Canals@rigdenage

Maximus June 9-23rd 2002 Part Two

Marple Junction - Whaley bridge - Wheaton Aston

Part one covered our trip to Leek and Marple Junction.

Sunday 16th June Marple Junction to Whaley bridge and back to Four Lane End (Br 18)

17 miles, 0 locks 7 1/2 hrs

The Peak Forest canal passes through some stunning scenery as it winds its shallow way along the side of a hill. The weather improved and we trundled along in bright sunshine, I even considered taking my fleecy off. There is a lift bridge right on a blind bend that should be approached with caution. We ran aground once, some feet from the bank, and it took quite a bit of poling to get us off. It took 3 hours to do the 6 1/2 miles. The last mile or so of the canal is pretty much solid with linear moorings so progress was slow. When we finally got to our destination we were very pleased to get the first mooring by the basin.

Whaley Bridge is a quiet little town that seems to consist of several pubs and a few shops. We were surprised to find a large well stocked bike shop. There seemed to be some sort of cycling event going on as there were hordes of cyclists passing through. Chris and Kate bought some supplies at the Co-op while Tim & I looked at the bikes. We had a rather uninspiring lunch at a little tea room, and stopped at a outdoor equipment store where Chris bought yet another rucksack. After that there seemed to be no real reason to stay so we headed back to the boat, filled the water tank at the sanitary station and set off back the way we had come. The return trip seemed to take much less time than outward but it was an illusion. The scenery was just as spectacular and I had more time to appreciate it as I had a respite from the tiller when Chris took over for a while

Chris handled the turn at Marple junction with her usual aplomb while I took pictures of the lock flight and the junction bridge. There was quite a bit of traffic coming up the flight assisted by a BW lock keeper. As the afternoon wore on the weather deteriorated and it got rather cold and windy with a few showers, so the fleecy went back on and I redeployed the tonneau.
Our goal was the Miners Arms at Four lane End by Bridge 18 which has a good write up in our Nicholson's guide but when we got there it was packed, hot and uncomfortable. We had to wait over an hour for a rather ordinary pub meal served by staff that obviously couldn't care less. This place is not on my return list. I think being fathers day didn't help.

Monday 17th June Four Lane End (Br 18) to Br 85

18 1/2 miles, 12 locks, 7 1/2 hrs.

After our usual 8 ish start we made good time into Macclesfield where we made a brief stop at the boatyard for Tim to make some arrangements for his car.

I don't usually moan about people passing moored boats a bit quick but there are limits. We were moored having lunch in a group of 3 boats by Br 52 when we heard the blatt of an engine and the whoosh of white water. I looked up to see an Anderson hire boat bearing down on us at high speed with a huge breaking wash from bow and stern. By the time I had leapt to the door they we past. My imprecations were drowned in the roar of the exhaust, all we could do was hang on as the wake hit.

Our second run through the Bosley flight took almost 2 hrs even though we had a larger crew. The wind was blowing the top gates about and they just wouldn't stay put. We ended up cracking the bottom paddles to try and hold them closed. NOT my favourite flight, life would be so much easier with conventional top gates. We stopped for tea just south of Br 72 near the Congleton aqueduct but decided to move on when the weather settled down for the evening. That's when we met Phil Rushton near his boat Why Worry so we stopped for a chat. We moored just south of Br 85 for the night as dusk fell. Next morning we discovered there were better moorings a short distance further south near Br 86.

Tuesday 18th Br 85 to Wheelock

9 1/2 miles, 27 locks 7 1/2 hrs

What a day! Down heartbreak hill in one fell swoop half of it with just the two of us. It stayed dry but the strong and gusty wind made boat handling hard work with so many locks. We had a gentle start with just the stop lock at Hall Green then the real work started. Many of the twinned locks (left) were closed or missing which made things tricky in the wind especially when there wasn't a usable landing near the locks. Never the less, progress down the Red bull flight was pretty rapid until we caught up a guy single handing. I respect folks who want to do that but this chap refused all help and did things in his own good time. Then we met another solo boater coming up. He had parked his (very short) boat in the V of the lower gates and was busy with something aboard. I arrived from the other direction on foot and took a quick look over the gates and failed to see him. He was most put out when I filled the lock right in front of him. But he accepted both my apologies and assistance so I think he gained on the deal.

