Tuesday 23rd July 2013

We awoke to rain! Quite a shock to the system as it was for most people in England after weeks of very hot days. After breakfast Graham donned all the rain gear and although it would have been tempting to stay put for the day, we were booked into a marina in Manchester so needed to get there. We prepared to set off at 10am and the rain stopped. We didn't have any more all day.

We called into a very pretty village called Lymm for a newspaper and then continued along the Bridgewater Canal. The Manchester Ship Canal company have a significant role in running this canal and providing water points is not one of their priorities. As there are only two of us this is not a problem but I wouldn't like to be a hire boat with 6 or 8 people on board because there are just not enough taps.

Near Altrincham we passed this rather impressive Linotype works which manufactured letterpress type. This blog would certainly have taken longer to produce in those days,

Unfortunately many of the factories on this stretch of the canal are boarded up but some regeneration is taking place with new apartments like these enhancing the run towards Manchester.

We are now securely moored in a new small marina in Stretford and feel happy leaving the boat for the day so that we can visit the centre of Manchester.

A trip to the laundrette tonight and all the ironing is done. Looking forward to being very much the tourist tomorrow.