Alton's Schedule - May 2012

Sat 12th - Sun 13th: Oakgrove (Br 49 Macc) to Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth.
Mon 14th - Fri 18th: Bugsworth to Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Chester & Ellesmere Port.
Sat 19th - Tues 22nd: Ellesmere Port to Chester, Middlewich, Anderton & River Weaver.
Tues 22rd - Fri 25th: River Weaver to Preston Brook, then back down T&M through Middlewich & Kidsgrove & back to Oakgrove (Br49 Macc).
Sat 26th - Sun 27th: Oakgrove (Br 49 Macc) to Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth.
Mon 28th: Bugsworth to Marple & Ashton under Lyne
Tues 29th: Ashton under Lyne to Marple & Oakgrove (Br 49 Macc)
Thurs 31st: Oakgrove (Br 49 Macc) to Kidsgrove on route to the Etruria Canal Festival


Please note the above schedule is our plan, but it may vary dependent on traffic, customer volumes & stoppages. So if you need supplies it's best to give us a text or call on 07791345004 to ensure delivery.

Cheers, Brian & Ann Marie
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Fun, Friends, Fenders & Falling Trees!

Well it's been a md busy month and I'm afraid our blogging has suffered! However, whilst weve been quiet customers old & new have been featuring us in thier blogs.

Ann Marie met up with Fiona & John on NB Epiphany, who called in for supplies whilst we were tied up at Oakgrove. We then featured in their very comprehensive & interesting blog: http://nbepiphany.co.uk/

On the same day Brian was having a short boatmans holiday helping George & Irene Boyle bring Badger back up the Cheshire Locks on their way back from Elesmere Port Easter Rally. He had a fun day & managed to keep in touch with a few updates & photos on Twitter, much to Irene's annoyance

Over the weekend run 28th to 30th April the weather was atrocious and we had some serious fun in the wind and rain. After leaving Marple on the Sunday morning, the wind was blowing a serious whooley, after passing through bridge 21 near Strines, we suddenly heard a tremendous creak & crash, as we looked behind we saw that one of the tall pine trees had fallen over the canal & was resting on the cottage on the opposite side of the canal, Brian managed to get a quick photo as we made our escape!

We carried on battleing against the wind, near New Mills we passed the trip boat the Judith Mary & gav e our friend Paul the steerer a wave, soon after Paul phone us to say that he had broken down, due to a broken oil feed pipe, so we reversed back towards New Mills to pick up the tow. Oh what fun towing a trip boat of passengers backwards in gale force winds!

Our antics where also caught by Geoff on NB Seyella on his blog: http://www.seyellas-journey.blogspot.co.uk/

After completeing the towing we served our remaining customers at Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth, one of our new customers around here is NB Rakiraki, which is a hostel boat operated by Ruth & Mark trading under the name of  "Wandering Duck" for more details see: http://wanderingduck.co.uk/ . After we'd tied up for the night we nipped in to the Navvy at Bugsworth for a pint and bumped into Ruth & Mark, so stopped for a good (duck) gossip with them!

On Monday we where held up for a while whilst the  tree surgeons worked on the fallen trees at Strines, it was interesting watching them work, they did a very good job & earn thier money

Once back at base Brian has been very busy with fendermaking, he's never had such a full order book! One job was a set of fenders for a Small Northwich Motorboat currently being restored, they were a satisfying job to see complete.

It was even better to see them fitted, with Sarah from Chertsey showing an excellent photo in her blog: http://www.chertsey130.blogspot.co.uk/

This week Brian has continued working on fendermaking & ropework, whilst we also prepare for our next Cheshire Run, we will post an updated schedule here soon or alternatively follow "Coalboat" on Twitter, which we try to update daily.

Report from the Port

On Wednesday lunchtime we set off again from Middlewich heading across the new cut. Thanks to John & Gillian for keeping an eye on Alton & to the owner of Lady Margaret for retrieving one of our cloths which had blown off in the high winds.

We had heard via the towpath telegraph that there was an emergency stoppage on Cholmondeston Lock starting at 4pm & so pushed on to try & get through. We arrived at 4.10 but the BW Lads had heard we were on our way so where waiting to lock us through, nice one chaps! We made our final deliveries of the day at Calverley before tieing up, having tea & catching a much needed early night.

Thursday morning we made use of the shower at Calverley Services & set off. Through the morning we were passed by Mary on Swan & Malcolm on Greyhound, both on their way to the Port. We stopped in Chester for some last supplies before buttying down Northgate Staircase with Ally & Derek on Taurus. We tied up for the night at Chester Basin where we had a natter with other boaters followed by a lovely dinner aboard Caracus with Jason, Viv & family.

