Reset search
Rainboat
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels
Current
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels

Rainboat

Life continuously cruising the canals and rivers of England and Wales. Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • Last seen in
    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stockport, England
    Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We were grateful for the cool of the glade to moor in
    Turning out of the Macclesfield onto the Peak Forest towards the first lockThere were always plenty of gongoozlers. One lock down, 15 to go.The first few locks ran alongside a roadAfter that the dogs could go off leadBeautifully restored Oldknow's Warehouse previously used to store cotton bales, now officesAqueduct House at the bottom of the flightPassing under the rail bridge onto the aqueductReminiscent of the Pontcysllte Aqueduct and Viaduct in WalesBeautiful stone archesThe view warranted getting the drone outHyde Bank Tunnel was walking distance from the mooringRose Hill Cutting 100yards (used to be a tunnel but it's roof was left open after collapse)Beautiful Wood Sorrel on the bank next to the boatWhat a lovely view from the portholeWill cooked up curry with our homegrown spinach and coriander leaves 😋Alpine Strawberries in flowerKala Walsh of Kala Walsh Ceramics outside her studio at Lock 1Kala's beautiful lockside cottageWe bought a pot from Kala. She was happy for us to take it and drop the money in later.Sitting out on the grass with TigerLeo didn't sit at all but was very happy sniffing and saying hello to passersbyWhiskers even joined us in the sunshineAnd brought Vicky a 'present' 🤦Will paddled Little Rainboat over Marple Aqueduct

    Marple Locks and Aqueduct

    April 25 in England ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Our mooring was just round the corner from the start of the Marple Locks. A flight of 16 descending a total of 209 feet over the course of a mile and a half. With Vicky's poor health and Will's hand still fragile from its burn we knew we could really do with some help. We'd therefore planned to travel on a weekend and Will had contacted the CRT a few days to ask if they could arrange for any volunteer lockies to assist us. They were very obliging, contacting the regional coordinator and getting back to us to confirm that there would be someone to help us. What a relief that was!

    10 minutes before the arranged time Gina found us at our mooring to say she'd be helping us down the flight. At a sunny 21°C it was the warmest day of the year so far so Vicky packed suncream and water for her and the dogs before setting off with them in the chair, meeting Will with Rainboat at Lock 16. Gina was amazing. Friendly, capable and very efficient. We met another boat coming in the opposite direction at lock 13 and when CRT volunteer Chris had finished helping up them, he joined Gina in assisting us.

    There were tons of Gongoozlers watching Rainboat and who could blame them on this beautiful stretch of canal? The first locks ran alongside a quiet road but after this the dogs were able to trot along the towpath enjoying the attention they attracted. Vicky lost count of the number of times she was asked what breed Leo was 😂 Tiger Lilly stuck to Vicky like glue and Leo was as good as Leo gets at staying close by. Will felt guilty for 'just' driving the boat and winding a few paddles up and down but he did all he could on a descending flight and with the help of Gina and Chris and Vicky doing what little she could we got through all 16 locks in 2.5 hours. At the last lock Will gave Chris a bottle of Proper Job and Gina a bottle of fizz that he'd placed in the freeze. She said she'd look forward to drinking it later but in the meantime
    rolled the cool glass on her hot forehead. It had been a hot one!

    Round a bend in the canal lay a railway bridge and beyond it the stunning Marple Aqueduct, flanked by an arched stone viaduct. At 30m it is the highest canal aqueduct in England and the tallest masonry arched aqueduct in the UK; the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct being made of stone with cast iron. It was due to be demolished in the 1960s by British Waterways after neglect and leaks caused it to be unnavigable but Cheshire County stumped up the extra cash to repair it as part of the restoration of the Peak Forest Canal and it is now a Grade 1 listed Scheduled Monument.

    We crossed over it and found moorings in the shade of a woodland glade immediately afterwards. It really was a beautiful end to our journey down the Marple lock flight.

    The sun continued to shine and we enjoyed the birdsong all around us (apart from the owls at night which freaked Leo out 🦉😱). The glade was filled with the white flowers of wild garlic and wood sorrel with a smattering of Woodland Strawberry blossom and Bluebells. Whiskers loved the woods and Leo was excited to spend time outside, sniffing all the scents left by walkers and their dogs as well as greeting his adoring public.

    We took the dogs on, through what used to be Rose Hill tunnel. Since its collapse sometime between 1849 - 1888 it has been left open and is known as Rose Hill Cutting. Beyond it, Hyde Bank tunnel also collapsed but was repaired.

    On a separate outing we took Leo and Tiger Lilly back up towards the locks and saw Kala Walsh, the owner of the cottage adjacent to Lock 1, with her spaniel Billy. We'd both talked to her while Rainboat was descending but now we had a bit more time and Kala was really interesting. She is a ceramics artist who organises the Treacle Market in Marple that we'd visited last month. On Vicky's request she showed us into her studio (what used to be the cottage's double garage). She sells her creations at markets but holds ceramic classes here every so often. She'd grown up in Marple but always admired the beautiful canal cottage and when it came up for sale 2.5 years ago nobody seemed to want it because it was off grid, with a septic tank and oil that needed to be refilled by tanker. It dropped in price a little and Kala and her partner were able to buy it. Since then the weight limit on the towpath has changed to below that of the oil tanker, making it even more difficult to get fuel, but Kala seemed happy with the compromises needed to live in this beautiful location.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Looking back at our mooring from the roving bridge at the Macclesfield and Peak Forest junction
    Boat themed bird boxes at Marple servicesThe obligatory 'pup in bluebells' pic2Tiger was very obliging1Leo was not. Disclaimer: bribery was involved in the taking of this photograph 😂A double Celtic Triquetra with flowery filling2And again with watercolourHouse at the junction of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield with the 16th Marple Lock on the left3View of the same house from under the junction's roving bridgeMr Whiskers went a bit wild not having any bushes to explore outsideIvy Leaved Toadflax

    Marple

    Apr 23–25 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Once the high winds had settled down we cruised through the beautiful Peak Forest scenery back to Marple. The crew of a day hire boat opened the first lift bridge for us and we overtook them to return the favour with the second.

    Back at Marple we turned left, back onto the Macclesfield Canal to use the services near the junction. We'd hoped to find moorings with somewhere Whiskers would like to roam between here and the winding hole a short distance away. Unfortunately the few spaces available were too short for Rainboat so we turned and moored back opposite the services on a short stretch between two roving bridges. Because of the roads crossing each bridge it turned out to be quiet in terms of passersby and a tall sandstone wall made it a bright sun trap. Mr Whiskers wasn't impressed with the lack of bushes to explore though and took his excess energy out on the rest of us, bopping Leo and biting the back of Vicky's leg 👹🩸

    Will enjoyed the easy access to shops, stocking up on food for humans and furries alike. The towpaths along the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals have been consistently good allowing Vicky to enjoy longer trips out in the chair with the dogs.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A camouflaged Rainboat moored opposite the bank of oak copse
    The 'Fairy Orchard' beside the towpath on the way back from BugsworthSign near the head of the canal pointing to its twin termini at Bugsworth & Whaley BridgeTerraces making the most of their access to the waterThere are lots of viaducts and aqueducts in the Peak Forest hillsApproaching the old mill at New MillsSwizzles Matlow factory at New Mills. Home of Parma Violets, Love Hearts & Drumstick lolliesSarah made Vicky a delicious almond encrusted birthday cake. Thank you SarahIt was good to spend time with familyDad having a very serious conversation with a rapt LennyElsie making sure Vicky wasn't missing out on furry cuddles while away from her broodSarah and Vicky stormed through this Wasgij Destiny covid themed jigsaw in a dayVicky had a new cultural experience in Newcastle......a Bao Bun for breakfast with Al before catching the train homeSpot the tiny ducklingsWill feasted on meat while vegan Vicky was awayLamb shank from the Whaley Bridge Food and Art marketMr Whiskers went a wandering. It was around this time last year that he disappeared for 6 weeks.Leo and Tiger enjoyed relaxed walks along the quiet towpath while we enjoyed the sceneryThe year's first hawthorne blossom was so fragrantUsing colour and Celtic knots in a mandala designMr Whiskers was pleased to have his mummy back

    Back at Disley

    April 13 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    From the beautiful Bugsworth Basin at the top end of the Peak Forest Canal we cruised back towards Disley. Will knew the fuel boat was headed towards us and spotted it as we were passing under the wide A6 road bridge. This was fortuitous in two ways; not only did the bridge provide a gap in the long line of moored boats, allowing us to pull into the bank, but it provided shelter from the heavy downpours. When the fuel boat had finished with the long term moorers they were able to tether alongside us and refuel Rainboat in the dry.

    We'd planned to stop in exactly the same spot at Disley that we'd been at previously but it was occupied so we carried on through Higgins Clough Swing Bridge and moored in an even more beautiful stretch opposite a bank of oak copse.

    Vicky had an appointment with the Haemotologist in the North East so had booked the train to Newcastle from Marple to stay with her family. Mooring Rainboat in Disley meant she had to get a taxi to the station but it was such a good, relaxing rural location for Will and the furries it was definitely the right thing to do.

    The appointment went well and the consultant was happy that Vicky's iron hadn't yet risen high enough to damage her organs or bones. It was agreed we'd do a blood test and checkup in clinic every 6 months and do venesection the following week if the Haemochromatosis had caused her to load too much iron. She enjoyed spending time with her brother, Stepmum, Dad and their two energetic young Labradors Lenny and Elsie.

