Looking down into Bollington from the back of Aqua Life this morning
Once again we had a lazy start to the day. A leisurely breakfast at the Waterside Cafe in Clarence Mill (now shops, offices and apartments)
After breakfast we walked down into the village. This next pic is not very exciting but it does give you some idea of the height of the embankment needed to keep the canal on the contour.
Lawrence just made it around the corner when he was overcome by a desire for a nature break, as Phil Ligget calls it, and he went scuttling back to the boat. I carried on into the very attractive village, where everyone said good morning or variations thereof.
First stop was Heathcote, the butcher - lamb cutlets cost GBP2 ea!! Though they were twice the thickness of Aus ones. So I purchased some Cumberland and some pork and leek sausages and some chicken breasts. With stops at the Deli and the corner convenience store, I walked back through the village and started up the steep hill back to the canal.
Halfway up I met a couple coming down. The woman stopped me and said "are you an Australian?". I was a bit surprised as I hadn't said anything, I was too busy panting, so I nodded.
She said "You don't remember me". Luckily she went on before I could reply. "I remember your face, we met at the Pig Farm on the Oxford last year". She then asked "Were you the Australians on the tidal Trent a month or so ago, we though it might be you?"
I said, inwardly quailing "Why did you think it was us, and what did you hear?"
She replied "because it was an aqua boat, which I remember you had last year and we heard that the woman was so scared by everything she had read about Keadby Lock she'd put all the crockery on the floor"
"Yes, that was me", I said.
After that little interrogation we introduced ourselves. Sarah and John on NB Sunshine. We swapped Trent stories as they had done it a few weeks before us. Having just come from the Peak Forest Canal John passed on info re good mooring spots and Sarah where a couple of laundrettes were. They are dawdling their way down the Mac and then down the T&M and we parted ways agreeing to have a drink or meal together if we catch up and cross paths with them.
Back at the boat I reported to Lawrence that my precautionary measures (and it was only the glassware) for Keadby Lock were causing a few laughs on the cut and explained about meeting John and Sarah.
We got underway at 11.45, passing Clarence mill, where we'd had breakfast, which turned out to be twice as big as we originally thought
I don't understand how buildings like this, and we have passed many whose outer wall is part of the canal side, are not at least damp, if not soggy
Bridge 26
Whose underside stones are laid in an interesting way
All was peace and tranquility
Until we caught up with a couple on a day hire boat who were going so tranquilly they were almost not going at all. We were stuck behind them for over 30 minutes.
Luckily just on the other side of the bridge the canal widened for a winding hole and the day boat went a bit wobbly wobbly and stopped, which gave L. the opportunity to put the wellie down and we scooted past.
Fisherman, enjoying a day out, though I must say it is very hard to tell with fishermen - if they are happy or suicidal; glum expressions seem to be de riguer
The view opened up for awhile
Cruising through Middlewood Wood
Passing through High Lane, Piggy and the Loch Ness Monster
After High Lane the views became more expansive
Came under a bridge on the outskirts of Marple and was confronted by Goyt Mill, where cotton was spun. Spinning ceased in the 1960s as the British textile industry lost ground to Chinese imports.
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