A bit o’ boating

Boat Update

19 Oct

Written By Boatwif

The weather would be good next week, they said, 'they' being the BBC Met experts...A plan was formulated: north from Bedfordshire via Matlock for a chiropractor appointment for the Captain, (an on-going saga) and four full days afloat on the boat. With the promise of good weather in north Cheshire there would be chance to valet the boat before winter, to paint the boat poles – and maybe start the engine to have a little cruise…Oh, the optimism of it all.The weather was murky on Tuesday – there was too much moisture in the air for boat washing, polishing or painting.Instead the boat was backed away from her mooring, eased around and pointed north. Low cloud hung over the hills of the Lyme Park Estate. When under way speed is slow so observations are made of what’s the same – and of what’s different. A one-time barn (near Bridge 13) has been converted into a swish-looking residence. See photo here: 21^st April; and here on12^th October. Just past the High Lane road bridge that takes the A6 up towards Disley and Whaley Bridge are some new residences – are they townhouses or separate apartments…?Under Bridge 8, Bancroft Bridge: just after it the wood-carved wizard is still on duty at Windlehurst Hall.There were a few boats on the move, though not many. How often do the words: ”Always at bridge-holes!” get exchanged between whomever is at the helm and an approaching boater? Just beyond the huge Goyt Mill was a puzzling sight – a boat motionless in the bridge hole, its starboard side against the towpath. Had Cleddau’s approach been spotted? Was there anybody aboard…? Holding a boat stationary in a hover position is not always easy... A pair of legs seemed to leap onto the stern, its owner giving the boat a mighty push. Slowly the boat moved forward, giving space for Cleddau to get through the bridge.Backwards then the boat came (the Mary Sunley it was, the Braidbar-built trip boat which is based at Higher Poynton). Along the towpath had come another figure, cardboard box in her arms. Patiently the figure waited under the bridge, sheltering herself – and the passengers’ lunches - from the rain. Then slowly the trip boat was worked back to the lunch pick up point!Onwards a little more to Marple Junction, the terrace of new housing on Marple Wharf now completed and occupied. Through the bridge hole at Marple Junction, a right turn onto the Peak Forest Canal, with just a backward glance at the signpost and at the Marple Flight top lock (which leads down to join the canals to Huddersfield and to Manchester…) There are several old boats moored up on Tramway Wharf these days – just look at that splendid butty tiller. Mist and showers rolled around the hilltops above the Goyt Valley. There was another hold up at Bridge 23, a workboat, reversing, forwarding, hovering and then pulling in to moor at one of the very best mooring spots, with views towards Kinder Scout. Serious ramblers will know about The Mass Trespass in 1932, when a gathering of young walkers from Sheffield and Manchester on Kinder Scout (seen in the distance) fuelled the ‘right to roam’ movement.The Upper Peak Forest Canal runs along the 518 feet contour above sea level. Of course there are bridges but there are also four movable bridges. First comes Turf Lea Lift Bridge, a bit of a brute as it involves a huge amount of windlass winding to raise the bridge deck high enough above a boat’s cabin top. (Thankfully on the outbound trip another boater used her muscles here).Next is Wood End Lift Bridge, operated now by a key to an electric panel and a finger switch. Easy!Not far beyond the Wood End Bridge is an extraordinary new sight, a pair of hands clutching, it would seem, a stand of young trees… Was the hands’ installer a creative type? The canal side cabin alongside those gigantic fingers looks rather like a stage set… Onward, holding back at the next movable bridge, Higgins Clough Swing Bridge, while a small procession passed by.The canal winds its way onwards through New Mills, sweet aromas emanating from the Swizzels Matlow factory. (Remember, can you, those childhood smells and tastes of Refreshers, Love Hearts and Rainbow Drops…?)Onward, past neat New Mills Marina, the rain heavy now, past the Riverside Park, the railway viaduct encased in low cloud!Then, at Furness Vale, comes the final movable structure, the Carr Swing Bridge. So many times has the key of power been turned in the metal post, so many times has the heavy metal handle been hoiked up and the bridge pushed to lie parallel to the canal bank. It’s never given trouble, this bridge, although the vehicle kept waiting while the bridge was swung back struggled time after time to restart! Onward, past the pristine grounds of the Furness Vale Marina, past Laurel