Monthly Archive: April 2013

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Spit and polish – a sequel

        “ I’ve started so I’ll finish,” a particular TV quiz master used to say. That was the sentiment in the Captain’s heart: he’d started the boat polishing, it needed to be finished. So, a Friday afternoon and an early evening were spent taking diversions to avoid M1 hold-ups between Junctions 14 and 15, and  using the M6 Toll to avoid delays further up the M1. Then just patience, lots of patience, was required during the slow and near stationary...

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Spit and polish

Sunday 14thApril Still curious about the “no hole digging” sign in the previous blog? Techno Son-in-Law suggests it might be to deter bottle hunters, a problem that occurs from time to time on Lindow Common in Wilmslow. The theory is plausible and as Cleddau cruised slowly back along the canal between Furness Vale and New Mills on Sunday afternoon some lads were active behind the walls, one at least with a spade…            Sunday at Bugsworth was...

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Boatwif regains control…

      The Captain took to blog-writing last night, “with the permission of Boatwif” he wrote! Suppose now the secret’s out that theCleddau crew is afloat again the tale will need  completing…  Friday: The route from Higher Poynton (by canal) couldn’t be simpler: point north (for about three miles) and instead of turning left down the Marple Locks turn right along the Upper Peak Forest Canal to Whaley Bridge and Bugsworth Basin. There are no locks at all on this route...

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The Captain writes a blog entry (by permission of Boatwif)

Poynton to Furness Vale (almost) 8.1 miles, 3 movable bridges After 3 days aground with our granddaughter she was safely returned to Techno Son-in-Law and Cheshire Mum. Should we stay in our stationary home for the rest of the Easter break or escape once again into the hills of Derbyshire? It was a very easy decision! Back up the M1 and M6, cast off for Marple and the Upper Peak Forest Canal – a weekend in Bugsworth Basin is so much...

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That’s it!

Gurnett Aqueduct to Victoria  Pit Moorings: 8.8 miles            “That’s it,” proclaimed the Captain as, at 1440 today, Cleddau drew onto her home mooring. It was a graceful mooring up, there was no wind to create havoc, no boat on the towpath opposite to narrow the turning space – and no Halcyon Dawnon the neighbouring pontoon to avoid. Neither was there any audience, so no applause …            It’s obvious, but it has to be stated: there were so many...

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A bridge too far…

Bosley Bottom Lock to Gurnett Aqueduct: 6.1 miles, 12 locks, 2 swing bridges            The sun was shining weakly on the iced waters of the canal this morning.  A delay for a couple of domestic tasks allowed two boats to pass and to do some useful ice-breaking….  Nb Misty Waters and Cleddau have been leap-frogging each other for days but the other boat was unknown. When later at Lock 6 there was a conversation with its crew Boatwif gleaned that these...

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From black and white to black and white

Ramsdell Hall Railings to Bosley Locks:  6.5 miles. Might as well delay the Bosley Locks until the winds have dropped and the temperature improved. Such was the thinking behind this morning’s decision not to cruise on immediately but to walk across the fields to Little Moreton Hall. According to the notice it is about a mile.  That’s a mile there, a mile back – easy.  About half way there, just past the partly frozen pond, the Captain quizzed Boatwif: “You...

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Raw winds and puffy clouds

Rode Heath to Ramsdell Hall: 6.44 miles, 13 locks            Thursday – wind was forecast; wind there was. By the time this afternoon’s mooring was reached the wind was gusting up to 22 mph…             However much Cleddau’s overall appearance was improved by her 2009 repaint her slab-sided profile remains. Cross winds can make her sulk, to become stubborn and to refuse to move over into deep water. Try leaving a lock on an exposed part of the Trent and...

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Not all plans run true – and a Monkton Moment

Church Lawton to Rode Heath 3.5 miles,10 locks            A cold night – a blue morning.          No need to hurry off, not planning to go very far… So, after several more old working boats had chugged past, returning from the Ellesmere Port Easter Boat Gathering, Cleddau was made ready to set off: TV mast and phone aerial dismantled, washing machine in action, side hatch closed and a second coat of blue paint on the repaired bollard. Extra clothing...

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Sparks at Red Bull

Ramsdell Hall (Macc) to Church Lawton (Trent & Mersey): 5 miles, 7 locks Bored of reading about snow sightings (several today) and biting winds (a fair amount)? Today’s update will make no further reference to either topic…      What would the day bring? How far would Cleddau cruise? Much seemed to depend on how to solve a new problem… On return from Seyella yesterday something looked odd. There had been various boat movements during the afternoon and one can understand that boaters...