A much sunnier start than we were expecting, and the light was lovely when I took Macc for his early morning walk. The boat in front was just leaving to go down the lock; we followed about an hour later.
The cottage at Hyde Lock must have some of the most photographer garden gates on the network.
The next pound is almost entirely permanent moorings. We stopped on the water point that’s among them. The boat ahead was also there, but hadn’t actually turned the tap on yet. He offered to move back so we could go in front of him to use a second tap, but we’d already tied up. Adrian suggested he use the other tap — which he did, until it turned out it didn’t work! As we were already filling he said we should carry on, and we all got water and got rid of rubbish etc eventually. A boat had just come up Kinver Lock so it was full for us, and there was a boat waiting to come up.
We stopped on the moorings below the lock, all our boating for the day done by 10.30! Next to the towpath there’s a bridge over the river with access to a big open area, so we took Macc over for a run around on the long lead, and to practise his recall.
As the weather was still quite nice, I took a walk up the hill to the church to do some research for a magazine article. The church sits right on top of the hill and has some great views over the town.
From the church yard I followed a footpath down the hill, parts of which were very steep. It comes out in the main shopping street.
This afternoon Adrian made numerous phone calls and has worked out how we get Macc’s flea, tick, and worm treatment from the vet in Marple. It’s all a bit complicated, but should be easier in future. He then walked into town, mostly to get some carrots, so I took Macc over to the park again and sat on a bench while he just snuffled about on the long line. We think he’s probably missing out on just having a mooch, because we can’t just let him out into the garden as we don’t have one. When he wakes up from his current nap we’re planning to take him to the pub by the lock so we can try the locally brewed beer, all in the name of research obviously. With today’s modest amount of boating, put mile and lock count have now equalised.
1 mile, 2 locks. (106 miles, 106 locks)