A little bit of ice

 

We were due to come out of the boatyard on Friday morning but Peter advised against moving out until later in the day to see if another boat came through to brake the ice. It wasn't until about midday that one came and turned in the winding hole which gave us a window to nip out to get some fuel and water then follow the hole in the ice to moorings just down from the boatyard.

When we awoke the next morning Jack Frost had visited and refroze the ice, we were not going anywhere for a couple of days, had a chat with the chap on the fuel boat, he was hoping to come though but decided against it, he had just had his bottom sand blasted and blacked (nope nothing to do with a few pints and a curry!).

Monday the fuel boat finally came through doing a little bit of ice-breaking and the ice was totally gone by Tuesday. The sound of the ice braking is amazing loud, we've been told that it can pierce GRP cruisers.

Today we decided that we would have a little trip out to Marple then on to Bugsworth, didn't go has planned nowhere to moor at Marple so we went on and found a spot just outside Disley. The weather brightened up just after Marple and the sun finally showed it's face and it turn out to be a nice day, even sat at the front and had a cuppa until the sun went down and the temperature dropped like a stone. Now sat in front of a nice warm stove and enjoying another cuppa whilst I type.

Might stay here a couple of days then move onto Bugsworth.

First chilly day.

Yesterday we were in Braidbars dock getting some finishing touches done to Burnt Oak, we have had a problem with the grill as in it lights then 5 mins later it goes out. We have had an engineer call out and change one of the overheat sensors but that didn't work and he didn't like the 200 mile round trip to fit the gas valve, which the help switchboard said was the problem. So they convinced Peter to fit the gas valve, which surprise surprise was not the problem. Now we are waiting for a thermocouple to arrive today so Peter can fit that, that should work as they have changed everything else!

Went down to Poynton yesterday to do some shopping and a couple of pints, it was a nice walk back, chilly and the moon was out so we had a feeling that it was going to be a cold night. We were not surprised to find the canal frozen this morning. Andy at The trading Post did a bit of ice breaking with a stick and the ice was thicker than we thought. We need to be out of the dock today so we can fill up the diesel and water tanks and get some coal and we need to get up to Marple so we can dry the washing, hopefully the ice will not hang around for long. We are happy now the washing machine is fitted and working, now all we are waiting for is the chimneys to arrive, at the moment we are using the chimney from Tiree, their hire boat, they should be arriving today.

Stockport

Thursday we decided to have a day out so we got a train from Poynton to Stockport. Peter suggested the we get the train from Middlewood station, which has not got any vehicle access to it, because it was nearer but we had already sorted out what train we were going to get. Poynton is a nice old station with a proper waiting room with table and chairs, not what we are used to down south.

We needed to go to a biggish place so that we could find a B&Q, Argos, Pets at Home and assorted other large shops that are not in Poynton. Never having been to Stockport I was pleased to find that a lot of the old parts were still intact and not hidden under a 'Mall'. Although I guess there was a few older streets under the newer looking shopping area. We spent the day getting all the stuff we needed, I don't want to know how far we had walked but we saw some interesting buildings and how high the rivers that go through the town had got with all the rain that has come down over the last days. We had a pint and something to eat in the Wetherspoons, which we where not impressed with, it reminded us a little of the one in Watford.

The train we got back was running 10 mins late and was standing room only, a young lad was moaning about the number of passengers on the train, I said this wasn't too bad as there is a space between us all. I told him this was nothing, have a journey on the London underground in the rush hour, then moan. Turns out he was doing a coaching scholarship and Man City and he couldn't wait until Saturday when he picks his new car up, I wished him well and the best of luck with Man city when we got off.

Tuesday we hope to go into the boatyard to have a few things tweaked and the washing machine fitted, the engine is coming up for it's first service at 50 hours so I am going to do the oil change for the gearbox and the engine whilst Peter watches over me for the first one, then I should be OK for the subsequent ones.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The aquaduct from below

Well, we left Poynton on Friday to go to Bollington to do our laundry, it took about two hours to get to the moorings by Clarence Mill and got one on the end by the aqueduct. We were going to have a quick walk around but, surprise surprise, it started to precipitate quite a lot so we abandoned that idea and had dinner and a beer on-board.

