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.
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.
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
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 !
We have my beloved M6 for company tonight ( I ride the blood bikes in and out of Birmingham from Stoke... I always think of the canal when it goes over the canal just before Penkridge.) The lovely days of sunshine forecast I posted a few days ago were a bit of a joke as the rain woke me early this morning and I'm a heavy sleeper. It continued to rain until gone 11, as we'd stopped short of yesterdays destination Canal plan said 6 hours to where we are now so I didn't want to leave departure too late. So I donned waterproofs and headed out and within 5 minutes it had stopped, I'll take that.
Rain, then sunshine then winds then wind and rain then sunshine - good Uk autumnal weather
As I was untying the ropes the boat started moving giving indication we had a boat approaching and sure enough one came around the bend so I held knowing they'd have Weston Lock, just good canal etiquette. I helped them through and turned the lock.
At Hoo Mill lock we met Lurcher the trip boat from Great Haywood doing their Saturday £25 a head fish and chip trip... not bad value given the price of fish and chips today ! Incidentally Lurcher used to run trips from Froghall basin in fact last seen there when I was coming out of the basin with two friends in 2017 on my retirement cruise.
Lurcher on her way loaded with people munching fish and chips !
Just spotted a boat approaching Hoo Mill so we left it ready for them
Then a gentle cruise round to Great Haywood, spotting Chugabug the Youtuber on the waterpoint, Garry the skipper looked quite pensive and a little sad, I hope all is ok.
Tixall wide was full of boats but that was not our destination. The canal from the Sow aqueduct to almost Radford road bridge is really slow, shallow and very narrow as C&RT have not dealt with the reeds coming across the canal - it was not a nice cruise and with lots of leaves off the trees quite a few reverses to clear the week hatch as all boater know how much they can slow a boat.
Looking back at the junction, a clean turn was made but this one os an easy one to turn into - Rachel checked ahead to ensure no boats coming
Lovely cruising towards the Sow aqueduct
Leaving Tixall lock
Over the Sow
Then it all closed in !!
The clouds giving their intention to gather and wet us
Approaching Deptmore lock a couple came out of the boat club and immediately held for us which was nice especially as the lock was empty so they had to turn it after us. Bit of positive payback from the start of our day.
Above the lock through Acton Trussell the heavens opened and the wind was getting up from the west. Umbrella up and on we went.
I always think of my lads at Shut Hill lock as we had a lovely night fishing below it on our share boat Sylph many years ago. Also I think of Bruce and Shelia as this was the last time I saw them as we left the lock and they approached it. We were off to get blacked at Norbury and they were coming back from being blacked at the same place.
The sun saw us to tonights mooring
The two locks done and pleasingly a space above Park Gate lock for the night - it also seems the old Midland Chandlers place has an open chandlery in it now, if they are open in the morning I may pop in !
A good challenging 6 hour cruise, hopefully the rest of the three days will be five hours and after tomorrow very few locks, of course all being well !
