Scholar Green

Today's Canal : Macclesfield

The morning, right through to lunch time, was damp, wet, soaking, wet and damp. Little could be seen of the hill tops as they were shrouded in mystery (aka cloud) Strange that The Cloud was clouded in cloud . . . 

Looking back across the Dane Aqueduct - we moored last night this side of the boat in the far distance.

A lot of bridges: we started with 57 and ended with 87, plus several railway bridges that were added after the original numbering. Perhaps 35 in total, so that is and average of one every quarter of a mile. 

The Macclesfield is unusual in that as well as the large inscribed mile stones there are others at quarter miles (although not all remain) Some have a fraction carved on them, others are just blank, or have lost the original text. But looking out for the,m does seem to make progress seem at lot faster (why?just does?)

The electrified main rail line crossed our route three times this morning. It does not intrude too much and did not seem to be especially busy, nor have we seen anything other than passenger traffic.

Arriving at Congleton there are three bridges very close to each and seemingly falling over one another - 70m from one side to the other.

A short aqueduct crosses one of the main roads into the centre of the town - alas over a kilometre to the shops.

Two footbridges cross the canal linking parts of the adjoining golf course. Billy Tights also carries a public footpath. Originally built as a swing bridge it seems to have been rebuilt twice in modern times.

The other, more recent, is a private bridge, exclusively used by members of the club.

We passed nb Lord Byron's Maggot, the boat belonging to a a frequent correspondent on canal social media, who is also folk musician (if a trombone amongst other instruments can be included in folk music?) The name comes from a country dance (sometimes also called a Regency tea dance) with the word maggot here means a small liquid measure. The dance is quite flirtatious (if not even seductive) and demonstrations on YouTube show why it must have been rather popular in the early 18C.

A great collection of horns on these highland cattle!

This bungalow at Ackers Crossing, Moreton is on the market for and asking price of £545K! It only has two bedrooms but comes with half an acre of land and several outbuildings and a 'fully functioning' mooring (not sure how a mooring does not function?)

Ramsdell Hall dates from 1750 - we seem to include a picture every time we pass!

Just three hours after setting off we arrived at our target for the day: Heritage Boats at Scholar Green. When we were fitting the batteries we noticed (and so did Kevin) that our main engine air intake filter was well past its useful life. This was probably a combination of the dust from the sand blasting during painting and also that the cap had worked loose and allowed the filter to drop into the bilge - it was dry but very dusty. During the morning Christine called ahead and so we knew that they had the correct size in stock. After completing the purchase (£13) and fitting (could do this ourselves for once) we thought that this was the quickest and least expensive maintenance event in a long time but Christine spoilt it by suggesting that it might be s good idea to top up the fuel tank as we are heading up the Caldon (probably!) and so not sure when we will next  pass another opportunity. The staff were all very friendly. helpful and chatty - the same business includes Sherbourne Wharf in central Birmingham that we have used for mooring several times.

Once we had finished we only went a short distance to the next Visitor Mooring - a useful place to stop for the night, within hailing distance of Kidsgrove and Harecastle Tunnel.

8.3 Miles - 0 Locks