Our last trip in March was optimistically headed ' Sunshine Weekend' and the warmth of the sun lasted......er well....hardly a weekend !!!
It is certainly all my fault that the recent weather of savage cold east winds and drifting snow is a direct result of my predication that winter was finally over.......I should know better ! Winds with the freezing force of a Siberian winter have been blasting narrowboats and most other types of transport almost into submission.
A recent visit to 'San Serriffe' to check how the mooring ropes were holding against the wind witnessed a few brave and hardy boat crews making crab-like progress along the canal despite the wind. A recent 'lull' in the weather and a visit from a friend who resides in Plymouth prompted a suggestion of a day's cruise to Macclesfield.
Having had some experience of cold weather ( is there any other type ?) in-shore sailing, I guessed he would enjoy a little 'booze' cruise on the back of a rain-swept narrowboat to make him feel at home.
Grey skies heralded the morning as three-men in a boat (another hardy friend was also invited) and we all headed towards Macclesfield. I tried to keep the macho image of braving the weather without a coat for as long as possible, but after an hour or so I decided on the sensible thing and grabbed my coat , hat and gloves, making a fair stab at an impersonation of an Arctic explorer....but at least I was warm (ish)
" Anybody catch the weather forecast this morning ?" I asked of nobody in particular.
" Cloud, rain interspersed with more rain and cloud....and piggin' cold " came the reply
" Which forecast was that......the BBC? " I asked
" No mine, I just made it up......bet I am right though !" came the optimistic reply.
Passing through Bollington the 'crew' were becoming rebellious as lunch time started to pass without any 'lunch' liquid or otherwise on the horizon.
" Are we nearly there yet ?" was the plaintive cry.
" Not far....just a few miles to go " I said
" How long ?" came another demand
" Oh, not long.....soon have you in a warm pub" I of course lied as a few miles on the canal is always longer than you think.
" Hope they serve food all day then" came a grumpy observation.
Things were proving positively mutinous..........
I gave way to the 'Bollington Packet Boat at a bridge on the other side of the Bollington aqueduct.
When my companions realized that this was a restaurant boat and could see the diners sat in their warm cabin scoffing hot food washed down by beer and wine, the mutiny nearly boiled over..................
" Oh, look ....should have gone on that boat, bar is open all the time there...." came the envious observation.
As dreams of a warm pub became more desperate the remains of large snow drifts added a visual dimension to the mental state of my freezing passengers.
" Wow........good job we were not going through here a couple of weeks ago, we would have needed a snow plough on the front of the boat !" came a not too inaccurate observation.........
Finally reaching Macclesfield before I was forced to walk the plank, I managed to moor 'San Serriffe' a few minutes walk from the 'Puss in Boots' pub and noticed with great relief that food was served all day......phew!
Hot food and a couple of pints thankfully restored good humour for our return journey.
Back on the boat the it became colder and colder as unrelenting rain soaked the jolly crew
to the bone..........
"Perhaps we could stop at the 'Miner's Arms' on the way back" somebody suggested as a moral booster.
" Are we nearly there yet ?" came the quiet reply.
Like many Google 'blogspot' users I am having problems with the 'comments' form appearing.....if you have a suggestion to resolve this or just comment on the blog click on 'No comments' below and the form will appear like magic !!..........illogical, but it works! :)
Remember if you want to be totally confused you need a computer!
It is certainly all my fault that the recent weather of savage cold east winds and drifting snow is a direct result of my predication that winter was finally over.......I should know better ! Winds with the freezing force of a Siberian winter have been blasting narrowboats and most other types of transport almost into submission.
A recent visit to 'San Serriffe' to check how the mooring ropes were holding against the wind witnessed a few brave and hardy boat crews making crab-like progress along the canal despite the wind. A recent 'lull' in the weather and a visit from a friend who resides in Plymouth prompted a suggestion of a day's cruise to Macclesfield.
Having had some experience of cold weather ( is there any other type ?) in-shore sailing, I guessed he would enjoy a little 'booze' cruise on the back of a rain-swept narrowboat to make him feel at home.
Grey skies heralded the morning as three-men in a boat (another hardy friend was also invited) and we all headed towards Macclesfield. I tried to keep the macho image of braving the weather without a coat for as long as possible, but after an hour or so I decided on the sensible thing and grabbed my coat , hat and gloves, making a fair stab at an impersonation of an Arctic explorer....but at least I was warm (ish)
" Anybody catch the weather forecast this morning ?" I asked of nobody in particular.
" Cloud, rain interspersed with more rain and cloud....and piggin' cold " came the reply
" Which forecast was that......the BBC? " I asked
" No mine, I just made it up......bet I am right though !" came the optimistic reply.
 |
| Spring has sprung with a shiver, but that is why sheep have woolly coats !! |
 |
| Daffodils struggling to force their way through canal-side brambles......... |
Passing through Bollington the 'crew' were becoming rebellious as lunch time started to pass without any 'lunch' liquid or otherwise on the horizon.
" Are we nearly there yet ?" was the plaintive cry.
" Not far....just a few miles to go " I said
" How long ?" came another demand
" Oh, not long.....soon have you in a warm pub" I of course lied as a few miles on the canal is always longer than you think.
" Hope they serve food all day then" came a grumpy observation.
Things were proving positively mutinous..........
 |
| Clarence Mill, Bollington |
I gave way to the 'Bollington Packet Boat at a bridge on the other side of the Bollington aqueduct.
When my companions realized that this was a restaurant boat and could see the diners sat in their warm cabin scoffing hot food washed down by beer and wine, the mutiny nearly boiled over..................
" Oh, look ....should have gone on that boat, bar is open all the time there...." came the envious observation.
 |
| A skipper dressed for the weather- Bollington Packet restaurant boat. |
As dreams of a warm pub became more desperate the remains of large snow drifts added a visual dimension to the mental state of my freezing passengers.
" Wow........good job we were not going through here a couple of weeks ago, we would have needed a snow plough on the front of the boat !" came a not too inaccurate observation.........
 |
| Snow drifts at the side of the Macclesfield canal |
Finally reaching Macclesfield before I was forced to walk the plank, I managed to moor 'San Serriffe' a few minutes walk from the 'Puss in Boots' pub and noticed with great relief that food was served all day......phew!
Hot food and a couple of pints thankfully restored good humour for our return journey.
Back on the boat the it became colder and colder as unrelenting rain soaked the jolly crew
to the bone..........
"Perhaps we could stop at the 'Miner's Arms' on the way back" somebody suggested as a moral booster.
" Are we nearly there yet ?" came the quiet reply.
 |
| 'Puss in Boots' Macclesfield Canal. |
Like many Google 'blogspot' users I am having problems with the 'comments' form appearing.....if you have a suggestion to resolve this or just comment on the blog click on 'No comments' below and the form will appear like magic !!..........illogical, but it works! :)
Remember if you want to be totally confused you need a computer!
