Higher Poynton

Wednesday 16 July 2014 – Higher Poynton, Macclesfield Canal

The Marple Lock flight is 16 locks in just a mile with a rise of 214 feet.  We started at 07:15 and were at the first lock by 07:30.  Beryl went ahead and set the locks for Graham in Priscilla ii leaving Graham to open and go on to the next.  She then came back to set the locks for me and I then closed the locks having gone through.  The first eight locks are through woodland, then there is a road which still shows the original bridge underneath as well as the modern road widening part.  The canal then passes Samuel Oldknow’s Warehouse which has been converted in industrial units and then past houses.  Next comes Posset Bridge which is unusual as there are three tunnels underneath – the boat goes in one, the towpath and horse in another and the third is for the boatman!

There were a couple of interested families and both Graham and I gave lifts between locks to mum and child.  Perhaps they’ll be future canal enthusiasts?  We reached the top lock and turned onto the Macclesfield and moored by 11:30.  Graham has a friend visiting so we went to the Ring O’Bells pub for lunch.  Afterwards we moved the last four miles to Lord Vernon’s Wharf (home to Braidbars) as Graham and Beryl need to get home to start completing the paperwork for their house sale.

It was only on the last stretch from Marple that we got any rain but it has not lasted.