Watching the goslings hatch

 

Our alarms were set for another bright & early start, so the other two boats & us that had moored well after sunset, could get up the last two locks on the Ashton Canal flight. Our lock buddy from the previous day was on a serious journey & wanted to ascend Marple flight of 16 locks that day!! Our mission for that day, however, was to get water & find a nice mooring spot for a few days.

After spending 18 months on wide canals, these little bridge holes seem so very tiny.

We found the perfect spot just before the narrows leading to Marple aqueduct, with a view of the trains on the line to from Manchester to Sheffield. And perfect to pick up the solar rays too.

The towpath was quite quiet, apart from a large sponsored walk one day!!

The field up to the railway had sheep & lambs that bleated sweetly. In addition, there were several families of geese, whose voices were less sweet in the wee hours!! Nonetheless, it was wonderful to watch a Canada goose on her nest, right opposite the galley porthole. She’d sat very still, until one day it was quite noticeable something was occurring in her nest, as she kept standing & pecking around. The following day the gosling were peeking out.

And the day after that, 6 little yellow fluff balls hopped in for a short swim.

A few days later I thought our gorgeous little ones were going to join the huge flock. But I think the large group had just come to meet the new arrivals. The big group wandered back up the field & our little family returned to their nest.

A few years a go there was a concern someone, ‘could’, fall from the off-side of Marple aqueduct and a fence should be put up. The issue was reported in the canal press and all sorts of hoops had to be jumped through as the aqueduct is a listed structure. The new fence certainly doesn’t detract from the beauty of the view beyond.

It really didn’t seem like a decade ago we were in the Marple area. There are so many beautiful walks to explore. This little ornate bridge over the River Goyt, called Roman bridge, was a new discovery.

 

The railway viaduct over the river is so impressive. 

 

We really enjoyed staying in such a beautiful spot and on the gloomy days we crafted. John wove a throw.

 

And I knocked up a couple of gnomes as gifts

At peak times we tend to moor up at weekends as they are usually busy days. But, how could we decline a visit from our super crew, to help us up the 16 locks at Marple. They travelled over from Chorley on the train. Marple station has a blue plaque.

One crew member certainly wasn’t going to take part in all the 

day’s activities, as we cruised down the narrows approaching 

the aqueduct and onwards.

 

The day was fine, and the crew enjoyed the new experience of narrow locks and a horse tunnel. 

 

It was a smooth run until lock 14. The off side tail gate wouldn’t close properly. So, with the boat in the lock John gave a big blast on the throttle, to see if the wash from the propeller could blow an underwater obstacle out of the way. Indeed, an orange Loch Ness monster type shape appeared & quickly sank again, but the gates still wouldn’t close. He managed to hoick out the obstruction with the boat hook – a large piece of temporary fencing that had been around a lock repair. 

Once up in the lock, John & Lance popped the fencing back on a pile with the others, obviously waiting collection after the lock side repairs. We just hope no one throws any more into the lock.