TNC On Tour 2003 22 The Miserable Macclesfield (XP)
Neil Arlidge
The WWW got up earlyish and manually pulled back Earnest into the Whalley
Bridge winding point cum water point. This was a mistake as the weir side
was full of rocks and we could only get the bow in. Martin and Neil got in
conversation about the back towpath wall collapse against the old A6 - this
had affected the road, which was one way working. BW bod said that
fortunately it was not down to BW as the base of the wall was OK. The
collapse was caused by a blocked culvert flooding the road and blowing out
the stone footpath wall, which took a large lump of road with it. The
remains had been fairly quickly removed from the road side and the channel
was OK.
We shoved off at 09:15, after breaky waiting for the water to fill, lowish
pressure and we were nearly out. stopped again at the junction with the
Bugsworth Basin Arm to look at the state of the repairs to continuing
leakage problems. Many liveaboards up the arm, including someone using the
final bridge as a paintshop.
Although stanked off, the main dry sections were a couple of the arms, the
main channel round the "back" of the basin seemed at nearly weir level. The
Navigation Inn looked most welcoming.....last here in 1970, when owned by
Pat Phoenix.. Solutions have been found and the Basins returned to water
next summer..........so yet another reason to come back, what with this and
the extended Mont.
After about 40 minutes stop we were off again. Had some swing/lift bridge
leap-frogging with a boat in front, but we came out of the last one first!
Swizzels Factory at New Mills seems to still be thriving. A lovely little
canal, but a bit on the shallow side.
Started down the Macc at 12:20. We had arranged to meet David Kitchin and
Phil and Monica Rushton that evening and after various alterations to venue,
eventually settled on the Fools Nook at Old Oak Swing Bridge, a bit below
Macclesfield. There did seem to be a lack of decent moorings in Macclesfield
and were not many boats stopped there.
The canal was vastly improved in the depth department since our last passage
down it in Beatty and we flew down it in record time. Too many to mention
deep mooring spots - apart from Macclesfield! ;-)
David K wandered off to meet us as we came out of Macclesfield with his very
well behaved Morcambe Bay Shrimp Hound. Being Whippet like Mandy took to it,
but Lottie the Jack Russell got jealous. David stayed with us until swing
bridge 47, then went back to retrieve his car. A meal was booked at the
Fools Nook, for crew and David K. Food OK and plenty of it, Bombardier and
Pedigree was on form. Phil was dropped off by Monica a bit later on. Quiet
night by the busy road - we were in the quietest part of the deep piled
moorings, beyond the Swing Bridge. Surprisingly cheerful and sunny day for
the top of the Macc!
Saturday 2nd August 2003
David had agreed to come out and help us with Bosley Locks and after this to
drop Peter A and Linda to Stockport station, where the WWW would put her
little boy on the train back to London. The WWW then had to be deposited
back to the underway Earnest, something that nearly took to the end of the
canal!
We left Old Oak Swing Bridge at 07:20 and arrived at the top of Bosley at
08:00. Dewy but hot sunny morning. Very pleasant run down this very rural
and picturesque flight that we had done many times before in the pouring
rain. Arrived at bottom at 08:55. Following perusal of train times, it meant
that Peter would just miss a train, so there was no hurry. After David had
left Martin Clark said "Hello Gibbo" to a face that appeared in an engine
room door of the boat moored below us - non other than Fellow lister Chris
"Gibbo" Gibbons. We were given a guided tour of the "business" end of NB
Lionheart. 4LW Gardiner, with Gardiner gearbox. Also Chris's patent Candy
Washing Machine and tumble dryer, with heat supplied from the boat hot water
system using Mini heater radiators - I am sure Chris will re-enlighten us
with this excellent mod.
We cast off at 09:45 and had a nice gentle run down almost the rest of the
Macc, David dropping Linda off at 12:00 at Bridge 82. We were easily going
to make the 16:00 cut off for the Harecastle Tunnel, so continued on.
Hardingswood Junction passed at 13:10, arrived at Kidsgrove portal of tunnel
at 13:30. No queue, we had missed the last convoy by 20 minutes.
A fair wait, so Linda went shopping to the nearby Tesco's. We started off in
the tunnel at 15:00, Neil got the sharp turn into the tunnel OK, but then
hit the RH side a few times (this is the safety chain board side that
graunches "modern" NB gunwales, so large tyre fenders always down this side.
This unexpected cock-up infuriated the Commode D' Or, causing him to shoot
off at renewed speed. No more tunnel side contact, but BLOODY bit crack from
something metallic against prop about mid way. We arrived at the fan house
some 25 minutes later. Tunnel Keeper not about, so Linda forced her way out
of the side door to summon him from his gardening. After this it was Black
Prince turn out time at Festival Marina. Many of these rushing for
tunnel...........all would be disappointed, they would not get there before
16:00 and the last working would be the other way. Large Black Prince
blockage at Eturia (16:35), most carrying on down the Trent and Mersey. It
was a fair wait at the staircase locks of the Caldon Canal, operations being
controlled by a rather rude Black Prince bod.
