This trip had been planned for weeks, so how come at 6 o’clock on Sunday morning, I didn’t want to go. After all, it was just another boat, on just another canal. See I’m part of a crew. We run a trip boat on the Chesterfield Canal, as of yet not totally restored. All proceeds, 100% to charity. Perhaps I didn’t want to go because I’m an idle good for nothing, then the anorak kicked in. Big smile, new boat, new canal, a hot cup of my wife’s beautiful tea and we were ready for the off. You sad boater!
We car shared with two other crew, Pete and Vicki, who extorted petrol money from me, after all it was their car. We drove through the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, arriving there with no problems after a short two hour drive. Hush my mouth you lying little git! We got lost a few times didn’t we.
Most of the crew had already arrived. (This bit gets a bit anoraky), the crew are, in order of importance; Kath, Judith, Collette, Vicki, Pete, Terry, Tony, Dave who has his own website and should be visited, its a good site, go to brassedoff.net, Keith, James, and me, I’m also a Pete. Other miscreants included Daves wife Caroline and son Daniel and Caroline’s mum, and Terry’s sister Joan and her husband Stanley. Sad to say, one crew member was missing, Chris. Anoraky part over.
After a short and boring safety talk, we were off. Two boats, lots of boring boaty people, and seven hours to get there and back. I am told that the Lower Peak Forest is one of the prettiest canals but believe me it is not a patch on the Chesterfield, or maybe we just couldn’t cover enough in the time alloted. The lift bridges, now they were something special. Can we have one please? I suppose I need to ask Dr. Geraint Coles, He’s the genious, and I’m sure he’ll cringe if ever he reads this, that has pushed our canal restoration this far. The best way to describe Geraint is big. If you can imagine him standing there shouting ‘Gordons alive!’ well that describes Geraint. I’m going to ask him to do it one day too. After passing the aforesaid lift bridge, we came across a sunken boat, which according to Judith, was only marginally better than my own boat, the Water Sprite, also known as ‘Bloody Hell!’ because when you first see it you ask yourself, ’ bloody hell is that a boat?’ I have to say we did see alot of rodney boats. A Rodney boat is one that is not cared for, or left in a dishevelled state. Oh, I should say pics to follow. We got as far as Marple bottom lock, number 1. Had five minutes chit-chat with crew of the other boat, then being short of time, it was time to go back.
We took the lead on the return journey, passing slowly over the Marple Aquaduct so pictures could be taken. I have to say that the view was tremendous. Dave took pictures of us passing by, again go to his site, his pics will be better than mine. After a while, the boat which should have stayed behind us, got bored at our speed and overtook. Which in my humble opinion is the wrong thing to do, as you are only as fast as your slowest boat. If we were a wagon train heading west, they would have left us behind for the indians to kill ( not good form, boys!) We got back a little early so we went to the first lock on the Huddersfield Narrow canal. We were told, had we been a few minutes earlier, we would have witnessed a child riding straight into the canal without leaving her bike! Don’t worry, she was fine, the bike was recovered and they got her a taxi home. Then back to the boatyard, both boats performing a reverse into the boatyard. We were told afterwards that this was very rarely done as it is a difficult manoever. Not for us, we’re all boaty anoraks! A quick visit to the loo, a quick chat with everyone and the day was over. See ya soon, Boatie Pete! P.S. Take a look at pics.
