Friday, 1 April 2011
TUESDAY 29TH MARCH
Having arrived on the Macclesfield Canal we next stopped at Congleton Wharf. There is a good depth of water against the piled edge thus removing the need for acrobatic exit and entry.
The main excuse for visiting the town was to go to the Post office, which is sited at the opposite end of the place to the canal. There are a few good buildings and a pedestrianised main street. This enables one to wander along unencumbered by traffic or indeed by any interesting shops, with one exception, a bakers - the Bath buns are excellent!
The impressive Victorian Town Hall was designed by Edward William Godwin, who was the Architect also for the Shire Hall in Northampton. We returned to the boat through a small but beautifully formed park using up the site of two demolished buldings.
Our forward journey afloat was short as we moored up on the Biddulph Valley Aqueduct, which took it's name from the river flowing beneath, the Dane. This valley separates Congleton from Buglawton, which is probably a good thing; it gives also the residents of both somewhere to evacuate their dogs.
The main excuse for visiting the town was to go to the Post office, which is sited at the opposite end of the place to the canal. There are a few good buildings and a pedestrianised main street. This enables one to wander along unencumbered by traffic or indeed by any interesting shops, with one exception, a bakers - the Bath buns are excellent!
The impressive Victorian Town Hall was designed by Edward William Godwin, who was the Architect also for the Shire Hall in Northampton. We returned to the boat through a small but beautifully formed park using up the site of two demolished buldings.
Our forward journey afloat was short as we moored up on the Biddulph Valley Aqueduct, which took it's name from the river flowing beneath, the Dane. This valley separates Congleton from Buglawton, which is probably a good thing; it gives also the residents of both somewhere to evacuate their dogs.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Welcome wagon, agricultural style.......
Hello again; the blog that reaches parts that others can remember only with dread IS BACK!
I am now on first name terms with Martlet's fuel tank drain pipe and a number of 20 litre cans. The tank has been flushed and refilled with clean diesel to which I have added fuel set. The first thing I have noticed is that the Shire engine now emits very little smoke all of the time which is especially good news in locks. Enough of the news from the power house.
We left Endon Wharf yesterday (Sunday) and stopped for the night below Engine lock, a good first day as we were finding out again where we had stored the everyday boating items such as coffee mugs, windlasses, BW and handcuff security keys.
Monday. Moved off at 7.25am in thick fog which lifted as we approached Stoke and the Ivy House lift bridge. Myra had let down the bridge after Martlet had passed and had lifted one of the barriers. She walked across and began lifting the other barrier when a woman (YES) in a beetle began to drive underneath until my shout and waving fist stopped her. The barrier did bounce and begin to descend, stopping a few inches off the car. Now that would have been an interesting point of liability in law......
By the time that we had joined the Trent & Mersey canal at Stoke on Trent, the Sun came out and stayed that way most of the day. We had to wait at Harecastle Tunnel which gave Myra the opportunity to make our lunchtime snack and for me to open the weedhatch cover and to clear the prop before the run through.
We were alone travelling North as the boat following us from Stoke did not have a working light and was refused entry. 35 minutes later, we were out into the light again and heading for the Macclesfield Canal. The last two times that we have arrived at Scholar Green, we have met Marie from the Stoke Boat Club: today was no exception as there she was taking the dogs for a walk (or is it the other way about?). Anyway, a brief chat ensued as a boat was leaving the stop lock and Martlet replaced it.
A short stop at Heritage boats for some coal; it takes more than one sunny day for me to be persuaded to let out the fire. A mile further along is one of our many favoured mooring spots where we indeed moored up for the day. We are now officially boating again, it says here!
We received the traditional local welcome. Last year; on 29th April as the log shows, the farmer was muck spreading on the field opposite. He is earlier this year and began two hours after our arrival. We will give next year a miss.......
I am now on first name terms with Martlet's fuel tank drain pipe and a number of 20 litre cans. The tank has been flushed and refilled with clean diesel to which I have added fuel set. The first thing I have noticed is that the Shire engine now emits very little smoke all of the time which is especially good news in locks. Enough of the news from the power house.
