On to Cheddleton

We took the dogs for a walk around Milton this morning and bought some basic supplies.

Then we were off.

Elaine was soon limbering up with a hydraulic lift bridge



We passed fellow bloggers Ian and Karen on NB Tacet  Managed to click off a quick couple of snaps, actually looking at the snaps we passed on the wrong side, I'm sure there was a reason

 

Bombo added his weight to the lock balance beam

First roundabout we have come across

Hydraulic paddles on this lock

Flint mill at Cheddleton

 

 

 

 

The Caldon is another lovely canal plus can be a bit challenging on some very tight bends, but its all good fun

 

We moored up next to the Steam railway at Cheddleton, we went to the Boat Inn for dinner, but it was fully booked....on a Wednesday! So we had a pint there then walked back along the towpath to The Red Lion, we had dinner with some very rowdy satellite antennae fitters! 

On The Caldon

We moored up Monday night just outside Congleton, very quiet - with a few sheep for company!

We motored off at 10.00am, passing a very nice residence towards the end of the Macc canal ...

When we got to bridge 91 there had been an incident where an old boy had fallen off the bridge onto the towpath.  The boat in front of us had stopped to administer first aid and call the ambos; he was dead chuffed that on giving the emergency services longitude and latitude coordinates they found them straight away. I thought it would be a bit rude to take pictures of some poor bugger's misfortune. I would also add that I don't like the sirens used on the ambulances, I know they do the job, but they really do scream! Much prefer the old beee-baab!  

We were soon at Harecastle tunnel and had a good speedy trip through. 

 

Once we got to the Caldon Canal we quickly filled the water tank and emptied the cassettes.

Now the important bit ... find a pub for the footy!  We went through our first staircase lock at Etruria.  Elaine was helped by one of the locals to open the gates, he looked pretty rough, but he was nice as pie and strong more to the point.  The first part of the canal was very industrial and a bit run down but with loads of moorings, but we didn't feel safe leaving the boat there; I'm sure it would have been fine but why risk it?  We did see lots of lads and lasses about, mostly snogging and smoking dope!

When we reached the Ivy House lift bridge Elaine was once again helped by a group of youngsters to stop the traffic and lift the bridge - once they had stopped snogging..... truly!

We eventually stopped at Milton and ran to the closest pub, The Millrace; they were showing the footy but for food only had one packet of crisps left ....once again, truly! We watched the first half there and then dashed around to the The Foxley, which was showing the footy plus had loads of crisps! We didn't have to buy any though as they put on free pies and mushy peas...result !  (Except Elaine is a veg head, so mushy peas and a bag of crisps for her!). It was a much better pub and atmosphere plus the good guys won! They even gave me a pie to take away....double result!

And They're Off

We have finally left Macclesfield after just over 4 glorious weeks of family and friends reunions!

But First..........

On Saturday night we went to Sutton Hall pub for dinner, with several members of Elaine's family plus the doggies of course.  It is a pretty flash joint and quite nice that they allow dogs...no complaints from us!  It was one of those nights where you laugh so much that you cry, unfortunately none of the funny stories can be mentioned on the blog!

Me, El's Dad, El's bro in law and El's bro

El's sister and Bomboliscious

one of the funny stories 

Sammy trying to slip in the tongue

 

Dog tired

The Sutton Hall Pub employs very good looking young girls, there was one that was not only good looking but had the figure to match and during the night we had a bit of a chat; the next day we went to Tesco to do some shopping so I sat outside on the bench with the dogs and was soon joined by a woman who introduced herself as 'Susan' and she sat down and we had a good chat.  Susan was a bit rough around the edges; I think she may have been an ex-pro and maybe a junkie, as she kept pointing out the junkies she knew as they walked past.  We were soon joined by a said junkie and I was having a good old chat to the pair of them and who should walk past but the very fit barmaid from the pub, I said 'hello' but she ignored me.....WHY? !!

Sunday they were hanging T Shirt banners in the streets of Macclesfield for the Barnaby festival, and I haven't got a clue what is about.....but it starts on 21st June !

Sunday we went for a walk over the hills, stopping at a couple of pubs along the way and meeting a few of the locals ...(just by the beer garden!)

