Gurnett - Dane Aqueduct - 12 locks, 2 swing bridges, 5 miles, 4 1/2hours

We set off at just after 7:15, a bit early for a Sunday morning, but there was crucial game today. Sunderland vs Cardiff, with a 12:00 kick off.  A couple of weeks ago I had resigned myself to championship football, but then we had got the draw against Man City and beat Chelsea, so now there was hope -again!!!

It was another gorgeous morning, before tackling the Bosley flight there were two swing bridges to get through.  One of which had been a nightmare on the way up, you have to stop the traffic and last time I had been shouted by motorists and boaters alike - motorists wanting me to close the bridge and boaters wanting me to keep it open - so I was hopeful that as we were so early there would be no traffic and no other boats.  As we arrived there was a boat coming the other way, but thankfully that was the only boat and there was no traffic, so no one shouted at me today!!

As we got to the flight of 12 locks, there was unfortunately a boat in front going the same way as us which meant that I was going to have to turn the locks, not good when you are in a hurry, but luckily there were 4 of them on the boat and they cracked the locks for us, which was great and made life so much easier for us.

I did have one blonde moment, having opened one of the slackers at the top end of the lock I needed to walk to the bottom cross over and to the other side and open the other top slacker, instead I walked to the bottom and started to open the bottom slacker - doh!!!!  Luckily I realised before I had fully opened it, aided by some frantic shouts from Rodney.

We made excellent time and moored up just passed the bottom lock.

Another beautiful spot.

We moored up at 11:30, just in time to get ready for the big match.  What a result Sunderland 4 - Cardiff 0 - we just might survive (fingers crossed) :-).

We had a lovely afternoon, enjoying the spring sunshine and the great views.

Adlington Basin to Gurnett - 9 miles - 3 hours

We had a bit of later start today.  I had been promised breakfast in the little cafe that was just below where we were moored, but it wasn't open - Saturday morning and it was shut!! Very inconsiderate - so a bowl of Granola it was.

The plan for the day was to get to bridge 44, we had tried to moor up here on the way down the Macclesfield but it was full.

We travelled through Macclesfield.

This time we were in luck and moored at the Gurnett Aqueduct.

The views were beautiful.

Buxworth Basin to Adlington Basin - 2 swing bridges, 1 lift bridge, 12miles - 4 hours

We headed back towards the Macclesfield canal leaving behind the Upper Peak Forest canal.

The weather was grey but thankfully stayed dry.

On the way we passed the canals take on Only Fools & Horses.

This cute little boat belonged to a lady that we had previously seen on the Shropshire Union on the way to Chester, at the time she was on her way to pick up her boat with her two dogs.

I am still struggling with my foot so not able to do much walking or exploring, and certainly no running, have to confess to getting more than a little frustrated!  I know they say patience is a virtue, but those of you that know me well will know it is not a virtue that I possess :-)).

Buxworth Basin - Tuesday - Thursday

We had a day off on Tuesday and spent the day chilling and planning our route for the next couple of months.

Buxworth is a great place to moor and we enjoyed our time there, very relaxing hard to imagine what it was like in the height of the canals hey day.

We continued to be lucky with the weather, great for sitting out the front and enjoying a beer or two!!

We were really pleased to have a visit from Jason and Michelle who were on a weeks holiday near Blackpool, it was great to catch up as we haven't seen them for a few months.

The route planning was completed and we are off back to the Macclesfield, then taking the Trent & Mersey to the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union, then down the Shroppie onto the Staffordshire & Worcester, a short stretch of the River Severn, onto the Droitwich, the Birmingham & Worcester, to the Stratford Upon Avon, up to the Grand Union all the way back to Yelvertoft.

This will take us back onto some of the stretches we have enjoyed the most and also onto some new waterways for us.  

All that planning was very taxing, so time for another beer.

Furness Vale to Buxworth Basin - 1 swing bridge, 2 miles, 1 hour

Well the sun has definitely reappeared on Easter Monday, it's beautiful.

We travelled the short distance to Buxworth Basin at the end of the Upper Peak Forest.

The canal hugs the hillside all the way along, with steep drops off to our left and high climbs to the right.

There are two options at the end of the canal, you can either moor in Whaley Bridge or Buxworth basin. 

We had opted for Buxworth Basin.  Buxworth used to be a busy interchange with the trams that travelled the last 6.5 miles up to the quarries at Doveholes.  Now it is just a beautiful place to moor.

