Day 40 – Bugsworth to Macclesfield (via Whaley Bridge)

A early rise meant that Bernard could dismantle part of the engine to more fully check the diesel leak and, with assistance from Michael O’Hagan, pump the contaminated oil into a suitable container. Whilst nothing conclusive was found, a couple of loose unions in the lubricating oil system were tightened. After filling up with new oil the engine was run whilst Bernard investigated further. It seems likely that the diesel is actually coming from the injector feed pipe on one cylinders but we have no information about this part of the engine so it will need professional attention.

We set off and soon returned to the junction of the canal and turned towards Whaley Bridge where there is a well restored canal warehouse with a central loading bay for canal boats inside the building. Turning and retracing our steps we arrived back in Marple where we headed towards Macclesfield. We passed through the fine turn-over bridge at the junction and met a boat that we had last seen at Frankton locks on the Montgomery canal.

Our mooring in Macclesfield

From our high vantage point the sunny day enabled us to see across the countryside to Manchester. We eventually reached Macclesfield having passed more boats on the move today than we saw in all the time we were in south Yorkshire. Here we said goodbye to Mark Place and Michael O’Hagan who were then ferried back home by Michael’s father.

Menu: cooked breakfasts or breakfast sandwiches; cold gammon salad; steak.

Day 39 – Stalybridge to Bugsworth

Further investigations this morning showed that there was a leak from the diesel supply into the engine oil. A fairly common complaint with this series of Lister SR2 engines.

Having descended the final locks of this canal we turned south towards Macclesfield and waited whilst we collected two additional members of crew, Mark Place and Michael O’Hagan. Bernard sought advice in the adjacent boatyard and fortunately found an engineer who knew the engine well. He confirmed the diagnosis and suggested places, inside the engine, to be inspected. A suitable supply of engine oil and a hand pump were purchased.

By this time it was raining and we resumed our journey. At Hyde we said farewell to Alex who was leaving to return to Durham. We had lunch on the move and arrived at the foot of the Marple flight of sixteen with their average rise of over thirteen feet per lock. On our way up the flight we said goodbye to Luke who was returning to Oxford ready to start full-time employment in London.

At the top of the locks we continued on towards the Bugsworth terminus of the canal. The rain eventually stopped and we had some spectacular views across the countryside from our position high on the side of the hills. Bugsworth was reached and we moored in the first available position before investigating the Navigation Inn just above the end of the canal. Some good beer was drunk and a better mooring place was found. The boat was moved as dinner was finalised. About one minute after we had tied up another boat appeared intent on using the same mooring – sorry chaps we got there first!

Menu: Full English with kidneys or cereal and toast; cold tongue and gammon salad; roast chicken with rum bananas.

Lock 1W, our last lock, on the Narrow

Bugsworth Basins