    Meanwhile Whiskers was on an adventure of his own. He hadn't returned to the boat for 24 hours after Vicky had left but thankfully we'd kept his GPS tracker charged and Will was able to find him using it. Whiskers was pleased to see his Dad and happy to follow him back once he understood Will was taking him home.

    While Vicky was away Will was cooking himself up some meaty treats with lambs shanks and a large, rare steak on the menu. He saw the first little ducklings of the year paddling past the boat and fished to his heart's content while watching a Tree Creeper a Jay and a nesting Canadian Goose in the oak copse.

    We were both glad to be back together when Vicky arrived home and spent a few more bright but chilly days waiting for the wind to die down before moving on.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Nestled in the basin proved to be a lovely quiet mooring spot
    Overview of the lower, middle and upper basinsThe Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust installed several information boards sharing the basin's historyThere are Upper, Middle and Lower Basins at Bugworth, which was expanded to meet increased demandOld draw off valves that used to control the flow of water from Todd Brook Reservoir to the canalA replica tram wagon carrying limestoneTowpath board detailing different areas of the Peak District providing different mined productsSedum in flower on a mossy stone wall

    Bugsworth Basin

    April 12 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Travelling back down the Peak Forest Canal from its ending at Whaley Bridge we turned right along the short arm to its second terminus at Bugsworth Basin.

    We were unprepared for how unique the basin is. Surrounded by terraced stone walls the channel forks off at different points into multiple fingers, wide enough for two boats. It exuded history and purpose, making us want to find out more.

    According to the CRT, Bugsworth Basin was once the largest and busiest inland port on the narrow canal system and is the only one to survive intact. It was used to transfer limestone from the Dove Holes quarries. Gravity driven tram wagons brought the stone downhill to load into boats before horses pulled the empty wagons back uphill.

    It ceased work in the 1920s after which it fell into disrepair. The Inland Waterways Protection Society worked hard to restore it, reopening it in 1999. Unfortunately it sprung a leak which took a further 6 years to repair, finally reopening for good in 2005. The site has been scheduled a Grade 2 Ancient Monument and is beautifully maintained with daisy's sprouting from the goose grazed grass.

    We moored in the farthest finger of the upper basin. There was no through route either on the water or the land so it was a very peaceful spot and we were able to open all the window blinds without worrying about Leo raging at passers by. Will dodged hail showers while cycling back to the big Tesco at the junction to pick up lots of fresh greens for a risotto then spent the rest of the afternoon fishing.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Filling with water at Whaley Bridge Basin
    Leo couldn't help but pee on all the planters on the towpath 🫣One boat went all out for EasterSigns for the FAB market caught our eyeTrains would enter the transhipment warehouse either side of the canalMarket stalls where trains would have been and a model chinook helicopter hanging above the canalWe bought the large spalted alder bowl which came from inside the bark ring lampOnly a few stalls but they were good quality2The indigo Blue John gin Will bought looked disconcertingly like methylated spirits.The junction at the head of the Peak Forest Canal with arms to Bugsworth Basin and Whaley BridgeAn unusual feature of a horse tunnel leading under the Bugsworth Arm

    Whaley Bridge

    April 10 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    The upper section of the Peak Forest Canal branches near its head and comes to a Y shaped end at both Whaley Bridge and Bugsworth Basin. The cruise from Disley to Whaley Bridge was just beautiful and Vicky was even well enough to take Rainboat through the swing bridge while Will opened and closed it.

    We weren't the only ones to appreciate the scenic rural surrounds. Our route was lined with hundreds of narrowboats at permanent moorings on the towpath and at marinas. Luckily there weren't too many out and about because their presence narrowed the channel and it would have been a tight squeeze to pass an oncoming boat.

    The sun was out when we arrived at Whaley Bridge, turned in the basin and tied up under the white blossoms of a leafless cherry tree to fill with water. A sign announced that the boaters' bins had been removed and that the nearest facilities were at Bugsworth Basin, along the other terminus arm. A lot of refuse sites have recently closed because of a law coming into force that composting must be provided. The CRT don't have the money / space / contracts to provide this at every existing site so rather than break the law they've closed many down altogether.

    We'd planned to continue to Bugsworth but another sign advertising a food and arts market caught our eye. It was due to take place in and around the transhipment warehouse at the head of the basin the following day so we decided to take advantage of the one mooring space available and stay. It was a noisy spot with the A6 running along the off side and a railway up the hillside beyond that. Even the water was noisy, being whipped up into waves and slapping against rocks where the bank had collapsed. A thin corridor of towering Beech trees separated the canal from the River Goyt running a similar course down the valley.

    Permanently moored boats had commandeered the strips of grass either side of the towpath. Steps, trolleys and firewood along with buckets and troughs filled with plants, plastic flowers and decorations narrowed the passage. It was difficult to pass people at times but the Leo and Tiger Lilly loved sniffing all the scents left by other dogs and it was impossible to stop Leo cocking his little leg against every peed on patch he found.

    We are really pleased we stayed for the market. It was only small with a dozen or so gazebos set up outside and a smaller number of tables inside the transhipment warehouse. The canal entered the warehouse via an arched hole in the wall. Boats would be loaded and unloaded onto train wagons on the tracks either side of the channel. A large wood and paper model of a chinook helicopter hung from the beams above the water, commemorating the 2019 military action to avert disaster when the nearby Toddbrook Reservoir wall was at risk of collapse, potentially flooding Whaley Bridge and surrounding settlements.

    Will tasted and bought two bottles gin from the Blue John Distillery in Whaley Bridge. It is named after the UK's rarest semi precious gemstone that is found only under the nearby Treak Cliff. About half a tonne is mined annually in the off season, while in the peak season the miners become guides showing tourists around the Blue John and Treak Cliff Carverns.

    We got some bottles Dunham Massey apple juice and lamb shanks from a farm stall that also sold wool spun from its own Texel and Jacob sheep. Marmalady sold us a couple of jars of marmalade, lemon curd and a homemade plum crumble but our best find was a spalted Alder fruit bowl made by Crafty Clive. He was so enthusiastic about his work, showing us how he made use of all the little offcuts by crafting pens and curios.

    We climbed the short distance into the village in search of a light lunch but the pubs were either closed or didn't serve food and the cafés were too full. Will picked up some fish and chips on the way back and we chilled for the rest of the day.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Two Cain Narrowboats together. Waving thanks and bye to Dun Eideann
    1A lovely rural spot to moor inWith great views2Vicky has been doodling mandalas againWhat a name for a pub!Will's lunch at The Dandy Cock2Bluebells at the beginning of April!A little garden curated alongside the wall of Bridge 262Wood Anemones2Waterside CowslipFarmhouse nestled in the valleyThis shop front sums Disley village upSuper salad at the White Horse for Vicky's birthday2Will managed to keep the cake intact while cycling along the towpath!1YUM! 😋

    Disley

    April 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Will's burned hands had been gradually improving with multiple trips to Stepping Hill hospital. He'd been getting the bus from Marple but didn't want to be tied down so used Google Maps to find a bus from a village called Disley, along the Upper Peak Forest Canal. We were both keen to move on and see new sights so set off as soon as the weather allowed.

    Shortly after Marple services the Macclesfield Canal came to an end, joining the Peak Forest Canal at a T Junction. We turned right along the shorter 'upper' section that led south and east to its end at Whaley Bridge. Vicky found it difficult to get her head round the fact that the most southerly stretch of canal was the upper part, but Will explained it was because it climbed up the locks at Marple to its highest point at Whaley Bridge.

    By taking this turning we'd put off the 16 locks on the lower section but hadn't factored in the three swing and lift bridges between us and Disley. As luck would have it a guy with a windlass called over to Will from the towpath. He was from the boat following us and it turned out to be Dun Eideann; a boat that like Rainboat was made by Cain Narrowboats! He said he'd open the next bridge for us and when Will explained the situation, he kindly said he'd do all three to save us struggling. People are kind!

    It felt good to be on the move again and the scenery was stunning. Dry stone walls separated the canal from criss crossing hills lined with hedges and dotted with farmhouses, hamlets and villages. We pulled in just after Higgins Clough Swingbridge and waved our thanks and goodbye to Dun Eideann. The mooring was a little way out of Disley and felt very rural. Whiskers immediately leapt off to explore the wooded area beside the towpath and carried on popping in and out for the rest of the day. The spot had definitely got his seal of approval.

    The towpath was good enough for Vicky's chair so she was happy to be able to take the dogs out in the beautiful countryside during our stay. There was a bike track in the woods a little way along from us that lots of teenagers enjoyed using. One day there was a boat called Yongala moored opposite it with a dog and a number of metal crates on the towpath. We got chatting to its owner and soon recognised her as a friend of a friend. Molly travels with her dog Buddy, cockerel Billy the Bastard (who was sunning himself in the crates) and her cockateel Sid Vicious. Molly took a shine to Leo, especially when he growled and tried to bite Vicky for taking him away from Billy's food!

    The Dandy Cock Robinson's pub provided Will with lunch one day and a fish and chip shop by the bus stop for the hospital fed him on Saturday. Amazingly the nurse took his dressings off and deemed his burns sufficiently healed to leave them off and be discharged just 2 weeks and 2 days after the accident! He needs to keep lathering on E45 and protect them from the sun but we are both over the moon that they have reached this stage so quickly.

