The moorings at the bottom of Bosley Locks really are fantastic. When I took Macc out for a walk in the dark yesterday evening, the reeds up ahead at the aqueduct were alive with the croaking or frogs (or possibly toads, not sure). This morning, our pre-breakfast walk presented us with another beautiful sunrise. We got under way at about 8.45 and had very little recollection of this stretch. We saw the first ducklings of the spring.
From our mooring, we could see the impressive railway viaduct striding across the valley. Further up the canal there was a better view of it.
The railway then crosses the canal on a matching bridge.
Just beyond there’s a lovely collection of converted farm buildings, and the half-timbered Crossley Hall.
Just around the corner was the winding hole where we had to turn when we came up here on Briar Rose in April last year, when Bosley Locks and the upper part of the canal was closed by a breach. So from here on was much more familiar. We stopped for water at the tap on the offside by Bridge 68. It had really good pressure so didn’t take as long as we’d feared, and by reducing the flow when the tank appears to be full but isn’t, we actually managed to fill it. The railway crosses the canal again just south of here, but on a much more nondescript bridge. It did however have a train going over it.
Macc had been out for a walk while we filled the water tank and then Adrian had been sitting with him on the well deck. We then tried him in his bed on the stern slide again, although he didn’t really settle.
There’s a riot of bridges all bunched together in Congleton, one of which is the railway for a third time.
Congleton also has another aqueduct to go over, this time crossing a road.
By now the sun had gone in and it was getting decidedly chilly. Our earmarked destination was the moorings alongside the Ramsdell Hall railings. It’s a popular spot, so before going through the bridge Adrian got off and walked ahead to check there was space, while I lingered by a stretch of piling that would have made a decent alternative. In fact there was only one boat on the moorings, so we tied up at the end by the bridge.
Our post-lunch walk with Macc took us towards Heritage Marina. Adrian phoned them to see if they had the oil filter for our engine, as we’ll soon need the first oil change. They had them, so while I walked back with Macc, Adrian carried on and got a couple of filters and some oil. I was going to change the gearbox oil, but the position of the electric motor means I can’t get my funnel into position to put the new oil in; I need one with a long hose on it, so it will have to wait. I have an online interview to do for a podcast a little later, and then a chicken will be going in the oven.
7 miles, 0 locks. (16 miles, 12 locks)