Journey North: Cambridge – Bollington (via London and the BCN)

553 miles, 449 locks

After a wet morning boating through Macclesfield we finally made it home! 

Here’s Willow on our new mooring at Bollington Wharf. 

Please do stop by for all your boating requirements (coal, diesel, gas, oils, pump out, elsan, water plus boat maintenance and repair, steelwork, emergency call outs) or just to say hi! 

Journey North 33: Etruria – Bosley

16 miles, 13 locks

We set off in convoy from Etruria with some of the Bollington fleet: Jason on Bargus and Brian on Alton.

Then it was through Harecastle tunnel and onto the Macclesfield Canal at Red Bull junction.

Crossing the Trent and Mersey canal (Bargus went underneath)

I cycled off to give Jason a hand through the first few locks then back to Willow. On the Macclesfield Canal proper now we loved the views from our beautiful new home waterway.

Passing Brian on Alton as he was servicing a boat

Then we got to the flight at Bosley and were glad of a hand from Ann-Marie and Jason! It’s a spectacular flight with views of Bosley Cloud.

We tied up at the top at about 9:45pm and went for a drink with the Bollington lot. 

Journey North 32: Stone – Etruria

8 miles, 10 locks

An afternoon’s boating to get to the Etruria canal festival in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Setting off with traditional flowers on the cabin top.

We had booked in to the festival since it was on just as we were passing through so it seemed a shame not to join in! Plus most of the Bollington fleet was there too (Bargus and Alton). We are tied up just below the staircase locks. Friday evening was the traditional boaters fish and chips followed by a visit to the Holy Inadequate pub down the road.

Today we spent doing a bit of fender making and visiting the museum, which was running the steam engine for the weekend. The engine was used to crush flint and bone for the Potteries.

Willow is third boat along

Steam engine

Crushing pans

Journey North 31: Great Haywood – Stone

10 miles 8 locks

I had to work this morning but at 12pm we set off along the Trent and Mersey canal. It was extremely busy, with queues at all the locks but the lovely weather and the beautiful canal made up for it.

Now we are tied up in Stone opposite our friend’s yard above Lime Kiln lock ready to get to Etruria tomorrow.