    We'd planned to move on but a tree brought down by Storm Dave blocked the canal at New Mills for a few days. Even after it was cleared, the Disley mooring was such a gorgeous spot we decided to stay on for Vicky's birthday. She rested a few days prior and was able to make it up the lane to the village for lunch at the White Horse. Back on Rainboat we popped a bottle of fizz, broke out the Thunderbolts Marvel movie and she made a good go at demolishing a triple decker bespoke chocolate cake Will had cycled to collect from a cake shop in Marple that morning 😋    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Our mooring spot from under Church Lane roving bridge
    Will could see Rainboat from the terrace of The Ring O' BellsBread and humus at the Ring O' BellsWill went for an explore in the canoe and took the bins to the rubbish point at the same timeMarple sees the end of the Macclesfield Canal and the start of the Peak Forest CanalBack home after A&ELeo was cross at being abandoned while we went to the hospital and concerned about his DadAbby was such a good girl at the vets she got a certificate when they discharged her1Getting the 3rd set of dressings in hospitalWill got to know this nearby pub wellAnd Vicky was well enough to visit once too.Staying as long as we did in Marple, Will got to book and attend a cheese and wine eveningTiger proud of her new harness and lead from Barkley and FetchGoyt Mill, a 1905 cotton mill now the home of many businesses including an indoor climbing centreA black rabbit on the golf courseNot a great photo but the first lambs of SpringMr Whiskers became quite poorlyIt was a relief when he began eating againThe geese are pairing up and beginning to build nestsSome lovely decorations at Marple servicesSea Bass and king prawns with a view of the canal at the Ring O' Bells verandaWill ate out lots because cooking and washing up were difficult

    Marple

    March 17 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    *Warning* One of the photos showing Will's injured hand looks gory so don't look at them you'd rather not see.

    Though Marple is a really pleasant, welcoming little town our stay there was not a happy one. Vicky's health hadn't improved much and we made the decision when we arrived to dial down our plans for onward travel, to focus on her getting enough rest and just move on as and when we could.

    We found a mooring spot near Church Lane Bridge, a roving bridge giving ramped access to the main road leading down to the town centre just 5 minutes away. From the boat we could see the Ring O' Bells veranda up the hill; another good Robinson's pub that Will got to know quite well during our extended stay.

    Sadly Vicky wasn't the only one feeling poorly. Abby had been gradually getting more and more lethargic and losing weight. We'd been buying her favourite gourmet pate in an effort to feed her up and she'd been keen to eat until she came down with a bout of sickness and diarrhoea. We hoped it would resolve itself but she was so unwell on Thursday that we called the nearby Marple Vets. They were a vet down but were amazing, rearranging another client's appointment so we could take Abby to them that morning. They admitted her as a day patient to rehydrate her with an IV line, give her anti sickness medication and take blood and urine tests. We were to pick her up when they closed and return her the following morning.

    During the day Will visited the Ring O' Bells for a light bite and returned home to light the fire. He'd bought a bottle of methylated spirit to use instead of firelighters in an effort to reduce residue build up. He put a capful in but it didn't seem to light so he poured another cap. As he put it into the stove the spirit in the cap caught light and in shock he tried to put it back on the bottle in his other hand, which also caught light and spilled all over his hands, the floor and ottoman. Leaping to the sink he was able to extinguish his his hands while Vicky put out the flames from the liquid splashed on his clothing, the floor and furniture.

    The burns were bad and it was necessary to keep his hands in cold water. His temperature began to drop and he was at risk of going into shock. Vicky bundled a duvet round his shoulders and got him a woolly hat and blanket for his lap. Thankfully at 0.1°C away from shock his temperature began to rise again. He eventually let Vicky call 111 who said he needed to go to hospital. Ambulance waiting times were 2 hours so we decided to get a taxi but before we could do this Vicky needed to pick Abby up from the vets. It was a relief to see her looking much better but her blood results showed the start of kidney failure, which was a blow.

    The pain of having Will's hands out of water was excruciating as we made our way up to the Ring O' Bells and waited outside for the taxi. He nipped into the pub toilets to run the taps over them a few times but in the taxi on the way to Stepping Hill the pain became too much and he passed out for a short time. A&E triaged him at the taps in the toilet and sent him to the Urgent Treatment Centre where he found a small sink. The nurse cut the blistered dead skin away and dressed his hands, giving advise to keep up the painkillers, keep hydrated and keep the worse hand elevated and fingers moving. We left around 9pm and all four furries were very relieved to see us.

    The following morning Vicky took Abby back to the vets for her second day of treatment. They were pleased with how she was doing and discharged her at the end of the day with a special certificate to say how good she'd been.

    Life was difficult. Vicky didn't have any energy, Will was dosed up on painkillers and incapacitated. At least there were shops close by, places Will could eat out and takeaways to keep us fed. We applied online to the CRT for an extended stay on medical grounds which was granted until 10th April. The laundry and dishes piled up. The place became even messier and muckier than usual as we eaked out the limited water we had on board and ran the engine instead of the generator for power.

    Will returned to hospital on Saturday to have his hands assessed and redressed. Thankfully he'd managed to extinguish the flames quickly enough that the burns hadn't penetrated so deep as to need skin grafts but he'd need to keep going back every few days to have them seen to. If we'd been registered in the area a District Nurse would have come to the house or perhaps GP surgery to do this but we were just grateful of the help offered by the hospital.

    Heartbreakingly Abby became more tired and stopped eating over the weekend. She was very frail and by Monday her sickness and diarrhoea was back. With her arthritis, heart murmur and now kidney failure her quality of life was poor. We made the decision that we didn't want her to suffer any longer and made the appointment with the vets for that afternoon. The staff had grown fond of her during her stay and were great with her and us, creating a calm and caring environment. She died quickly and peacefully in Vicky's lap. She was 16 3/4 and the most gentle, loving companion. We miss her.

    They say that when it rains it pours... well as we were struggling on, Leo became poorly to the point he stopped eating and Whiskers followed suit, hiding away under our bed for nearly two days. It was a very worrying time so soon after Abby's death but thankfully both are now recovered.

    We poured love into all three remaining furries and even took Tiger Lilly to Barkley and Fetch, a shop in Marple that makes dog harnesses on site. She's always had hand-me-downs so we got her fitted with a matching harness and lead of her very own.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Will couldn't resist pushing Vicky up the skate ramp in her chair 🫣
    The Bull's Head was the closest Robinson's pubIt kept Will entertained while Vicky restedSuch a joy to see each new raft of flowers blooming, even if they are a bit batteredFalafel salad and a meat pie at the Bull's HeadHigh Lane Park notice boardMushrooms on sourdough and delicious mushroom ravioli at The Royal OakNot one but two vegan deserts, which we shared.2Abby looking after her mum

    High Lane

    March 7 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    From Macclesfield we took quite a long cruise to High Lane and moored alongside High Lane Park. It was an affluent area with not one but two Robinson's pubs, The Bull's Head and The Royal Oak. It would have been showing unfair preference to visit one but not the other so we overindulged and visited both 😉 The Royal Oak was particularly good.

    Unfortunately it soon became clear that Vicky's health had crashed. She rested in bed while Will took care of her and the dogs but she wasn't bouncing back. It got to the point of not being able to stand without becoming breathless and having chest pains and when trying to move her GP appointment forward the surgery insisted she call 111. We got a call back from a clinician who insisted she go to A&E to get checked out. We spent 5 hours at Stepping Hill hospital and came back even more exhausted with nothing to show on any of the tests they did. She eventually got an earlier GP appointment and was prescribed a low dose of sertraline, which seemed to help with the breathlessness and chest pains but not the fatigue. It's quite scary when your body feels as if it is shutting down but Will is being an amazing support.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    One silkworm produces 1km of silk when it makes its cocoon
    The looms were just left as they were when the mill went bankruptTina demonstrating how readers would decipher a pattern to punch holes in Jacquard cardsChains of Jacquard cards strung ready to create the pattern shownSilk threads on a loom and a shuttle on top holding the weft thread.Daniel, one of the experts restoring a power loom.Delicate design made on a hand loomBobbins behind a beam bearing the marks of tools used to fix machine parts.The manager's office calendar still shows the date it was set to when the firm went bankruptLunch at The Fountain, an old Coop building repurposed as a barCrispy tempeh salad and a veggie burgerA historian was given a grant to sort, catalogue, restore and display the fabrics left behindThere were hundreds of boxes and she was keen to show her workFamous local illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe's paintingsVicky met the woman whose grandparents were featured in this display

    Paradise Mill, Silk Town

    March 5 in England ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Macclesfield is also known as 'Silk Town' owing to the fact it was at one time the world's largest producer of finished silk. We decided to learn more about it by going on a guided tour. Paradise Mill was one of 71 silk factories in the town. It operated right up until September 22nd 1981, when the business went bankrupt and workers walked out, leaving the equipment, goods and materials where they were. Today it is run by a charity and a handful of dedicated enthusiasts who preserve and restore the machines and pass on their knowledge of the industry to people like us.

    Our guide Tina packed a whole lot of information into the hour she spent showing us and another couple round the factory floor. Silk cocoons were imported from Italy via London. Each cocoon is made from about 1km of silk thread and the moths inside them were gassed or boiled to stop them munching their way out. There had been some form of silk making as a cottage industry in Macclesfield since the late 1600s, when French Protestant Huguenots sought refuge from religious persecution bringing their silk weaving skills with them.