Next morning just about dawned, grey and drizzly but we needed to get the washing done so off we toddled to the launderette.

The steps down are very steep

Bollington is a nice little town spread out both sides of the canal with the Middlewood Way, a disused railway line now a well used 10 mile linear park,
going through the center. You hardly notice the aqueduct from the canal, however, from road level it is spectacularly huge construction. We had to visit the Bollington brewery tap just down from the canal, very nice, beer was good.

Next day, Sunday, we went back to Poynton. We left Bollington and had to go nearly down to Macclesfield to wind, by the time we turned the weather changed, rain and a VERY cold wind. By the time we got to Poynton we were both frozen and wet, the rain got into every gap in our jackets. After we moored and divested ourselves of our wet clothing, a hot bovril and a roasting in front of the fire cured all the ill feelings we had against the weather.

At least the wind has dropped now on Monday morning the canal is like a mill pond although rain is promised for later.

Last day of the year

Well so glad that the wind as dropped even though, at the moment, the rain is still coming down but it looks like it might be clearing over Manchester.

We had the early morning visit from the Canadian geese, they are noisy when coming into land just after it starts getting light so you can't really miss them. They then just stare at you through the port holes making you feel guilty that you haven’t got anything for them. Although we were a bit naughty this morning we gave them some home-made bread, which they survived and didn't sink so all was good.

A little chillier this morning compared to what we have had so the fire might get a couple of lumps of coal more this morning.

We will probably stay here until Saturday then pop off to Bollington to do our laundry then come back Monday to see Peter at Braidbar about sorting out a few things with the boat.

The geese must have liked the bread they are still being hopeful!

Nice morning

Yesterday we walked down into Poynton to get some provisions and a pint, not too many people about in town but a lot of walkers around, the car park at Nelson Pit was full and they were parking up the roads.

Well after a couple of days of wet and windy weather, and last night was windy so glad we got the large rope fenders for the sides they stopped us banging against the bank.

This morning has dawned bright but cool. Tonight and tomorrow are expected to be quite nasty, wet and very windy. I hope all those that are already suffering from the weather are going to be OK.

We are going to have a bit of a repeat of yesterday, going into Poynton to pick up a few things we forgot/couldn't fit in rucksacks. Also hope they are in the boatyard today so that we can use their washing machine as ours is still not ready to be delivered.

Well, we are not starting off on a good foot here are we?

Well, we are not starting off on a good foot here are we? It's been 7 days since we moved on and we have not written anything, so here is a brief synopsis of what has happened so far.

Drove up to Higher Poynton from Luton silly o'clock on Tuesday morning. Spend all of the day putting our stuff on boat, finding space to put said stuff and Peter showing the bits we needed to know so that we could spend the night on board at the boatyard.

Wednesday, moved out from boatyard and moored up just next to boatyard, Peter then went into more in-depth stuff about plumbing and electrics. Spent our second night there, next day Peter came and went over everything we needed to know about the engine room.

Thursday we moored at Marple.

We met Edmund at New Mills on the Peak Forest Canal Friday. 

He spent the weekend with us at Bugsworth Basin where we were joined by Heather, Jason, Nikita, Magnus & Lance on Sunday.

Martina baked 3 dozen mince pies and chocolate chip cookies ready for the family's visit. A large pot of boat made soup fed all 7 of us.

 

Monday was our first day alone on the boat. We moored at Disley.

 

Tuesday we moored just south of Marple as we needed to use the launderette. Sadly there's a 6 week delay in our washing machine being delivered.

So far we've had only a few spots of rain while cruising, but it's been pretty windy.

We're looking forward to Ada & Dale visiting Wednesday on their way back from visiting Heather. They both haven't seen the boat since it was launched on Ada's birthday way back in July. There are few teething problems the Braidbar lads need to sort out.

Christmas eve sees us heading to Heather's for Christmas. They will drop us back at the boat Sunday and will be keeping our car.