After yesterday's rain today started out as a beautiful sunny morning.  The engine is still playing up so I walked the dogs leaving Graham in charge of the boat.  Today's plan is to get to the top of Bosley Locks where we can empty the toilet and get rid of the rubbish.

The Macclesfield Canal runs through some extremely picturesque scenery and has many attractive bridges and aqueducts.  One of the many features are the elegant roving bridges known locally as snake bridges.  These cross the towpath from one side of the canal to the other without having to unhitch the horses.  Not such an important consideration these days!

One of the elegant snake bridges

Dog Lane Aqueduct at Congleton

travelling through picturesque scenery

No idea what the story behind this colourful cow is!!

An uneventful trip to the bottom of Bosley Locks where we spotted a boat that we recognised.  Anyone that read the blog last year may remember that a guy on the Weaver showed Graham the still that he had on his boat for brewing whiskey.  Well there he was moored up at the bottom of the flight.


I negotiated the bottom lock ok but made a bit of a pigs ear of the second one, and when I spotted another boat coming out of the third lock and another short and tricky pound I gave up and let Graham take over.  Got a bit of stick from the other boat crew though.

Leaving the bottom lock in Bosley flight

The lock that I mucked up

Jeanie Deans about half way up the flight

A boat in the pound ahead of us

Coming across the pound

All went well until about half way up the flight when a hire boat that had moored on a lock landing decided to pull away just as we were about to exit the lock.  This slowed us down considerably which can be frustrating!  Not that we were in a hurry but we had got into a nice rhythm.  Then met another boat coming down the locks who pretty much left me to do all the work while she went to set the next lock up.  This was in spite of it being fully visible and ready to enter! Grrr!  Finally at the top of the flight a fellow boater told me he was moored above the flight but was confused by the sign, which said long term moorings, permit holders only.  I explained what this meant and he was of the opinion that as he only wanted to moor overnight it would be ok.  Apparently it was either that or moor on the waterpoint.  I left him to it lest I say something I would regret.

Finally moored up at 3:15pm and ate lunch.  No wonder I was turning into Mrs Angry, I was starving hungry.  Feeling happier now in spite of the rain which is now lashing down.

 After a lovely weekend weather wise today has been somewhat damp.  The day started out with fairly light rainfall which became more persistent and heavy as the day progressed.  Still made good progress though and this evening we are moored up at Hall Green on the Macclesfield Canal.

On Monday, which was an unusually sunny bank holiday, we headed up through Stone and on towards Stoke on Trent, mooring for the evening just before Trentham Lock.  The trip was interesting as we have not  been this way before.  Had a relatively short day and Graham did some painting in the bathroom when we moored for the day.  No drinking on the towpath though as it clouded over and rained in the evening.

This impressive building, now flats, used to be Stone workhouse!

Graham had a little helper at this lock!

Pretty row of cottages, which Graham tells me are called the 'teapot cottages'

Today we went through Stoke on Trent, which looked particularly gloomy in the rain.  The locks up to Stoke are deep with big heavy gates.  I worked the first one but then had to swap with Graham due to not being able to walk under a bridge full of pigeons (I am a bit of a wimp about birds in enclosed spaces).

The locks through Stoke look a bit grim

Bottle Kilns are a common sight along the canal in Stoke on Trent

We arrived at Harecastle tunnel in good time and were first in the queue to go through.  Sadly though we were last through as we had a problem with the engine.  Harecastle Tunnel is almost 3000 metres long and has airtight doors at one end and huge fans to keep it clear of fumes.  It is one way traffic only.

Harecastle Tunnel South portal

Entering the tunnel!

North portal

Turning from the Trent and Mersey onto the Macclesfield Canal

Hall Green stop lock on the Macclesfield Canal

Whoops!!! It's been a while since my last post, sorry to anyone who follows this blog.  We were moored up for three weeks at Market Harborough Basin so that we could sort out various appointments and attend a family party.  We eventually set off on 20/5/13 and have spent the last few days heading up towards Stone.  This has involved some long days, sadly in some pretty crap weather.  However the last two days have been lovely, with lots of sunshine.  We have even managed to spend the last two evening sitting out on the towpath and drinking wine/beer.

We are now on the Trent and Mersey heading towards Stone, from tomorrow we will be travelling along parts of the canal that we have not visited before although we did visit points further north on this canal last year.  Time to slow down now and enjoy the trip.

Charity Dock on the Coventry Canal

I love this place always something of interest to see and has not yet succumbed to the general gentrification of the waterways!!

Great Heywood Junction was busy today!

Hoo Mill Lock on the Trent and Mersey

Jeanie Deans entering the lock