High and Dry

Above, Caxton on Marple service point.

Above, Goyt Mill as you leave Marple.

Caxton was left high and dry yesterday - we had run out of water! A trek by Himself to Disley Co-Op for some bottled water meant we could provide ourselves with tea and keep the dogs water bowl filled. This morning at 06.30 we slipped quietly away and headed for Marple and the services there. There was nobody about and I made quick work of the two lift and one swing bridges we needed to negotiate before turning off of the Peak Forest Canal onto the Macc. The service point (a single service point!) was clear so we moored up and proceeded to service the boat. As soon as I had some water in the tank I started the washing machine in an attempt to breach the mountain of laundry that has built up. The Meile has a fast wash cycle which is about all it is used on aboard Caxton, so I was able to get two washes complete before another boater appeared needing the service point at which we promptly decamped and left the newcomer to service his boat.
We are now moored just north of High Lanes past bridge 7 and the canal is very busy today, we have had to spring Caxton, fore and aft to dampen the movement from passing boats. As I sit here the tumble drier is working its way through our bedding and towels - next load will be the dogs towels and beds. I know we can fill our water tank at Lord Vernon's Wharf tomorrow so I intend to clear the back-log of laundry today. Now there's domestic or what?

Gritty Walks

Yesterday Jill and I headed off towards Lyme Park, a 1400 acre deer park belonging to the National Trust. The Park is perhaps a mile and a half from the boats and criss-crossed by any number of trails and public footpaths including the Gritstone Trail, The North Cheshire Way and the The Lady Brook Valley Interest Trail.

Above and below, the Gritstone Trail. We headed off on the path you see above with thoughts or even plans? of walking the high moorland above Lyme Park House. Sadly after about a mile of rough going we came across a gate the was marked 'Bull in the Field' and also, though not mentioned, a herd of cattle and their calves. Now dogs and cows don't mix too well so after some consideration we turned and retraced our steps and went to plan B.

Another stunning view from the Trail.

Above, ancient beech trees adorn the park land and dwarf the dogs.
Above, a view of The Cage, a hunting Lodge of rather grand proportions!

Dry stone wall under repair.

Coming back into Disley en route to the boats we passed the church.
And below, a stone of heartbreak.........

James and Emery Sarah Boxall buried five of their children, the oldest being only 3 years whilst Mum and Dad made 62 and 66 respectively. There must have been a lot of heartache in that family.

Above The Rams Head which sits at the crossroads in Disley alongside the A6. Built in 1690 and formerly belonging to Lyme Park, then becoming a Coaching Inn. Good food to be had here.

So walk over, it was back to the boats, wash the Labradors on the towpath because they were distinctly odorous after finding a dead thing to roll in, then go blackberry picking. The mission today is to get some bramley apples and make a apple and blackberry crumble of course.

Move a Mile

Friday morning we moved the boats up a mile or so towards bridge 25, Higgins Clough Swing Bridge. The mission was to get both boats close to a bridge so that Graham, returning from Abingdon, and a funeral, in a hire car, could unload said car. The load, a 100 bottles of wine.

No, there is not a drink problem aboard Caxton or Matilda Rose, it was just that the wine needed a home. Graham's sister and husband are emigrating to Australia and we have bought their stock of 'club' wines. Saturday morning we were all aboard a listing Matilda Rose sorting a hundred bottles of wine before finding somewhere to 'stuff' our share aboard Caxton. That done I left Joe to watch the F1 qualifiers and the dogs and I headed off for a four hour walk in the company of Jill and the Tibetans.

Sett Valley Trail

Above, a New Mills resident, Mr Llama.
Moored at or very near New Mills has provided access to some stunning walking Country, there are no end of trails that you can get on from here and the Sett Valley Trail is just one of them. The River Sett joins the River Goyt in the Torrs Gorge in New Mills and the trail has been created by using the bed of a redundant railway. Leaving the towpath and cutting across two countryparks at New Mills, we were able to walk into the Torrs Gorge and the start of the Sett Valley Trail.