We ended up following a rather hapless Black Prince boat that was SO stemmed
up that the bloke could, despite heroic struggling, not get it through
bridge holes.Eventually the sad BP boat carried straight on at the Foley pub
turn and Neil explained that it might be a good idea to take things a bit
easier after the serious trip down the weed hatch that was needed. Next we
past some North American's mooring up their BP boat, in a narrow towpath
section, with pins the OTHER side of the path...........Neil explained this
was bad news, what with England having got the American "sue" culture.
Eventually we moored up a bit below Stockton Locks (deep moorings) at 20:00,
to have yet another WWW vege meals............WOW! was the crew in for
another restless night from the Commode's botty.
A couple of more intrepid Black Prince boats arrived later. Martin C - the
TNC Ambassador went to introduce himself to Angela Jeffries, on her new 70ft
NB Liberty Belle, that was moored below. Neil was called out and we had a
guided tour of the
Jeffries new boat. Rather boring Beta 1903 propulsion, but interesting
power / heat generation, from a Whisper Gen. In this case Liberty Belle's
installation had worked perfectly so far.
Sunday 3rd August 2003
We were woken from our slumbers by the keen Black Prince boat leaving at
07:00. Linda then got up and we followed them up Stockton Brook, starting at
07:30. Brilliant sunny clear morning. It had been a coldish night and the
sun was burning off the last of the mist.
We stopped for a water fill up at the posh Endon "Service Centre", as the
washing was still going we had to keep the engine running, but the tap was
fast and we were off after 15 minutes. There was no queue at Hazlehurst
Locks, but we passed a few coming up. Neil noticed the working side pound on
the middle lock which was secured by a hand cuff key. We winded at
Cheddleton, above the locks and found a nice mooring just above. The reason
for this tactical withdrawal was that we had to loose a bit of time, so as
to still meet up with Bob Wood (coming down in NB Silkwood) and Cap'n Beeky
for the proposed Froghall mini GiG on Tuesday evening, so we would do the
Leek Branch next. The rest of the day was to be taken up by a trip on the
North Staffs (Churnet Valley) Steam Railway. We had an hour off at Froghall
and investigated the Froghall Basin and Tunnel. That evening we walked back
down again to Bashford Bridge and had an OK meal in the rather busy "Boat"
public house.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
Follow the travels of the TNC at http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk
Robin Nicholson
We had an hour off at Froghall
>and investigated the Froghall Basin and Tunnel.
And..impressions?! Do you think you will need much ballast?When I
first saw it last easter in Maple I thought it was tight so reversed
in (old caving trick when uncertain!)- finding what appeared to be
very minimal clearance. Took water at the other end and shifted some
coal bags and that did the trick for the return.
--
Robin
Anthony Matheson
ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk says...
> Friday 1st August 2003
>
<SNIP REPORT>
The subject header looked a bit alarming but the report suggests we can
look forward to a pleasant time bumbling about the Macc in September. The
length of time for the trip looks about right too, replacing your
determined progress with our "Shall we go a bit further tomorrow?" "Not
bothered - up to you" sort of approach.
--
Anthony Matheson
http://www.amath.co.uk
To reply by email, please remove footwear
Neil Arlidge
> In article <bgjurv$pokqv$2...@ID-27576.news.uni-berlin.de>,
> ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk says...
>> Friday 1st August 2003
>>
> <SNIP REPORT>
> The subject header looked a bit alarming but the report suggests we
> can look forward to a pleasant time bumbling about the Macc in
> September. The length of time for the trip looks about right too,
> replacing your determined progress with our "Shall we go a bit
> further tomorrow?" "Not bothered - up to you" sort of approach.
The Macc gets my award for the most improved canal of recent
years......hopefully the Southern Stratford will soon get the treatment!
Neil Arlidge
> We had an hour off at Froghall
>> and investigated the Froghall Basin and Tunnel.
>
> And..impressions?! Do you think you will need much ballast?
No!........only a few extra passengers in the front...........we will have
to get that trip boat moved over a bit to get to the end though.......
> When I
> first saw it last easter in Maple I thought it was tight so reversed
> in (old caving trick when uncertain!)- finding what appeared to be
> very minimal clearance. Took water at the other end and shifted some
> coal bags and that did the trick for the return.
--
Brian Dominic
<scr...@freeukSHOES.com> put their pint down, sat back and said:
>In article <bgjurv$pokqv$2...@ID-27576.news.uni-berlin.de>,
>ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk says...
>> Friday 1st August 2003
>>
><SNIP REPORT>
>The subject header looked a bit alarming but the report suggests we can
>look forward to a pleasant time bumbling about the Macc in September. The
>length of time for the trip looks about right too, replacing your
>determined progress with our "Shall we go a bit further tomorrow?" "Not
>bothered - up to you" sort of approach.
We're also intending to go there in September - I want to take Rumpus
back to Manchester, where I found her, and to Hesford's, where she lay
for a good long while. More details to follow after the GIG, and when
I know where we're starting from - got a 4 day boat move to do, first!
Brian L Dominic
NB Rumpus
Web Sites:
NB Rumpus: www.nbrumpus.co.uk
Friends of the Cromford Canal: www.cromfordcanal.org.uk
Mid-Derbyshire Light Railway: http://www.mderbyshire.lightrailway.btinternet.co.uk/index.html
I may work for British Waterways, but my opinions are my own.