A Grand Trip Out

If you’ve been an occasional viewer of Channel 5 this title might ring a bell for you: Susan Calman (Scottish comedian and TV presenter) presents a series in which she explores an area of Britain in her wee campervan (nicknamed “Helen”, after Helen Mirren) – and always she seems to be having a great time.There was an initial 2022 visit to Cleddau in late February (see mid-section here) but then in March there was a call for flight trials Cruise Trials. The Captain is less agile these days (Hmm, was he ever “agile”?) as age and a tricky hip have slowed him down. Would a short try-out cruise be a good idea?Here was a plan – cruise from Higher Poynton to Macclesfield (about a three hour stint), attend the Macclesfield Canal Society meeting (pixie points for arriving by canal??), cruise on to Bosley Locks (a flight of twelve, with no turning around option half way down), assess the damage /amount of difficulty  - and return to home moorings…Arrival day at the boat was wet, wet, wet. Three sodden coats hung in the shower cubicle, slowly  dripping off; mopping up was necessary at the (still) leaky starboard-side window while the boat’s Webasto radiator and water heating system groaned and coughed, but refused to ignite… A cold boat was made bearable that night via the solid fuel stove, a hot water bottle and an electric fan heater…By Day 2 the Webasto had cleared itself of its pesky airlock – and so, in dry conditions but a chill wind, Cleddau was made ready for a jaunt to the south.Wind gusts, limited space across the canal, Cleddau’s slab-sided contours and a boat moored on the opposite bank  made a heading south difficult impossible. The wind veered the bow to the north; collision with the other boat was avoided, just, and Cleddau swung round, a 20 minute north-bound cruise ahead of her to turn round at the winding hole at High Lane.Familiar sights – the space to turn at High Lane,  the extraordinary collection of items exhibited at Bridge 13,  the Cage    high on the Lyme Park Estate… By early afternoon Cleddau was finally heading south, the hills to the east lit up by spring sunshine,  flashes of bright daffodil colour    marking the bridge holes…Bollington: here houses crouch in the steep valleys,    the footpath to White Nancy creeps up the hillside    - and chained to a tree    is a very tiny wooden boat!Countryside views return at Kerridge, blackthorn blossom shimmered in the hedges    and the Cleddau crew began to wonder about their moorings options in Macclesfield. Top choice would be the pontoon before Hovis Mill, next might be an overnight stop opposite the marina though from there is no towpath access to the town, then there’s the Black Road stretch, then the moorings at Gurnett Aqueduct – and if all else fails there is always space out at Lyme Green.What luck was this then,   mooring space on the pontoons opposite the new apartments, Hovis Mill just beyond the next bridge…Day 3: To be able to attend a Canal Society meeting by boat seemed quite appropriate…There were boats galore though not many narrow boats seen or mentioned in the talk on the waterways of Essex. Very few of the audience were familiar with the area but descriptions and photographs of the creeks and rivers of England’s far south east corner proved a fascinating topic.Day 4: This was to be Cruise Test day. How would the Captain fare on a day which would involve a five mile cruise and a twelve lock flight spread over about a mile and a half…?It was a clear and sparkling sort of morning, with a stiff breeze from the west.   The views south of Macclesfield rarely fail to delight… Through the first swing bridge – and on to the second. At the first one, the footbridge at Danes Moss Nature Reserve, Boatwif was grateful for the shove on the bow that passing walkers provided, the boat being pinned to the bank by the wind. At the second bridge, the electrically operated road bridge at Oakgrove, Cleddau’s passage held up four vehicles and three bikes but was watched intently by two spectators from the high pedestrian bridge. Soon the distinctive shape of The Cloud came into view.Back up plans had been made for the Bosley Locks, Techno Son-in-Law and Cheshire Mum having volunteered Saturday afternoon support. Just after 1pm, in brisk wind, the descent began. “It’ll be a bit draughty down there,” advised a local dog walker as he gestured to the long pound between Top Lock and Lock 2.For the Captain, paddle-winding and gate-pushing was intrinsic to the Cruise