Above, the switchback trail that provides access from the Torrs Gorge into the town of New Mills and below the condition of much of the trail.

The Sett Valley Trail takes you into the picturesque village of Hayfield which is one of the access points for Kinder Scout.

The Pack Horse above is a gastro pub but two ramblers and their four legged companions were welcome. We sat outside in the sunshine and had a pint and the dogs were brought a bowl of water, how kind...

We had just set out to walk back to New Mills and the boats when the heavens opened and there was a dash to a bus shelter to avoid the deluge. Spookily a bus came along. 'Two adults and four dogs to New Mill please' - well it's all another experience for the dogs don't you know...

Frustrations!

Just about the only thing that frustrates me here aboard Caxton is broadband Internet signals; or lack of them... Plug in, connect, high speed and two seconds later it is 3g and dropping out. I don't know how many times this week I have tried to blog only to find nothing will load or everything appears to be saved when it isn't - gnash. I have T-Mobile and Joe has 3 - I am reading that Vodaphone have a good reputation as well so when it is contract renewal time I will be looking at whether Internet providers have improved or can even deliver on their promised service.
Frustrated of the Cut..

Great Scott!!!

Water cooled two stroke motorcycles circa 1929. I stumbled across a Scott Motorcycle Rally in Buxton last Saturday.

These motorcycles were manufactured in Saltaire and went out of production in 1950. The early examples, 1913 - 1917 were winners of the TT races in the Isle of Man apparently achieving an average speed of 58mph - wow!

I didn't even recognise the name so I know nowt but for those that do, enjoy the photo's

New Mills Old Mills

Yesterday, late morning, we wandered into the town of New Mills so named because, yes you've guessed, there was a 'new mill' built here; five actually. The new is now a bit if a misnomer though because these mills were built a couple of hundred years ago.

New Mills has a Heritage Trail and an Information Centre which are well worth a visit. The Heritage Trail takes you through the town to the Victorian Station (1864) and then down a steep path into the gorge where the mills were built to use the fast flowing waters of the River Goyt and Sett.

Above you can see the Torrs Millennium Walkway built with lottery monies and subscriptions an engineered by Stan Brewster who died in the London bombings in 2005.

The mottley crews of NB Matilda Rose and NB Caxton 'cepting me who was behind the camera of course.

The viaduct built in the late 1800's after some poor man had lost his life trying to cross. The Coroner was not impressed that the local authorities had not built a proper bridge across so this was the result; 94 feet high and nine months work to build.

Above, the double arched Church Road Bridge.

In the afternoon after a heavy shower of the wet stuff I walked down the hill from where Caxton is moored with the two dogs into the Riverside Country Park. This park extends for two miles along the river is is a bit special as you can see..

If you are passing this way do stop for a couple of days here as the walking and access to good walking is very good.

Bye, Bye Bugsworth

We pulled pins and moved out of Bugsworth Basin this morning. Some of you might have wondered why Caxton has been loitering at Bugsworth when there is a 48hr mooring restriction and the reason is that NB Matilda Rose, our travelling companions have had to deal with a family bereavement. Both boats were given permission to stay and we have shown our appreciation to the Inland Waterways Protection Society, the custodians of Bugsworth Basin.

We serviced Caxton a moved gently north up the Peak Forest Canal for a couple of miles mooring at Br 29 New Town. Above, Caxton at our current mooring, and below, the view from the boat. Not bad is it?

Walking along the canal this morning with the dogs I had time to take a photo of the live willow bank (see below) that has been planted in places here.

See also where perhaps it needs a bit of cutting back...

Buxton Tourist

Yesterday morning I left Joe with the dogs on Caxton and headed off to Buxton. Below, Brian Jarrett and Ghost his dog. We met Brian and Ghost as we were heading off to Whaley Bridge to catch the train.

Above, Whaley Bridge Station festooned with flowers.

A room in the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.

Above, The Crescent built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in the 1780's when 'taking the waters' was moving into the height of fashion.

Formal gardens and Pavillion.

