Canalling

'Not strictly an MFC event but a lot of us went canalling in May;

The Cheshire Ring Cruise

2007

Saturday May 5th to Saturday 12th May

Our voyage;

The Cheshire Ring.

            Itinerary: A mix of environs this year, heading north from Middlewich (look out for the Cuckoos!) on the Trent and Mersey and past the Anderton Boatlift, through the Preston Brook Tunnel where we join the Bridgewater Canal and on to the birthplace of the canals, Worsley, where the Duke of Bridgewater came up with the idea of floating his coal out of his mine in tubs and all the way into Manchester.
            From Worsley we reverse our course down the ‘Duke’s Cut’ and turn in towards Manchester City Centre at the Junction romantically named ‘Waters Meeting’. At Castlefield Junction we go up the 9 Wide Rochdale Locks to join the Ashton Canal and it’s 18 locks, taking us up through Manchester to Dukenfield Junction where we turn onto the Peak Forest Canal and start to emerge back into the countryside again.
            A short day’s run takes us along the Peak Forest and up the picturesque Marple Flight to Marple Junction and on up the pretty Upper Peak Forest to Whaley Bridge (the End of Navigation), a place and a cut we’ve never travelled before.
            The following day we reverse our course down to Marple Junction and turn onto the Macclesfield Canal which take us to Harding’s Wood Junction where we do a motorway-like loop down onto the Trent and Mersey Canal, just north of the Harecastle Tunnel and start to climb down the notorious ‘Heartbreak Hill’ and back to Middlewich and the Anderson Boats Boatyard.

For those who like to dwell on such things, we will be covering approximately 119 miles, passing through 92 locks in a total cruising time of 51 hours and 55 minutes.

(All photographs, courtesy of Malcolm Austen, Bob Hambleton, Malcolm Cox, Tony O'Neill and Others)

NB 'Stavanger Fjord' having swerved to avoid something big on the Bridgewater Canal near Stretford.	Guess Who? Checking something in the engine 'ole.
Tony and Malcolm A enjoying the winding antics of 'Stavanger' at Worsley, along with a slightly bored looking local!	Arriving at Worsley in true regal style, Pat is always smiling!
Well, I suppose it save on tyres! A monocyclist at Worsley.	Moored for lunch with Worsley Old Hall in the background
Colm's going for it in the 'Bridgewater Arms' Worsley, in a lunchtime session.	And I'll have a pint of what Denise is on!
The famous Lighthouse on the Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch.	The Barton Aqueduct Swing Bridge from the NB 'Fjord Ambassador'.
The Barton Aqueduct Swing Bridge from the NB 'Fjord Ambassador'.	Oooh! Look at that! All of 'Stavangers' crew out to admire the view!
'Stavanger' and the Canal dwarfed by the Manchester United Stadium at Old Trafford.	Malcolm Cox winding 'Stavanger' during a downpour before mooring at Castleford Junction, Manchester.
A brief break in the weather at Castleford Junction, Manchester.	The end of the day summed up from 'Stavanger', Castleford Junction, Manchester.
A couple of gongoozlers who expressed an interest in the Boats and got invited aboard 'Stavanger' for a curry. I just hope that their opinion of English curry doesn't put them off England!	Some of the Crews dried out and having a session in a welcoming pub near Castlefield Junction. Pete, foreground with Steve, Pat and Terry in the background.
Before eight the next morning we were stopped waiting for the BWB crew with three trucks and a crane at Dukes Lock where the lower gate had it's upper hinge band broken away.
Five hours later, 'Stavanger' gets away on the Rochdale Canal led by NB 'Madge' whom they met at the bottom of the flight.	Malcolm A on the tiller on the picturesque Marple Flight.
A view over the lock gates back down the Marple Flight.	'Stavanger' follows us up Marple Flight
'Stavanger' on her way up the Marple Flight with Terry on the tiller.	In the 'Ring O' Bells', Marple, lunchtime after the Marple Flight, Tony, Pearl, Malcolm A, Colm and Duncan.
Every trip web page has one photograph of Terry catching up on the events of the day!	Pete, in command and at peace with the world!
Glen, the Wicked Witch of the West Country just having tasted Cap'n Bob's (in)famous curry!
Tiller Girl Myra, in total command!	Old canalling friends, Myra and Terry looking comfortable in each others company.
After Marple Junction we went up the Upper Peak Forest Canal for a look, never having been there before, and it was quite stunning...	You can never really catch a good view in a photograph but we hope that these two images give an idea of how beautiful we found the Upper Peak to be.
Having been unable to moor anywhere near Whaley Bridge because of permanently moored private boats, we went to the fascinating Buxworth Basin instead and found the 'Navigation'. Alan, Terry, Glen, Pat, Malcolm C and Steve looking rather bored!	More in the 'Navigation', Buxworth Basin, Malcolm C, Steve, Myra, Denise and Terry.
From the look of determination on their faces you might guess that the crew of 'Ambassador' are headed for the pub at Wheelock!	Rule No 1 in the hire agreement; take your gnome home with you when you leave the boat!
Entertaining the Admiral, 'Ambassador's' Crew perform their Boat Song. From left to right Malcom A, Pearl, Colm, Pete, Denise, Duncan and Maureen.	'Stavanger's' Crew take their turn with their Boat Song. From left to right Terry, Pat, Malcolm C, Cap'n Bob, Glen, Myra, Alan and Steve.
NB 'Fjord Ambassador' and her Crew, left to right, Colm, Maureen, Tony, Pearl, Pete, Malcolm, Denise and Duncan.	And NB 'Stavanger Fjord' and her Crew, left to right Malcolm, Pat, Myra, Glen, Terry, Steve, Alan and Cap'n Bob.

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