Where to cruise

Published: Monday, 07 January 2019

I CAN sympathise with Victor's concerns of wondering where to cruise owing to the endless stoppages. writes Gerry Varley.

Irvins Lock stripsFor I too was abruptly stopped by a stoppage on both of our last two cruises, with one similar to what Victor told us about it taking contractors a ridiculous five days to install a strip down each of the bottom gates of a Leicester Section lock to attempt to stop leakage. (The photograph shows the two strips inserted on Irvin's Lock.)

This meant the lower pound had to be drained, so when they eventually finished we all had to wait as they slowly filled up the lock and then the pound.

Bosley Flight

Then I was again brought to a stop on the Macclesfield Canal by the stoppage on Bosley Flight, being told by a fellow boater that this is a regular occurrence as the flight is no longer looked after, but that I was lucky being stopped at the lower end otherwise with Marple Flight seemingly closed for the duration I would really be stuck.

There is little doubt that the northern canals are a complete no-go area if last year is anything to go by as you told that they were all closed.

Trent & Mersey

So like Victor I am wondering where to go come the Spring and like another of your correspondents' think the Trent & Mersey would be a good bet with perhaps a turn along the now re-opened Middlewich Branch.

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