A Brass Band raising funds in the High Street. The age range of band members was very wide and illustrated that 'northern bands' are alive and kicking.

The Thermal Baths above.

The Old Hall Hotel, rather posh...

The botanical Gardens once a place that the rich perambulated in and now full of 'riff-raff' like me... Below, The Opera House.

I did add some details bout Roman and Regency Bath but this crashed and I lost the lot so xcan I be asked to do it again, nay.

Tram to Chapel..

Yesterday, with Joe having taken himself off to Buxton and Graham in Abingdon dealing with a family bereavement, myself and Jill decided to walk along the tramway trial and find our way into Chapel en le Frith. Myself and Jill and of course, four dogs. The tramway was built to transport limestone and gritstone from quarries in Dove Hole to the canal basin at Bugsworth.

Above, an exposed section of the Tramway and below detail of the drilled holes in the gritstone set, drilled by hand, that would have had a rail attached.

. Frith is an old word for forest and the settlement of Chapel grow up around the church of St.Thomas a Becket, built by Royal Foresters in 1225. Close to the important Salt Trail that crossed Cheshire, Chapel soon grew into an important Market town.

Above, the purloined photo of the Market Cross in Chapel en le Frith.

Above, the church of St. Thomas a Becket and below, Market square. In this tiny square were once seven or more inns almost every other building.

Above, the Hearse House, now an information centre.

Cottages and cobbled streets..

The plaque above was proudly displayed at the Town Hall.

On our way out of Chapel we passed under these twin viaducts. The tramway at this point is now used by the Ferodo Company as a test track so the trail has been diverted onto a public footpath.
The modern town owes much of its prosperity to the Ferodo works, makers of brake linings and car components, whose factory dominates the northern end of the town. Its founder, Henry Froode, was a local man who was one of the inventors of brake linings.

At the start of the public footpath is this fine example of an old mill, now converted into flats.

It's that time already

I have been rummaging in the British Waterways website (as you do) as it's now time to think about renewing Caxton's licence. We are aiming to be on the Fens next summer so a Gold Licence is going to be required from 1st Jan 2010 but it is more economical to buy a Standard annual licence and 'cash it in' when we get the Gold Licence. I can't believe that this time a year ago I was applying for Caxton's first licence and the year has all but gone by - they say time flies when you are enjoying yourself and we are certainly doing that! Life aboard Caxton is all we could have hoped for and more and we both realise that we are very, very fortunate to be in this position. Our first experience living aboard was in the winter, quite a hard winter at that, Caxton having been launched in October, and now we have the summer under our belt as well. Aye lad, life is grand!

Tugs are so desirable..

Above is Nb. Kyle our neighbour here at Bugsworth Basin. Brian Jarrett is Nb. Kyle's proud owner and Brian is the Commercial Director of Russell Newbery. Following an evening when we shared a BBQ with Brian he was kind enough to show Joe and I over a 'traditional boat' and we now find ourselves drawn to Boatmans cabins, £20k two cylinder engines and elegant tug decks.

We have both been scribbling boat designs on scraps of paper ever since our tour...

The grey tug in the background is Kevin Blick's boat, he formerly of Canal Boat magazine. A very pretty boat indeed.

With Attitude

This beautiful black swan is a resident of a local 'works' pond in Black Brook valley. The former cotton mill where the 'works' pond is located is now used for PVC production having been used for silk milling and then dye production in the past.

Big, black and with lots of attitude! What a handsome fellow..

Chickened Out

The 'planning committee' met yesterday to discuss cruising options. We had floated ideas of cruising through Manchester towards Liverpool and beyond. However, as we are now firmly in the school holiday period where semi feral city brats are left to their own devices, a trip along the infamous Ashton Canal didn't seem particularly attractive. British Waterways offer a warning to boaters using this stretch of canal to get through in one go, don't stop, lock every boat aperture before you start your journey and don't offer 'lifts' to kids. Do we chance an unpleasant imflammatory encounter or give it a miss? The concensus was, 'Who needs the grief, we can do it another time', so we are now planning to wander back down the Macclesfield seeing the bits we have missed on the way up, turn north onto the Trent and Mersey, the Anderton Boat Lift, onto the River Weaver, the Middlewich Branch, Shroppie and Ellesmere Port before we think about where we need to be for the winter months.