On Friday morning we set off in convoy with Taurus heading for Ellesmere Port with a few deliveries on the way. We arrived at the Port about lunchtime & lots of people congratulated us on our 10th Wedding Anniversary, it was even announced over the tannoy! We had a pleasant afternoon catching up with friends old & new. In the evening we smartened ourselves up (lots of people didn't recognise us!) and went for dinner at the Holiday Inn (where we had our wedding reception). We had a lovely evening, with good food & good company as we dined with Jan Burnip who happened to be eating there. By the time we got back to the Museum we missed the talk but had a good time socialising & chilling out.

We had to be up early on Saturday to load diesel as we were nearly out of stock. The delivery was fairly prompt so we soon had full tanks again. We decided to treat ourselves to breakfast in the museum cafe, Brian had the works whilst Ann Marie went for a bacon butty. We were joined again by Jan Burnip & joked that we thought she was stalking us.

We had a busy afternoon with lots of visitors including the Fletcher Clan John, Kate, Abby, & Dani as well as Brian's Dad Bernie, Brother Mike & Canadian friend Gary. We also boated around the museum with various people on board making deliveries to other boaters & to the museum.

In the evening we ventured into Chester with Bernie, Mike & Gary, having drinks at the Spitting Feathers Brewery Tap followed by dinner at the Albion (a pub we've wanted to visit for a while). The food was simple but wholesome & the beer similar. We even got to meet up with Brian's Cousin Marieanne & partner Jason. Suffice to say a good night was had by all.

Finally a round up of attendees, historic narrowboats at the Port where:-

Alton
Ariel and Joe
Badger
Buckden
Fenny
Greyhound
Kenilworth
Lindsay
Lead Us
Marcellus
Rudd
Saturn
Seaford and Alperton
Spey
Stamford
Starling
Swan
Towy

Wide boats:-

Humber
Parfield
Sarah Abbot
Severn

Plus a good selection of more modern narrowboats including Small Northwich replica Hadar & Tug Taurus.

Whilst the numbers of visiting boats was down on last year & the weather not so kind, we still had an enjoyable Easter weekend at the Port

Run to the Port Easter 2012 Schedule

It's a bit late but here is our Schedule for our Easter run:-

Fri 30th - Sat 31 March: Whaley Bridge to Oakgrove Br49 Macc
Sun 1st - Mon 2nd April: Oakgrove Br49 Macc to Middlewich
Wed 4th - Fri 6th April: Middlewich to Ellesmere Port.
Sat 7th - Sun 8th April: At. Ellesmere Port Easter Gathering
Mon 9th - Tuesday 10th April: Ellesmere Port to Anderton via. Nantwich & Middlewich
Wed 11th April: River Weaver
Thurs 12 th - Sat 14th April: Preston Brook to Macclesfield
Sun 15th - Mon 16th April: Macclesfield to Whaley Bridge.

Please note the above schedule is subject due to stoppages, traffic etc. So if you need supplies please phone or text us on 07791345004.

Have a happy Easter & if you are around Ellesmere Port over the weekend feel free to knock & sample some of the delicious Brimstage beer we have on board.

Cheers, Brian & Ann Marie

Two More Final Farewells: RIP Maureen Show & Aileen McGuigan

On Friday Ann Marie & I attended Maureen Shaw's Funeral. Maureen lived at Wardle Lock Cottage in Middlewich for over 40 years. She was a real character of the cut and would always pop out for a chat when I was passing through "her" lock. She would ask after various old boaters I may have seen on my travels & if my brasses weren't polished she'd give me some grief! Maureen had some wonderful tales to tell of working the boats, but she didn't look back through rose tinted glasses, many times she had very sad memories & tales of good people working hard over long hours. It was a privilege to know Maureen & the towpath was thronging with mourners watching as her coffin was loaded on to the Clayton's motor Tay steered by Jim Taylor which took her down through her lock & on down the Middlewich Locks to the Town Wharf.

There then followed a funeral service at St Michael & All Angels Church, which was packed with those wishing to pay their last respects to a wonderful woman. It was a lovely simple, traditional service which included a song written in her memory, a touching eulogy & a cracking photo of her, mop in hand on the butty Ethel. All in all a wonderful send off for a lovely woman.

Then on Friday afternoon we retuned to Alton at Whaley Bridge to load our last supplies before starting our journey to Ellesmere Port for Easter.

