In September we skipped off on a van trip to Dorset and returned to the boat (near the top of the Bingley Five Rise on the Leeds & Liverpool) with a decision to change our minds and head back to spend the winter on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals.
I was really looking forward to an autumn cruise, I love the drama of the colours and lighting, the misty mornings and the toasty fires inside. But sometimes life has other priorities and events scupper your plans. This has certainly been the case for us through October and it looks like November too.
I’ve had bi-lateral carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness and pains in both hands) off and on for most of my adult life and in the last couple of years it has deteriorated further. So I finally asked for help. During October I’ve been hopping off the boat to get the first one sorted.
But this wasn’t going to stop us from our cruising. Between travelling for appointments and surgery, we started moving the boat back towards Wigan. The Wigan Lock Flight currently has an emergency closure on it, but we were going to get through in the one week it would be open before a planned winter stoppage finally shut them until the New Year. The queues of boats waiting to go through this flight has been growing and is currently stretching to some of the towns just ahead of us at Adlington and Chorley.
We had made it to the bottom of the Greenberfield Locks, just below the summit level, when we were notified of a new emergency closure on the canal just 6 miles ahead. There was nothing for it but to wait a week for the update and hope for a quick repair. Not this time. The estimate is 6-8 weeks. So it was our turn to be stuck. After much research of the planned winter stoppages and a long phone call to CRT (Canal River Trust) we are turning around again to head back to Skipton. I can think of worse places to be marooned!
For the first time, we have opted to pay for temporary CRT winter moorings. This will allow us to moor at the same spot for longer than the usual 2 weeks. Our spot is in Skipton town centre, not far from the railway station, and I’ve already checked out the dates for the Christmas markets! We plan to thoroughly enjoy spending the rest of this year in North Yorkshire!
Wow, nothing like having to have a plan 66!! Skipton will be a lovely place for the winter. Some nice pubs for toasty winter evenings and still near a quiet bit of countryside. All the best for a speedy and successful recovery from your ops. Xx
Thanks Ang, hopefully I should be all sorted soon! We’re certainly looking forward to doing more exploring around Skipton.
Sounds like your plan x is a very solid one. Can you get the car to Skipton, or is it a use public transport to get over to Cheshire? Stay safe.. 🤗
We’ll be close to Skipton station. But we should be able to get the car there too!
Sorry to hear your plan A was scuppered
– plan B looking very good 👍
Skipton and region just a lovely spot to be.
Happy travels xx
Very entertaining and interesting reading, Heather! I’m sorry to say it’s the first time I’ve looked at your website, only realising it existed when we received your Christmas letter this morning.I wish I’d been a regular viewer. I will be a frequent visitor from now on.
Best wishes to you both, and thanks for keeping in touch for 32 years!!!🤓
Great to hear from you David and I can’t believe it’s 32 years!!! Have a great Christmas xx