This sophisticated weather 'station' is in a garden of a canalside cottage at Bugsworth. Note the hanging stone. Here is what it says -

Stone Wet - Raining
Stone Dry - Not Raining
Shadow on Ground - Sunny
White on Top - Snowing
Can't see stone - Foggy
Stone Swinging - Windy
Stone under Water - Flood
Stone Jumping - Earthquake
Stone Whirling - VERY Windy

Lost in Space - lots of space

Above - he above sees all. A view from above Bugsworth.



On Monday we took ourselves into Whaley Bridge, a mile away, to catch a bus or train to Dove Holes and Buxton. The men were going to Buxton to shop and the women were going to walk Dove Dale with the four dogs. Well that was the plan.

We gathered at the bus stop and the bus duly arrived; packed with people. On we gets, by now it was standing room only for Joe, Me and the Labs.

Another glorious view on our trek.
Arriving at Dove Holes, the three women disembark accompanied by the dogs and ask the driver which way to Dove Dale? We should have realised at this point of course that something was amiss because the Driver hadn't a clue.... Fine, we would ask a local and spookily, there just happened to be a couple of 'locals' at the next bus stop:they hadn't a clue either. Try the shop then. 'No idea' says the shop owner. So we set off in roughly the direction that we thought would take us towards the boats and hoping we were right, set out to enjoy our walk. We had no map and the GPS battery had gone flat so prepared we were not!

We walked up hill and down dale thoroughly enjoying the stunning views and when we saw signs for Chapel en le Frith we knew that were had at least walked in the right direction.

This part of the walk was relatively easy because we were on a tiny single track lane that was barely used. The difficult bit came we we struck off across farmland using public footpaths to get us across the ridge of hills from Chapel into Bugsworth Basin and walkers will know what a farmer can do with a footpath when it is out of sight of the road....

Three blind mice. A village fayre that was using nursery rhymes as a theme to dress the village. There was also Humpty Dumpty and a manic farmers wife armed with a knife by the local Inn.

Above, an example of a fine dry stone wall with Floyd not so much posing as abandoned....

With true grit we soldiered on and finally emerged high on a ridge overlooking Buxworth Village which is adjacent to the basin and there below us was Caxton gleaming in the sunshine. We had walked 7.75 miles. When I checked the map of course, I found that Dove Holes is nothing to do with Dove Dale. What a Dimwit!

Plastic boats at Bugsworth

This is the view from Caxton's side hatch this morning; we had been invaded by a fleet of plastic canoes and kayaks.

It was quite entertaining watching them really.

One day last week..

I am playing catch-up a bit. Jack has left us this morning to return home so I have a little more time to DO things and here at Bugsworth Basin with a 'Heath Robinson' ariel lashed to the side of Caxton I have a really good signal. Above is a shot of The Fools Nook at Oak Grove. The Nicholson's guide mentions it in glowing terms so we thought that a spot of lunch at the pub might be called for. The inn sits on the busy A523 Leek Rd but at the rear is a secluded and very attractive courtyard.

The pub has its unusual name because a group of jesters used to meet here apparently?

Lunch was first rate and this hostelry deserves a favourable mention. Thai crab cakes, salad and fresh bread, filo wrapped prawns and dips for Jack. A very very pleasant place.

Caxton going through the adjacent swing bridge while Jack and Fletcher look on.

And there he goes...

Bollington to Bugsworth

Above, a rather confident Grey Heron that decided to pose for us.

I cannot believe that the week has passed so quickly and Jack's Dad is coming up from Essex today to collect his son. We have had a super time - the reason in the main for so little blog posting. We have been ten pin bowling and covered miles and miles and miles of walking. Locks and swing bridges and lift bridges as well as splendid northern landscapes!

We spotted this fellow sporting a rather fetching hair/feather style...

Caxton now moored at Bugsworth Basin.

