Marple to Fourlane Ends.

Travelled 4.7 miles in a time of 1 hour 55 minutes.

Left our mooring in Marple at 9.05am after a quiet evening.

Passed Goyt Mill.

Best garden shed on the cut, it is an old pill box.

Beautiful views.

Beautiful old tractors.

At Brownhills Bridge No 15, High Poynton, we heard the sound of a horn and were unsure as to whether it was a car going over the road bridge or a boat, but as we were in tickover passed the moored boats, we were prepared for anything and that was just as well, because coming through the bridge 'ole was Tina and Colin on NB Go For It. There is no better place to meet friends than in a bridge 'ole. It was lovely to see them again, we had the briefest of chats, as they were heading for their mooring for 4 weeks and we were looking to moor up at High Poynton, Colin told us there was possibly one mooring we could get into, so we thank him for the info and wished them well as we both went on our way.

Blue top Anne was moored up at High Poynton, but no sign of Stuart. Unfortunately we could not moor up, so we carried on to Fourlanes End, where we pulled in on the 24 hour moorings, Keith then walked to the other side of bridge 18 Grimshaws Bridge to see if there was any room on the 48 hour moorings and low and behold it was empty, so we moved from the 24 hour to the 48 hour moorings, as we want to walk to the Anson Museum to find out some information on our engine and we are hoping they can help.

All moored up, I could not pull the bow in as it is up against something, but the stern is in and that's important for Paddy. We are staying a couple of days, so I will keep you posted on what we get up too.

Since 2008, we have travelled on Hadar 4351.3 miles, worked 2708 locks and cruised for 2184 hours and 25 minutes.

New Mills to Marple.

Travelled 3.46 miles, worked 1 swing bridge and 3 lift bridges in a time of 1 hour 45 minutes.

I was awake again on and off throughout the night, partly due to the heat and partly due to the Menopause, which makes my night sweats annoying when it is warm. I did leave the slide open a little, but I was still far to hot to sleep. Anyway having had little sleep, I was wide awake and up just after 7.30 am. I opened the back cabin doors and the sun was lovely and warm, so shorts and strappy t-shirt were called for again. It is fantastic to think Summer has finally arrived, even though it may only be for a few days.

8.40am we left our over night mooring and headed off into the wide blue yonder, ok it was not wide as the Peak Forest Canal is narrow in places and shallow, but it was definitely blue, there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

No sooner we left our mooring, we picked up a new friend.

This Heron followed us all the way from New Mills to Turflea Lift Bridge.

I reckon we were one of the first boats on the move and so stirred up the water, making the fish move, because it did catch a fish after we went past it.

The views across the valley were truly stunning. We had a fantastic view of the Pennines. Whilst on the move I made us a coffee.

10.15am we arrived at Marple Junction and turned left.

Beyond the bridge Former wharfinger's house.

When ever we have been through Marple before there has never been anywhere to moor, but today because we had no plans to stop there was space for a couple of boats, so the decision was taken to stop.

Both Keith and I wanted to have a look around Marple. So we pulled in to the 48 hour moorings and were pleasantly surprised to see we could actually get into the bank.

We locked the boat up and walked down into Marple town centre.

It is a lovely little town with all facilities and plenty of cafes for a coffee or two.

It also has an old fashioned cinema. The Regent Cinema is a proper old fashioned theatre-style cinema with one screen. They still do an intermission half way through, with ice creams sold. Since 1932 Marple has had a cinema in this building, it was designed in 1878 as a place of worship/refuge. The building was purchased in 1932 by "The Marple Cinema Company" and became The Regent Cinema. There are not many like this anymore. Like with most towns Marple has a few charity shops and I bought a lovely strappy top for £2.99, maybe I will get to wear it now the weather has changed.

On our walk back to the boat, we were just about to cross a road when a Badger came running along the pavement in our direction, but as Keith got his camera out, it scuttled off in the opposite direction. This is the first live wild, Badger we have seen, usually we see them floating in the canal. I wish i had my other camera with me now, I would have got some great shots grrrrrr. I have to say we both got quite excited on seeing the Badger and just a little surprised to see it out midday and in a town.

On the way back to the boat we spotted NB Patience moored up, so walked over the bridge to go and say "Good morning" to Elaine and David. Having had a quick chat to them, we were then back on board our boat and I was making something for lunch and cooking a quiche for dinner. Cooking it early means the boat has more time to cool down, although we are under trees and it is very pleasant.

Nothing else planned for the day, but I will get a few cleaning jobs done no doubt.

Bugsworth Basin to New Mills.

Travelled 2.9 miles, worked 1 swing bridge in a time of 1 hour 45 minutes.

We left our mooring in Bugsworth Basin at 9am, said "Cheerio" to David and Elaine on NB Patience, who we will see again along the way.

We stopped off at the sanitary station, to get  rid of rubbish, empty cassette and fill up the water tank, our hose has sprung another leak, so we will need to replace it at some point, as we keep chopping off the leaky bits.

At 9.30am we left the sanitary station and headed for the junction where we turned left at 9.40am in brilliant sunshine.