Glorious views..

Elaine's friend Jane joined us with her dog Pip, who likes sticks!

So to Today (Monday) we finally left Macclesfield and headed for the Bosley Locks, we were joined by Elaine's brother Trevor for the day.

Stopping the traffic to open the hydraulic swing bridge at Fools Nook

 First stop Bosley top lock to empty the cassettes, dump the rubbish and fill with water. Also the sun was shining and it was rather warm - I wore my shorts, sandals and tshirt; Elaine and Trev had their wellies on.....I won as the weather was great.  

The boys stood guard, well Bombo slept actually...

 

 He's awake!

Nice big stone locks

Some a bit leaky

El posing

El walking between locks with "The Cloud" in the background

Now both the dogs were asleep - they enjoy this narrowboat caper 

When we got to the bottom of the locks we stopped for lunch as I was exhausted steering 68ft of boat for 4 hours........El and Trev were fine.....Joke, OK!

After lunch we carried on towards Congleton.  We passed a Border Collie on the towpath minding its own business.  Bombo barked at it, on hearing this Sam woke from his slumber, jumped up on the side of the boat and fell straight into the canal ... his poor little face was in absolute panic and he was just treading water!  I hit reverse hard, the boat stopped pretty quick.  I reversed back knocked it out of gear and picked him up from the stern of the boat, the poor little bugger was shaking.  Elaine gave him a hot shower and he soon recovered, as you can see below. Life jackets tomorrow!         

We dropped Trev off at bridge 75 in Congleton which is right next to the train station; it took him 7 mins to get to  Macclesfield for a journey that had taken us nearly 7 hours! Never mind we are not in a hurry.

We are now moored just past Congleton and I am nursing a cut foot...I took the dogs for their evening walk, we went through a field and as I was climbing over a gate I caught it on a rusty bit of pipe and took a nice chunk out of my foot.  Nurse Elaine sorted it out when I got back to the boat.

Tomorrow's goal is to find a good pub to watch the footy; we can watch it on the boat, but prefer the atmosphere of a pub! 

Back to Macc for the Last Time

We had a fantastic 6 days at Bugsworth Basin.  Before we left I decided to take the 2 dogs and walk to to the top of the towering peaks surrounding the basin ... well they don't really tower but they are quite high and I was fair knackered by the time I reached the summit!

Elaine stayed on board and made up her first batch of soap (in this country !)

Glam soap making outfit !

It was an overcast and drizzly day so the pics aren't the best.  The basin is in the middle ...

Still in the middle ...
 

Zoomed in for this pic Caxton is top left ...

By the time I got back the dogs and I were a tad muddy so we had a threesome in the shower; that is, I had a shower and also washed the 2 dogs!

On Wednesday night we went for dinner at the Navigation and had a good chat with Barn Owl No 6 owners, Mike and Sue (Caxton is Barn owl No 9).

So to today - we left Bugsworth Basin at the early hour (for us) of 10.30am !

We took the last pic of the Peak District; it is a fantastic part of the country and rates very highly in our 'Plan B of the UK experience' (when we decide to live on land - to experience living in a UK small town/village!)

 

I was fascinated by this bit of farm machinery - it cut the grass, rolled it into a bale, spat it out onto the next trailer where it was spun around and wrapped in plastic!

Finally jettisoned off the back!

I could do that!! 

Meanwhile a flock, herd, murder, gaggle of geese tried to stop us!

 After threatening to feed them some of Elaine's home made cake they moved over and let us through ...

Approaching Bollington with the White Nancy monument perched on top of the hill ...

 

Finally, we are moored up back in Macclesfield after motoring for over 7 hours!! (20 mins by car)

Plans for the weekend are......Friday night, Football - England vs Sweden - with Trev and Burt (El's dad) - at his place.

On Saturday Elaine's sister and hubby arrive so we are going to Sutton Hall for dinner with El's dad, brother, sister and hubby.  (Burt, Trev, Julie and Paul).

Sunday out for lunch/dinner with El's old school friend, Jane and hubby, Andy.

Monday morning we finally leave Macclesfield and head for........The Caldon Canal....don't ask!