Celebrating new waters! The Macclesfield

Whoop whoop! We've made it to new waters! 🌟 The Macclesfield Canal 🌟

After a sub zero night morning dawned bright and sunny. Vicky was feeling well and it was a joy to be outdoors, so we decided to travel as far as we could. There were twelve locks between Rode Heath and the Macclesfield so we didn't expect to reach it in one go. Departure was delayed because Mr Whiskers had also sensed the sun and scarpered when Will tried to lure him inside. He loves to spend a sunny day secreted in the undergrowth somewhere near the boat but unfortunately for him, today wasn't that day. Vicky used his Pit Pat GPS tracker and waded through the bramble clogged undergrowth with a tube of turkey pate to retrieve him.

To quicken our passage through locks we lifted the canoe onto the roof so there was no need to worry about it getting crushed as the water surged in and pushed Rainboat backwards.
Leo was tired by this point so it wasn't long before he went in the backpack with a hot water bottle while Tiggy trotted faithfully along the towpath behind her mum to set the first lock.

Lawton Treble Locks came in quick succession but we made short work of them, moving on to Hall's Lock and the two Church Locks. It was then a bit of distance to travel before the first three Red Bull Locks. We stopped at Red Bull services to fill, empty and for Vicky to fuel up with a quick peanut butter and marmalade sandwich. With just three more locks between us and the turning onto the Macc we decided to go for it.

Passing through Red Bull Lock we eyed up the eponymous pub next to it, reckoning we'd deserve a treat for all the effort it was taking ascending this last stretch. As for the origin of this unusual place name, we've searched online and in books but can't find any references, so it remains a mystery to us. Perhaps it is something to do with the water becoming increasingly 'red' due to the iron leaching from the Harecastle Tunnels we were fast approaching.

The next feature was very exciting as we passed under Poole Aqueduct carrying the Macclesfield Canal over the Trent and Mersey. Sighting our destination put a spring in our step to work through Limekiln Lock but it was short lived as Rainboat ground to a halt before Hardingswood Road Bridge just before the final lock. It was too low for the canoe to pass underneath on Rainboat's roof. As Vicky stood on top, hauling Little Rainboat over to the towpath side, two walkers offered to lift it down with Will. This was a great help and it wasn't long before she was tied up to the stern and being towed into Plants Lock; the last of the 'Cheshire' or 'Heartbreak Hill' locks. Phew!

It was exciting to turn right, underneath the arched bridge at Hardings Wood Junction onto the Hall Green Branch. This was the first time in exactly 7 months that we'd sailed new waters! Running alongside the Trent and Mersey in the opposite direction Rainboat then made another 90° right turn to cross Poole Aqueduct and stop at the first of many moorings on the Macclesfield Canal. Yippee!

Will, who had been standing on the stern all day nipped out to the nearby Lidl, then got to work prepping a well earned dinner of Mac 'n' Cheese. What more appropriate dish to celebrate our arrival on the Macc?

Sunday was drizzly and the towpath muddy but we took things easy, walking the dogs then treating ourselves to a late lunch at the Red Bull: a Robinson's Brewery pub. The food was delicious, the staff friendly and knowledgeable and the service efficient. A brilliant experience!

Vicky rested the following day, after having taken the last step in withdrawing from Venlafaxine and stopped taking the pills altogether. It's been really physically tough but she's glad to have finally reached this point. Will kept busy looking after her and cycling to Tesco for healthy treats. Unfortunately the towpath was so muddy that the bike tyres slipped and catapulted Will towards the canal. His leg got a dunking but thankfully the rest of him stayed dry. Will being Will decided to carry on, do the shopping, pop into the lockside Canal Tavern (at least here he stayed dry, there being no cask ales on tap and no decent alcohol free beers). It was only when he returned to Rainboat, warmed up and dried out that he began to feel the bruising and swelling around his knee.

On Tuesday we met the lovely Derek, a retired guide dog and his new owner, who recommended we visited the Bleeding Wolf. Vicky was feeling unexpectedly well so we hiked a kilometre past posh looking detached houses and their large drives and gardens to arrive at the stunning thatch roofed pub. It turned out to be another Robinson's Brewery establishment, though with a different menu. The food was equally delicious and the service just as good as the Red Bull. The interior had retained many original features from it's 1939 inception, like huge carved wooden beams above the bar and fireplace and tiling in the loos. We felt utterly spoiled.

On the way back Vicky fished a bike out of the cut. It looked quite new and had a serial number so we reported it to the police who said they'd come and pick it up. Whether they did or not we don't know as we moved on a day and a half later.

The Poole Aqueduct moorings were a good spot in all. They had decent access to shops and some top notch pubs. Situated on an embankment, they had sewage works to one side and a skip company burning some foul smelling waste on the other. The weather was mostly windy, wet and cold so we didn't spend much time outside but we could see that the odours may have been a problem in warmer weather.Read more