Monday 12th August 2013

The weather this morning was decidedly cool with a few showers but the temperature improved as the day went on and we are still wearing open sandals so it cannot be that cold. We have adapted to the healthy outdoor lifestyle and are really enjoying it. It will seem strange being back in a house again but I am sure that we will quickly get used to it. Yesterday I was chatting to an Australian couple at one of the locks. They have been here for 2 years. They bought a boat at the same Marina as we did and  actually lived there for one winter. They have been all round England on the canals and have already sold the boat as they return to Australia in September. What a great idea.

Today's journey took us down to Middlewich which we did in the extreme heat of 3 weeks ago. This mooring looked cheerful although the clouds look ominous. 

I thought that this was a salt processing plant when we passed last time but I'm not so sure now as it was raining slightly and the mountains of outdoor salt would just dissolve. Not sure what they are making here.

After racing the swans......

we turned left at the Middlewich Junction and headed up the very short Wardle canal (35m) and moored for the rest of the day. We had some admin to sort out and the cricket on the radio was rather compelling! We went out for a short walk and this is the view of the junction. A boat is just emerging from the Shropshire Union Canal which we turned into and where we are moored. The turn was quite tricky and not helped by the rush of water as the lock just round the corner emptied as it sent the boat backwards with force and the wind was blowing it sideways.

The junction was very busy and has been all the time we have been here. We're hoping the canal is not too busy as the whole of our journey has been quite quiet so far. 

Sunday 11th August 2013

A day of 20 locks. I actually did them all because there was a strong crosswind all day and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to control the boat. Some were set for us and generally they weren't too bad. When we did them in July it was on the hottest day of the year so today was much more pleasant. Some of them were duplicate locks with two side by side although each one only holds one boat. Some of the steps back down were rather steep and I don't think Health and Safety have been round to inspect them! 

(Photo courtesy of Graham Day Photographic Studios Ltd.)

I should sleep well tonight. We are moored at Wheelock and went for a short stroll around. The Italian Restaurant which had people outside drinking coffee 3 weeks ago appears to be closed and boarded up in parts. Good job we hadn't intended to eat there tonight.

Saturday 10th August 2013

An easy morning with the only lock having a depth difference of 12inches. This was the exam piece for Jill and Jon with no help from Graham or me. They passed with flying colours!

There is an unusual bridge here.

We came over the Trent and Mersey canal via the aqueduct and turned to head North again (3 weeks and 2 days since the first time) Our friends left us to return to their car in Macclesfield by train and we headed into Kidsgrove for shopping and to try to sort out some admin via the computers in the Library. By the time we were ready to set sail again Jill and Jon were already back in Richmond! The sun came out and we cruised to Church Lawton where the moorings are on rings and very pleasant. Time to sit in the sun with a G and T.

Thursday 8th August 2013

We left Bollington about 10am and sailed down to Macclesfield with no problems mooring in the same spot as on Monday. This clock is on top of a closed building next to the mooring. It looks rather Art Deco but there is no information to say what the building was.

We went shopping in Macclesfield with the bonus of there being an M and S so it was possible to buy a few treats. We met our friends Jill and Jon at the train station and walked up the hill to the boat. Macclesfield is quite hilly as evidenced by this photo taken in town.

We sailed for a few hours and then moored in the countryside as we prepared them for the locks tomorrow!

Friday 9th August 2013

Rain threatened all day but never materialised. We left about 9.50am and after filling with water started on the Bosley locks. We met a chap called Steve whom we have met throughout the week and Jon helped him as he is on his own. Locks are bad enough when there are only two of you but on your own it is very difficult. You can see how we put our friends to work.

While Graham takes it easy on the tiller.....

and I supervise!

We were delighted when we realised that at lock 12 we were at the last one since I had told everyone that there were 16 locks! For a lot of the journey we could see this hill called 'The Cloud' getting closer and then receding. This photo was taken from our lunch spot just after the locks.

The Macclesfield canal has quite a few Snake bridges. They allowed a horse to continue walking the towpath without being unhitched from the barge when the towpath changed sides along the canal. It is difficult to get a good photo to show this especially with the undergrowth threatening to obscure them.

We moored for the evening at bridge 87 ( Scholar Green) and had a lovely meal at 'The Rising Sun'. Definitely on the list for a return visit next year.

Wednesday 7th August 2013

A lovely day in Bollington but no movement along the canal. We looked round what turned out to be the older part this morning and then followed with a walk round the newer area this afternoon. We also visited the Heritage Centre with its photos of life in the town when the mills were in operation. 

The photo shows our rather pleasant mooring with one of the few remaining mill chimneys in the distance.

Also just by us is there is a pile of stop boards.

You see them at various points on the canals where the canal is narrowed to just about the width of a boat. There are indentations in the canal sides so that the boards can be dropped in, one on top of each other, to stop the water flow. The canal can then be drained between the stops and any repairs can be carried out. It always seems remarkable to think that the wood can stop so much water.

We had a look at the pub where we hope to eat tonight. The lady in the information centre recommended it to Graham as having " Good beer" . He obviously looks the sort who is an expert on this! In the bakers today I asked for a small custard tart and was asked, " Cheese or Fruit?". When we cleared up the confusion she said that you always know when it's time to go! As hearing is supposed to be the last sense to go, I think that she has gone!

A first for us today as Graham successfully changed the oil - Ably assisted by senior engineer Valerie. All is now set for our visitors tomorrow. First time they have seen the boat. Fingers crossed for fine weather.

Tuesday 6th August 2013

The weather was much better today - not as hot as in July but no rain. The treat of having the newspaper to read at breakfast was appreciated and then we walked down to the Silk Museum. Neither of us had realised that Macclesfield was such a centre of the British Silk Industry. It appears that there was a cottage industry of making buttons in the town and then an entrepreneur brought silk from London to cover the buttons and the industry grew from there- helped by the fact that France was at war and the supply of silk from that country was reduced. 

The best part of the morning was the tour of Paradise Mill. Graham and I were the only people on the tour so had a very personalised visit. The mill only closed in 1980 and all the looms, bobbin threading machines etc. are still there and in working order. We were allowed to try weaving on the old looms, very hard to push down with the right leg and quite difficult to get the co-ordination with sending the shuttle to and fro. The punched cards which are used to produce the patterns are just like the old punched cards for computers and these were invented in 1801! Photographs were not allowed but I hoped to buy a postcard of the mill room but surprisingly there were none for sale.

Macclesfield could make much more of the canal. The moorings are pretty awful and the view as we had breakfast was not inspiring.

We returned to the boat in the afternoon and bought diesel and oil at the local marina before sailing back up the Macclesfield canal to Bollington. We turned the boat and have nice moorings. Peaceful, and quite near to the town.

Tomorrow we will attempt our first oil change!