Poynton

Today's canals: Peak Forest and Maclesfield

 

Another pleasant day with some sunshine but more often cloudy. At times it threatened rain but missed us - when we stopped at Poynton they told us that they had just had a heavy shower but fortunately it missed us by a mile (or so!) A better day than forecast.

We set off at our usual time and left Bugsworth Basin - more photos to show further detail. At the entrance to the complex stands the Wharfinger's House alongside the gauging narrows. At this point boats would be measured to determine how much cargo they were carrying and what toll would be levied.

We continued back along the route we came yesterday, passing through Whaley Bridge Junction but not going the arm again! We spotted this tree growing out from the off side of the canal - how did it get that shape?

The scenery through which this canal was constructed is very varied - at times wooded glades and at other times views over the Goyt valley and to the Peak District beyond.

A couple of butterflies took a short rest on our boat roof.

Around the edge of a winding hole the Triffids had arrived . . .

Clouds gathered over the sweet factory.

There seemed to be many more herons alongside the canal today, but perhaps we just noticed them. It gave us thought to wonder why we never see any heronries? Where do they breed?

We arrived back at Marple Junction where we turned left onto the Macclesfield Canal, leaving the flight of locks ahead. At the service stop we called in and whilst Mike filled and emptied, Christine walked back to the town centre where we went yesterday. As well as picking up a paper she wanted to re-visit the bakery shop where we bought a pork pie yesterday. She bought a delicious loaf of brown sourdough as well as a couple of sweet pastries for later on. When she returned Mike had just finished and we moved the boat across to the opposite bank where a boat was just leaving so that we could fit in. After all, it was time for lunch.

The large Goyt Mill building looms over the canal but only some of it seems to have found a use, including a children's play centre.

Just before Bridge 9 we found an elderly boat across the canal, leaving little room to pass. It was still held by a bow rope but the stern was free. We managed to attach a rope and to pull it to shore. However, it would not come close to the bank and the stern rope seemed to be attchaed to a heavy weight. A passing local came to help and eventually we discovered what was on the end of the rope: it had been tied to a very rusty bar at the top of the bank piling and the force of passing boats had pulled it away and broken off from the rest of the bar, still in place. Let's hope someone comes back soon to fix it properly.

A little further we passed a burnt out boat - the local who had helped us had said that it was very recent and believed to be the work of a group of youngsters. Very sad in so many ways, not least that it was called So-So-Happy.

We stopped at Lord Vernon's Wharf to fill up with diesel and also treated ourselves to farmhouse ice creams. The short arm, used by Braidbar Boats - well known and established boat builders - originally served a mine. Subsidence from its extraction caused problems with the canal just south of here which is now much wider for a short distance. Unfortunately we only read about the history later on so no photos to show!

The remainder of today's cruise runs through rural countryside, with no villages close to the canal. We eventually found a place where we could pull in for the night - other sections looked possible but were too shallow.

13.9 miles - 0 locks