Back on the horse … or bike in my case

Percy is resting for a little while but I’m not. To be honest I’ve missed the other mechanical passion of mine - motorbikes. The weather was fair on Thursday and I wanted so see my mum in the care home she now sadly lives in. She didn’t do bad, got to 88 living independently. I rode over to spend some time with her, nice memories.

After dinner I went over to a local bike shop and managed to test ride two bikes. Seeing what might be my next purchase. Strange times as they were built in India and China … a Himalayan 452 which is supposed to be the successor to my humble Himalayan 411 ( numbers are the cc’s of the engine) As much as I want to like the 452 it’s no successor to my bike, just over developed and over priced ! The Chinese CF Moto 450 is a peach of a bike, certainly a worthy replacement for my current Royal Enfield as and when it wears out ! I’d have never thought I’d be considering a Chinese made bike and still not sure I’d give that country my pounds ….nice to have options as and when needed. I still have my Honda as reliable as my Honda genny. 

The Himalayan 452 

The Chinese CF Moto 450 - a very nice bike to ride 

My current and much travelled Himalayan 411 next to the usurper ?

I finished the ride at Matlock Bath a Mecca for motorcycles. Just tea and a ponder rather than fish and chips! 

Today ( late Friday as I’m typing) I went over to my son who we visited from Buxworth a couple of Sundays ago, the boat taking about 11 days, the bike just under an hour ! I’m privileged to live in the Staffordshire Moorlands that melt into the Staffordshire Peak District. The ride over is special as it takes me up over the A53 to Buxton. The route to the Winking Man pub to join the A53 gives great views towards Cheshire with Jodrell Bank radio telescope visible and Manchester on a clear day. As I type I’m thinking those views at some point cross the canals we travelled. I will look it up on an OS map…

Anyhow another lovely late afternoon ride. I paid for it as I came back later than planned so a cold 30 mile return in the dark across the moors …. Quite atmospheric and a little adventure as breaking down in the Moorlands would be an issue especially at night ! 

Hen Cloud in the fore ground and the Roaches leading away. Click on the photos and you’ll find the radio telescope dish 

For a couple of days on the boat the Comms  mast was ever present especially around Bosley 

The weather was coming in !!

Lucky to be able to go into this landscape …by boat bike or hopefully soon by foot 

 

This was a trip of 178 miles, 7¼ furlongs and 120 locks

We were out for 22 days cruised 19 of them and did just short of 179 miles and 120 locks ! We ran the engine for 102 hours over those 22 days.

Percy developed a weep on the domestic water pump and a weep from the engine crankcase inspection door. The engine water pump must have a flat spot on the shaft seal as depending where the engine stopped sometimes that would weep a little too.  They will be winter jobs. I might have to replace the water pump as they are notoriously hard to refurb, tried before!  

Highlights  - 

• Getting to Buxworth and walking to my lads house for food. 
• Visiting the Upper Peak Forest canal. 
• Completing the Macclesfield end to end
• Cruising areas where I ride my motorbikes 
• Meeting Holly the canal boat couple at Bollington
• Seeing the Northern lights ( again this year) in Stone
• Covering those miles and locks together as a team
• Meeting so many nice people - the cut is a community 
• The reliability of Percy and its systems 

Not so highlights 

• The Peak Forest not as nice as I was expecting, it's still a nice canal
• The weather the wind !!
• The failing of the second inverter while trying to charge the Ecoflow

So many more positives than a few niggly bits. The biggest disappointment was the Upper Peak Forest, just how busy it was with boats. I think we'll walk it next time !

Percy is a great boat but the mid engine exhaust isn't great for Rachel now so we may have to consider that in the future. But my challenge is to not look too far forward savour the now the future will deal with itself and arrive when it needs to. 

Wheaton Aston to Shebdon - Home and home

Last night we ate in the pub and it was nice, not busy and had attentive staff. It felt like a real local, boaters and the locals mixing. 

I had a real bad night last night, I think I was dehydrated as I had bad aches and pains and was hot in the night even through we let the fire go out. The thermocycling radiator pipes do stay warm though. Anyhow up early'ish and on our way at 9am. Floating out Boat said the Peak Forest was nicer than the Shroppie - no way in my estimation. The Shroppie is majestic rural and remote. Its my favourite and I was glad to be cruising very well known waters to us and Percy. 

