July 2005 Archives

So, the Four Counties Ring it is, and this time we're planning to be better prepared, with better wet-weather clothing, bigger wi-fi aerials, and a large, sharp stick to prod Mark with when he's watching telly rather than operating locks (CHESTER!?!). Still, the one thing with last Anorak Cruise was that it at least managed to whip me into some sort of fitness regime... for a week.

The plan is, presented differently this time as the Waterscape site has taken down the Route Planner for 'maintenance', as follows:

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 1 (Saturday)

Day 1: Preston Brook Wharf, Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) to Anderton Marina, Trent & Mersey Canal.

Total Distance: 7.62 Miles, with 1 lock en route.

Journey Time: 3h:11m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 2 (Sunday)

Day 2: Anderton Marina, Trent & Mersey Canal to Harecastle Tunnel (North End), Trent & Mersey Canal.

Total Distance: 22.87 Miles, with 35 locks en route.

Journey Time: 15h:29m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 3 (Monday)

Day 3: Harecastle Tunnel (North End), Trent & Mersey Canal to Great Haywood Junction, Trent & Mersey Canal.

Total Distance: 24.00 Miles, with 18 locks en route.

Journey Time: 12h:51m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 4 (Tuesday)

Day 4: Great Haywood Junction, Trent & Mersey Canal to Autherley Junction, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

Total Distance: 23.56 Miles, with 12 locks en route.

Journey Time: 11h:52m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 5 (Wednesday)

Day 5: Autherley Junction, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal (Bridge 62).

Total Distance: 26.50 Miles, with 7 locks en route.

Journey Time: 11h:43m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 6 (Thursday)

Day 6: Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal (Bridge 62) to Barbridge Junction, Shropshire Union Canal.

Total Distance: 15.63 Miles, with 22 locks en route.

Journey Time: 9h:15m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 7 (Friday)

Day 7: Barbridge Junction, Shropshire Union Canal to Preston Brook Tunnel (South End), Trent & Mersey Canal.

Total Distance: 26.37 Miles, with 9 locks en route.

Journey Time: 12h:12m of cruising, including lock operating time.

The Anorak Cruise II: Day 8 (Saturday)

Day 8: Preston Brook Tunnel (South End), Trent & Mersey Canal to Preston Brook Wharf, Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch).

Total Distance: 1.25 Miles, with 0 locks en route.

Journey Time: 0h:27m of cruising, including lock operating time.

So, here we are again. It's been a while since I posted something on this here blogthing, so it's probably time I updated you on all things canal boat-related, and maybe I'll post another few missives on what's been going on recently a little later.

All being well, the Most Honourable Order Of Anorak-Clad Radio Types will be boarding some sort of flat-bottomed floating contraption for the second time on Saturday 17th September 2005, for a week.

This time, we're hiring from Claymoore Navigation in Preston Brook. Not because the Black Prince boat (nb Mimi) we had last time wasn't any good, quite the contrary - they, and it served us better than could be expected (It was fab!).

We just fancied a change this time, and the Abbey Class of Claymoore boats come with the added bonus of a day cabin at the back of the boat, closer to the crew (and the kettle), beds at the front away from the noise of the engine... and, the one we've gone for has NO TV (we think)! Hurrah!

To be honest, with all the load of old arse on the telly these days, I think we could probably get by perfectly well without it. Even if it does preclude Mark from rigging up the boat with a Freeview box for the week! It was entertaining last time, as whenever anybody used the bathroom or kitchen sink, the lights would dim, the TV would go nuts, and the Freeview box died. Let's just hope the Claymoore boat has a better radio aerial this time!

The plan for our week in September? Well, after much thought and deliberation, and the relative ease with which we destroyed the Cheshire Ring (excluding our 2 day outing from Middlewich to Chester), we've decided to 'do' the Four Counties Ring.

This is going to be interesting, as we're starting our journey from Preston Brook, on the Bridgewater Canal, and therefore a reasonable journey away from our first point on the ring, Middlewich Junction.

As collectively-nominated chief of navigation - having the Nicholson's guides and OS maps at my disposal, it's been left up to me to work out the route, and whether it's feasible.

So long as we don't do any 'extreme boating' detours this time, we should be fine!