We had a prompt start and cast off at 08.15 and cruised through to Congleton with very few other boats about, another cloudy day, not cold and no rain so that must be a bonus this year. A quick stop for shopping and a cappuccino in town and then away to finish our visit on the Macclesfield Canal which has been excellent. I was thinking as we came down the last section that you can compare canals to our modern roads. In which case the Macc is like a lovely Devon country lane and the Trent & Mersey could be your A303 fast and furious ( a lot of boats rushing around on the 4 Counties Ring) but some really interesting places coming up. The Grand Union Main Line would then have to be the M1 - its been around for years, very wide and very busy.
We this time turned left as we came to Hardings Wood Junction onto the Trent & Mersey Canal heading north, dropped down two locks and then went under Pool Lock Aqueduct which we had gone across 45 minutes before.
We are now moored at Red Bull Services just past bridge 134 where there are visitor moorings near the old warehouse which is a Regional Office for CRT.
Its day 23 of our trip and we have done 69 locks and 168 miles. Tomorrow we start on Heartbreak Hill (the old boaters name) although we are going down hill onto the Cheshire plains to Middlewich - we have 13 miles and 31 locks to do. As it's downhill Anne will do some of the helming so that I can have a go at locking-it should be fun!
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| Last time we passed Crossley Hall I was not quick enough to get a photo-only of the blue cow near the canal! |
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| We have just come through the bridge on the left (Hardings Wood Junction) and are now waiting for the lock on the T&M to fill |
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| Red Bull Services and offices in the old warehouse next to bridge 134 |
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| Pool Lock Aqueduct - the T&M passing under the Macc |
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| One of the lovely stone mileposts used on the Macc |
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| Ah bluebells spring must be here! |
