MACCLESFIELD CANAL

We have now turned off the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove and are now travelling north up the Macclesfield canal  here we crossed over the Trent and Mersey as that canal drops down a lock and goes under the Macclesfield its quite an inventive way of changing canals, just another quirk of the canal system. From Kidsgrove to Marple the canal gets quite Shallow and Narrow all the entrances to the bridges seem to be overgrown with fern and bramble, reducing a 8.5ft gap into a 7ft gap and having a 6ft 7inch wide boat negotiating them without damaging the boat becomes very difficult.  Now just having spent a fortune on a  re-spray the last thing I wanted was to get scratches down the side of my boat,  rubbing 18 ton of boat against a bramble bush can incur some quite horrific  scratches. Also most of this journey the canal gives the tow path on the port side (left) which means when passing oncoming boats I had to take the starboard wooded side which was full of overhanging trees and very shallow, being extremely careful and in most cases hanging back until the way was clear, made the journey slow and exhausting.

Through all these inconveniences of  being quite Overgrown and Shallow the Macc must be one of our most Beautiful canals in Britain, the canal takes you through the small towns of Congleton and Macclesfield then the mill towns of Bollington Poynton and High Lane, names I can remember from my childhood places I went fishing either by Bike or train we would go camping and fishing for the whole weekend doing what boys did in the 50s / 60s which was about everything you could (which now would get you a ASBO )?? such wonderful days care free and exciting

Anyway the trip up the Macc was quite unexciting, not that we go out looking for excitement???, the weather was awful, so far to date the worst we have had.

However the trauma of getting Buggerlugs unscathed through the slalom course of over growth and overhanging trees was compensated by the scenery, flora and fauna. It is some of the best in Britain you have the hill of Derbyshire on one side and the lush planes and meadows of Cheshire on the other along with great Victorian Mill standing majestic against the dark skyline and quaint cottages looking like they had come off a chocolate box cover.

Moorings along the Macc are far and few between so those attempting going up plan your journey and be prepared for long days looking for a vacant mooring. We were quite lucky and secured a mooring in Marple where our Keith and Carol joined us for dinner in the Ring of Bells. Its always great to see them and have them aboard we always have a great laugh. The following day was the quick trip of three hours up the Peak forest canal one of the shortest in the country about 10 miles from Marple to Whaley Bridge, again this is a very pretty trip though getting shallower and Narrower the Peak forest takes you up to Bugsworth Basin this is a historic industrial site once a thriving port the biggest on the network  where Lime Stone was brought down from Dove Holes in Derbyshire 6 miles away on the Peak Forest Tramway were it was shipped onto narrow boats  for transport all over the country. There is still a great many of the workings still visible including some of the old Tramway.  I would have loved to have seen it in its hay day but not having to do the hard physical graft that had to be done everything having to me manually moved.

Bugsworth basin has moorings for about 25 boats so it’s a popular place for boaters to meet up, we were no exception for waiting for us were our old friends Chris and Gerry they have been our friends since we started boating, today it feels that they have been our friends for ever. it was great to catch up over a few beers dinner and night caps of G&T just as it should be. Chri and Gerry left on saturday  just before our Keith and Des turned up on the bikes for a brew We are now waiting for Phil and Steph who arrive tomorrow Sunday, they are doing us a great favour by bringing a car so we can go to a funeral on Monday they will stay a few days and have a cruise with us.  All this catching up is great. We find that though when boating and travelling it means you are to all intents and purposes “on your own” you are never that far from good friends.

We have had a dilemma when leaving here we have a choice of which was to go either down the Ashton canal through Marple , Romily, Hyde then Manchester. Or back down the Macc through Middlewich then up through

Lymme on the Bridgwater then into Manchester

Phil and Steph have just left having spent a few cracking days with us I  now pointing think they had a good time they were impressed with the beauty of Cheshire and Derbyshire and how close it was a hidden gem.

We have just this minute solved the dilemma as we towards Macclesfield we will go that way its longer but more picturesque??

Ok folks that’s your lot

God Bless

Buggerlugs