I spotted No Problem on the Wheaton Aston long term moorings, looking well cared for I'm sure Sue would be happy. 

The morning was quite moody with boaters fires going as we left the mooring 

Cowley cutting and tunnel are always nice to cruise into the tunnel entrance looking like it had a waterfall of green cascading down.

We've been experiencing more and more slow down from leaves around the prop  - a very strange phenomenon where just a few leaves can slow the boat noticeably, sorted with some reverse. Those still cruising into late autumn will have more to deal with  - they are gathering for you !

The double arch bridge had to be photographed and only boaters get the best perspective.

These trees look like they will be winter stoppages !

No real events just nice steady cruising. We stopped at Norbury to empty the cassette and dispose of rubbish - frustrating its over in the boat yard now ( rubbish disposal). 

We arrived back at Shebdon in a very light drizzle the weather having a last say. Pleasingly we were able to moor up quite easily so the silt is leveling and moving.

We had lunch of remaining cheese and biscuits then set to decanting ourselves off Percy to the car and home. Feel a bit sorry to be leaving Percy but we will be back shortly to do jobs that'll be listed in future blogs for my record.

Percy looked after us kept us warm and safe and moved around the system without drama.  Thank you Percy. 

Thank you for the 50 or so regular hits I've been getting it's nice to share the trip with you. 

A bit of drama at the stop lock, Laches bridge to Turners Wheaton Aston

The early morning rain came earlier so it was dry when we woke at 7.45... I'd have quite happily stayed put as the east wind was bitter - see scary photo later. But we need to be back at at Shebdon Tuesday so I forced myself away from my book, the warm fire and hot coffee to lube up Percy and warm the donk up for quarter of an hour. I set off just after 10 am and immediately met two boats before the Anchor pub... the rest of the trip to Autherley junction was fine, even meeting a very speedy Black Price boat just before we went into the Pedleford narrows. 

It was a bitter easterly wind so the stovewas kept in for the day 

Looking ever more like a tramp  - but needs must the hat stayed on to the junction. Please feel free to scare your grandkids with the image. ! 

First pass under the M54 at 11.10 am  - we go down to the junstion and back up to go under it again 

Heading for the 'narrows'

At the junction we'd met so few boats we took a chance of not sounding the horn or sending one of us ahead, the turn was going well until we realised there was a boat just sitting engine off  just out of the lock. Reverse and wait  then a lady came out apologising saying they got stuck in the lock and also picked something up when eventually getting out after loosing the blacking. We pulled back to allow them time to come out with the tell tale clicking of something on the prop. The fella said he'd checked the weed hatch and found nothing. They moored up and headed for the boat year there, but not sure they got too much immediate help as I think they were turning the boats for Saturdays hirers. 

I got in by pushing hard on the gate to try and keep it open but it was as it was the last two times we've come this way -it needs clearing both ends to allow the gates to fully open - one I will report again to C&RT. I could not get the top gate open fully even worse than the bottom gate. I had to get the boat hook and root around in the gate recess feeling lots of 'crap' where the gate wanted to sit. I removed some enough with my weight on the gate to get Percy out. I reflected on the poor other boater as I cruised off and realised the noise was there on reverse so I presume there was something on the rudder or skeg being pulled onto the prop when in reverse. I was too far away then to offer that as an option but hopefully the yard would easily diagnose and remove the belt or wire causing the noise.

Back under the M54  - 1.05pm  so two hours I suspect it takes less than 5 minutes by car to cover both bridges

A bit out of sequence but Stretton boat yard was busy  - I wonder who ownes it now since  Keith Ball passed away 

Looking down onto the A5 

These two have been declining all the time I've cruised past 

Then I made lunch while Rachel cruised. Our Canal plan five hour target was Lapley bridge between Stretton aqueduct and Wheaton Aston. I wanted to clear the locks for the trip and get diesel so we motored on to Turners. We met some ex Hunts moorers as we descended the lock - the last of this trip, Carol I think it was  chatted as we went to Turners  - it was nice to meet them I'm sure they were at Hunts just before we left...

