Touring Begins

Monday 4th June.

Must have overdone it yesterday. Did a few small jobs in the morning then after lunch feel asleep and woke up for tea. Diana has spent the day organising her new blog while on power and marina internet.

Tuesday 5th June. 2 miles.

1125, engine starts. We head up the canal towards Whaley Bridge. Stop at Tescos to provision the boat with baulky and heavy items. The walk between Supermarket and boat is not far. Once the stores are on board we sample some with a late lunch before heading to Whaley Bridge. No moorings and Diana's favourite Charity shop has just closed so we turn, backtrack past Tesco's and head up the Bugsworth arm. Take a bit of a walk around the basin the settle into the real art of narrow boating. Drinks and knibbles on the towpath.

Wednesday 6th June. 6 miles 2 swing & 2 lift bridges.

Take a wander down to the kiosk at Bugsworth Basin and chat to the staff for a while before heading down the canal. We intend to stop at the marina as I have a bill to pay and it will be Dianas last chance to wash her hair and dry it with the 230volt hair dryer. As we approach our pontoon it is occupied with the engineer doing some work on their boat. We don't need them to move as there is an empty slot a couple of pontoons away. Mid afternoon and our farwells made we set off on a beautiful summers day. Great for Diana with the bridges; 1st, opened by a boater coming the other way, 2nd, opened by a fisherman who wanted us through as quick as possible so he could continue fishing, 3rd, this bridge has been converted to push button, 4th, the only one requiring any effort as she renewed her windlass skills. Arriving in Marple we couldn't get into the bank as there was a rock in the canal so eventually we moor on the lock mooring. Nobody is using the locks as they have been closed for months.