Our cruise was ongoing into October but we had a deadline of a hospital appointment and a granchilds birthday party to aim our arrival date back at Shebdon at. So we didn't hang about which was a shame as the weather was a little more settled in the last days of the trip.
Kings Lock leaving a still wet Wheelock on the 1st October
Coming to a road near you - salt tons and tons of it
The maintenance on the locks was very poor and they were hard work, Rachel dd a few but they were heavy and stiff aso i did the majority. We split the hill into two days
Under and away from the M6 - see you near Penkridge in a couple of weeks !
2nd October we were on our way to a decision....this is Rode Heath so my picture data tells me
Under the Aqueduct with the Macc in it above us a much nicer day. We'd stopped a bit before for lunch as we weren't sure we were going to carry on up the Macc as Heartbreak hill had been hard work for both of us.
A hire boat on the bottom lock of the flight moored on the lock landing behinds a fallen tree - not ideal. I think the lady was on the loo as she came out as I was setting the lock, very apologetic !! Rachel had to stop and wait for them to pull back so she could get through
So on the 2nd October 2024 at 4.15pm we were turning onto the Macclesfield canal - last here with Waterlily when we came from Fradley. Our option was to not do the Macc and Peak Forest but just cut short and carry on around the four counties... glad we did make the right decision.
We moored up just past the stop lock and rested for the night
The 3rd saw us get some love back for the canals as the Macclesfield is a lovely canal - certainly the lower half, more on that later. We stopped in Congleton and went for supplies and lunch then motored on to moor in what I think was the best mooring of the trip, just around the corner from the Bosley flight overlooking Bosley Cloud, something I've seen many times when riding my bikes around here.
As we'd eaten in Congleton we had cheese wine and biscuits for tea!
The 4th was a superb sun rise and as we were up a bit earlier for us to get up the flight we caught it as we were prepping the boat.
The Fools Nook electric swing bridge
The mills in Bollington and Macclesfield are impressive and give a signature to the canals as they pass by.
We moored just before the wharf at Bollington as the next day was Saturday and Holly the cafe boat who we watch on Youtube was open so we resolved to call for cake and coffee.
The next day was a long one, and not a good day the longer it went on. We set off late as we went to find a post office that was advertised as open but when we got there was not open. So it was 10.20 by the time we were off passing Zero then a wait at the cafe boat for coffee and cake so gone midday by the time we were heading for the basin. We needed to be at the basin as we'd planned a meet with Callum Emma and George on the Sunday....
Percy waiting at Bollington Wharf
Supplies taken and we were off
More signs of poor upkeep, every bridge hole was overgrown , 10 minutes three times a year with a strimmer C&RT?
Thought of Bruce Napier when I passed the Braidbar workshops. But so many boats up here and they say the Shroppie is bad, this was way worse.
Finally approaching the end of the Macclesfield - surely the Upper Peak forest would be nicer ?
It wasn't more and more boats of all types from 200k boats to stuff that was just floating. You can see the headlight was on for the last hour and we got into Buxworth cold tired and I was fed up. Rachel had done a sterling job of getting food ready so we had a nice hit meal to come into.
7.20pm .....
Sunday was a nicer day and the coal boat come in and I had a couple of bags off Brian. I watched him wind so knew where to do that which we did later on the Sunday so we were ready for an am start Monday after visiting Callum. Callum was half an hour walk so we took our dirty washing and used his machine while we went for a meal then dried in in the Chinley laundry before being run back to Percy late Sunday evening - a nice day and a bit of mission accomplished
So we set of on the 7th and had to be back at Shebdon for the 15th... game on. The reverse trip back to Bollington was easier but those boats were still there. We decided to up our 'tick over' speed which helped and no shouting at, we were still passing very slow but it helped.
More reversing of route, the weather said heavy rain 3pm.... it arrived a little early and we got drenched doing th elast lock with plenty of water in it so it emptied very slowly
True to form it stopped as we were heading for the mooring for the night same as on the way up quiet and beautiful.
On the 9th we got past the stop lock near the bottom of the Macclesfield, enjoying the lower Macc again much more than the upper Macc. I think Bollington would be our terminus if we ever come this way again. It was another wet day
10th October the tunnel to Stone
Shame the Northern Lights hadn't shown up two days earlier how would they have looked in the darkness lighting up Bosley Cloud...
11th Stone to Weston ... just nice cruising after a rain delayed start.
12th Off the Trent and Mersey onto the lovely Staffs and Worcester passing Youtuber 'Chugabug' . My turn was perfect but no one saw it !
13th still making steady progress
Always one !
Lovely chap he'd been on his boat which he built sinceithe mod 80's
14th and I was starting to look like a tramp
Back on the Shroppie
A stop overnight in Wheaton Aston and a nice last trip meal in the pub saw us heading back to the mooring on the 15th
Full on autumn
17th In Derby to see my lovely mum, she was pleased to see me and the photos of the trip
Test rode this - CF Moto 450
... and this Himalayan 452
Decided the Old Himmy did all I needed - see November !!
18th back in Chinley delivering and seeing Emma and George
19th To Heanor for that mad birthday party
20th and I was building my little Raspberry PI Home assistant server with M.2 hat !
21st and we were clearing the cottage on certain rooms for the painters.
23rd this was our end of our booked tips and treats - a dining train on the steam railway that runs in our valley. A perfect end to a busy year of adventures...
24th the Himalayan was getting a valve adjustment (Me) and damage was noticed - the valve heads were cupped so work there in the New Year.
Painting
was progressing no wonder I was in the garage
25th I was off to see my mum
27th and I'd received the horrible news the day before of the death of my Friend who I'd visited the month before. So I took myself off for a ride and a solo breakfast
That was a very enjoyable and busy October..... but November we didn't stop still !!