The Cheshire Mill at Bollington now converted to posh apartments and cafe's and small businesses. Passing this was a perfect excuse for an inpromptu history lesson; Cotton bolls from the southern states of America via Liverpool and Manchester to mills like these via the canals etc. etc.

The art of the stonemason!!

The dogs swabbling over a new toy that they have found.

Another view of the Cheshire Mill at Bollington.

Ah, yes, yet another BBQ alla towpath. We have now been joined by David and Linda of NB Critical Point, so now we are travelling in a 'convoy' of three boats.

Learning curves for Lockboys

Above, a pensive Jack watching Caxton rise in a lock.

Above, Jack and Fletcher watching Caxton come through the swing bridge at Oakgrove.

This week Caxton has an apprentice 'lockboy' in the form of my nephew Jack. Delivered on Friday evening by Mum and Dad, Chris and Bob, Jack is staying with us for a week of his school holiday. He has never been on a narrowboat or seen a lock so today we tested him with the twelve locks of the Bosley flight on the Macclesfield Canal. We had a good journey up and stopped at Oakgrove for showers and lunch. We visited the Fools Nook pub and sat in a sunny courtyard at the rear to enjoy our lunch. Thai crab cakes with salad for Joe and I and Filo wrapped prawns for Jack. An excellent lunch, good food and VERY good service; definitely worth your custom if you are in this part of the world. Tonight, having moved up to Lyme Green we are going to go ten pin bowling!!!

Sooty's Car

Parked in the car park at Sherbourne Wharf (Heritage Boats) was this little beauty. A 1935/36 Bugatti.

A chap walking towards me with leather flying jacket sporting an Alvis badge seemed a likely candidate for the ownership so I asked him if it was his and sure enough it was. "Could I take some photo's?" to which he replied, "Of course."

And why Sooty's car? Because the Dinky model Bugatti that my brother Robert had as a young boy was a particular favourite of our cat Sooty. This was the car that she bashed around the tiled floors in our childhood home in preference to any other model. That and the marble in the cast iron bath tub - I think she just liked to make as much noise as possible...

Stepping Back in Time

A couple of days ago we walked across the fields to look at Little Moreton Hall, the National Trust's iconic Tudor 'black and white' house. It was closed. Yesterday afternoon we returned to join the NT and see the house. We were in time to join the last guided tour and we were all glad we did because the knowledge and skill of the guide in bringing to life this wonderful building was extremely worthwhile. The view above is taken from the inner courtyard of the rear portion of the house.
Above, this 'nook' built into the chimney is most likely to store the bees hive in winter. The only sweetener was honey so looking after the bees was important. Below, the gardener had been at work in the knot garden at the rear of the house and you can see where he has started the annual task of clipping the box hedging by hand.

Below, the rear of the house from the elizabethan knot garden.

How the other half lived, part eight.....

One man went to Mow

Here we are at Ramsdell Hall, bridge 86 on the Mac. Above, the view from our side hatch on Tuesday evening. Last night following a day of sunshine, yes, sunshine, the view was stunning.

Above, Ramsdell Hall - a rather gracious abode.

Now the reason for the title, 'one man went to mow'. Here is MOW COP. We walked one and half miles up from the canal to Mow Cop, a folly built by Randle Wilbraham in 1754 on top of a hill that is 1100ft above sea level. It was here that the Primitive Methodists were founded in 1807 when a local wheelwright, Hugh Bourne, climbed the summit and held a meeting that lasted 14 hours. Below, a view from the top across Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Below, The Old Man of Mow, a 65ft gritstone pillar located just below the summit level.

Taking a breather after our ascent on the steps of Mow Cop.

Some folly....

The Signal permits...

Above, Caxton moored at Scholar Green on the Macclesfield Canal on Monday evening.

The signal permits me to load a series of photo's taken on Sunday and Monday which is a retrospective glimpse of our journey up from Etruria and the junction of the Cauldon Canal on to the Macclesfield Canal.

Above, Caxton turning on to the Mac from the Trent and Mersey Canal.