    The town started off making silk buttons and progressed to silk weaving. Women and children were employed in the mills with a few men taking the 'skilled' jobs. Tina didn't skirt round the hardships of the trade, telling us that census data recorded a high rate of deformity among children, mangled, scalped and sometimes dying in accidents while working with the equipment. She ran a few of the machines to show us how loud it could get and said workers would quickly go deaf. They learned Mee-Maw talking; a cross between exaggerated lip movements and mime in order to communicate. Eyesight problems were also widespread, working with such fine threads in low light for hours on end.

    We were shown fabric designs drawn on paper using 8x8 grids. Tina then demonstrated the machine where a skilled reader would convert them line by line into holes punched in Jacquard cards. The cards were then strung together and attached to a loom, allowing cylindrical weights attached to the end of hanging threads on the weave to drop through the hole or be lifted en masse . Hand looms were smaller, slower but far more precise, whereas power looms could produce a less intricate pattern relatively quickly.

    The mill manufactured small items like ties right the way up to silk parachutes during the war. As well as silk, it wove synthetic materials like crimplene, terylene and rayon. There were hundreds of boxes of fabric left behind and after an enjoyable lunch at The Fountain we returned to the Silk Museum to be shown some of these boxes as they were being sorted, catalogued, cleaned and displayed as part of the Cartwright and Sheldon Archive project using a grant from the Pilgrim Trust. The Jill Brown, the artist and historian in charge was very enthusiastic to share her work with us and Will even spotted a fabric he used to have a tie made out of.

    The museum also contained a selection of paintings by local artist Charles Tunnicliffe, the illustrator of Tarka the Otter. Downstairs was an Ancient Egyptian display as well as more local historical artefacts. One woman stopped Vicky to tell her that a new exhibition set up in the corner was based on the lives of her grandparents, with a slideshow of photographs projected onto the wall and an interview with her playing on a loop. It was a nice touch. Vicky had already done too much by this point so we made our way back to Rainboat but we'd definitely recommend a tour of Paradise Mill and a visit to the free museum if you are ever in the area.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    View of our moorings from one of the high bridges
    Waterside homes near Brook Street WharfThe old Hovis Mill at Brook Street WharfA restored canalside milestoneMarine themed mural on the side of Rumba cocktail barArt inside Nomas GastrobarAnother Nomas muralSpanocopita and stuffed tomato and pepper at NomasThe cannoli was so good we bought some to take away tooA musical themed muralLovely windows and wooden shutters on this churchAnother snake bridgeSnow geese mural on the side of the The Snow Goose PubWe even got to see a mural being painted and talk to the artist!Everywhere was on a slopeThe town hallSt Michael and All Saints Church

    Macclesfield

    March 4 in England ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

    Apologies for the delayed publication of this post, I had a bad ME crash and am only just beginning to adjust to the new normal so the next few posts may be a bit skimpier than usual, Vi x
    __________________________
    At Macclesfield we squeezed Rainboat into a gap in a line of moored boats between two high road bridges. A stone wall separated us from a field on the towpath side. Gardens backed onto the canal to our port side. Past the far bridge lay Brook Street Wharf and an impressive looking restored mill that once belonged to Hovis.

    The Macclesfield Canal runs above the town it was named after and we made the most of exploring it over the sunny days ahead. Steep hills, narrow pavements without drop kerbs and cobbled streets made it difficult navigating the wheelchair between the boat and the towncentre almost a mile away but we managed and it was well worth the journey. Macclesfield is a town of art, with several large commissioned murals decorating the sides of buildings and smaller works brightening interior walls.

    There were several impressive old buildings including the Town Hall and St Michael and All Angels Church standing side by side in the centre. Macclesfield has more than its fair share of churches but what really struck us were the old red brick mill buildings with their grids of tall, rectangular windows. Back in its hey day there were 71 silk and cotton mills and many of them have been sympathetically restored and renovated into homes and offices.

    We found a friendly Greek gastrobar called Nomas for lunch where the chocolate canola were so good we bought some to take home too. On the way back to the boat we popped into a sweet shop and a small independent book shop. The town had a good vibe and we resolved to return the following day to visit the Silk Mill Museum (see separate post).    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Moving on to quieter, more rural surrounds
    The dogs were good trotting along behind Vicky on the towpathA good mooring with access to a garden centre and pub up those stepsOur tiny daffodils have finally bloomed 🌼Vicky came away from Fairways Garden Centre with a lot more than planned 🙈Yay! The fuel boat is here!Look at that blue sky! It does help to lift the mood2Whiskers enjoying the warmth of the sun3 of the 4 furries had to join us in the sunshine on the sternEvening sunshine and a backlit Pomeranian under Leek Old Road BridgeSpent puffballs

    Gurnett Aqueduct

    March 3 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    To escape the noise of the adjacent building site and the stress it was causing Leo, we decided to cruise to the next available mooring spot, wherever that may be. Vicky took her chair on the towpath with the dogs while Will steered Rainboat alongside. The chair travels up to 4mph and the canal speed limit is 4mph so it worked well.

    We soon left the noise and industrial surroundings behind and the scenery opened up to fields and trees. Rainboat slotted into the one space available between Leek Old Bridge (no.44) and the long line of boats tied up at Gurnett Aqueduct moorings. The name Gurnett comes from the small village nestled in the valley of the River Bollin below but the aqueduct appeared more like a continuation of the embankment than any bridge-like structure that would draw the eye.

    The sun was shining and our rooftop daffodils had bloomed. Will and Whiskers spent the rest of the day fishing from the stern, enjoying the warmth and a natter with passersby. Vicky and the dogs joined them later. Using a combination of post it notes and notes on the phone, we planned which of our seeds and plants would be planted in in which of our rooftop troughs. What prompted this scheming was the proximity of Fairways Garden Centre, just 150m down the lane running alongside the towpath. We visited the following day to restock on Vicky's houseplants. We also came away with a couple of hardy perennial evergreen plants that are supposed to be good for pollinators so we'll keep our eyes peeled for butterflies and bees when the flowers bloom in early summer.

    Vicky returned to Rainboat to rest while Will visited the nearby Kings Head for a spot of lunch. He'd only intended on grabbing something light but couldn't resist a lamb burger when he saw one on the menu. That evening our TV viewing was interrupted by loud yowls from outside. Vicky marched along the towpath with a torch and discovered Whiskers fronting up to a large tabby tomcat, who scarpered under the glare of the light and Vicky's abrasive admonitions. Whiskers trotted happily up to her when she called as if he was the best boy in the world. We locked him inside until bed time, hoping to give the tension time to cool down. At 2am Vicky was woken by more yowling from Whiskers and the territorial tabby so His Lordship was confined indoors for the rest of the night and we moved on the next day. Spring is definitely in the air!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Will managed to film 11 of the 12 locks before the drone ran out of range
    Particularly dark chamber stones quarried from the surrounding hillsOrchard Lock, our 2nd of the 12.Leo got tired travelling on the sternTiger Lilly helping at the locksShe needs a lot of reassuranceAlpacas alongside the canalA rainbow made up for the one short shower as we travelledBroadhurst Swing BridgeOne of many Elf Cups we found on the woodland floorAlthough the Macclesfield is well cared for there is clearly a lot of maintenance neededBoat moored next to an industrial site with a lot of fly tipped rubbishRainboat's mooring through the bridgeMoored in a long line of boats waiting for fuelThe building site opposite was too noisy for Leo to handle

    Bosley Locks & Lyme Green

    March 1 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    We stayed longer than planned at the beautiful Dane Aqueduct because Vicky wasn't well enough to cope with a dozen locks. Our rubbish was piling high and our cupboards were depleted as it was a long way to the nearest shop.

    We eventually cast off on Sunday morning; Vicky steering with Leo and Tiger tackling the locks with Will. Despite not setting off early, we were closely followed by two other boats who'd been moored nearby and had had the same idea. The Macclesfield is a narrow canal so sadly there could be no sharing of the locks or the work.

    Apart from the Stop Lock we passed through early on at Hall Green with a rise of just 1ft, the dozen Bosley Locks are the only ones on the Macc and they are clustered together over the space of 1.5 miles. Together they raise the water level by 118ft to 518ft above sea level. They are a beautiful flight, set amongst rural surrounds. Short, wide pounds, just large enough for two boats to pass are all that divide most of them. Beside each lock lies a now redundant side pond. These were designed as a water saving mechanism, whereby opening a sluice would allow half the water in the lock to flow into the pond, ready for refilling the chamber when the time came. They used to work and would certainly have come in handy during our recent summers of drought, but they were decommissioned by British Waterways many years ago and now stand as a mere monument to the ingenuity of the past.

    According to the Pearson's guide, the chamber stones were quarried from the nearby hill nicknamed The Cloud. Unfortunately for Will, all the lock gates were mitered pairs instead of (as is usual) the top gate being a time-saving single wide gate. To make it even more difficult, the walk planks that are usually attached to lock gates allowing boaters to cross from one side of the chamber to the other did not exist on any of the Bosley Locks. Will either needed to use Rainboat's bow and stern as stepping stones (no easy task when the bow is uneven and slippy and the stern gates stay shut to keep Leo safe) or trek back to the small bridges crossing each chamber downstream of the lock gates (no easy task when Tiger is either dragging slowly behind on the lead or getting stressed about being left by herself). He worked very hard and we made steady progress, cheered by the wooden troughs of daffodils about to come into bloom at each lock. The Macc really does seem a well cared for and loved canal. We get the sense that the voluntary Macclesfield Canal Society is very active, keeping towpaths maintained and adding little touches such as these planters.

