Sunday 9/10. Bugsworth Basin to Bollington Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal

Brrrr, there was ice on the roof this morning. We crept of our mooring very quietly and cruised down to the waterpoint and rubbish disposal. We were all done (best water tap on the cut so far) away at 9.00.

It was seriously nippy for awhile, but as soon as we broke into more open country the sun was lovely and warm.

A not very good shot of Abbott and Costello (no, not ours, unfortunately) sitting in someone's garden.

Some expansive views again today

Back past the attractive canalside house

Just completing the turn back onto the Macclesfield Canal

We moored just beyond Bridge 2 at noon - perfect timing for a Sunday roast at the Ring O Bells canalside pub.

One of the reasons we enjoy a Sunday roast is because it is about the only pub meal that comes with lashings of veg. Standard veg for most meals is chips and mushie peas. And if you are lucky, half a grilled tomato, and if your're unlucky, fried onion rings.

Though, I must say, side salads are more often on the menu these days.

Leaving the pub, that's Manchester in the distance. We haven't come very far at all in the past couple of weeks.

We were cast off and cruising again by 1.30. A permanent moored little patch, and very proud of it he was too.

The blurry blob in the middle distance is 'The Cage' at Lyme Park. Built in 1737 (replacing an earlier 1580s model) as a hunting lodge where the ladies of Lyme Park and their buddies could watch their menfolk hunting deer on the slopes below.

Here is a pic of it that I nicked off the net

Albion, a very smart little steam boat we passed. No getting away from steam this weekend, it seems!

Bridge 25

Why another pic of a boring bridge, you may well ask. Well there is a sad tale connected to it that I thought you might like to read. This is what our Pearson's Canal Guide says:

"The parapet of Bridge 25 bears the inscription 'Lovers Leap June 1894' which relates to the sobering story of a married man who'd turned out his wife and three children in preference for another woman. Public opinion was so against the erring individual that his home was set alight and a 'safe house' had to be found for the 'other woman'. Finally, feelings were running so high against the lovers that they made a suicide pact and drowned themselves in the canal. Obviously it was much deeper in those days!"

Bollington in the distance

Back past the Clarence Mill

We were moored up tight on the Aqueduct moorings at 4.20pm

Big News.  I steered through my first ever bridge hole today AND didn't hit anything. I did follow Lawrence's advice though!

13miles, 3 swing bridges, 7hrs 20mins