Come rain, come shine

Monday, 07 June 2010 16:15

Farewell to Bugsworth - can we beat the rain?

We were both ready to move and get on the go today! If you feel you have missed out on more of the surrounding area we do have more photos here - Whaley Bridge (once a mill town) and Buxworth (once named Bugsworth, but changed as the villages did not like the name!)

I took a short wander along the Peak Forest Tramway Trail too

There is more information on the tramway here - clickety click

So to our cruise today -

At Bridgemont Junction, the Bugsworth section of the Peak Forest Canal passes over an horse bridge. The path under the bridge was for the horses to cross and be re-hitched to their working boat. Experienced horses knew the way well and needed no guidance!

Horse Bridge from north - a path beyond now leads to Tesco

We turned right, away from Whaley Bridge and retraced our cruise of a few days ago. It was dry, but still quite warm and as we passed TW Marina someone was cutting the grass - a lovely smell!

The grounds around the marina are immaculate

Carr Swing Bridge (30) was my job again - it is operated by a BW key which releases the upright bolt; pulling this up and opening the bridge is pretty easy, unlike some similar swing bridges we encountered on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal last year.

Carr Swing Bridge

The Matlow factory was busy throwing out a very sweet smell - the "Swizzles" were in production! The wonders of google - for more info, look here for an amazing website, clickety click but still no Swizzle in sight!

It decided to rain ...and rain hard about here - it was time for waterproof coats, the first time for ages. However, we really do need the rain as the reservoirs are a bit low and water shortages threaten the north western canals.

Of course, we met another narrowboat at Higgins Clough Swing Bridge. The gentleman steering past me after I came through said, "good job you were not an hire boat". I am not sure if that was a backhanded compliment but I think I did a good job of avoiding him  and the moored narrowboats on the narrow bend. What a daft place to have moorings.

Looking back at Higgins Clough Bridge on our way to Bugsworth

Once again John opened the two lift bridges - one took 65 turns of the windlass up and 47 to lower it! Beside Rawton Walls Bridge (21) is a lovely cottage with a well maintained garden. Next door has a chicken run beside the bridge below their garden.

Cottage at Rawton Walls Bridge

We moored up at Marple Junction. It was much quieter today, so we were able to get quite close. We have lots of locks tomorrow!

Peak Forest Canal, Bugsworth Basin to Marple Junction

3 hours 39 minutes, 6.3 miles, 0 locks