    A several hours and only one short spell of rain later we cruised out of the top lock and moored almost immediately at services. Will filled with water and quickly relayed all our rubbish, recycling and composting to the wheelie bins. We didn't have the luxury of stopping for a rest as the boats who'd followed us also needed the services and a long line of moored craft ahead meant there was only the one spot to tie up.

    We were both exhausted by this point and Vicky was in no mood to carry on. For the first time in six years she isn't taking any antidepressants for her fatigue and her mood is still stabilising. Poor Will got the brunt of it, much to the shock of a passersby who heard her disembodied yells and saw a map book flying out the stern doors 🫣 Will gallantly took over at the tiller, mooring at the first place he could find; a rough bit of bank where he slipped and fell in a patch of nettles 🤕. This allowed us both to eat a very ate lunch and Vicky to go to bed.

    Regrettably our extended stopover at Dane Aqueduct meant we couldn't stay the night here. The fuel boat was due to deliver us diesel and a bottle of propane the next day but its route didn't come down as far as the locks. We needed to cover another couple of miles, including an electric swing bridge and a manual one before we could moor at Lyme Green winding hole; the southernmost reach of the fuel boat. With relief, Rainboat slipped into a line of about a dozen other moored boats, many of whom were also awaiting a fuel delivery. Vicky returned to bed while Will cooked us some tea and we both vegged infront of the TV that evening.

    Early the next day we were awoken by Leo's worried growling, woofing and the beeps and bangs from a building site directly opposite. So much for a lie in! What a contrast to the quiet of our previous rural surrounds. At least the towpath was good enough for Vicky to get out in her chair to walk the dogs. She'd been keen to explore Dane's Moss Nature Reserve that we were close to but sadly there was a railway line with a high bridge and many steps separating it from the towpath so it wasn't to be. Despite this disappointment and being in an industrial area, we enjoyed our outing. The day was warm(ish), the other walkers friendly and our route ran alongside a lovely strip of mixed woodland, where we had fun spotting Elf Cup funghi among the leaf litter. Vicky even took her chair back out to photograph the wooden swing bridge we'd passed through the previous day.

    Will went out afterwards and returned with his large rucksack bursting with fresh fruit, veg and other groceries. We had aimed to meet the fuel boat here but they'd messaged to say they were running a day late. Leo was really on edge with the noise from the building site so we decided to move on a short way that afternoon.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Bridge layers. F-B a road, flyover road, railway and pedestrian bridge looking back to Congleton.
    The long North Staffordshire railway viaduct blending onto the wooded slopes.Loving cruising outside in the sunshine2Happy Leo 🥰The land opening up to pastureThe Cloud or Bosley Cloud; a hill of 1125ft whose shape was carved during the ice age2Approaching Stanleys Bridge with stop planks on the leftLooking back on Stanier 1st Bridge with its swathe of snowdropsCongleton Bridge with Stanier 1st Bridge beyondWhiskers heading to the cobbled overspill. Free for the first time since the night before his op2Happy puss 😸Vicky found what she thinks is a Robin nest near our moorings. Small, mossy and lined with fleece.Heading back to Rainboat over Dane AqueductScreenshot of our position on a terrain map. You can see the Pennine Hills to the east and northLooking over the aqueduct railings to the River Dane 45ft belowLooking up to the aqueduct from the River Dane2Proud of Tiger making it down the muddy, overgrown slope. Leo wasn't having any of it!BT tower on the distant Suttons Common and the cobbled overspill in action2You can really see the embankment and shape of the aqueduct from this angle2Freshly baked, warm fruit scone with honemade strawberry jam courtesy of WillTreecreeper spotted on the offside

    Dane Aqueduct, below Bosley Locks

    February 25 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The cruise from Congleton to Dane Aqueduct was a true pleasure. Starting off, the sun warmed the air and made the colours around us pop. The course of the Macclesfield runs mainly straight with only a few bends so steering was a breeze. We began in a cutting, passing under numerous rail, road and footbridges, mostly constructed with huge hunks of squared off sandstone; probably Chatsworth Grit quarried from the surrounding hills.

    Our views had been somewhat limited within the confines of the cutting but now the channel emerged and was carried over a series of embankments and small aqueducts. The Shaw Brook and Dane Valleys sprawling away underneath and to our port while The Cloud hill rose amongst the Pennines in the distance to starboard. Beautiful!

    We'd seen Narrowboat Lexi setting off before us and timed it well because she was just leaving the water point on the offside as we arrived. Will even managed to return the tap connector they'd left behind after they'd winded and were passing us in the opposite direction. Another narrowboat arrived just as we were finishing, but apart from this we saw no other vessels on the move.

    We moored just before the impressive Dane Aqueduct that passes over the river some 45ft below. Will got busy stirring our compost boxes and Vicky did a little more on a macrame window drape for the bedroom. Later, Will worked with his niece, going through her online maths homework, while Vicky walked the dogs past 6 of the 12 Bosley Locks that we had yet to navigate.

    The following day it rained and we rested inside, blogging, learning on Duo Lingo, making marmalade, scones and fajitas. Being around 1km from the nearest road, it was wonderfully quiet and wonderfully dark when the sun set😊    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    2The refurbished Congleton Wharf building opposite our moorings
    2Growths on Mr Whiskers' gumsCongleton Community Garden2Lamberts Lane Roving Bridge allowing horses to switch towpath sides without being unhitchedDog Lane Aqueduct passing over Canal RoadThe three (noisy) geese who had made the wharf their homeCongleton Town Hall and Tourist InformationThe Tourist Info sold apple juice pressed in CongletonWill sitting on a 'Chatty Bench' hoping to find someone to chat to 😊The container village where we had lunch. It was quiet for a Saturday3Thai dishes from Nam Ploy with beer from R&Gs Tap House 😋An ornate water tower we spotted while walking to the closed garden centre2Fallen roadside daffs and newly sprouted seedlings brightening our dayMr Whiskers insisted on accompanying the dog walk. We had to turn back when he began crying 🙄1Morris Change Bridge being restored. Also called a Snake or Snailly bridge.Avo on toast for Vi and a Scottish Bap for Will at Sienna's with its 'carnivore based' menu.1Vicky loved visiting the North Rode Wood Yard2Congleton high street with Orso Lounge on the leftVegan cake at last 🥳 Raspberry chocolate torte and carrot cake at Orso LoungeGetting up earlier than usual for Whisker' op, Vicky spotted Goosanders in the wharf basinThe male leading the female Goosanders who took off pretty quickly when Vicky popped her head out.2Mr Whiskers returns from the vetsA post op Mr Whiskers wanting to be out exploringWill caught a few big fish in the Wharf basinWill's caught a big one and Mr Whiskers is there to 'help' 😬

    Congleton

    February 21 in England ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Before the journey to Congleton, Vicky had looked ahead to see that there was a vets less than a mile from the canal. We've been keeping an eye on some growths on Mr Whiskers' gums and felt it was time to get them checked again. Wright and Morten Vets had good online reviews and the added bonus of another branch close to our route through Macclesfield, should further appointments be needed. An evening phonecall managed to get Whiskers registered and booked in for the following morning.

    The journey wasn't an easy one to take in the wheelchair, with narrow, sloping pavements and too few drop kerbs, but we got there in one piece. Jo the receptionist offered to pop the rained on fleece we'd used to cover Whiskers' carrier in the dryer, very kind! Olivia the vet had already reviewed Whiskers' medical records and the photos of the growths Vicky had emailed through the previous day. Whiskers made himself very at home in the surgery, soon spying the packet of Dreamies and giving Olivia 'the eyes' until she did her duty and fed him 😻 He even jumped up on the counter and stole a gravy bone from the dog treat jar. Cheeky puss!

    The oral masses didn't bring up any red flags in their appearance but they had grown and become inflamed. The longer they were left the greater the risk there was of them causing infection and damage to his teeth, so it was decided to give him a dental and have them removed. Jo was able to get him booked in on Tuesday, just four days away, with Olivia, who he'd taken a shine to. All in all we were very happy with this.

    Saturday was market day so we repeated the journey in to Congleton. Joining the main street at the impressive Town Hall, we saw it was buzzing with activity. Cafés were full to bursting and footfall was high in and out of the many independent shops. The market seemed deserted in comparison. There were a few indoor and outdoor stalls selling books, phone cases, veg, eggs, meat and dairy. Will found some organic cheese but the offerings in general weren't very inspiring. What did look exciting was Congleton Market Quarter; a 'container village' that opened just over 2 years ago to help breathe new life into the town centre. This too was strangely quiet but held an exciting range of eateries and bars with shared seating. We chose Thai dishes from Nam Ploy, which we ate in R&Gs Tap House with their lagers 👌

    Knowing Whiskers would need some soft food after his procedure we went a little off the beaten track (difficult in the chair) to find a pet shop using Maps.Me. If it had ever existed it had shut down a long time ago because there wasn't any sign of it. (There was plenty of provision for dogs and even a pet fish shop in town but nothing for cats 😿). We headed back towards the Town Hall and the nearby North Rode Timber Company in the hope of getting plywood for replacement 'Boat Cat' signs and a plank for a bathroom shelf. We arrived to find it had closed at noon 😭

    We didn't fare any better the following day when we walked a mile to a small garden centre, where Vicky had high hopes of getting some replacement snowdrop and crocus bulbs, only to find its gate padlocked. The hours on both google and facebook said it should be open but there was nobody around so we had no option but to turn around and head home. Vicky picked some broken stemmed daffodils on the way back and Will bought some alcohol free bubbly from a Spar to cheer us up. Feeling slightly better we decided to swing by the closest pub to the boat; The Wharf Inn. This was also closed, despite google stating otherwise 😕

