Walk to Mow Cop.

After doing all the morning boat jobs, Keith and I donned our walking boots and coats, gathered together our cameras and then locked up the boat and set off to see Mow Cop up close and personal. We have seen it from the canal and wanted to see it properly.

From the boat we would need to walk 1.43 miles from where Hadar is moored to Mow Cop, so we walked back along the towpath to bridge 86 and then got on to the footpath which took us up over the bridge and past the farm. At the road we turned right and followed the footpath to the railway crossing.

We crossed over the railway and then the climb began up the hill.

We walked up past the Globe Inn which is closed and has been for sometime by the looks of it.

We got our first of many views of Mow Cop on our way up. The steepness of the hill was certainly working my calf muscles hard.

We passed a field of goats and these three kids, they were very interested in us.

Oooppss wrong end.

No this is how you do it.

Before making the final climb, we walked up past The Cheshire View and oh boy what a view.

After a quick breather it was onward up the very steep part of the climb. Now I know why you are better off walking up to Mow Cop from bridge 85, which is apparently a more gentle climb.

There it was in all its glory Mow Cop, Keith was already on his way, he is in the purple jacket. Phew me made it and still in one piece even though my heart was beating like a good un. Who needs to go to a gym?

It really is stunning and with the weather closing in, it looked even more impressive with the dark clouds behind it.

When the sun came out the views across the Chiltern Valley were breath taking.

Mow Cop Quarry, where the millstone grit was quarried for many years, it was first used to make querns (hand mills). Eventually the quarrying stopped and in June 1937, the deeds for the castle and surrounding lands were handed over to the National Trust.

Having sat down and enjoyed the views over a drink and biscuits, we strolled down off the castle.

Some model buildings in a front garden.

First Bluebells.

Ramsdell Hall entrance gates.

Back to Hadar after an invigorating walk.

Moored for the weekend.

Travelled 9.65 miles, worked 12 locks  in 5 hours 15 minutes.

Last night Keith and I went out with Ann-Marie and Brian off of Historic Working Boat Alton. They took us to The Wharf Inn in Macclesfield for a couple of pints. We could have gone to the Fools Nook but it has been closed since October. Anyway we had a wonderful evening chatting over a couple of pints. It was wonderful to catch up with them and all their news. It was gone 11pm by the time we got back to the boat and so we just went straight to bed.

We woke up this morning to the sound of the birds singing and the sun trying to shine. Marmite must have been cold over night because she slept at the bottom of the bed between my feet and then once we were awake, she crept in beneath the duvet.

We left our over night mooring at 9.05am, I walked to the swing bridge and got it working whilst Keith moved the boat.

I do so love swing bridges which are key operated, they make life so easy.

We passed by Ann-Marie busy loading the boat with coal, Brian came out and wished us well as we made our way to Braunston. Brian and Ann-Marie will be at Buggy Sunday if any one is there and needs anything.

As we made our way towards Bosley Locks we got our first glimpse of The Cloud, which is 1000ft high. The woods were full of Wood anemone, laying down a vast carpet of white flowers. We have seen no end of Daffodils and For-get-me-not’s but not may Tulips.

We got to the top lock at Bosley at 9.50am and there was no lock keeper on, so we just carried on regardless.

As you ascend or descend Bosley Locks you can see The Cloud from all different angles. No matter which angle you look at it, you see something wonderful every time, especially if the sun is shining on it. I would never get bored with that view everyday.

We made it to the bottom in 2 hours which was good going as all but four locks were against us. We met four boats coming up at the bottom which was helpful. Having left the locks behind I made us some much needed lunch and a coffee which I was gagging for.

Onward into Congleton and beyond. We had thought of stopped at Hall Green with a view to doing Harecastle Tunnel in the morning and onward to Stone, then Keith suggested we stop in the countryside as it is a Bank Holiday Weekend, so we stopped not far from Ramsdell Hall at Bridge 86 on ringed moorings at the Ramsdell Hall Railings and yes yes yes we managed to get into the bank.