We had a surprisingly busy couple of days prior to reaching Oakgrove on Saturday night. Here we reloaded once again before heading off south on Sunday morning. At the top of Bosley our good friend Terry (Serendipity) was waiting to help lockwheel us down the flight, thanks for the single handing tips Terry!

We had a good run, with a nice sprinkling of customers before tying up at Church Lawton that night. After tea I walked back up to Red Bull to join George Boyle for a pleasant drink & natter in the pub.

On Monday the weather took a turn for the worse but we still had a fair run down the Cheshire Locks with more deliveries as we went. That afternoon we tied up at the bottom of our friends John & Gillian's garden in Middlewich where we were leaving Alton whilst we attended my Sister Aileens Funeral service on the Wirral.

Aileen funeral, or "moving on party" as she called it was a unique event for a unique woman. Ann Marie, Fiona, Mike, Rob, Tony & Myself were pallbearers. We draped the coffin in a rainbow flag, Matty & Sparky sang & played some of her favourite music including "Moonshadow" & "Sounds of Silence", friends & family told of their memories & read out from her letters, notes & poems.

Later we continued to celebrate Aileen's life with a big party, with plenty of home made food, Mike's wonderful beer & our own home made music. We displayed Aileen's artwork & people brought photo's & memories.

I'm sure Aileen was looking down on us all, smiling, crying, laughing & singing, she saw that we really were having a "moving on party" to honour her life & people from all walks of her life were there for her.

Let's just hope & pray that the coming weeks & months can be a happier time for us & all the McGuigan Clan.

Another Goodbye - RIP Aileen McGuigan

Well as you can see I've not had much chance to update the blog for a couple of weeks, due I'm afraid to more difficult times for the McGuigan family.

As many of you know, my big Sister Aileen has been very ill for some time. Last week we all gathered together to celebrate her 47th Birthday, but unfortunately her health deteriorated rapidly this week. With my Dad Bernie, my Brother Mike & Sister Fi we have been at her bedside 24hrs a day all week helping to care for her & make her comfortable. This evening Aileen passed away peacefully with myself & Fiona at her side. All the staff a Beechcroft were amazing treating her & us with respect, dignity & compassion, so a huge thank you to them.

Aileen was a great Sister, a real character & a good Mum. She touched many peoples lives in so many different ways & will live on in our hearts.

Thanks also to all those who have been in touch over recent days & weeks, it's great to know we are in peoples thoughts & prayers, you are a kind & caring bunch. Also thanks for all the offers of help & support it's much appreciated.

Our good friend George Boyle will coming out of retirement once again to help Ann Marie operate Alton this weekend doing a one way run from Oakgrove (Br49 Macc) to Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth. If you need supplies please call Ann Marie on 07976811073.

Thanks, Brian

Forty Shades of Green

Following my Mum's funeral I've wanted to spend some time with my Dad to help him begin to come to terms with things. So last week we spent 3 days staying with our very good friends Dan & Hilly Fletcher & family. We did a bit of walking & plenty of talking & enjoyed good food & good company.

This week Dad wanted to return to Ireland to spend time with family & friends in familiar surroundings. So on Monday we caught the ferry over to Dublin from Holyhead leaving Ann Marie to do all the hard work of loading Alton & doing lots of road deliveries & other jobs, THANKS AM I owe you!

We stayed with Auntie Patsy in Killevy near Newry at the foot of Slieve Gullion. This is a wonderful part of the world with great memories for our family & we were made very welcome by the McCarthy Clan who really helped lift our Spirits. We had some good chats & some quiet time to reflect. We visited Mums friends & family and we were made so welcome. We also had a day in Belfast visiting the Harland & Woolf Shipyard (they were amazed when I said. I owned a H&W vessel!) and also had a lunch & a pint in the wonderful Crown Bar.

Today I climbed Slieve Gullion 1880ft in the mist with Dermutt & his dog Buddy unfortunately we didn't get to see much of the amazing view of "Forty Shaded of Green" that I remember from my childhood days. After saying our farewells we managed to get a bite of lunch & a pint of porter in Temple Bar before heading to the docks.

We're now on the ferry back home & hopefully Dad will cope over the next few months getting back into some routine.

We're out delivering with Alton this weekend (Ann Marie has everything loaded & ship shape in my absence), so tomorrow were setting off from Oakgrove (Br49 on the Macc) heading north through Macclesfield, Bollington, Poynton & Marple. Then on Sunday onto the Upper Peak Forest Canal (now that the Strines Aqueduct Stoppage is complete) to Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge.