Tuesday 5th June We left our overnight mooring at Scholar Green just after nine in more glorious weather. Within a few minutes we pass Ramsdell Hall, a huge house with lawns that run down to the canal. There are many many lovely houses of all shapes and sizes on this canal. This really is a fabulous canal with views across the countryside to Wales and passes through wooded areas. The sun makes patterns on the water. The towpaths are well kept and clean. We spy a squirrel and a hop hop, as our granddaughter calls rabbits. It is so nice sitting on the back of LT, quiet and peaceful. There are few boats around, in fact only one goes past all morning. Hightown looks pretty and there has been some canal property investment in recent years. We snake past Congleton without realising we had done so. At bridge 69 we hit some thing in the water and LT takes a lurch to port. All the bridges are covered in flies and in one we see a bird, like a humming bird, perhaps it is a humming bird?, hovering and picking the flies off the bridge hole roof. We pass over aqueducts and get a magnificent view of the viaduct that is a short distance from the canal. At noon we arrive at Bosley locks. There is a boat just leaving the first lock. Out comes the bike and off I go to set things up. The boat ahead has a speedy crew and they are soon up and out of lock 2 when I spy another boat coming down. A few waves and they get the message to leave the lock open. I did the same for them coming down. That was it, every other lock was against us. I had the advantage of going from lock to lock, and being able to see the wonderful view. All the locks have mitre gates at both ends and no little walkway, so to close the gates you have to walk all the way round. Is this unique to the Maccy canal?. At 2.20pm we reached the top and guess what, there was a boat going down! There is a brand new building here offering showers, laundry and dunny dump. Time for a tinny, I deserve it. The views are still magnificent. Reminds me a bit of the Scottish canals between Glasgow and Edinburgh. No more locks and we continue gently until we get to Bridge 37 and the Puss in Boots pub, in Macclesfield. We moor up, although the closet we can get to the towpath is about 3 foot. We fancy a pub meal tonight. Not in this pub on a Tuesday. Only in the UK! Dog is enjoying the trip although he is a little depressed. I cannot find the tennis balls to throw for him. Regular readers will know how he likes to play with his balls. Perhaps I will come across them tomorrow. Off for a shower now and search for a pub that serves food on a Tuesday.
Later - 8pm We first investigated the Bridgewater Arms, no food. Then the Baths Hotel, no food. A little further down a large building with Merchant House on the side and a pub sign, looks promising. Turns out to be Thai restaurant and excellent it was. 6 till 7, 2 courses for 12.95UKP. Unicorn beer was passable. Wendy said the red wine was very good. We are now back at the boat, well satisfied. BTW forgot to mention earlier, we get a surprisingly good TV picture considering we are surrounded by buildings. Regards Andrew & Wendy from The Cut