As we arrived we took the right hand basin with the view to turning at the end and coming back to then reverse down the left basin.  There was plenty of evidence of this once being a busy canal port.

And so the reversing begins!!  You can also just make out the three arms of the basin.

It was at the basin that a very unnerving event occurred.  Not sure if anyone out there follows the Big Bang Theory, but today Rodney turned into Sheldon!!!!!  Only instead of shouting Penny....Penny......Penny, he says Tracy......Tracy.......Tracy, this was all due to my failure to respond to the first shout of my name in the nano second available before the second call!!!!  Next thing you know we will be having a boat contract...... not :-)).

We are hopefully heading out for a bike ride this afternoon, as I am going a bit stir crazy, as my foot is still not right and I can only walk a short distance and running is definitely a no, no.

Bollington to Furness Vale (Peak Forest Canal) - 3 swing bridges, 11 miles, 6 hours

It was a grey morning today, where had the sun gone, this is more like British Easter weather :-)).

As we travelled along we passed some traditional buildings, that would have supported the canal in its hayday.

We soon reached the junction with the Peak Forest canal where we turned right.

The canal sits up high on with impressive views either side.

Such a shame to see abandoned boats, this one is certainly not going anywhere other than to the scrap yard.

It was not the only obstacle that we had to contend with.  The one below was a real challenge to get passed as a significant amount was under the water.

We again struggled to moor, having to abandon our first two attempts before we finally got a spot that was not too shallow.  

Just a short day tomorrow, with the plan being to moor at either Whaley Bridge or Buxworth Basin, let's  hope the sun puts in an appearance.

Buglawton to Bollington - 12 locks, 2 swing bridges, 11.5 miles, 6.5 hours

Good Friday arrived with the sun shining, most unlike a bank holiday.

We made an early start as we had to get through the Bosley flight of locks.

As always George is supervising, he really needs to learn how to use a windlass!!!!!

As we head towards Macclesfield we pass a couple more working boats.

This is Adelphi Mill which was originally  a silk mill.

The canal is very shallow in places and we struggled to moor, the original plan had been to moor before Macclesfield and the spot was beautiful, but already full!!, so we continued on, two further mooring attempts were unsuccessful as it was just too shallow..........  so we ended up just beyond Macclesfield.

As we moor up, we have some unusual looking residents in the field opposite, is it a sheep or is it a goat........... It is of course a herd of goats.

Saturday we didn't move, having had such a full on Friday.  The Windmill Inn at Whiteley Green, just off the canal, had been recommended to us, so that was our destination on Saturday night.  The food was excellent as was the service, would definitely visit again.

Monday - Thursday

MONDAY

We didn't move as we were waiting for the fuel boat and I had booked a physio appointment for my foot.

The fuel boat arrived at just after 12:00 and we filled up with diesel, and had our waste tank pumped out.

We were also visited by some very cute looking ducklings.

It was a lovely clear evening and the moon was looking absolutely gorgeous as we shut the side windows for the evening.

TUESDAY

Rod was working today and I was lucky enough to have a day sight seeing in London with Carol, Annita and Sarah.

We spent the morning and early afternoon on the sight seeing bus before stopping at Hyde Park to grab a sandwich and a very welcome drink.

Next stop was Buckingham Palace, but how to get there??

We set off and Sarah was very excited about seeing where the Queen lived.

Having completed the bus tour we then took a trip down the Thames from Tower Bridge to Westminster.

The day had flown by and we just had time for a coffee and a cake before we had to dash off to get our trains.  We were so lucky with the weather and I think Sarah enjoyed her day in London.

WEDNESDAY

Rod worked again and I had a long over due haircut and more importantly got the grey covered up!!! Then had another Physio appointment in the afternoon.  The foot is improving but it is slow progress, which is not good when you are as impatient as I am!!!

THURSDAY

We were off to see Gary Barlow at the Nottingham Arena with George & Carol, and Mike & Liz.

Mike picked us up and we met at Piccolinos Italian restaurant.  We had a great meal, washed down with a couple of bottles of Prosseco......very nice.

We made it to the arena in perfect time, we had just taken our seats and Eliza Doolittle came on, she was pretty good.

Then the main event Mr Barlow himself.  He was awesome.

We were sitting on the side, but George and Carol were on the floor, we had drawn lots to see who sat where.  Later in the show Gary makes his way to a grand piano on a small stage at the back, on the way back he walked passed Carol who was on the end of a row and was lucky enough to touch his hand, she may never wash again!!!!!!!