Gently on to Bugsworth

That’s it, the end of the line of the Upper Peak Forest. Although, strictly speaking, there are two ends, the canal forks before Bugsworth, the other arm heading for Whaley Bridge.

We were going to go that way just for the fun of it, using the facilities at the winding hole in front of the railway transhipment warehouse, but we’ve been before and it’s nothing to write home about. It’s difficult to moor at the end, to visit the town it’s best to moor at Bugsworth and walk the ¾ mile back.

That high pressure that the weatherman have been talking about is moving in; there’s a cold wind from the north but today dawned fine and bright.

New Mills in the sun

I walked along to open Carr Swing Bridge, just 200 yards up from where we’d moored, then we had a very slow amble along the canal to the basin.

Furness Vale Marina on one side, cottages on the other
Andy Russell was emptying his dry dock/paint shed as we came past.

In the wooded sections floating leaves repeatedly clogged the propeller, but a quick burst of reverse threw them off.

Leafy

We had a pause at the junction to allow a flotilla of canoes to sort themselves out.

There’re from Edale Youth Hostel. I guess it must be half-term already.

We turned left here, under the bridge. A right turn takes you to Whaley Bridge.

Watering up at Bugsworth.

It took a while to fill, we were down to out last ten gallons, then we turned around and, with me fending off and Mags on the tiller, we reversed down the Lower Basin (dead ahead) and moored.

Moored in Bugsworth Basin
We’re just where we wanted to be; the access road to the service block is just on the right, handy for Tescoman later this afternoon. We’ll probably push across to the other side of the arm after the delivery, though.
We may have visitors while we’re here, and Brian and Ann-Marie on coal boat Alton are due here at the weekend, so we can top up with solid fuel and diesel.

Locks 0, miles 2