Go to Allan's Page | Part 1: To Gloucester and Llangollen | Canals Home Page | Part 3: To Northampton for a Festival | Go to Deb's Page |
There were glorious sunsets throughout the summer
As we continued northwards along the Macclesfield Canal, we picked up a call for assistance through Facebook. An old winding hole had recently been made available to the public again, and help was needed from a full-length boat (or nearly so) to check if it was now usable or not. Accompanied by the lady who had led the campaign for its restoration, we just managed to wind once in each direction; however we all agreed that if our boat had been those three extra feet long or had been any less manoeuvrable, or if it had been a windy day, or if I had not been highly experienced, then we would not have made it round.
We just managed to wind at Bollington but it was extremely tight |
After visiting Manchester we went down to the River Weaver (the lift was being unreliable so our return to the canal was somewhat delayed) and then back to climb 'Heartbreak Hill' on the hottest day of the summer. We started at 6am to avoid the heat, and took an afternoon break for a barbeque in the shade of some trees before continuing to climb the rest of the lock-flight; at least we were rewarded with another magnificent sunset when we reached Kidsgrove.
We ventured up the Chesterfield Canal as far as Retford. After a superb evening at the Retford and Worksop Boat Club we had planned to travel further up the canal, but the canal was blocked by a fallen tree so we reversed back to the pub for the night instead. Full marks again to CRT who arranged for the tree to be cleared away that same afternoon, even though it was a Sunday.
The Chesterfield Canal was blocked by a fallen tree near Retford |
The beautiful sunsets continued |
We spent some time on the Fossdyke and Witham, travelling back and forth and stopping for a wonderful evening at the 'Witham and Blues' New York style diner near Boston (and ironically even nearer to the village of New York). On our previous visit it had been just a quiet pub but now it was a busy and very successful restaurant.
On our way back down south we travelled up the Ashby Canal so that we could try out the newly reopened few hundred yards at the end. The Ashby Canal Association have done an excellent job and we look forward to boating along more of the canal in the future,
We were joined by our daughter Vicki and our grand-daughter Lauren, for a trip down the river Nene to Peterborough.
The village of Wadenhoe is utterly delightful ... |
The mediaeval dovecote is in superb condition, and is particularly impressive inside |
After our trip down the Nene we returned to Northampton to spend the Bank Holiday weekend at the IWA festival in Beckett's Park
Go to Allan's Page | Part 1: To Gloucester and Llangollen | Canals Home Page | Part 3: To Northampton for a Festival | Go to Deb's Page |
All pictures on this site are © Allan Jones unless otherwise stated