Trial. Techno Son-in-Law volunteered for tiller duties which left three towpath lock operators. Down, down, down the boat went. Daffodils danced beside the locks; gongoozlers asked probing questions while across the Dane Valley the Cloud snoozed in the sunshine.It was at Lock 9 that the smooth downhill operation ground to a halt – factor in two boaters ahead single-handing their boats down the locks and two upcoming boats which were planned to rise in Lock 12, wind in the pound above and then descend back to the canal again via Lock 12. For hours, it must have seemed, Techno Son-in-Law sat in the empty chamber at Lock 11, waiting, just waiting, to progress into the bottom lock.Nb Chouette was moored below the locks, her crew making an appearance at Lock 12 to welcome Cleddau and to aid operations. How lucky were the absolute novice Heritage hirers who had never encountered a lock before – Chouette’s skipper provided a first class tutorial class – and eventually, finally,   Techno and Cleddau sallied forth from Lock 11 into Lock 12!A small procession (three Cleddau crew, two Chouette crew and a gongoozling local family of mother, two boys and their slow dog) escorted Cleddau to a mooring just past the Dane Aqueduct, bow to bow with Chouette. What better than tea and Welsh cakes to restore energy   – and a fine meal aboard Chouette that evening.Day 5: No great distance was planned for this day, just a 90 minute cruise to Congleton and a 90 minute cruise back to the bottom of the locks. Familiar view after familiar view,   a pause by Bridge 65,     celandines at the site where Les of nb Valerie  is remembered,  banks of daffodils, the stone edging along Biddulph Aqueduct, a glimpse of the railway viaduct that strides across Dane-in-Shaw Pasture  the cluster of bridges at Congleton  and then Congleton Wharf. Boat winded (turned round) at the Wharf the return trip to Bosley was started: under the attractive and functional turnover bridge (Bridge number 78),    past a well-laid hedge, back towards better and better views.  A tractor was dragging a roller a field    below The Cloud, and in spring sunshine the as yet leafless trees and bare hedges allowed for longer vistas. By later afternoon  the sun was creating angular shadows. Hints of blossom yet to emerge were just visible at Orchard Lock.   From the aqueduct another impressive railway viaduct could be seen crossing the Dane Valley. For Day 6 Cheshire Mum (who doesn’t work on alternate Mondays) had volunteered her paddle winding and gate pushing skills again.  How lucky was that! With a crew of three this time Cleddau started her uphill climb.  It was steady, crews changing roles, a boat ahead sometimes in sight.   Above Lock 10 a buzzard soared and circled, swooped and dived, confident it would catch its morning prey.Then what was this? Life-jacketed helpers at Lock 4.   But no, two men, who had been dispatched from the top to mend a hole, stood bemused and amazed as the lock’s operation was explained to them.By 1pm Cheshire Mum was back at home and Cleddau was further on, dealing with the swing bridges.    Onwards, past Lyme Green, past the views of Sutton and the hills, to moor at Gurnett Aqueduct    – and later to liaise again with the Chouettes,   who’d cruised to Marple – and back!Day 7: Glory be, another fine dry day for the final three hours or so back to Higher Poynton.  Back, under another swervy, swirly crossover bridge, back past the new housing estate   recently built on the site of the Stevens haulage depot, through Macclesfield, back under blossom,    back past Hovis Mill,    on past Canada geese pairing up, past a heron studying the water for fish,    then spotting a 'Library in the Landscape' tucked behind a bridge parapet at Hurdsfield… How much fuller were the trees than a week ago,   how much yellower the forsythia and the gorse, how much greener the newly emerging reeds…   The arrival of Spring was accelerating fast!With less than half a mile to go Cleddau cruised past the Wide above the Mount Vernon play area. Harsh honking and shrieking reverberated across the shallow waters.    Two, just two, Canada geese were loudly announcing their presence or their disfavour. How in one short week the natural world had woken up!And so by mid-afternoon, after refuelling at The Trading Post, Cleddau was tied up back on her pontoon. Safely back. A mini cruise completed - and the Captain had 'managed'.All in all it had been a grand little trip out!

39 miles, 24 locks, 4 swing bridges