From terry@talwaldron.freeserve.co.uk Sat Aug 28 19:58:44 1999 Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 22:55:08 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report - Cheshire Ring and Caldon - Part 2 (long) [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] Boat: nb Stella Crew: Sue and Terry Waldron Dates: 23 July to 6 August Early to rise and took Clyde for a walk round the basin, After a hearty breakfast we went back down the arm and on to Whaley Bridge. I walked the inclined plane railway while Sue found the laundrette, we had a walk round, more shops and larger than I had expected. On again for a short while, back towards Marple, stopping at Kuranda Marine only to find they are in the process of transferring their business to Whaley Bridge.Weather today extremely hot. A lot of boats met before Marple all obviously wanting to see Bugsworth Basin. As you get onto the Macclesfield the gardens are attractive, and the rural canal much like the Welford Arm, narrow, shallow in places and very attractive. Many areas of the towpath side preclude mooring due to reeds etc.Stopped at Bridge 11, and went for a pint in the Bulls Head, very quiet I was their only customer. We carried on to Macclesfield and due to the reedy towpath side we moored up on concrete outside the hire boat base. We had only been moored about 10 minutes when another boater advised us if the owners came back we would probably be asked to move, we moved across to the towpath side on the visitor moorings and put out a plank. after eating we got the fishing gear out for the first time, after I had set up both my rods and gone inside the boat I came out to find Sue fishing, something she had never done before. After about 10 minutes we started geting bites (we were using sweetcorn as bait as Sue would not have maggots on the boat) to start with the bait was getting taken but then Sue had a good bite and pulled in a 1.5lb roach, very good for her first fish but she would not touch it to take it off the hook. Still very hot until about 2200 when light going and we gave up fishing. Had alie in and set off a bit later than usual. Only went about 1/4 mile and stopped at macclesfield marina for a pump out. The owner of the marina instantly recognised my Cut Web pennant and introduced himself, Ged Layfield. Zephyr in alongside and also Monarch but no signs of life on either. At Bosely top lock we met up with Brett Lanoish, no time for anything other than greetings as we just entering the lock. Quite windy in the top three pounds. We had a good run through the locks, met about 5 boats coming in the opposite direction, Sue out locking today. After the locks the canal is wooded in many places and there are many fine views. In the Congleton area the canalside gardens are well kept as is the grass on the towpath side, the house owners here obviously enjoy having the canal running close by. Breasted up on Why Worry (Phil Rushton) but no one home. Finally moored Kent Green just before the stop lock. Into the village for a couple of pints and replenish cigarettes, the pub was surprisingly full for so early in the evening. Came back to find Sue fishing, no bites yet though. Had dinner then back to fishing, Sue caught another two small roach. Another hot sunny day, but cooler evening. Helped another boat through the stop lock before we went through, sun very hot at the start of the day. Got to Harecastle at 1055 , one boat just going in, called forward by the tunnel keeper. We took down the chimney as we had heard the tunnel was low in places. The tunnel starts with plenty of headroom but after awhile you see white markers where the tunnel profile changes, lower and lower each marker but not as low as I had anticipated. Many places the stalagmites are orange in others the usual snowy white. After 40 minutes in the tunnel it is a relief to be out in the fresh air, the sunshine is blinding after the dark of the tunnel. The Trent and Mersey is much wider and much deeper than the canals we have been on for the past few days. Soon we reach the industrial areas of Stoke, the steelworks to the right with many steel welded sculptures in the grounds and the relics of potteries to the left. Soon we are at the junction. Ahead of us is a boat appearing to be moored in the entrance to the lock, seem strange. We stopped at the Etruria Museum to get an ice cream and notice a boat being bow hauled into a lock - the penny then dropped the boat at the top was a motor for a pair of hotel boats (Conwy & Caernarfon) which we were to see much more of later in our trip. Had to wait at the bottom of the staircase for two boats coming down, two more also waiting at the top. Moored up at Bridge 16 to go shopping in Haley, we should have moored either at bridge 18 or later where there is a Kwik Save. After leaving the industrial Stoke the canal is very winding and through rural area, it is every bit as beautiful as all say. We got to Milton and boats were moored so we moored just after Bridge 18 - This appears to be about the earliest that you can moor in safety on the Caldon. Sue walked into the village for fish and chips and was surprised to find so many shops. Sue got the fishing gear out again and after about an hour caught a small roach - there must be something wrong here, her first time fishing and she has caught 4 fish in 3 evenings and me nothing. An early morning and an early breakfast, walked into the village for shopping - butchers, bakers (no candlestickmakers) two small supermarkets, greengrocers and many other useful shops including a bank with a cash machine. On again and we find the canal is getting more beautiful even though it is narrower. The banks are covered in wild orchids, mostly light purple and white. When we got to Hazelhurst Junction we decided to go towards Leek, this branch is very wooded in places and a pleasant relief from the glaring hot sun to get into some shade. Many wide bends, much wider than you would expect after the narrow areas we have been through.. Many boats moored in the midday heat. We meet Jelicoe, horse drawn, coming in the opposite direction. We get to Leek tunnel and meet a boat coming out, he tells us to wind here as the next tunnel is blocked - this sounds strange as I thought there was only one tunnel. We go through the tunnel as far as the bridge and wind at the winding hole but decide not to walk into Leek. The other boat must have not seen the notice stating you must wind here and he must have gone on further. Back down the branch, over the aqueduct over the Froghall Branch, a good view of the canal below. It requires a 180 degree turn to get into the first lock but there is plenty of room to turn, again as soon as we get in the lock we find a small crowd of walkers interested seeing a boat in a lock - they seem to appear from nowhere. Just after the locks there is a very nice looking pub, the Holly Bush, it looks popular with many people sat outside, maybe we will give it a try on the way back. Again we go through a very pleasant wooded area before we get to Cheddleton. We can see quite a number of boats moored so we moor at the end of the line, but walk up to see if any space closer to the Flint mill, there is no more space other than opposite the winding hole so we stay where we are. --- The UK Waterways Network - http://www.ukwaterways.net/ * bringing the inland waterways community together * You are currently subscribed to canals as: george@adiva.com To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-canals-407N@ukwaterways.net