The plaque reads:-

The railings
restored

2008/2009

Age takes its toll on us all - and
the Ramsdell Hall railings were
no exception. Over nearly two
centuries, some sections had
become badly damaged.

Thankfully, in 2008, Macclesfield
Canal Society, Congleton Borough
Council and British Waterways
managed to raise funds and
work together to restore the
railings and the stonework
to their former glory.

The mooring over looks the Cheshire Plain, Jodrell Bank and the Welsh Hills. We can also see Mow Cop from the boat if I stretch. Out in the field alongside the boat are mums with their new calves, so I dare say I will be taking photos of them over the weekend.

Dinner is cooking in the back cabin stove, Paddy is in his bed and Marmite is lying on the side bed in the back cabin where it is nice and warm.

On the move again.

Travelled 20.7 miles, worked 2 swing bridges, and 2 lift bridges in a time of 8 hours and 25 minutes.

We left Buggy at 8.45am with the sun shining after a very heavy over night frost. We took on water, emptied the cassette and got rid of rubbish. It was then onward to the junction and back on to the Peak Forest Canal.

First swing bridge of the day just after Furness Vale.

Swizzler Matlow sweet factory, which always brings back memories of childhood sweets such as Love Hearts. The smell was wonderful.

A sad sight seeing this boat burnt out and listing. It is sat on the bottom and full of water. There is also another one further along which has been ransacked by the looks of it.

Marple Junction. The boat moored up was not in the best place, but we made it round him without scratching his paintwork.

Just before Goyt Mill I took over the steering for a while.

Near Whitley Green we passed NB Moor2Life and NB Seyella. Ann gave us a wave as we passed by.

Bollington Mill.

Canal Community Radio station in the mill.

Passed Chris and Sarah on NB Eagle, they moor at Stone.

It was a wonderful day for cruising, in fact any day is good for cruising, but it is made all the more better when the sun is shining.

Broadhurst Swing Bridge has been left open yayyyy thanks to Brian on NB Alton getting on the case with the C&RT. So no bad back for me today.

Our cruising day ended  near Royal Oak Swingbridge, south of Macclesfield. It has been a long day but a happy day.

Last day at Buggy.

We woke up to a very chilly start to the day and so I got up and lit the back cabin stove to get some warm into the cabin whilst we drank out first cup of tea of the day. The sun was shining brightly which meant the solar panel was soaking up the rays. It is lovely not to have to run the generator now that the sun is providing our power for free.

After breakfast we shut the boat up and walked into Whaley Bridge to have a look around the shops and in particular the antique shops.

One of the shops we went into was Finders Keepers, who do house clearances and we found a wonderful little Oak occasional table for the saloon.

I am pretty sure it is an apprentices piece, because it is small.

Its size makes it just right for the saloon and we only paid £17.50 for it, which is a real find. I am going to rub it down and give it a coat of varnish and it will be as good as new.

Found this little piggy outside the bike shop.

Having done everything we wanted to do we wandered back towards the canal and the Canal and River Trust had set up for the day to encourage people to join the trust. They had perfect weather for encouraging the general public to come and join in with our wonderful system and having spoken to the ladies manning the tent, they are making progress with getting people to sign up. We wished them well and then came across Mike and Kit on their boat, so stood nattering on the towpath for what must have been a most enjoyable hour. Such a lovely couple and we sincerely hope we meet up with them again.

Back at the boat and Keith suggested we have lunch in the Navigation Inn, that will be twice in two days, but hey I was not complaining, it meant I did not have to cook dinner. We both had the pie of the day which was Minted Lamb and it was scrummy. It was washed down with a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord. Back on the boat, we decided to wind the boat ready for the mornings off, after that there was little to be done as we did most of it yesterday, so we just enjoyed the sunshine until it was time for Mr Tesco to arrived between 4 and 5 pm, he turned up at 4.10 pm and found us easily, not by sat nav but by using a proper map, he does not like sat navs. The cupboard, fridge and freezer are nicely full again and we are all set for the off tomorrow.