The South Portal of the Harecastle Tunnel. Only one tunnel is now operational, where there was once three. A one way system is in operation so Caxton and Matilda Rose had to wait for an hour and a half for their turn through the 2926 yards. Myself and Jill with the four dogs walked over the top, a two mile walk at most, meeting the boats as they emerged from their subtereanean transit.

Above, one of the defunct tunnel entrances.

Caxton queues and fills the water tank.

Our mooring on Sunday night, Westport Lake with a denuded Caxton prepared for her trip through the Harecastle Tunnel.

Breasted up with Matilda Rose whilst both boats are refuelled at Black Prince, Festival Park Marina. No issue with self declaration though the chap serving us was bemoaning the hassle involved - shame...

A bit of serious bridge engineering en route up the T&M.

What Stoke-on-Trent WAS all about, the Potteries...

The distinctive 'bottle kilns' of this part of the world.

PS...

PS.. Cyclists are still driving me mad on the towpaths. The dogs were nearly taken out yet again. No bells, no warnings, no slowing down, no manners and no sense. ARSES!!
Grumpy Old Woman or what?

So Cheshire

Here is Little Moreton Hall (NT) built between 1559 and 1580 when Good Queen Bess was ruling this land. We are moored at Bridge 86 on the Macclesfield canal just south of Congleton.

A short walk across the fields (3/4 of a mile) from our mooring brings us to this beautiful building. I think I need to re-join the National Trust as we are in a perfect position to take full advantage of the membership as we are moving around all the time. The Hall was closed today so we only glimsped the exterior but we did 'meet' one of the tenants below.....
This chap was patrolling the moat!

Leaving Leek

We pulled the pins just before nine yesterday morning, Caxton winded (turned) in the lagoon and headed off back towards our planned stop at Milton; it was teeming....
I set off on foot with the dogs and Jill and Muttley of NB Matilda Rose joined me for the walk. The persistent and heavy rain had felled a rowan tree across the canal just beyond our mooring but with care both boats were able to slip under it. First stop was bridge 31 and the Park Lane services. With the prospect of fresh water supplies the washing machines on both Caxton and Matilda Rose had been switched on as we left leek. By the time Caxton had reached the services the dishwasher had been run and two wash loads completed. It is a well rehearsed process now, getting as much washing done on the run to and from water. The rain eased and we continued our journey back along the lovely Cauldon to Stockton Brook and the five locks there. With Caxton leading, we had a pretty easy run down with four of the five locks in our favour. As we leave a lock I close the gates and hasten back to open the ground paddles to start filling the lock for Nb Matilda Rose. It was then a short hop from Stockton through two lift bridges to last night's mooring between Engine Lock and Bridge 19.

Going Around Again

Yesterday morning with bright skies and no sign of rain I set off with Fletcher and Floyd for their first main walk of the day. We walked down into the Churnet valley, a valley that I described as an aqua park the previous day, to find that the river had receded and the fields were once again 'dry' and passable. We crossed the valley and with the dogs taking one quick dip in the fast flowing river, we went up the embankment onto the defunct railway line. This is used as a footpath though the Authorities have not signed it or cleared any of the encroaching vegetation so perhaps it is surreptitious use? Off we head towards what I thought was Cheddleton - I must look at a map, I must look at a map - to find, when I met a fellow walker 30 minutes later, that I was actually heading into Leek. The tracks, the points, the buffers, the signage, the signals and the signal box are all still there. A ghost railway. This would have been abandoned what, forty years ago perhaps? Another ten years and you would not know that it ever existed so effective is nature in reclaiming Her own. It is a modern day exampler of how medieval villages become 'lost' and Roman settlements and villas were hidden for hundreds of years until some farmer ploughing his land unearths a bit of mosiac or tile.
The track became clearer and wider as I approached Leek, passing through a railway tunnel and skirting a beautiful golf course until a side path through an industrial park lead us back to the end of the canal and thence back to Caxton.
Mid afternoon we went around again, this time with Jill and Baxter and Muttley of Nb. Matilda Rose.