This is the Blog site for QISMA. She is a 59 foot narrowboat launched in July 2010 as a liveaboard, for Jan, Alistair and Little Josh. After almost six years cruising the canals and rivers of England and Wales we started a new adventure. The boat was taken to Ireland where we plan to stay for...............
As rescues go it wasn't the least bit spectacular but full marks to the young chap being recovered who stayed completely calm throughout!
We'd moved into Winsford in search of TV signal for the rugby. Sigh.
Good moorings, with water. Provided by the council on the very edge of the flash.
We were told 45 boats in the area for the festival last weekend. Two overnighting yesterday.
Absolutely fantastic weather today. Moved just a bit out of town to a park/woodland area below Morrisons. Fantastic walks for LJ. So laid back after our two weeks on the Weaver!!
Reading about our pals on the Rochdale and rethinking our 2016 plans!!
We are so lucky to be able to take our time on the Weaver. It's our kind of cruise! It is making us lazier than ever but we need to make the transition down to Autumn pace...I think it's working! We are still west of Northwich. The joys of continuous cruising!
After 30 years at sea, our Captain could not resist the call of the Manchester Ship Canal. Not on it...this time....but moored next to it over the weekend. That did mean giving up our rural view but hey, once in a while, we don't mind a chemical works as neighbour.
Only us down there this weekend. One passing rower on the Weaver. Traffic on the ship canal was double that! One result, after several years, Alistair finally got our vhs fully operational!!
Disappointed with my photos of the Penines yesterday. The River Weaver gave me another chance today. A quick trip to Waitrose and we were off.....though not what you would call early by any means! With, we learnt, 45 boats headed to Winsford for the festival we did the only sensible thing....headed in the opposite direction!
When we set off from the Fens aiming for the Weaver we knew it was going to be good but it is in fact, boating heaven.
Yorkshire bound to see Dad and Sister Sue. Ticked off sightings of T&M, Macclesfield and South Yrkshire Navigation en route. The Macce was a mistake.....got the wrong train on way back so changed at Manchester instead of Stockport! Pin my defence...it did arrive at 1700 when my train was due and there had been no announcement to say it was delayed!
Excellent lunch with Sue,mthe not equally good shop. Dad on good form. And the scenery.....
The last few days have taken us through Middlewich, slowly as we foolishly went through on Saturday, two nights in the country near, but not on Bramble Cutting and on to Anderton.
It was our first trip down onto the River Weaver. I usually leave readers to research anything that might interest them from my ramblings but the Anderton Lift deserves more. I am worried I won't do it justice so I've copied just the next bit of text from the Canal and River Trust webpage.
The Anderton Boat Lift is an incredible edifice, perched on the banks of the River Weaver like some giant three-storey-high iron spider.
Like all great things, the concept is simple: two huge water tanks, each with watertight sealable doors carry boats up and down. The original counter-balanced system was replaced in 1908 by electric operation, but the lift now works hydraulically again.
No description can adequately convey the sheer scale of this engineering feat. The lift worked until 1983 when serious deterioration of the structure was discovered. Some £7m was raised to fund the restoration, which was completed in 2002.
The completion of the restoration was followed by the opening of an Operations Centre in 2003. This offers interactive displays, educational facilities, a gift shop and a coffee shop.
Me again. It certainly is a well run operation with a great team. They are right to say it defies description.
Some pics from the web to start with...then my feeble attempts
On our way
Tied up ready to descend
The view from the top
And definitely by magic...we are on the a River Weaver.heading for the mooring on the left.,
Wherever I left off yesterday..I know I hadn't included this rare pic,of me which I stole off Vicki's blog. Just sating around doing nothing on the staircase locks!
Then it was on to the Harecastle Tunnel. Half hour wait but just one boat in front of us. We said fond goodbyes to GRUMBLE.. Blogging as WAKAROA 2015. They were off the the Macce on their way back to Sheffield. We are Weaver bound.
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Had forgotten about the rusty water!!
Pete makes the turn onto the Macce...we were so tempted to turn back!! But it's in our 2016 cruise plan!!
On for a few locks and a lovely Church Lawron mooring.
A fair bit of traffic heading our way this morning. Of course some of the locks are duplicate locks...and some of them are still working!!
We were behind two boats from.....
Part of a 15 strong cruising group returning from Burscough Basin.
Thanks CONSTANCE and TAMARISK we couldn't have asked for more helpful boats to follow down the 20 locks!! I also learnt that their club look after Bramble Cuttings. Even more to thank them for.
I hope to get a pic of TAMARISK tomorrow to add to the. Blog.
So..20 locks done. Some,call this Heartbreak Hill but I like it. The scenery is lovely.. Some of the paddles were very tough to wind. Too many duplicate locks out of action...a false economic saving? Only needs one of the duplicates to have a problem and the canal will be closed. Still.. Feedback passed to CRT and the day not spoilt.
Next time we might get LJ booked in here ...we will never find a groomers nearer the cut!