    Monday saw us catching the 91 Beartown Bus into Congleton. With services every half hour and only costing £1.50 it's a good community service that we felt happy supporting while saving our feet. The wood yard was open, friendly and very helpful in cutting us the pieces we needed. In search of a café lunch we found Congleton high street wasn't a good place for vegans. FEAST, the first independent we visited didn't have anything and Sienna's, the second, turned out to have a 'carnivore based menu' 😳 They did however make everything fresh and were keen to veganise their avocado on toast by subbing spinach for the egg, so we dined here, then asked at the Tourist Information for a source of vegan cake. After recommending the two places we'd already tried, the helpful advisor pointed us towards Orso Lounge. The Lounges are a chain but one that we like and Vicky found herself in heaven sitting on a comfy sofa amongst the quirky interior tucking into carrot cake and sampling Will's raspberry torte 🥳

    On our way to the bus station Will, who was wearing his rainbow scarf, was accosted by a street preacher asking him if he believed he was created by a higher intelligence. Will had seen the chalk board listing LGBTIQ as a 'perverted practice' alongside abortion and Islam. 'Not by a higher intelligence that wants to ban LGBTIQ!' he retorted angrily. The preacher sought to explain that they didn't want to ban those with 'sexual deviancy' but save them from hell. Oh dear. After doing some digging, Vicky found the guy had been arrested back in August for harassing people and 'preaching' against abortion even when conception happened under the most terrible of circumstances. She wtote to the town council who got back to her straight away thanking her for relaying the experience, which was useful to add to the body of evidence. The police had been called by several shopkeepers who were also accumulating evidence and a Code of Conduct had been implemented which limited expressions of free speech such as this to 30 minutes. It was good to know.

    The wheelchair came in handy for transporting Mr Whiskers into Wright and Morten for 08:45 the next morning. It would have been a real struggle to carry his nearly 6kg weight for the 20 minutes it took to walk otherwise. We weren't too worried about the anaesthetic and minor procedure but it was still a relief when Olivia called that afternoon to say everything had gone well. They'd offered him some soft food when he came round and apparently he'd been so enthusiastic he gave himself a gravy bath! There was just one small extraction needed of a tiny front incisor, all the previously visible growths had been removed as well as some small flaps further back on his gums and everything had been scaled and polished. Pupils huge in his green eyes, he made it known he was very happy to see us and didn't seem at all phased by the taxi ride back. The drugs had hyped him up and he bolted later on when we took the dogs out. Luckily he came back so we put his harness on and all sat out on the stern in the evening sunshine while Will fished and Whiskers looked on excitedly whenever the rod twitched.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Moss Lane Bridge crossing one of the cuttings in the canal course.
    A site of one of many former bridges narrowing the channel.Hall Green stop lock. 1ft rise. A brick and a stone keeper's cottage, one from each canal company.Filling at Hall Green. The footbridge shows some ornate ironwork, of which there is more to come.Squeezing under a bridge with Rainboat's chimney up.Disused swing bridgeHeritage Marina and chandleryRamsdell HallCarved woodpecker on an old tree stumpA milestone restored and reinstated by Macclesfield Canal SocietyA closer view of a milestone. We couldn't read the inscription on this one.A 'Snake Bridge' allowing horses to switch towpath sides without needing to be unhitched

    Poole Aqueduct to Congleton Wharf

    February 19 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    The gales had passed and the chances of rain were low so after five days at Poole Aqueduct moorings we took the chance to move on. Vicky wasn't well so lay on the dinette bench with the dogs while Will single handed.

    We've had a bit of time to research the Macclesfield and have found it's history interesting. It is one of Britain's narrow canals for boats no wider than 7ft. A latecomer to the water haulage scene, it was completed in 1824, for the purpose of connecting the Trent and Mersey to the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, 26.25 miles to the north.

    Initially surveyed by the famous Thomas Telford, it's creation fell to the less renowned engineer William Crosley. It is a typical cut and fill construction; the route takes as straight a course as possible by cutting through hills and building up embankments to keep the elevation level. Many of the raised stretches provide good views over the surrounding countryside and there are some very attractive looking aqueducts over valleys as well as tall bridges spanning the cuttings. Much of the course is rural, but it does skirt via the east sides of Congleton and of Macclesfield.

    Due to historical worries over tolls, the well established Trent and Mersey Canal Company actually built the first 1.5 miles of the route from Hardings Wood Junction on its mainline, to an area called Hall Green. Here a stop lock with a rise of 1 foot was installed, along with two keeper's cottages, one built by the Trent and Mersey and the other by Macclesfield Canal Company, one of stone and one of brick. This is formally known as the 'Hall Green Branch', although nowadays it is considered part of the Macc.

    Will worked Rainboat through the lock and docked to fill with water, before cruising onwards. From this point there is a nine mile reprieve from the seemingly endless locks.

    Will enjoyed the countryside views and curiosities such as the roving 'Snake Bridges' and the milestones indicating distances between Hall Green Stop Lock and Marple (removed during WWII for fear of helping the enemy but since lovingly restored and reinstated by Macclesfield Canal Society).

    The waterway widened at Congleton Wharf and this is where we chose to moor; directly opposite the original Macclesfield Canal Company Wharf building. Since converted to apartments, this was the site were Congleton's supplies and wares would have been loaded and unloaded. It mainly served the nearby cotton mill but would have traded in silk, coal, quarried stone and later functioned as a canal / rail interchange.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Bunting decorating one of the Lawton Treble Locks
    Iron from the water staining the lock gatesOne of the duplicated locks left to nature alongside the working oneVicky went ahead to set the locks while Will exited and closed the previous lock gate.A roller to protect the wall from horse lines wearing it awayCruising under Poole Aqueduct that carries the Macclesfield over the Trent and MerseyDelay at the last lock where the bridge was too low to keep Little Rainboat on the roofTurning onto Hall Green Branch of the Macclesfield at Hardings Wood Junction!Passing over Poole Aqueduct. Notice the difference in water colour between the Macc and T&M belowMooring spot just beyond Poole AqueductPearson's guide book map of our journey from Rode HeathWe had a great time at The Red Bull2Breaded Mushroom starter and a Dizzy Blonde for Will1Will's Sunday lunch with plant based 'chicken' and Vicky's vegetable sizzler with black bean sauceHappy lady with vegan ice cream dessert2'Old Tom' 8.5% from Robinson's celebrated its 126th birthday in November 2025So happy to have these beauties in our roof gardenVicky fished this bike out of the canal and arranged for the police to pick it upEnjoying a rest day 🥰Such a joy to spot Spring bulbs bloomingBuilt in 1939, a really interesting building with tasty food to bootIt was 'Chippy Tuesday' so Will had fish while Vicky had Cottage PieSuper indulgent Biscoff Cheesecake for dessertA swathe of snowdrops on the towpathMow Cop summit & ruined castle folly has been in our sights for a long time. Alas, too far to visit.

    Celebrating new waters! The Macclesfield

    February 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    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

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Thurlwood Top Lock with its pretty cottages
    Moored with other boats at the visitor moorings1The canalside Broughton Arms1MainsMovie and duvet time. Big spoon and little spoon. Excuse the mess; too cute not to share.We were happy to see the fuel boat. We'll be using a different one when we get onto the MacclesfieldRode Heath Rise grassland on our day of departureVicky finished reading this iconic book, a gift from Pete & Maggie. A great read.

    Rode Heath

    February 12 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    With cold weather on it's way we wanted to be a bit closer to civilisation so it was yet again a short cruise, this time through Thurlwood Lower Lock and Thurlwood Top Lock to moor at Rode Heath visitor moorings. Pretty rows of terraced cottages stood alongside the locks. They were adjoined by a more recently developed housing estate of brick built semis. On the towpath side we passed a muddy collection of small paddocks with equally muddy ponies pulling at a round of hay. These led on to some rag tag allotments and finally to the slopes of Rode Heath Rise. Formerly a salt works, this area has been turned into grassland and opened to the public. It was certainly a popular asset judging by the number of dog walkers we encountered.

    The Broughton Arms was only a 4 minute walk away along the towpath and over the small, arched, brick pedestrian bridge. We had lunch there on the first day but were not impressed. We knew from the last time we had visited not to expect much but even so, we came away disappointed. The Broughton is a Marstons pub and signs advertised 10% off drinks if you ordered via the QR code at your table. This was a faff and required a code that wasn't displayed. Will ordered a veggie burger and Vicky the soup, with a side of corn on the cob. The person we ordered from told us she didn't think they'd got any plant based butter so when the food arrived with butter we needed to check it was vegan. Vicky was excited to see the jaffa cake slice was vegan but disappointed that the this version was just served without ice cream whilst being charged at the same price. It took ages to arrive and our empty plates were still on the table when it did... with ice cream. Once again we needed to check whether this was vegan and were told that 'as the kitchen doesn't have any vegan ice cream, it wouldn't be'. Full stop. No offer of replacement or refund. Vicky was feeling quite unwell by this point so Will ate the ice cream and she had the cake. We left poor online reviews and resolved to avoid eating at Marstons pubs in the future. We've never been impressed by their food but this wasn't acceptable.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Making the most of a dry spell by combining the cruise with the dog walk
    Chells Hill BridgeCrossing Chells Hill AqueductMoored at the wholesale nursery on the edge of Rode Heath.What a nice surprise to find all these iris bloomed together in the space of a dayA few more to come too. The wholesale nursery trees in the background.1"I'd rather stay at home mom"

    A short hop to near Rode Heath

    February 11 in England ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Rain, rain, rain. Here in Cheshire we've by no means had the worst of the UK's wet weather but the towpaths have certainly had their fill and we've spent many a day huddled inside Rainboat listening as a light patter turns to heavy drumbeats on her roof, while droplets splash against and run rivulets down her windows.

