The
weather has cleared and although rather cold in the northerly wind,
at least it wasn't raining. We left the marina into the sun and
needed sunglasses!
Looking
back at the River Tame Aqueduct towards Portland Basin
Bridge
No.1 – Stanley Lift Bridge – Lower Peak Forest Canal
The
initial half is the run south to Marple, through some very pleasant,
mostly rural woodlands. We last did this run coming back from the
Tameside Festival held at just before the basin. My old log book
tells me it was in July 2005.
Autumn
Cruising
The
lowish Woodley 167 yards Tunnel
The
'not wide enough for two' Hyde Bank 308 yards Tunnel just
after the 'Crash'
We
entered Hyde Bank Tunnel – the Nicholson says may appear OK, but
it's not wide enough for 2 boats. I can verify this. Halfway through,
a northbound boater entered, we sounded the horn – yet he still
came. Slowing to almost a standstill we hit to the sound of steel on
steel and broken glass?! The other steerer apologised saying the
tunnel notice had said “two way traffic”. An ambiguous
description – meaning 'only room for one boat at a time'?
Thankfully, we did not both get wedged tight and needing rescuing!!
Our
boat suffered no more than scrapes to the blacking. Anxious moments!
So.
boaters be-warned! The Hyde Bank Tunnel cannot take 2 boats at once,
despite the less than helpful tunnel sign - “two way traffic”.
On
the way out – can you really fit two boats through this? Specsavers
or what?
Looking
back at the curious Rose Hill Cutting – an opened out tunnel
Sitting
under the railway – Marple Locks are just through the next bridge
The
middle half of the day was to work up the Marple flight of 16 locks
raising the canal from the Lower Peak Forest some 214ft up to Marple
Junction – thus giving each lock about a 13ft depth. The gates are
generally heavy though swung well; the bottom gate paddles were
really tight and I needed to use our long shank windlass!
We
made the flight in about 3h15m.
A
sunlit pound, typical of the lower Marple flight
A
recent slip needing remedial work
Lock
furniture – for the tow ropes in olden days (and it didn't roll)
Top
lock showing the sturdy 1807 stone build
The
final half of the day's cruise was after the southerly turn onto the
Macclesfield Canal.
This
has been our 'home' canal since we first started boating in 1990, so
we know it well.
It
was a pleasant reminder of enjoyable times past as we cruised in the
late afternoon, towards our overnight mooring at the visitor stretch
opposite Lyme View Marina.
A
long days cruising by our standards – I reflected on the day over a
couple of pints in the excellent Miners Arms – and after our meal
was asleep by 9!
Turning
into the old stop lock at the start of the Macclesfield Canal
