Do You want Ice With That?

Well our first week of 2011 has been another challenging one. On Sun 2nd Jan we loaded the last of our supplies onto Alton and set off from Furness Vale about 7.30am, the ice was around 2" thick and we made steady progress and were busy with customers around New Mills, some of whom where desperate for a pumpout. We have installed a replacement pumpout pump as the previous one has been frost damaged.

By early afternoon our progress was slowing somewhat, Brian fished some chunks of ice out of the cut and measured them at about 3".

We decided to keep going, but after another hour or so we considered our progress and judged that we were averaging less than a 1/4 mile an hour, so once again we decided to let common sense rule and return to Whaley Basin and commence road deliveries again.

Below is a video clip (persevere with it as the first 30 or 40 seconds are a bit boring and we don't know how to edit it!) of Alton ice breaking near Disley on 2nd Jan. We know many customers are frustrated that we are unable to reach them by boat but we think this clip shows what we where up against and we know that the ice was even thicker further ahead.

So we hit the road once again, delivering to all our usual haunts and by Wednesday we made our last deliveries around Macclesfield and Bollington. One thing that has struck us is whilst the canal has now been frozen so long more and more rubbish and debris has been thrown on the ice, we are really not looking forward to getting a bladeful at each bridge on our first trip out.

In the photo, the rubbish strewn on the ice at High Lane, which we saw whilst delivering coal to the Bulls Head.

Finally be assured that we will make every effort to be out delivering by boat at the end of next week if at all possible!

Next planned run ice allowing will be:-

Thurs 13th Jan:-   Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth
Fr 14th Jan:-        Whaley Bridge to Marple
Sat 15th Jan:-       Marple to Bollington
Sun 16th Jan:-      Bollington to Macclesfield & Oakgrove

Next Run Sat 23rd to Wed 27th October 2010 - Ashton to Fools Nook to Whaley Bridge to Ashton

Over the next few weeks our schedule will be a little out of kilter whilst we are having maintenance work done on Alton at Ashton Packet Boat Company.

Our Schedule for our next run is as follows:
Sat 23rd Oct - Alton launched off the slip around noon, then heading back along Lower Peak Forest Canal.
Sun 24th Oct - Macclesfield Canal, Marple to Oakgrove.
Mon 25th Oct - Loading at Oakgrove in the morning, then returning towards Marple.
Tues 25th Oct - Upper Peak Forest Canal, Marple to Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth, return.
Wed 26th Oct - Lower Peak Forest Canal, Marple to Ashton Packet Boat Company.

Alton will then remain at Ashton Packet Boat Company for cabin repairs until Thursday 4th November.

Whilst Alton is away from base we will still have supplys of fuel available from our butty St Austell.

Above: Alton on the Dock at Ashton Packet Boat Company

BW Maintenance Work on the Macc

This winter has been a frustrating one for us with scheduled stoppages not starting on time, exasperated by poor communication of these changes from BW. However we are very happy that some significant maintenance work is actually taking place.

At Marple the very poor moorings between bridges 2 & 3 have been the subject of a lot of work including dredging & piling, we just hope they are now deep enough to get Alton somewhere near the bank.

Peak Forest Canal Towing Blog

Our good friend George Boyle has recently established a new canal enterprise with his new tug Sandbach. To follow Georges progress just click on the link (in the right hand column) to his new blog. We were Georges first towing job with Sandbach towing our butty from Walsall to Macclesfield last autumn. Good Luck with the new venture George!

Tug & Butty Trip

Well, we have had a brilliant few days boating with George Boyles new tug Sandbach towing our butty St Austell from Sneyd on the Curley Wryley up to the Macc. Thanks for the snatch George & thanks for your help Craig & Graham.