We got to the Broughton Arms at lunchtime where we had a nice meal sat outside in the garden watching a psychotic swan attacking its own reflection on a boat. After lunch Tim & Kate got a taxi back to their car in Macclesfield and we were on our own for the rest of the trip. Just after we set off we passed Ivor Batchelor on Mountbatten towing a butty with some new lock gates. We exchanged pleasantries as we passed and I noticed he was adverting diesel at 28 p/ litre but reckoned that wasn't the time to fill up. We also passed 3 men in a wooden rowing skiff looking like they were making a film version of 3 men in a boat. By the time we reached Wheelock we were pretty tired so we pulled in at the first available mooring. We decided to go to the chippy that evening. The portions were generous but once we got back to the boat we realised that we had all the bits out of the chip pan there was hardly a whole chip in either portion, even the ducks refused them.

Wednesday 19th Wheelock to Venetian lock

14 miles, 9 locks, 7 hrs

We needed water but found a hire boat from Alvechurch moored right at the water point so we breasted up and ran the hose over their stern. While that was going on we got chatting to the occupants. After that we had a good run into Middlewich only interrupted by picking up a bladefull of red plastic. Someone in a passing boat yelled "Captain Beeky told us to say Hi". There weren't many mooring places to be had in Middlewich I guess people were still hanging about after the festival so we pressed on.

Once again Chris did the junction turn while I took photos and did the locks. We ascended the Wardle lock without comment from the lady in the lockside cottage so I presume we got it right. We phoned Venetian marina to see what time they closed and were told 6 pm. Thinking we had plenty of time we stopped for a leisurely lunch and arrived just after 5 to find everything but the gift shop closed. The canals had been quiet all the way so we were surprised to find a queue of 4 boats waiting to come down the lock and one going our way. This was by far the most traffic we saw all trip.

Thursday 20th Venetian lock to Audlem top lock

12 1/2 miles, 17 locks, 6 1/4 hrs

The plan had been to stop at the bottom of the Audlem flight but things didn't work out that way. After a late start (8:20) we headed for the Nantwich canal centre to get a pumpout and look at 2nd hand boats. While we were passing through the moorings at Barbridge it became apparent that the helmsman of an oncoming boat wasn't awake. A quick toot resulted in a very startled head appearing and control was restored. The pumpout (£10) and diesel (30p/ltr) at Nantwich are situated right at the end of the arm. Whilst we were there we noted that there is now a laundrette on site. We found that there were no second hand boats of interest there but the guy at the brokerage was most helpful and informative. Rather than turn in the crowded basin and make another turn at the exit I decided to back out, which was accomplished without fuss.

When we got to Audlem Chris went ahead to see if there were any moorings by the Shroppie Fly. When she phoned me with the all clear I made a start up the flight solo. I was looking forward to doing my first lock single handed and had worked out a plan. But as I entered the lock a kindly gent offered assistance which I gladly accepted. As I was driving out of the lock Chris arrived, followed shortly afterwards by my parents Joyce and Brian who had come to join us for the evening. With their help we made rapid progress to between locks 4 & 5, where we moored while Chris and the others went for some retail therapy at the gift shop.

I stayed aboard to prepare dinner and was soon joined a very aggressive swan who was determined to be fed. He didn't want to take no for an answer and ended up with his head through the galley window trying to grab the carrot I was peeling. Now swans swimming about outside is very atmospheric but I'm less impressed when they try and come in through the window. But it made for an excellent photo opportunity.

The trouble with mooring in lock flight is that the water level changes. There is an underwater ledge most of the way along the Shroppie and we were half on that so every time someone went down the lock behind us the boat did a fair impression of the Conservative party (with a violent lurch to the right). After dinner, knowing rain was expected the next day, we decided to move up to the top of the flight and perhaps get a stable mooring. We started off with help from Joyce and Brian but finished off the last 6 or so by ourselves, arriving at the top as dusk fell.

