Sunday 21st August
We are moving on today but had a late start as it was
raining first thing and we waited for it to brighten up before we set off. Alton the Diesel boat came by us when we were
moored and then slammed the anchors on as there was another working boat coming
the other way and I think neither of them wanted to give way so there was a bit
of a collision! The lady was driving Alton but shouted to her husband who then
came out and took over, he didn’t see us at first and their boat was coming
closer and closer to us, but then he realised and rectified the situation.
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| Chaos on the canal!! |
Apparently the other boat wanted to get diesel so it pulled
in the other side of the narrow bit just along from us but couldn’t get in to
the side that well as it is shallow, Alton then went alongside and the canal
was blocked. Guess what a boat then came
along and so they pulled in a bit more and let him past but then another came
along and I think it all went a bit wrong then as the boat on the side came out
into the canal and pushed Alton across the canal and into the bushes, so then
they had to get out poles and pulling from the towpath to get the boats
straight again! Oops if only we hadn’t
been moored on the only bit of metal piling and they could have got into the
bank and tied up without all the fuss!!
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| Going through swing bridge |
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| passing sweet factory |
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| passing row of nice old cottages |
The sun then came out, so we set off along the canal past
the Sweet Factory and the marina and to a swing bridge. I went to open it. The gate had been left unlocked as the barrel
to put your key in was broken, so you just have to lift the handle, but it was
very stiff and I couldn’t do it, so Kev came and did it, then went back to the
boat and I pushed the bridge open and he went through. I managed to shut the bridge okay and we went
on our way.
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| Arm to Whaley Bridge |
We chugged on past Furness Vale and then we came to the arm
which takes you down to Whaley Bridge but we went left and took the arm which
goes to Bugsworth Basin.
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| Arm down to Bugsworth Basin |
We stopped at the services to get water and then we went in
around the basin to the upper basin, turned around there and came back and
moored up.
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| Coming into Bugsworth Basin |
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| Little arms in Basin |
Bugsworth Basin is a fascinating place. Years ago it was very busy. It was built to bring the canal as near as
possible to the great limestone quarries at Doveholes, a plate tramway being
constructed in 1799 via Chapel Milton to complete the connection. Known as the Peak Forest Tramway, this little
line 6½ miles long, brought the stone down from the hillls to Bugsworth basin, where it was transhipped into waiting
canal boats. The tramway closed in 1926
and the sidings and basins at Bugsworth became disused and overgrown.
The basin was restored over a number of years and finally
opened in 2005. It is a really
interesting and unique place to moor and visit.
We had a look around and then back up the canal to where it
joins the arm down to Whaley Bridge and went to the Tesco which is just there,
but unfortunately they had a power cut so we could only buy non perishable
items. They said the power should be
back on in the morning so we will go back tomorrow and get the rest of the
things we need.
We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow.
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| Moored in Bugsworth Basin |
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