Poynton

Higher Poynton, Macclesfield Canal – Thursday 29 August 2013

Wednesday morning we were getting organised with Peter (Braidbar builder) as to when various boats were to have their planned jobs done when he said he would be away as there was a boat to collect from Scholar Green to go into the paint-shed.  I offered to go with him not knowing exactly where    S-G was – it turns out to be near the southern end of the Macclesfield!  So I have had a couple of days bringing ‘Starshine’ up here.  Once the boat was safely out of the marina Peter then disappeared off to Bosley top lock and then cycled back to meet me, getting on board with his bike as I went through a “bridge hole”.  At the locks he did the setting and closing so all I had to do was the steering.  We moored the boat for the night and came back here.  The weather was cloudy but no rain.

Today we went back to Bosley and Peter drove off to Fools Nook where there is a swing bridge, again he cycled back to meet me.  At the bridge he opened it up and I was just about to go through (prow lined up and actually in the gap) when a boat appeared round the bend coming the other way also headed straight for the bridge (perhaps they thought it was always left open).  A blast on the horn and suddenly there was masses of activity with them going into reverse and water being churned over the towpath.  When they were settled with the steerer on the bank holding the centre rope I continued through.  Peter closed it after them and cycled along to Broadhurst Swing Bridge (memories of a damaged cratch) and operated that one for me.  He then headed back leaving me to bring the boat on.  When I arrived he had got ‘Eleventh Heaven’ who was in the yard to move out temporarily and allowed me to move the boat into the yard and paint-shed (the entrance is at an angle under a footbridge which is low and requires the steerer to duck!).  However, all was well and ‘Starshine’ is now safely moored.  The weather has been patchy with one spot of rain (about 1 minute that barely justified putting on my jersey.

It has been pleasant having some-one to chat to while going along and I now have a couple of extra jobs to be done as the controls on ‘Starshine’ are easier to reach than on ‘Ice Breaker’ – more to follow.

In the evening I was invited onto ‘Dolce Far Niente’ for a meal with Stephen & Jayne.