I can see clearly now the rain has gone (almost)

Near Moreton hall, Cheshire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After  three days of almost continuous heavy rain and high winds, I woke early this morning to the sound of...no rain. I saw through the porthole that a mist lay over the fields but the sun was trying to shine through, and some areas of blue sky were visible. So I slipped on my dressing gown and quickly popped out onto the tow path and snapped off a few pictures before the mist burned off. It was absolutely beautiful, although chilly! Only the cows were around to witness me in bare feet and nightwear thank goodness.

The water was so still, as no boats were moving around this early and the only sounds were birds, and cows lowing in the field. It is rare, in my busy city life to experience moments of peace like this. It was a privilege.

Historic Bugsworth basin

We motored into Bugsworth near the end of the Peak Forest canal with no real expectation, other than a place to moor, maybe a pub and a tap for filling the boat's water tank. What we discovered was a labour of love. This had been at one time, back in the 19th century, the largest inland port on the canal system, a hive of industry:  limestone was brought by boat and embryonic tram lines from nearby quarries, and here, amid acrid smoke, it was pulverised and poured into huge lime kilns to be transformed into a building material used for mortar, and also for agricultural use to fertilise  the land. By 1927 production moved elsewhere facilitated by the railways, many of the buildings were cannibalised  for stone and the place was left to go back to nature. By the early 1960s there was a move by the British Waterways board to close down this canal altogether. They didn't reckon with the enthusiasts of the Inland Waterways preservation society, who over 40 years, have lovingly restored it to something approaching its former glory and campaigned for the maintenance and restoration of the beautiful canal which takes you there. Bugsworth reopened in 2005 and is now a World heritage site. Hooray for the hard work and perseverance of the IWPS, some of whom did not live to see the fruition of their work. They have created something for future generations to enjoy. Not many of us achieve so lasting a mark on the landscape.

Part of the old tramway

Before restoration...what an undertaking!

www.brocross.com/iwps

Bugsworth basin in its working days around 1900 (picture courtesy of the IWPS)

                        

Oh what a beautiful morning!

We are on the Peak Forest Canal where we moored up quite late yesterday evening , as everywhere we tried was too shallow. When we stopped it was raining and grey, as it had been most of yesterday. This morning we awoke to brilliant sunshine and spectacular views from the windows.What a difference a day makes!

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

It was wonderful to watch the farmer at work, stacking the bales of straw with a fork lift, then lifting them onto the trailer to be towed away to somewhere safe and dry, and all done at high speed and with precision. It's been a hard year for many farmers, many having lost their crops due to heavy rain and flooding in some areas and others affected by falling milk prices. A week's good weather saw them frantically trying to get the harvest in while it lasts. Amazing to think this was all being done by two people, one on the baler and one on the fork lift. Three  or four generations ago, when in the census , many of our ancestors would be described by the simple term Ag Lab, short for agricultural labourer, this field would have been busy with whole families cutting the corn, raking, stacking the corn into sheaves, threshing, gleaning, then making the straw into stacks for use during the winter. Those days are gone, farming is much less labour intensive and many of us are far removed from the source of the food we eat and often don't know or care how it has been produced. But we still need to be thankful for the work our farmers do and for a harvest safely gathered in.

So that explains it! Not the comfy armchair , part 2..

Today we arrived at Shardlow in Derbyshire and JD Narrowboats who built the Great Escape in 2009. Now  all becomes clear.  Talking to Andy who actually built the boat, we raised the question of the now famous "brown chair" that we had to cut up to get off the boat. They did, in fact, take the chair apart and re-assemble it on the boat! No wonder we couldn't get it out without destroying it. We started to think they built the boat around it! We were sort of right. Nice to talk to the guys who built her and for them to see how she is  doing  four years on and to see how loved she is.Today has been a beautiful day.

Pushy or what?!

Oh yeh and what else?

Moored by Branston Water park, near Burton on Trent. we were joined by a swan who obviously thought we had something he needed! I managed to find him a crust of good wholemeal bread which he dispatched in no time flat. However, that did not seem to be enough and there were moments when I thought he might climb in through the side hatch. It seems, sometimes, that the more we give, the more that is expected of us. And sometimes those who receive, become dependent on those handouts, and make no effort to provide for themselves. But I'm a sucker for a sad tale, and he did have a dodgy wing, so I gave in anyway.

Branston Water park, formerly old gravel pits.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

At the marina :Great Haywood

We got up with the intention of maybe doing some repairs and painting on the boat. But good weather is meant for boating, so, having filled the water and fuel tanks and emptied the other tank we don't like to think about, we set off for Rugeley and the chance for a supermarket sweep to replenish the larder.
We decided to stay  there on the visitor moorings overnight. After dinner, when darkness had fallen, we heard a boat coming, which is unusual on the canal. Looking out, we were pinned in the glare of a  huge searchlight approaching. Shortly, a boat moored up behind us, and the light was switched off. As usual, we got chatting to the occupants, and they explained that they had to be back to base the following day, and back to work the day after. Hence the late night cruising, and a planned early morning start the next day. It made me realize how glad I am to be retired and no longer struggling under that particular yoke any more. We are heading off for a couple of weeks, maybe, and heading towards Shardlow, possibly. And after that, well, we'll see.