Hassall Green

It was no where near so bright today and quite windy, gusting 30 mph at times. We were ready to set off at 9.30am just as a working boat came down through Red Bull Lock, it turned out there were a convoy of 3 heading for a working boat gathering Easter Weekend at Elsmere Port.

 

The second boat was single handing so I helped through Yewtree Lock and setting the other side ready for the last of the three and then we followed them down. The boat we were following was powered by a single cylinder Bolinder engine with a boppedy bop exhaust note, it also doesn’t have a gearbox, so if reverse is required the engine has to be run in the opposite direction, not east, so stopping is achieved by use of the rope. One way of doing this when entering a lock is to take a turn around the strapping post on the lock top gate, at the same time giving the gate a push to start it closing, that way the momentum of the boat closes the top gat and stops before smacking into the bottom gates.

 

We didn’t have any luck with the locks and had to turn every one although we met 6 or 7 boats. At Thurlwood Lower Lock I looked down the cut to make sure no one was coming before raising the top paddle, as I raised it a boats bows pushed open the bottom gates so I quickly dropped it again and went and fully opened the bottom gates for a single hander who hadn’t come up on the lock side at all but just decided to use the boats to push the gates, so I worked him up as well. We met 3 more boats in the pound but still Pierpoint locks were against us. I saw my first Bluebells of the season by Thurlwood lock.

Halfway between Thurlwood and Pierpoint locks a new barbed wire steel fence has been erected alongside the towpath, last time we were this way the work was ongoing and they were planting some well grown hedging along the front of it. It looks as if the job was quite successful with what looks a well established hedge now.

Our plan for tonight was to moor at Hassall Green and maybe meet up with the crew of Kelpie who where coming the other way, Just as we pulled in to moor Kelpie came up Hassall Green lock and have moored right behind us.

Slightly remiss of me but I should have mentioned two boater who said they read this blog, the first was a gent who moored behind us on the pontoons at Macclesfield and the second a lady following us down the Bosley Flight, unfortunately I failed to get ether yours or you boat names, but thanks for letting us know you read the blog.

Today’s Journey

4 miles 13 locks in 4 hours

Part two of the trip so far.