and Hardy – and Paddington Bear too! The canal weaves towards Bugsworth, a sewage plant below in the valley, the Buxton to Manchester railway line above the canal on the Disley side. As the canal approaches the small town of Whaley Bridge canal users become aware of road traffic noise, the busy A6 crossing the canal here. There’s a canal junction, the main line progressing a further ¼ mile to the terminus at Whaley Bridge but Cleddau's old habits die hard.Left, left for Bugsworth Basin, the inland port set in a bowl of the Derbyshire hills. The access is so familiar - the shallow water, Teapot Row, once the labourers' cottages, the Wharfinger’s house and office. Ahead was a warning notice – the Upper Basin being closed for repairs to the wash wall.Once moored in the Lower Basin Boatwif picked her way through the Canada goose mess and walked along to the Upper Basin. The stretch of water pretty well up to the road bridge is still available for mooring but a temporary dam prevents access to the top basin. A dewatered canal is not a pretty sight! The area around Bugsworth Basin is popular with tourists, canoeists, walkers, especially dog walkers - and it’s certainly popular too with locally based Canada geese. It was a peaceful night although the noise of rushing water from the nearby Black Brook is barely inescapable…On Wednesday in the lightest of mizzle Cleddau glided out of the Lower Basin, setting off to cruise back to Higher Poynton. There was no pause this time at the services area, Boatwif escaping a re-enactment of the broken wrist mishap experienced right here in July 2020 .It’s October – perhaps it’s no surprise that the leaves are changing colour. What is a surprise though is the Rodney boat, tucked neatly into a corner at Furness Vale Marina.Back through the first of the four movable bridges. When the gentle mist became a downpour; an emergency mooring was called for. “Find dry trousers,” called the Captain, ”dig out drier boots, find waterproof over-trousers, pass my longer waterproof jacket, search for some thicker gloves…” The journey resumed, the large umbrella lowered as the boat approached the stone and lift bridges, raised high in obstruction-free zones…Oh for a dry walk in the Torrs Riverside Park (remember the boys swimming in the river down there on that hot July day last year…?) Onwards, past that area of giant hogweed. (Is this a giant hogweed?) , leaving New Mills behind and glimpsing again those glorious cross-valley views. A boater ahead operated the Higgins Clough Swing Bridge but then there was a long pause while boats slowly shuffled past each other at the Wood End Lift Bridge.Why, one boat was Holderness, recognised from the many interesting blog posts written by its owner. Conversation cannot develop when boats are pulling away from each other, there being time only for a “Hello, I read your blog…!” (Try looking here at the Holderness blog for his more detailed account of Bugsworth and Whaley Bridge and here for a description of a glorious high level moorland walk the Holderness crew did above the Macclesfield Canal).Onwards, back to Turf Lea Lift Bridge. With no other boater volunteers about it was up to Boatwif to wind and wind the deck up – and then wind and wind it down again.On a thoroughly grey day occasional blazes of colour punctuated the scene… In a sloping field just short of Marple a young horse on a long rein was being trained…Left at Marple Junction. “Hope we haven’t spoiled your photograph,” called a voice from the bridge. The manoeuvre was executed with skill, appraised no doubt by the gongoozlers above!On past the Marple trip boat – its banner a reminder that Bristol Niece Number 1 was on the brink of that very same birthday too!Back past Goyt Mill, impressed by the confidence of a rooftop tiler… Onward, under Macc Canal hobbit hole bridges, the ridgeline of the Lyme Park Estate to the left , past the tractor collection and the miscellany of items at Bridge 13 (“People keep giving me stuff,” says the boatowner who curates it all), past the barns and the long line of offside moorings, back to Victoria Pit. There was no wind – and so with minimum fuss Cleddau was backed into her winter position, avoiding contact with all three of her boaty neighbours… As for those aspirations – well, the boat poles got varnished and painted but no water or polish touched the cabin sides. There was a fine stroll up into Lyme Park, a chance for deep breaths and long views. and a Friday evening Canal Society talk about Reservoirs, large, small and in need of repair. (Photo of valves recovered from Toddbrook Reservoir, displayed at Bugsworth Basin). Cleddau’s 2021 boating season has drawn to a close.Now the crew have returned to village life – after all, it was late October and time to cut down the grapes…