Wednesday 31st July

Wedding Anniversary Day but not the weather to go with it! Rain, rain and more rain. We did a bit of shopping this morning and filled up with water before leaving Whaley Bridge. Planned to sail back to Marple ( site of lock excitement last Saturday) before turning down the Macclesfield Canal. 

By 12 noon the rain had stopped so off we went. Whilst passing New Mills we were treated (?) to the sweet aroma of Love Hearts and Swizzlers as we passed the Matlow factory where these are made. The smell was much stronger than on the way up the canal on Sunday. Don't think they were in production then. The factory certainly doesn't look much from the outside. Shame they don't do tours.

We passed through one swing bridge and were just about to open the second when the rain started again. We pulled in for lunch and after 3 hours were still there as it was still raining. A brief respite lulled us into a false sense of security and Graham sorted the boat out for leaving again when the rain came on just as heavily as before. We called it a night and will hope for some sunshine tomorrow.

This is the swing bridge where we are parked and it will be our first task in the morning. (Photo taken just before the rain started for the second time!)