Just before reaching the junction, there are some moorings on the offside, where a plastic cruiser is in danger of sinking, the only thing stopping it is the fact that it is tied to rings with bits of blue string, but once they go, the boat will go under, so we have photographed it and sent the photographs to the Canal and River Trust. I did also note that the boat is not licenced.

It was an absolute pleasure to cruise in the sunshine. We made it through Carr swing bridge.

In no time at all we were at New Mills and passing the Swizzels Matlow sweet factory. We moored up just after the factory in a shady place.

At 11.15am, I had made us a packed lunch and we set off to walk to the Torrs Riverside Park.

The views were stunning.

The walk is around 2 miles long, and follows the River Goyt and River Sett.

The standing Sundial just down the footpath into the park from the towpath.

The park meanders under the town and the locals call it 'The Park Under The Town', which is very apt.

We walked past Goyt Valley Farm where you can pick your own manure. I have head of pick your own fruit and veg, but never manure.

The River Goyt, looked spendid in the sunshine and showed off some vibrant colours.

We continued walking and found ourselves walking along the old mill leat.

The last time we were here, it was raining. BLOG

We walked part way up the Sett trail and decided to turn around and walk back to the park, where we sat down beneath the rock climbing wall for lunch.

After lunch we paid the Torr Vale Mill another visit.

It is so sad to see it in such a state. The former cotton mill dating back to 1780 and closed in 2000. There does appear to be work going on at the mill, so I am ever hopeful that it will be bought back to its former glory.

The Millenium walkway takes you around one side of mill over the River Goyt. We followed the bridge round and up to the railway station, we then walked up a steep hill into the town.

The town is a sleepy little town, with lots of shops which will cater for your every need. Having wandered around the town we began heading back to the boat.

The main road crosses the River Goyt where there is a fantastic view of the turbine.

Spot the mistake.

Back on the boat, I opened up the doors to allow some fresh air in, Marmite went on her harness and lead and Paddy immediately jumped out on to the back counter. Just as I was opening up the galley doors, I could hear a right old commotion going on. It was Marmite, she had fallen into the canal, and was trying to climb out on to the bank. Keith grabbed her harness and put her on the back counter where I dried her off with a towel. As I type she is still a soggy moggy, but slowly drying out. That is the third time in 5 years she has fallen in and the second time this year. Will she ever learn?

Keith is taking a nap and I have hand washing to do, so I am off to get a few jobs done.

Sunday at Bugsworth.

Can it be true?

What do you think, has Summer finally arrived?

View from Galley Window

I woke up to sunshine, so I guess we have at least a second day of Summer if we are lucky, although on saying that early hours it was raining. So with the sun out and a cup of tea enjoyed in bed, we were up. I took Paddy for his morning constitutional and Keith got on with cooking us breakfast. Grilled sausages and bacon, with poached eggs on toast, Keith had black pudding and I had mushrooms, I am not a lover of black pudding. As always it was scrummy and went down a treat. Whilst having my first coffee of the day, as I am only allowed one cup of tea a day, I sat down and wrote a few e-mails and of course got up to date with Facebook.

11am it was time to go food shopping at Tesco, I could put it off no longer and with Keith up and shutting the boat up, that was the hint to get going. Rucksacks on our backs we walked to Tesco, which I suppose is a half mile walk, maybe a little more, but it is not to taxing as it is on the flat.

Plenty of boats in.

I did not need much in the way of food, just the usual bread, milk and some salad bits in case the weather should stay hot. Having paid for the shopping and carefully stowed it away in our rucksacks we were off back to the boat. Before putting the shopping away, all the doors were opened as the heat was beginning to build.

With lunch done and dusted and no energy to do much else, I went off with my camera to see what and who was out there.

Upper Basin Full.

Middle Basin filling up.

With no F1 on TV for us and neither of us wants to sit out in the sun, we are sat in the boat which is really quite cool. Paddy is flopped out on the galley floor trying to cool off and Marmite is laying in the back cabin, even she is not sitting outside. It is so nice to have the sunshine and some warmth, but neither Keith or I want to burn, so we will do it gradually. Not only that if I got my legs out, I would blind everyone with their whiteness ;0).

Update:

As the afternoon wore on Ann Marie on Alton arrived to fuel everyone up and pump out those who required it.

Brian was off operating the trip boat, so Keith offered to give Ann Marie a hand as she was going to be very busy, with the basins full.

As the afternoon wore into the early evening, I ran the generator to charge the batteries and then took Paddy for his walk, because was still helping on Alton. It was gone 6.30pm before Ann Marie was done and this was when Brian arrived back. Keith enjoyed his time helping out, but he was no longer required, so we said our "goodbyes" to them both and walked back to the boat.

Because I really could not face cooking, we went to the pub for dinner and a pint, which was excellent as always. We got to watch the pubs TV, where we found out that Bradley Wiggins had won the Tour de France, which was a certainty barring an accident and thankfully that accident did not happen. Congratulations to Bradley Wiggins on a incredible feat. Back on our boat we watched a bit of TV and then headed off to bed in a very warm back cabin. It was so warm we left the slide open a little.