Lovely wooded section 

Self service and cheap 

Total litres for 84 hours cruising 

Must be the cheapest on the cut ? 

We got to Turners at 3.35 and he said 'do it now' as I'm closing soon  - it's a self service  so we got to it and filled up with 85.6 litres at a lovely 83.9p domestic ( propulsion attracts a 20% vat I think) As we're heading for winter I self declared 100% domestic for charging the batteries. We were away at 3.50 - almost a F1 pit stop. i brought a new centre line as our hemp one holds water and therefore dirt and it freying in the middle... it was with percy when we got her in 2012 so 12 years good service. Engine hours were on 1177. We last filled up at the start of this trip at Nantwitch with the engine counter on 1093 so 84 hours engine running used 85.6 litres so as close as needed to a litre and hour - very good for the 3 litre twin lump.

We'd got a bit ahead of schedule today so pulled in across from Turners and booked a table at the Hartley arms - we've tried to eat here a few times and they've always been full so lets see what we've been missing. 

A good days cruising - but Rachels just told me there is water in the catch tray where the water pump lives so that a pre pub job !! Might have to investigate an alarm in there  - I think Brian on NB Harnser put one on his boat recently

Tomorrow all being well back to Shebdon.

Nice people today Park Gate lock to Laches bridge

There are some mice moorings here - a few bends before the Anchor Inn. The inn was a possible stopping point but we decided to eat aboard tonight so stopped a little short. Spot on 5 hours of cruising left at 10.15 arrived 3.15. 

Glad to leave the M6 behind as it is a constant for much of the trip today, however it looses its impact quite quickly as you motor away from Rodbaston lock. 

Going under the M6 

Someone was painting their boat under the M6 bridge, a noisy place to work 

The people I've interacted with today have lifted my spirits, a pike angler I had time to speak with while waiting for Rachel at Longford lock, the young lad Perch fishing above Penkridge lock. He was so keen to show me and Rachel the picture of his monster Perch and his enthusiasm was captivating. The family on the services who'd just moved aboard their boat with two kids, a big adventure in front of them and lastly but possibly the most influential the fella single handing on his boat he builds himself back in the 70's. He's been cc'ing (continuous cruising) since 1982, never had a mooring. Moved on board with his wife and dog. The wife left him and later his dog died. He was happy and on his way to over winter on the Macclesfield as he had a dentist appointment in November ! His boat was in pristine condition and his attitude and approach to life, needing very little, light touch on the environment lifted my spirits. He said he may be on the Caldon in the spring so I'll look out for him while walking my canal.

As above away 10.15 and stopped and ate lunch a the top of Boggs lock. We'd got rid of recyling, rubbish and emptied a couple of cassettes at Penkridge service. Penkridge was very quiet of people,  just one boater moored on the lock landing facing the wrong way !

The tit on the lock moorings  - they came past us early and there was space just off the bollards ! 

This fella had been CC'ing for 42 years  - respect to you sir 

We've seen this repair on three separate gates now !

The tower at Gailey is always demanding of a shot and it reminds me of Sue and Vic (Vic now past away) 

 when they had NB No problem I recall their photo. Geoff of Seyella told me when I met up with him recently Sue is still living on her wide beam on the Thames. Their blog was alway one to look forward to. Last time we met is was outside Kings Bromley marina 

The Gailey gates want to stay open and creaked and moaned all the time the lock was filling 

We brought our loo from Mike off Duxlandyn met at a services off the M1 if I recall correctly ! - only just realised the name always thought it was welsh !! Still going strong ( the loo) 

Did a fair bit of walking today between the locks 8 of them today. Just felt I needed to stretch my legs. The moorings around Latches bridge are nice, we've the railway behind us, love a train, and woods opposite so may have some owl company tonight. One thing to note the number of Kingfishers we've seen this holiday is encouraging, none stayed to have their photo but thats Kingfishers for you ! 

Onto our home canal tomorrow and up past Wheaton Aston. If the time is right we need diesel from Turners. It would be good to get past Wheaton Aston as that means no more locks on the final day but lets get thru the narrows and onto the Shroppie before we start thinking of home !