Friday 21st Audlem top lock to Goldstone Wharf.

8 Miles, 10 locks, 4 hr 20 mins

We woke to the sound of rain so we were in no hurry to get up, we were well ahead of schedule so we decided to take it easy. Once we did get going we noticed that the oncoming boats had their English flags furled, there was no need to ask why [for overseas readers, this was after the World Cup soccer game England vs Brazil]. We stopped at Market Drayton to have a look round, bought some goodies from the bakers and then stopped off at Woodies Canalside Emporium & tea rooms by bridge 62. Quite a nice place with a model train trundling round the room up on a shelf. We also had a look round a second hand boat but it didn't take our fancy. On the Shebdon embankment I saw an oncoming boat in the distance, first the port side, then starboard as it zig-zagged all over the cut. I throttled back and tried to judge it so that we would pass when he was in the trees on the other bank. The boat was from Countrywide Cruisers at Brewood so he should have had a few hours experience. As they passed some one on board yelled "you can tell he's learning". I replied "It would be easier if you slowed down" but I don't think he heard over the roar of the full throttle exhaust.

As tea time drew nigh we approached Goldstone wharf and were amazed to find it packed out with boats. On enquiring the reason we were told that there was a vintage engine rally taking place. Suddenly acutely aware of the Shire engine purring softly under my feet I proceeded past the moored assembly making "Kerdoink" noises. As often happens on the Shroppie the ledge prevented us getting the stern within 6' of the bank but as the next boats were breasted up we didn't feel too exposed. This was the first time we have had to use the gang plank on Max. We had a quiet night in as we didn't fancy getting back aboard on the gangplank after the pub.

Saturday 22nd Goldstone Wharf to Wheaton Aston

15 miles 0 locks 5 1/2 hrs

After making the long trek ashore Chris cast us off and decided to reboard at the nearby bridge. We had a pleasant and uneventful run to Gnosall which we reached at lunchtime. As we left the town oncoming boaters told us that we were heading for a big fishing match spread over a couple miles. And so it was - an interminable line of hunched figures. One or two were civil, especially the guy who caught one just by our bows. It did make for slow progress though. We reached Wheaton Aston just after 3 and were amazed to find Turners shut (apparently he had something special to do)

We proceeded to the winding hole where I made a complete mess of the turn, going too late and misjudging the wind. Once I realised it wasn't going to work I reversed to have another go. This meant we drifted quite close to the boats moored opposite the winding hole. As we crept backwards ready to hand off the moored boats a couple on one started to go on "mind our paint, we only just had it done" etc. I though a far better way of protecting their precious paint was to refrain from mooring in winding holes and to assist rather than whinge. Anyway on the second attempt I managed to get round without drama and back the boat to the water point where we filled up and washed the boat down. Once that was done we had to back the boat past an abandoned Tupperware cruiser that looked like it had been there for months. Then we set to in the usual last night cleanup and pack before nipping over to the Hartley Arms for a meal. The place was very busy but still served us a very nice meal promptly - quite a contrast to the pubs we endured further north.

Sunday 24th Wheaton Aston

We had a lazy get up and did the final packing and cleaning , then moved up to the DIY pumpout which went very smoothly. The main excitement of the day was provided by a dog that attempted and failed to jump on a boat passing through the bridge. It ended up in the water between the boat and bridge, somehow it escaped unscathed and promptly did it again.

Our friends and co-owners Arthur and Christine arrived to take over from us just before lunch. Once the the car-and-luggage shuffle was accomplished pulled up to Turners to fill with diesel (20.5 p/ltr). Then we all settled down to an excellent lunch prepared by Christine. It was very pleasant chatting with folks in the warm sunshine much more civilised then the usual mad dash at the boatyard. But all too soon we reluctantly got in the car and headed home.

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