thought we were going to make it to the beginning of November
Rowndes Bridge 86 (ramsdell VM) Tuesday evening
But the following morning, enough was enough, we both agreed the time had come.
Rowndes Bridge 86 Wednesday morning
I’d been invited to attend a concert in Liverpool so we needed to reach the train station at Macclesfield. So despite the fog, we pushed on to do the Bosley flight before the rain started. No volunteers to help at this time of year, but we still managed all 12 locks in under 2 hours
The Bosley Flight (and boat wash)
We were unlucky with the mooring in Macclesfield, as most had been taken, and the visitor pontoon has a 2 day restriction all year round. We would have liked to have stayed longer but we had just enough time for us to visit the monthly treacle market – which in my opinion is one of the best street markets in the country with a combination of nearly 200 artisan foods, art and handicraft stalls. And then I caught the train to Liverpool.
Our “plan A” had been to overwinter in Salthouse Dock, , so we could be close to family and all the fun and culture Liverpool has to offer. But alas it wasn’t to be, we’ll enjoy the greater freedom of cruising more – and I can spend our mooring fees on train fares. Aunty lives near the Formby coast which is great for sunsets
Formby Beach
Even better when you have a cousin to share it with
Me and Diana
We all went to the Phil to hear Vikingur Ólafsson to play the Bach Goldberg Variations.
If only I were allowed to post an audio of the concert, it was magical
After my frivolities it was time to settle down to some hard work Our son was having to move house, don’t get me started on the relationship between landlords and tenants, we’ve experienced good and bad from both sides. Nowadays young people don’t have that magic box automatically ticked on their drivers licence that allows them to drive a van, which meant we were called upon to hire the van … and put in the man power to help with the heavy lifting. It’s a bit ironic that for “Plan B” we’d chosen to cruise up the Macclesfield canal so we could spend some time with him, but hopefully he’s settling in to his new abode now even if it’s nowhere near a canal now.
Lucky we’d hired a big van
At least for us living on a boat means we’re well used to moving our home. We found ourselves mooring back where Firecrest was built, near Braidbar Boats, nice to pop in and say hello to some good friends. As well as enjoying the expanse of the wides.
Braidbar wides, (probably not the official name)
We seem to be spending more time off the boat than on it this month, and we topped it off by celebrating a 90th birthday in the Lake District but the old dog likes his privacy so here’s the young one enjoying the festivities.
Boris the dog
And we got to spend a week at “home” (where the central heating is on all year round and we get too hot)