    When in the motorhome we spent many a rainy day travelling. Things are different on a narrowboat when you need to stand on the stern with your hand on the tiller, so travel is usually reserved for dry days. However, with our food cupboards beginning to run low, today we waited for one of the short dry spells and did a short hop between locks. Vicky put coats on the dogs and walked them along the muddy slick of a towpath while Will piloted Rainboat. The rain resumed just before we pulled in but thankfully it came on slowly.

    The spot we chose was a straight section just shy of Thurlwood Lower Lock at Rode Heath. The field opposite hosted a neat grid of saplings with canes and trunk guards; part of Matthews Nurseries. Beyond an ivy bound hedge on the towpath side, grew a weather-beaten crop of brassicas and more saplings. Further along the towpath this flowed into Rode Heath Rise; the site of an old salt works turned open parkland. Will passed one of the entrances to it when he walked into the village to get supplies from the small Permier shop and enjoy a pint at the Broughton Arms.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A bywash to the side of the first lock we tackled
    Ornamental Staghorn Sumac growing at locks. So called because its bark is hairy like stag antlersAnother lock but the surroundings are beginning to feel more ruralTraditional features of cobbles and a rubbing strip to protect the bridge from the horse lines3Mr Whiskers is getting fat eating kibble inside so Vicky was pleased he came out for a walkA dull dayA Ruddy Shell Duck with Egyptian Geese. A rare sight for us but they do sometimes interbreed.

    Pierpoints Top Lock, Hassall Green

    February 9 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We made the most of Vicky feeling well today and ascended a little more of Heartbreak Hill. We polished off the last two Wheelock Flight Locks, cruised under the noisy M6, through the two Hassall Green Locks and rounded the journey off with the pair of Pierpoint Locks.

    The further we cruised away from Middlewich the more rural our surroundings felt. It was good to see stone walls and mature native hedges bordering farm boundaries. The latter make such a positive difference to wildlife. The land around us is still flat but there is a hill in the distance. It felt good to be moving and seeing new sights.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Ascending one of the duplicated locks with a view of the next pair ahead.
    Vicky took stock of what bulbs had come up in our roof planters. No flowers yet.She also sowed some seeds indoors

    Malkins Bank

    February 8 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today's temperature reached the giddy high of 10°C! It was dry with only a light breeze and we felt a sense of relief to be able to cruise in such clement conditions. The journey began at Wheelock Wharf where we emptied our toilet, bins and filled with water before beginning the Wheelock flight; part of a longer run of 26 locks over the next 7 miles known as Heartbreak Hill.

    Vicky was weak so Will took Tiger ashore and worked all the locks. This section is unusual because each lock is twinned with another, sitting side by side, in order to speed the passage of boats at busy times.

    The latter part of our journey took us alongside the Malkins Bank golf course, built on the site of the old Brunner Mond sodium carbonate works. Small cottages, originally built for short haul boaters and employees of the chemical works added interest to our cruise.

    We ascended six locks before mooring between numbers 61 and 60. The flat fields around us were divided up into smaller plots by white prodigious amounts of white electrical tape to provide grazing for ponies. The birds were getting busy courting and beginning to build nests in the hedges and there was a distant thrum of white noise from a flyover of the M6 motorway.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    New piling being installed on a well maintained stretch of towpath
    Beautiful sunset from the towpath at WheelockWe discovered a little park near our mooringThe park gave access to a sandy beach beside the River WheelockIt was a quiet mooringWheelock; Cheshire Cheese pub (L), Pet Superstore (back R) and a sign for garden gnomesSandbach Market HallA novelty offering from the chocolate shop: Pork Chocs. Will tried them but wasn't convinced.2Vicky came away with a sumptuous bar of chocolate filled with mint ganache.Our lunch spot in SandbachCafé On The Square. 5 bean stew with kimchi and homemade quiche 😋St Mary's Church and the Sandbach Crosses seen from Café on the SquareSandbach main squareThe Sandbach Crosses. 9th century Anglo Saxon Grade I listed monuments.We hope our newly purchased boot scraper will be worth the space it takes upMr Whiskers does like a snuggle buddy at bed time. Leo isn't so keen 😏Good to see this pub reopened. Unfortunately Barchetta restaurant only had 3/5 food hygieneThe pups enjoyed their visit to the newly refurbished Cheddar Cheese pub2Vicky has been doodling mandalas during her rest days.

    Wheelock and Sandbach

    February 6 in England ⋅ 🌧 4 °C

    We are taking advantage of the dry days to zip along the sections of canal we've travelled on previously, in order to get to new waters. We intend to turn north off the Trent and Mersey and explore the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals, heading north east on the Huddersfield Narrow, through Standedge Tunnel. Long term we'll travel east to Wakefield, then south over The Wash to Cambridge.

    Today we ascended the three Booth Lane locks and cruised through rural surroundings to arrive at Wheelock, stopping just before Wheelock Wharf, between a field and some back gardens on the off side. Will went straight off to explore and surprise surprise, found a pub! He got chatting to some locals who advised him to visit Sandbach, just a short bus ride away.

    A bitter wind blew forcefully overnight, draughting in through the air vents at the head of our bed. It blasted Rainboat so she rocked against her lines, only to yo-yo back and bang against her fenders. It was raining and frigid the following morning, with a real feel of -1°C. We waited for a dry spell before walking the dogs and even then only gave them a short one. Leo has a little more hair now and can keep himself warm for a while by running about but he gets tired quickly.

    We left the dogs with the heating on and caught the number 38 a few stops to Sandbach. It was nearly 15 minutes late and we got pretty cold standing on the roadside. Wheelock seemed a quiet place with a restaurant, pub, convenience store, pet store and a vendor of garden gnomes but Sandbach was more lively. A few covered market stalls sold fruit, veg, eggs and brick-a-brack while permanent stands inside the small Market Hall offered jewellery, vintage clothing, dog 'wellness', woodcraft, new age crystals and goth paraphernalia alongside the more conventional butchers, cheese shop and café. We were drawn to the Chocolates to Cherish stall which had a whole shelf, small though it was, dedicated to vegan chocolates, all handmade by Paul Stockbridge, Master Chocolatier. His partner Tracy runs her A Sense of Wellbeing business from the same stall.

    Vicky needed a sit down so we didn't linger long. The cobbled main square bordered by old townhouses was just around the corner. Here we found The Café On The Square which not only had a vegan option but a whole plant based menu alongside their vegetarian and meat based one. We joined other diners up a winding staircase where we were treated to a view of the square though the olde worlde vertical grid window. From our table we could see the locally famous Sandbach Crosses; Anglo Saxon stone monuments from the 9th century. They'd been destroyed sometime in the 16th or 17th century and their pieces scattered, but in 1816 a local historian had collected together most of the pieces and reassembled them!

    Sight seeing over, we visited the fruit and veg stall, butchers, Aldi and Handy Household; a good quality 'sells everything' store where we somehow managed to buy £77 worth of items, including a boot scraper in an attempt to stave the endless tide of mud tramped into Rainboat's galley. We really enjoyed our trip to this little town, which had a good mix of sightseeing opportunities, practical services and places to treat yourself.

    Friday was much the same weatherwise so we took the dogs to Cheddar Cheese; the Wheelock pub that Will had visited when he first arrived. It had been reopen for less than a week after a shiny new refurbishment. The staff were happy to have customers and the dogs got treats and fuss from them as well as other patrons and even the plumber 🥰 From here it was on to even more strokes and some interesting smells in the pet superstore. We took the opportunity to buy cat litter even though we didn't need it. The bags are so heavy they are difficult to carry over any distance so a canalside pet shop was an opportunity to be taken advantage of!

    Will returned to Cheddar Cheese for a fish and chip lunch the following day while Vicky rested. It was the pub's first day serving food so it felt good to support them.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We were shocked to find ourselves in a queue for Stanthorne Lock 🚤🚤🚤🚤🚤
    A heart of rusty bells someone had hung on Wardle Lock gate1From descending the Middlewich Branch we began to ascend the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kings LockThe British Salt factory alongside the canal produces more then half the UK's domestic outputAnother part of the salt manufacturersEntering the larger part of Tetton Bridge......only to find the profile change half way throughRectangular entrance and an arched exit1Another muddy mooring spot. Tiger stuck to the concrete lined bank to avoid getting mucky.

    Tetton Bridge, Trent and Mersey Canal

    February 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    The day was a bit nippy and breezy but dry. We even got about 10 seconds of sunshine! After checking Mr Whiskers was onboard and not prowling in Stanthorne Woods Vicky took the dogs ahead to set Stanthorne Lock. We got a shock when we encountered a queue! Not one, but two boats were moored waiting to enter the lock and incredulously a further two boats arrived and queued after us! This rarely happens in summer, never mind on a dull day at the beginning of February.

