Macclesfield -> Rode Heath 15/5/2019

Engine hours start: 507.4 end: 514.8 = 7.5 hours

Miles:12 Locks:13  Lock miles: 25

A glorious evening at last yesterday and we woke to solid blue sky!

 

Final failure of water pump yesterday so early start and cracking on to Red Bull for a shower and shopping. 7 litres of bottled water on board so basics OK. 

Passed Congleton at 09:00: only place to moor is a 2 day stretch between bridges 75 and 76. Also very handy for railway station if further travel required. Possibly not overnight though - better by aqueduct / bridge 73.

Paused for shopping and lunch at Red Bull aqueduct where the Macclesfield crosses the Trent and Mersey. First, a short walk to Tesco then lunch : then Alison walked down to Red Bull services for a proper shower while Andrew single-handed down to the locks. In the event Alison was in time to close the gates of the first lock.

It being beautifully warm, Andrew then suggested doing the locks onwards (the next 11 as it turned out...).  Rewarded by a top mooring directly opposite the Broughton Arms.

 

Bollington Aqueduct -> The Cloud 14/7/2019

Engine hours start: 500.9 end: 507.4 = 6.5 hours

Miles:9.5 Locks:12 Swing bridges:2 Lock miles:23.5

Start: 08:35
End: 15:20

Overcast, cool and slight breeze. 30 mins to winding hold then back through Bollington Wharf for diesel and potty dump. Decided against shopping in Macclesfield. Filled with water at Bosley Flight (such a fast tap!) and dumped rubbish before Andrew faced the hill.

No lockies helping and not much traffic so many locks against us. Stopped in the country side with the Cloud for company. 

 

Moored at Bollington 12-13/7/2019

12/7/2019
Miles:0 Locks:0 Lock miles: 0

Breakfast at Canalside Cafe : huge!

After a period of digestion, jobs around the boat - Andrew water pump reconstruction and Alison pumping the bilge, and Andrew adjusting the squeaky alternator belt. 

Siesta then eating out again - Italian restaurant  - then to Bollington Folk Club for a jolly night's entertainment.

13/7/2019
Bollington Beer Festival. That is all....

 

Bridge 40 Macclefield -> Bollington Aqueduct 11/7/2019

Engine hours start: 498.5 end: 500.9 = 2.4 hours

Miles:12 Locks:0  Lock miles: 15

Aiming for 11am start but waited for 2 boats to go by which appeared just as we were casting off. Paused for Loo green at chandlery, admired mooring pontoons - and back into the countryside (or at least a green corridor at the back of housing). Paused at Bollington Wharf: no public facilities appear available. 2 day mooring.

Alison walked on ahead to scope out further options and reported back one space on the Bollington Aqueduct: then stood looking possessive along with two mooring pins which had been abandoned on the bank. Both boats that Andrew had been worried would claim the spot sailed obligingly past.

Bacon and egg pitta for lunch : siesta : 4pm tip to Co-op for supplies. Bollington very trendy and cute - admired the culvert for the river under the canal embankment (huge) - then explored up into the rest of town.

Spotted the White Nancy monument looking fairly close and Andrew decided we should climb up to it. Excellent path if steep. Essex girl Alison moaning the whole way but fab views from the top.

Impending thunderstorm so scurried off down through the woods - tempted by Bulls Head - but carried on and almost made it back before the deluge. Spot of Wainwright to restore the tissues and meal on board.

Lamas Bridge to Macclesfield 10/7/2019

Engine hours start: 493.9 end: 498.5 = 5.5 hours

Miles:6 Locks:12 Swing bridges: 2

Start 09:30 Lamas Bridge
End 13:40 Bridge 40, Macclesfield

Bosley flight a breeze due to aid from lockkeeper and a steady stream of oncoming boats leaving bottom gate open for us. Lock free motoring afterwards. 

Automatic swing bridge a pleasure to use. Alison panicked a bit at the next one - lift the great big handle berk - but also very distracted by day boat sideways on and totally blocking the canal. In the end they gave up trying to turn and came through the swing bridge to find somewhere else to turn. Andrew had to give them some coaching in the way of the BW key... Another boat came along so we left them to shepherd them onwards.

 

Nearly stopped out in the wilds having been told Macclesfield moorings were full early but Alison walked head and was able to bag the last space in a lovely quiet cutting above town.

Marched around town, couple of charity shops, a couple of drinkies then dinner at a Gurkha restaurant - delicious!

Rode Heath -> Lamas Bridge 9/7/2019

Engine hours start: 486.7 end: 93.9 = 7.2 hours

Miles:12 Locks:13  Lock miles:25

Rain overnight, greyer and cooler. A gentle start and Andrew's back seems a little improved. AJS no ill effects apart from a bit of stiffness around shoulder and lower back.

Decided that Andrew benefit from gentle exercise walking the towpath - and wound up doing the locks (carefully) as well. Once again some convenient boat crossings reduced the need for gate closing and opening.

 

Reached the junction of Macclesfield canal at 11am. Slow through very reedy section but foraged raspberries at the stop lock.

Sandwiches 12:30, a shower of rain at 13:30. Quite a lot of moored boats. Although housing quite close at times, mostly a very green and rural feeling stretch.

Rain set in for remainder of cruise.