Here Comes the Rain Again (& Here Come Marple Locks Again)

After a great effort by Steve, Mike & Graham at Ashton Packet, Alton now has a refurbished and weatherproof cabin.

We left the Wet Dock at Ashton Packet at Midday with the paint only just dry on the cabin roof. We where hoping for a dry afternoon to try and let the paint completely harden but the weather wasn't co-operating and it bucketed it down most of the afternoon. We made reasonable progress along the Lower Peak Forest reaching the bottom of Marple Locks at 3.30pm as the downpour get even heavier. Our friend Graham (NB Daphne) helped us up the locks and we got into a good routine, reaching the top lock at 5.50pm. This is the 4th time we have done the Marple flight in the last 3 weeks or so.

Today we have done a few jobs on the boat and loaded with coal, wood & diesel at Marple. This afternoon we just had a short journey down to the deer farm mooring at Windlehurst.

Our planned schedule for the next few days is as follows:-

Sat 6th Nov: Windlehurst (Br 8) to Oakgrove (Br 49)
Sun 7th Nov: Oakgrove (Br 49) to Marple
Mon 8th Nov: Marple to Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge.

From Mon 8th Nov until 24th Dec there are stoppages on at Hyde Bank Tunnel and Bollington Aqueduct. During this period Alton will be operating from Whaley Bridge to Bollington fortnightly. We will be delivering by road fortnightly from Oakgrove (Macc) to Bollington as well as monthly road deliveries to all areas we cover including Stoke, Middlewich, Nantwich, Northwich etc.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Alton's Cabin Repairs

Repairs to Alton's cabin at Ashton Packet Boat Co are progressing well. Steve & Mike have stripped out all the area of rot and are put in new boards where necessary.

They plan to finish the work by tomorrow evening and we hope to able to take Alton out of the paint dock by Midday on Thursday.

Alton will be returning to Ashton Packet for furthur cabin repairs in the spring when the stoppages at Bollington & Hyde Bank Tunnel are complete.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Fendermaking Course at Audlem Mill - 30 & 31st October 2010

Over the last weekend we ran our autumn fendermaking course at Audlem Mill next to the Shropshire Union Canal. We had 5 Trainees, Dave from NB Hollinhurst,  Pat & Alan from NB Plan B...C,D,E&F, Paul from NB Honey and Pete fron NB Dragonfly.

On Saturday after a brief introduction, we soon got knotting, crowning a pair of side fenders. Later in the afternoon we started work on building the core of our button fenders. Also on Saturday we had the NHK film crew following us which managed to make headline news on the Audlem Website! http://www.audlem.org/newsitem-1-1-5493.html

Above:- Pat with her finished side fenders


On Sunday morning everyone turned up bright and early and no they hadn't forget to put their clocks back, they where just keen to get hitching. We soon completed our button fender cores and the set about covering the fender, half-hitching 100' of victory black rope. Everyone completed their button fenders and we were very pleased with the final results.

During the course we were all very well looked after by our hosts Peter & Christine Silvester who provided wonderful lunches, as well as plenty of tea and coffee and even cream cakes for afternoon tea!

Finally, well done to Dave, Pat, Alan, Paul & Pete, you where a great bunch to work with and it was a pleasure to work with you learning your new skills.

If you are interested in attending one of our courses the next introduction to fendermaking course is 5th & 6th March 2011 at Audlem Mill. To book your place phone Peter or Christine at Audlem Mill on 01270 811059.

Above:-  Alan, Pat, Dave, Paul & Pete with their finished Fenders.