Saturday 12th September, 2015 below the Marple Lock Flight.
The rain was very heavy overnight, occasionally drumming on the roof so hard that it woke us up.
There was a brief window of dry weather after breakfast. The Basin and its former factory chimney were beautifully reflected in the water.
So was the museum, a former warehouse, built in 1834 to provide temporary storage for goods moving up and down the canal. It was gutted by fire in 1973 and then rebuilt and restored as an Industrial Museum in 1998.
The handsome roving bridge across the junction was built as part of the Peak Forest Canal in 1800.
This curious contraption in the forecourt of the Museum is, in fact, a punching machine (c.1850) but we couldn't help smiling at the resemblance to a pantomime horse.
Just inside the Museum door was a different kind of horse; based on "War House", it was woven in willow by a local artist. Lovely work, and it had the right "feel" to it.
The Museum has recently restored the water wheel, which once powered the hoists used to move goods up and down the three storeys in the warehouse. It was originally installed in about 1840 after the volume of goods passing through the warehouse meant that the old hand hoists couldn't cope.
The rain returned and was of the "stair rods"variety, so it was a good thing that we had decided to spend the morning in the Museum! We had been to the Museum twice before (by car) and found it excellent. It provides a thought-provoking insight into the area's industrial and social past. It has a street of 1920's shops, small businesses, a school room, chapel etc., all beautifully recreated complete with appropriate sound effects. There are displays of local industries including coal mining, cotton spinning and weaving, hat making, glove making etc. M particularly liked the display of old sewing machines.
The Café is excellent too! So we enjoyed second breakfast there.
The rain eased sufficiently for us to fill up with water before setting off. As we turned under the roving bridge, we were on a stretch of the Peak Forest Canal which is new to us.
Initially, it was rather drab, not helped by the dull weather and the occasional shower. But as we drew near to Hyde, the surroundings became very pleasant and leafy with deep dells of massive beech trees to the side of the towpath. M, who was walking, declared it to be "dodging the puddles".
At Hyde, there is a 300 yard tunnel and M walked over the top while R took MM through.
This time M did not get lost and we both arrived at the other end together!
Soon after, we came to the famous Marple Aqueduct that carries the canal 100ft above the River Goyt. Next to it, and even higher, is the train viaduct.
We moored up at the bottom of the Marple flight of 16 locks (we'll do them tomorrow) and walked back to admire the Aqueduct and Viaduct from below. Splendid architecture and engineering.
Back on board, R studied the latest edition of Canal Boat Magazine. It is of particular interest this month as R had recently written to the Editor and his message was chosen as "Letter of the Month". Well done, Robin!! (says M!).
Even Guy was impressed and studied the letter carefully. As writer of "Letter of the Month", R won a new copy of the Nicholson Guide to the North East - very helpful as our current copy is 5 years old and a bit out of date.
We were surprised to see a small cabin cruiser come down through the last lock in the Marple flight and moor up behind us quite late in the day. The two chaps on board were out on the first day of, what they termed, "an adventure".
They were heading for Dewsbury and appeared to have no clear idea how long it would take them; nor did they have any guide books - just a general map of the canal system. What they lacked in information and expertise, they certainly made up for in enthusiasm! Good for them.
Another pretty mooring in the evening sunshine.
Today: 7miles, 0 locks and 3.6 hours.
Trip: 303 miles, 247 locks and 224.9 hours.
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