Back to the white stuff

We planned to take a walk into Macclesfield yesterday, I was told there was a small Tesco store there and I needed fresh fruit and veg, but just as we were ready to leave …

… Brian and Ann Marie on fuel boat Alton sounded their horn …

 … after knocking frantically on the window they reversed alongside and we took on some diesel …

… a well stocked boat it is too!

So off we set for the shopping, but we couldn’t find the little Tesco and the town was not particularly impressive or interesting so returned to Rock n Roll for a well deserved cuppa to revive ourselves from that bitingly cold wind. We decided that we’d go instead to the Farm Shop at Sutton.

 Just under the aqueduct there’s a couple of interesting properties on the edge of the road, I couldn’t decide whether this one was inhabited or not! ...

… and on the other side of the road is Plough House just a few yards from the canal …

 … and the inscription over the garage door - from humble beginnings etc, …

We found the Farm Shop - it’s mainly a butcher’s shop which sells great meat but only a small selection of veg but enough for our needs.  We spent the rest of the day in the warmth of RnR whilst outside the wind increased alarmingly.  Rock n Roll was tied tightly at the visitor moorings yet the wind was able push us backwards and into the side - she was certainly living up to her name!

And then this morning … oh dear ...

… back to the white stuff and the wind is just as bad as it was yesterday.  Time to baton down the hatches and stay warm!

Beware blow-holes!

One last glance over the River Dane Aqueduct looking at the railway viaduct this morning

Into the bottom lock (No. 12) of the Bosley Flight - these huge hewn stones are probably the originals placed here by the Navvies pre 1831when the Macclesfield Canal was opened and are in pretty good order today

 As I rise gently in the lock below, George lifts the paddles of the one above

and looking back

some of those blocks are not wearing as well as others!

 Leaking top gates as well as bottom ones!

 Whoops!  Beware the blow-holes at lock number 5!

 Right between his legs and up his sleeves - he was literally soaked to the skin!

 The paddle gear to the side pound at lock 5 looks in good order - it says on the info board that they will be using this occasionally for demonstration purposes

In lock 6 - half way up and lock 7 is ready for me

 One last look back at Cloud fell

 Last lock of the day, and of this canal

 Topol George doing his Fiddler on the Roof impression!

Into another cutting ...

… with houses among the trees

Canal working boats Shirely, St Austell and ... 

… Alton taking on fuel to sell to other boaters

Royal Oak Swing Bridge ahead ...

… or perhaps now it should be called Fools Nook Swing Bridge!

The bridge swings open to let me through and George holds it for another boat coming from the other direction …

… job done, bridge back in place and I wait for George to catch me up.

Out of the cutting and look - a tree with its own island!

OMG just look at these views -

We have decided …

We love the Macc!

Moored up on Gurnet Aqueduct just around the corner from here where it’s just a short walk in the town - that’ll do us!

A dull day but a good one

Leaving last night’s peaceful mooring - just a 2-mile cruise today …

“Haven’t you ever seen a cow before?"

A fantastic period house - apart from the ‘lean-to’ on the back it looks mostly original

Moored at the bottom of Bosley Locks where ...

… we have good views ...

… all around us ...

… including views from the Dane Aqueduct ...

… down onto the River Dane

We took a walk after lunch to the top of Bosley Locks from lock 12 ...

… looking back from lock 10

Cloud Fell in the background ...

Interesting information boards - above is the house mentioned on this board (click to enlarge)

All about saving water - most of these locks leak like a sieve!

A new-ish sanitary station at the top lock with a separate arm behind for boats requiring the services of the pump out and elsan, it also includes showers, toilets and laundry facilities.

What was once the lock-keepers cottage - very nice!

All about the lock flight

The locks have twin top gates but unfortunately no steps on them to cross back after closing one gate - most of the locks we saw today had at least one of the top gates left open

Seen in the distance above the top locks - should have good signals for miles!

Back to Rock n Roll

A single wild primrose by the hedge

Sunset tonight at 7 pm - glorious!