We left Endon Wharf yesterday (Sunday) and stopped for the night below Engine lock, a good first day as we were finding out again where we had stored the everyday boating items such as coffee mugs, windlasses, BW and handcuff security keys.
Monday. Moved off at 7.25am in thick fog which lifted as we approached Stoke and the Ivy House lift bridge. Myra had let down the bridge after Martlet had passed and had lifted one of the barriers. She walked across and began lifting the other barrier when a woman (YES) in a beetle began to drive underneath until my shout and waving fist stopped her. The barrier did bounce and begin to descend, stopping a few inches off the car. Now that would have been an interesting point of liability in law......
By the time that we had joined the Trent & Mersey canal at Stoke on Trent, the Sun came out and stayed that way most of the day. We had to wait at Harecastle Tunnel which gave Myra the opportunity to make our lunchtime snack and for me to open the weedhatch cover and to clear the prop before the run through.
We were alone travelling North as the boat following us from Stoke did not have a working light and was refused entry. 35 minutes later, we were out into the light again and heading for the Macclesfield Canal. The last two times that we have arrived at Scholar Green, we have met Marie from the Stoke Boat Club: today was no exception as there she was taking the dogs for a walk (or is it the other way about?). Anyway, a brief chat ensued as a boat was leaving the stop lock and Martlet replaced it.
A short stop at Heritage boats for some coal; it takes more than one sunny day for me to be persuaded to let out the fire. A mile further along is one of our many favoured mooring spots where we indeed moored up for the day. We are now officially boating again, it says here!
We received the traditional local welcome. Last year; on 29th April as the log shows, the farmer was muck spreading on the field opposite. He is earlier this year and began two hours after our arrival. We will give next year a miss.......
Friday, 8 October 2010
THE SPLUTTERING HAS CEASED.............
Because I have turned off the engine. We have arrived back at base on the Caldon and can try to relax a bit. The diesel problem has taken the edge off the return from the Thames as we just wanted to get back. Myra, so that she could get home and begin to make mince pies, puddings and cake for Christmas; myself, so that I could arrange a number of 20 litre drums to contain the diesel that I will drain from the boat tank in order to clean it. Can life get any better?
Well, another boating year has passed; highlights were the week that we spent moored in the boat museum at Ellesmere Port and of course the eight days in Albert Dock, Liverpool.
Pride of place is given to the crossing of the Mersey to Eastham and along the Manchester Ship Canal to the River Weaver; the weather could not have been better.
Thank you again, Ian Fletcher and Mike Carter for all your hard work and our safe crossing.
We enjoyed our eight weeks on the Thames, our alternative to the severely restricted and eventually closed Leeds and Liverpool canal owing to water shortages.
Myra and I have our land legs back and fully functioning, walking around our block we still stop and admire the beautiful countryside which is the Derbyshire Dales.
We may have a few days on the boat with engine trials, but no serious journeys until next year.
Thanks for taking the trouble to follow the blog and for your kind comments.
I hope to bore you to a standstill again next year.
Happy Christmas!
Well, another boating year has passed; highlights were the week that we spent moored in the boat museum at Ellesmere Port and of course the eight days in Albert Dock, Liverpool.
Pride of place is given to the crossing of the Mersey to Eastham and along the Manchester Ship Canal to the River Weaver; the weather could not have been better.
Thank you again, Ian Fletcher and Mike Carter for all your hard work and our safe crossing.
We enjoyed our eight weeks on the Thames, our alternative to the severely restricted and eventually closed Leeds and Liverpool canal owing to water shortages.
Myra and I have our land legs back and fully functioning, walking around our block we still stop and admire the beautiful countryside which is the Derbyshire Dales.
We may have a few days on the boat with engine trials, but no serious journeys until next year.
Thanks for taking the trouble to follow the blog and for your kind comments.
I hope to bore you to a standstill again next year.
Happy Christmas!
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