    We chatted away with the other boaters and helped work the paddles and gates until it was our turn. We then stopped at the visitor moorings for Will to fetch his prescription and make a long awaited visit to Middlewich's Angling Superstore. After lunch we timed it right at Wardle Lock, arriving just as someone was leaving. We still needed to fill it before we could enter but at least we didn't need to wait. Once we'd descended and exited, Will sounded Rainboat's horn and turned right off the Middlewich Branch onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. There is a very awkwardly placed water point at this junction which was in use so Will then needed to reverse and moor on the other side to wait for it. We are wearing a lot of layers this time of year and needing more water than usual to get through all the washing. When the woman and her French Bulldog had finished filling their tank, Vicky worked them up Kings Lock while Will began to fill Rainboat. Another boater then came to help Vicky work the lock when it was Rainboat's time. All in all it was a very cooperative and sociable day.

    The busy main road runs very close to the canal for more than a mile here with only a small embankment between them. It wasn't the nicest place to stop so we cracked on past the British Salt factories, up Rump's Lock and by some new Traveller homesteads. We came to a grinding halt half way under Tetton Bridge where the main road crosses the water. The bridge has been widened and its entrance profile is high enough to fit Rainboat's chimney and the canoe underneath but half way through the ceiling drops by about a foot. Thankfully Will spotted the danger and stopped in time, allowing us to put the chimney down and get the canoe off the roof. We moored not long after, alongside a large house and garden where it was safe for the furries to explore.

    Will messaged the fuel boat to let them know where to find us the following day, then managed to sit and rest for a whole 10 minutes before heading to the stern to fish with his newly purchased pole and maggots. He was rewarded with four fish and the sight of a huge flock of Starlings flying overhead.

    The following day was a pretty miserable movie and duvet day as Vicky wasn't well but the fuel boat came and filled our tank so at least we were toasty warm with no worries about where to get diesel.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    The towpath was a mess of claggy mud which inevitability got traipsed into Rainboat
    2Barbridge JunctionThe narrow Cholmondeston Lock was so much easier to work than the large, heavy, wide locks.Passing Paul and Antony on Morning Star at Venetian MarinaHe really does love being in his backpackVicky's been spotting Signs of Spring for the Woodland Trust. First flowering Lesser CelandineOne of the many stocked bird feeders alongside the towpathOur mooring at Stanthorne Woods near Coalpit Lane beeping bridgeThe Alhambra, Middlewich. A cinema in the 1920s, then a bingo hall, a bar & Chinese, now an ItalianOne of Will's many pleasures; sampling local alesBeetroot burgers at the White Bear

    Stanthorne Woods, Middlewich

    Jan 30–Feb 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Calveley services were a short walk along the towpath and over a bridge from our previous night's moorings so Vicky took the dogs on foot while Will piloted Rainboat. The air was too cold and damp for Leo to want to be outside, so he was tucked inside her coat. A few minutes later she took pity on Tiger's efforts to pick her way through the claggy mud and tucked her under her other arm. Not quite the dog walk we'd hoped for!

    After emptying bins and the pee pot and filling with water, Vicky and the furries travelled inside while a well wrapped Will steered on the stern. The journeying was slow going with what seemed like miles of moored boats lining the banks. When passing any stationery craft it's expected that you drop your engine into tickover (about 2mph as opposed to the usual 4mph) so your wake doesn't unduly disturb the floating homes. Despite the slow pace it wasn't too long before we got to Barbridge Junction, taking the tight left turn off the wide Shropshire Union mainline on to its narrow Middlewich Branch. From her vantage point at the side hatch Vicky didn't think Rainboat would make it round, but the feared collision never came as Will executed the manoeuvre in one- bravo Will 👌

    There are hardly any other boats moving at this time of year so it was a surprise when we saw one ahead of us going into Cholmondeston Lock. It was even more of a surprise to realise it was Paul and Antony from the very successful YouTube Channel Narrowboat Life Unlocked. We got chatting while helping Paul work NB Morning Star through the lock and he remembered that it had been here on the Middlewich Branch where we'd first met, before spending Christmas 2023 moored in the Llangollen Basin together.

    The narrow lock was easy and quick to refill and get through compared to the heavy gated wide locks of the mainline and it wasn't long before we were overtaking Morning Star as she filled with fuel at Venetian Marina. We passed through Minshull Lock and pottered on to moor at Stanthorne Woods; another favourite spot of ours. Whiskers loves stalking down the bank into the mature copse and the towpath has been hardpacked so the dogs were happy to potter and we weren't traipsing in great clods of mud every time we stepped aboard.

    Someone has installed a series of homemade wooden bird feeding stations along this route. They are kept topped up with a seed mix and the hawthorn hedge is alive with the flutter of tiny wings and the chirps of happy birds; a real joy to witness.

    On Saturday Will cycled and Vicky took the chair the 2km in to Middlewich high street. We arrived at Rowlands Pharmacy at 12:04pm to pick Will's prescription up, only to find it closes at noon on Saturdays. Oh well, we could wait 'til Monday. The independent pet shop had neither Dreamies nor lickilicks for the cats and no sweet potato chews that Vicky had been looking for for the dogs. We did a Lidl shop and treated ourselves to a beetroot burger and chips at the friendly White Bear hotel and pub. Thankfully Tesco Express had Dreamies so we were welcomed back aboard by Abby and Whiskers!    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Approaching Wharton's Lock and its strong bywash
    Happy puppyGeese flying in front of Beeston CastleAn unimpressed Tiger Lilly at Beeston Iron LockRainboat approaching Tilstone LockTilstone Lock at its Lengthsmens' hutThe old stables at Bunbury Staircase LockVicky and Tiger were relieved this was the last lock of the dayWill made Vicky very happy by returning home with cake 😋

    Calveley visitor moorings

    January 28 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    The sky was blue and the sun was bright on this cool, windless day. Perfect winter cruising weather! Vicky set off with the dogs along the muddy towpath to set Wharton's Lock; the first of six on today's itinerary. She opened the paddles and popped Leo into the backpack with his hot water bottle. Leo gets bored very easily and his boredom tends to lead to mischief. Mischief and locks are not a good combination!

    Will steered while Vicky either rode inside or walked between the locks, depending on how far apart they were. We tackled Beeston Iron Lock (so called because of it's reinforced iron walls, Beeston Stone Lock, Tilstone Lock and finally the Bunbury Staircase Lock. The gates were heavy and the paddles stiff to wind and we were both pretty knackered by the end. Even Leo had refused to get out of his bag and walk the last time he was put on the floor! The small chandlery at Bunbury had sold us ice creams the last time we'd passed. Alas, Vicky's hopes for another to reward all her hard work were dashed when they didn't have any vegan ones 😪

    There were a line of boats moored just beyond Bunbury and we pulled in hoping to do the same. Vicky hopped on board with the dogs and Mr Whiskers hopped straight off, keen to make the most of the good weather after two days of captivity. Unfortunately, the underwater shelf protruding from the bank was too wide even for our tyre fenders, scraping and banging against Rainboat's hull whenever either of us moved around inside. We ate a late lunch and Vicky scoffed our last mince pie. Will found what looked like suitable moorings on Canal Plan AC and lured a reluctant Mr Whiskers back on board before casting off and cruising another 10 minutes up the cut. There were several other boats at Calveley, no shelf to contend with and Mr Whiskers was just as happy with his surroundings as he had been at Bunbury 🙂

    The next day was a duvet and movie day for Vicky and the dogs. Will walked 20 minutes to the Tollemache Arms in hope of a pub lunch but it turned out to be more of a formal restaurant than a pub so he took advantage of his Pensioner's bus pass and caught a bus to the the a canalside Texaco fuel station where he bought a hot pie and some fruit. There has been a dearth of supermarkets so it was a relief to get some fresh food. He followed the pie up with a pot of tea and slice of cake from the nearby Calveley Mill Shop and Café. Next door was a cheese shop we were used to passing on the canal but had never been in, so Will siezed the opportunity and bought a huge chunk of mature cheddar. He then walked back along the towpath with a slice of cake stowed away in his bag for Vicky.    Read more

  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1If bridge number 111 was the NHS bridge, what would this one be 🤔
    Our mooring opposite the Shady. We were pleased to have rings to tie up to with Storm Chandra's windLeek and potato ravioli and Mi Amore pizza.Chocolate and hazelnut delice with kirsch cherries. Sooo gooood!1Mr Whiskers' substitute catnip mouse as compensation for him having to stay indoors.

    A poisoning beside The Shady, Tiverton

    Jan 26–28 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    We'd planned to do a long cruise but Vicky wasn't well so she stayed inside with the furries and we just did a couple of hours, stopping at The Shady pub before we needed to do any locks. We're fond of The Shady so it was no hardship!

    That evening Mr Whiskers returned from exploring, sat on Will's lap for a while and was then violently sick. Luckily Will had time to put him on the floor before he vomited up three mice and some small colourless beads. Rat poison 😢 We locked him in to keep an eye on him and thankfully he didn't suffer any more obvious ill effects. His body obviously sensed something was wrong and was able to get rid of the toxins quickly enough for them not to do any serious harm. Thank goodness! We are aware we take a risk with the cats' safety by allowing them outdoors but we don't think Whiskers is the type to be happy as an indoors cat so we choose to take that risk for his mental health and physical fitness.

    That night Storm Chandra made herself known, lashing rain and gusting wind. It was rocky and noisy on board and not the most restful of sleeps but happily the worst had passed by morning and we were able to get out for a dog walk by mid day, even if Vicky did need to carry Leo in her coat because of the cold, muddy towpath!

    It was a treat to revisit The Shady for lunch. The food is pretty expensive but good quality and they have Vicky's favourite nonalcoholic cider: Smashed 😋    Read more

  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice