Each time we went out last night it was sleeting, although not heavily. By this morning the wind had dropped, which was welcome, and it seemed less cold. We thought we’d move on to somewhere new, but first I walked down the hill to the Co-op for some fresh veg and then walked along to the rubbish and Elsan. We got under way just after 9.30 and almost immediately went under the junction bridge and onto the Peak Forest Canal, where we turned right. Macc prefers the electric motor to the diesel engine, and the horn made him jump! Once round the corner, Adrian brought him out in the puppy sling to have a look at the world going by.
In the distance up ahead, the tops of the hills of the Peak District were capped with snow.
Macc was asleep in his crate by the time we reached the first lift bridge, so Adrian came out to work it with a windlass. We could also keep an eye on him via the camera to make sure he was ok. Adrian then walked on to the second lift bridge, which is electric and operated by the Key of Power.
In between the two bridges is where CRT has been working on the aqueduct over the winter; you can see by the first bridge where there’s been a fence across the towpath, closing it. Adrian had got back on the boat after the second bridge, but having turned the page of the map we realised there was a swing bridge coming up, so he got off to do that. Just beyond it is a sculpture of hands in a willow tree. I can’t decide whether I like it, or whether it’s a bit creepy.
We only have a few days to be out this time, so I was trying to decide where to turn around. In the end, when we got to the winding hole just past Bridge 27 I turned us and we started heading back. We’ll be able to go all the way to Bugsworth in a few weeks time. I was aiming for a long stretch of piling between Bridges 26 and 27, but it turned out there was an underwater obstruction there meaning the stern wouldn’t come in. So we went past a moored boat and stopped in front of him. The view is better here anyway.
This afternoon we washed Macc’s paws with the special shampoo. It has to be lathered then left on for 3-5 minutes. The waiting was the most difficult part to be honest. Then it was into the galley sink for a rinse off. He was actually pretty good, and didn’t seem to worry about us touching his paws; it’s all good training.
4 miles, 0 locks. (9 miles, 0 locks)