It’s all go!

Or not, in fact. We’re just pottering, and will be for the next couple of weeks, filling the time before dropping down into Manchester for my 10K race towards the end of May.

We spent the weekend at Bugsworth Basin, taking in the scenery and enjoying the fine weather, although it was extremely windy.

 

On Sunday we decided to have a bit of a leg-stretch, so Ann, George and I took the dogs up onto Chinley Churn, a moor that overlooks the village of the same name and rises to 1474 feet.

814 feet up and the views to the south and west are opening up.

At the top and the dogs are still chasing each other around.

We didn’t hang around at the top, the wind was gusting strong enough to blow you off your feet, so we dropped down to Cracken Edge and worked our way down through the quarries.

Heading down.



Even on the way down it was pretty blowy…

We dropped down onto the line of the tramway which ran from the quarries at Dove Holes to the basin. Mills were built along the line to take advantage of the transport route, some are still here, but have changed use.

Stephanie Works must be this way….

I think the factory was originally a paper mill, but now houses several companies specialising in plastics manufacture. A pond alongside the buildings, probably part of the earlier process, is now home to a family of black swans.

Stephanie’s black swans

Ann wasn’t sure whether she’d make it to the top or not, in the event she surprised herself. Her feet were a little sore though, so she took the opportunity for an impromptu foot spa in Black Brook.

Therapy for hot feet.

Molly is catching water that Ann kicks up.

We got back to the boats after a very enjoyable three hours, ready for lunch and a settle down to watch the Chinese Grand Prix.

Yesterday we moved back out of the basin to the good moorings near Carr Swing Bridge.

We made a detour to Whaley Bridge Basin on the way, turning round and mooring alongside Tesco to top up the cupboards.

Whaley Bridge Basin, the listed buildings of the transhipment warehouse ahead.
The basin and connecting arm were built in around 1830 to link up with the Cromford and High Peak Railway, which in turn met the Cromford Canal at High Peak Junction.
The railway is now a popular walking route, the 17 mile High Peak Trail.

It was Ann’s birthday yesterday, so we all congregated on Seyella for tea and cake, then joined Carol and George on Rock’n’Roll for something of a more alcoholic nature in the evening. A good time was had by all.

This afternoon we had a walk down in the River Goyt valley that cuts through New Mills. I didn’t take my camera, I’ve previously posted about this fantastic insight into a lost industrial past. Still enjoyed the walk, though. Always do.

Locks 0, miles 3