The day started grey but remained dry until mid afternoon when rain finally arrived - big drops but not a downpour. Before leaving Mike walked the 100m back to the service block to empty an elsan. A day boat was filling with water - the chap looking after it was a bit miffed as it should have been out on hire today but the customer had just rung to put off until tomorrow as today was going to be very wet! Fortunately the boat was free tomorrow but even so time and money is wasted.
At the junction, we turned right to take a brief look at Bugsworth Basin but also to fill with water. Shortly before arriving at the end of this arm we passed through the Gauging Stop - it seems that there are different opinions about its name. Some call it a Gauging Lock but the company records always used Gauging Stop Place. In any event, it was here that a loaded boat was measured and its freeboard compared with official books (each boat had to be registered and measured with known weights) to calculate the toll based on the amount of cargo being carried.
The house alongside was for the Wharfinger - his main responsibility was collecting tolls but in practice pretty much nothing happened without his say so!
A few years after the basin opened, the canal company built the stable block alongside so that the wharfinger could "better attend to his duties" (see leaflet from info office at basin) A bit like a company car generations later.
When we arrived the water point was already in use so we continued slowly up to the end of the basin - a series of basins. After turning between the middle and upper basins we spotted that the other boat had now finished so we were able to go back and fill up ourselves. Whilst doing so we had a long and interesting chat to a volunteer who lives on a boat not far away and, as a former builder, takes on various tasks that no-one else can manage. Today he was trying to unblock the elsan disposal which has proved problematic for a week or so now.
The bridge at the start of the basin (alongside the water point) is a modern replica of the original bridge (to comply with today's rules especially about steep slopes) but was originally built so that horses could pull boats around to the middle basin without unhitching the towrope - a sort of flyover! Christine spotted a herb garden with a notice to Help Yourself - she did and they are now in tonight's lamb stew.
A short distance from the basin is a row of seven former workers cottages - the one nearest to the basin has just found a buyer - on an asking price of £320K. It has three bedrooms but is formed from four square rooms upstairs and downstairs. The estate agent said it had 'quintessential charm' and the 'stone cottage effortlessly combines character with modern living'. Just don't try swinging a cat!
We called at Furness Vale Marina for a gas bottle and to fill up with diesel. They pride themselves here on keeping prices as competitive as possible. Richard, the owner, also has Fettlars Wharf on the Rufford Arm where we have moored a few times in the past. As a result we had another long chat.
At the end of the long moorings was the first of today;s moveable bridges. This one is a swing bridge and, apart from lifting the release mechanism, was very easy to move.
The gang at the towpath repair we saw on Monday were back in full swing. They were using the digger on the work boat to sort out stones for the next stretch to be capped. They were proud to say that they were re-using the old stones.
Another 'peek' at the Peak District (ugh!)
After a break for lunch we continued with the final three bridges. At the mechanised one, Christine enjoyed getting two young children to work out from the instructions how to open an close the bridge for Mike to bring the boat through.
Moored at Tramway Wharf is Venice built originally as a Fellows Morton and Clayton Josher butty but subsequently converted for leisure use.
With not very far to go before Marple where we planned to stop for the night, we came to an abrupt halt with the prop unable to do anything - we could not even come in to the towpath. We just had to float midstream - fortunately leaving enough room for the one boat that wanted to pass by. Down into the weed hatch and Mike found that the problem was a stuffed garment of some sort. It had formed itself largely into a ball inside some other material which meant that, in the water, it was even heavier than after we had eventually managed to clear it from the prop. (When we moored for the night Christine bagged the rubbish up before we could take a photo - just use your imagination.
As we arrived at Marple we were pleased to see that the space we had occupied on Sat and Sun nights was still free. For some reason it was now much harder to come alongside - another boater said that they had tried and failed but they managed a couple of slots further back. We ended up with the bow close in but the stern slightly away from the bank - we will be away tomorrow after popping down to the town for a bit of food shopping. Will we find a 'proper' Eccles cake and a 'good' pork pie this time - like our blog says we did in 2019. We will record the outcome in the next blog.
7.8 Miles - 0 Locks
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