Fettlars Wharf

Today's Canal - Rufford Arm

We only had a very short distance to go to the marina but first we had to pass through the final lock for this trip. Unfortunately, only one top ground paddle was operational so it took a little longer to pass through.

The wind was blowing rather strongly so we knew that we would likely have a bit of a tussle getting onto our mooring. When Mike brought the car up last week he was told which pontoon we were booked onto so we headed straight there. As we were lining up to make the reverse turn we realised that the pontoon was already occupied!

So, we went back to the service point - less than easy with the wind! The first attempt was unsuccessful as the wind caught us and left us with insufficient room to turn onto the berth. Second time, now coming in the other way around, and with the help of the marina staff person on duty (Colin?) we positioned ourselves so that the wind did the last part of bringing us sideways.

At this point C said he had no record of our arrival but he would make a phone call. Three marinas are jointly owned and the administrative base is at Furness Vale on the Peak Forest. It turns out that the lady we dealt with is now on sick leave with the dreaded COVID! Eventually, C returned with the news that we could go onto another pontoon close to the first one.

Before moving away from the service berth we opted to fill up with diesel - at that time it was comparatively cheaper that elsewhere but it seems that that was because they had not had a recent delivery and ran out after delivering just 15 litres! A call to the boss revealed how to use the reserve tank but it seem someone else had already had that idea as it added only 4 more litres to the tally!

Now time to moor with the wind strengthening. This time, Mike had learnt from the previous manoeuvres and managed line up and back in almost as well as anywhere! (Fluke - as the wind changed direction half way through the process . . .)

We then loaded up the car, final clean round and we set off back home. Although the traffic was marginally busier that before it did not really hold us up and we were back in good time.

0.1 Miles - 1 Lock