Anchour away

Monday 6 June. 1 1/4 miles.

Once again we set off up the Peak Forest Tramway Trail. Passed Chinley and stopped at a solitary chimney, the backdrop to an area of rubble being the start of a housing development. I hope it doesn't change the Chinley village atmosphere. I checked the site out on Google earth and they still show the area as a large factory. Nice to see the chimney was still there. A bit further along the trail we had to take a diversion. The trail has been sold to a brake manufacturer for a test track. The diversion took us under two railway viaducts, difficult to photograph but impressive standing under them. A few steps later we are on a B road and heading to Chapel-en-la-Frith. (Chapel in the Forrest). On the outskirts we pass the brake factory and appreciate why they have a test track nearby.
2 hours after setting of we arrive at C-e-l-F which has a long main/High street a number of shops but nothing out of the ordinary. Stopped on the way up one of the hills for a tasty lunch of Derbyshire Oat cakes. At the top of the hill Diana was ready to turn back but I saw an interesting view ahead so on we went for another block. Low and behold the view was a mirage but Diana found one of those shops again. More china. the return, down hill trip took 1 1/2 hours. Nice day out with temperature around 25 C. Time to move. 20 minutes to the supermarket for a top up of heavier items, eg Grog. Another 20 mins and we are back at furness Vale hooked up to water and power.

Tuesday 7 June.

Domestic day. Washing, cleaning, tidying and catching up with internet. Mid afternoon we walked to New Mills. Diana the direct route while I took a walk down to the river Goyt and followed it passed a couple of mills and a very early hydro power station which uses an Archimedes screw to turn the generator. This is located in a deep gorge that runs below New Mills so then it is a climb up to the top to meet up with Diana who has been drinking coffee. Shop closed by the time I got there. We stop at the Beehive Pub for an ale before Buying Fish and Chips for tea and eating them on a table out side. Another nice day. In the evening we head off to the Furness Vale Historical Society meeting. The guest speaker is Andy Russell, a well known traditional boat painter. Andy was demonstrating the traditional art of painting "Roses & Castles" It took him just an hour to paint a bunch of roses and a typical castle scene which are seen on many narrow boats. The old boats wouldn't look right without them.

Wednesday 8 June. 4 miles, 2 lift and 2 swing bridges

We are moving on. Hopefully the canal blockage will be sorted and filled with water by this weekend. A short trip to the New Mills marina for a pump out. Good to start with that tank empty. A mile further on we are thinking about lunch when a huge clap of thunder convinces us to moor up. Good decision as soon after we start lunch it buckets down. After the thunder storm passes the boat that was moored up behind us sets off. OK shall we move too? Takes a while to think about it and as I get motivated there are a few more spits of rain so delay departure. Another good decision as the spits were followed by more thunder and continuous rain. Now waiting for an improvement or we will be here for the night just 2 miles from Furness Vale.
After a 4 hour lunch break the sun started to show itself and we moved on towards Marple junction. Have stopped about a mile short as the better moorings will probable be taken. looking forward to a short day tomorrow.