Challenging day….

…. for three reasons.
First, the brisk wind was cold, making ear tips ache and eyes stream, as it was straight in the face as we headed south from Marple. Then the sun was also directly ahead, and low enough now to dazzle. The final and worse one I’ll leave till later…

We did a book swap with Michelle on NB Just Imagine before we left Marple, some good reading material in the several books we received in exchange. Thanks both.

Then it was get under way time.

Leaving Marple, looking back under Bridge 2
Oh, I forgot to mention. Does anyone want to take out a lease on a Public Convenience on the recreation ground alongside Oldknow Road?

No? Whyever not? Seems a good source of income to me….

It was a bright and sunny morning, showing Goyt Mill off in all it’s Edwardian splendour.

Goyt Mill
They knew how to build for effect in 1905, didn’t they.

With no swing or lift bridges, nor any locks, I’d planned a long day, 13 miles to beyond Macclesfield. Mags could relax, the only chore being a supply of mugs of tea and cheese and pickle sandwiches for the helm.

So we wound our way south, through High Lane, Poynton, Four Lane Ends and Bollington, battling with the wind and squinting into the sun.

Hopeless trying to get a decent picture looking forward at Poynton…
……but rather better looking back

Mags took over the tiller for 10 minutes while Meg and I had a comfort break walk just south of Four Lane Ends, then we continued on to Bollington.

Here comes Mags

Sunshine and shadow under Braddocks Bridge as we wait for the lift.

Bollington is book-ended by two large mills. At the north end is Clarence Mill.

Clarence Mill from the aqueduct
It almost looks like the chimney is smoking, but it’s not done that for many a year.
Along the aqueduct are attractive and popular moorings, all full up today.

At the other end of the town is Adelphi Mill, opposite Bollington Wharf.

Adelphi Mill
There are moorings here, too, but gloomy in the shadow of the mill and not so popular. Good for a shopping stop, though. The High Street is just down the hill.

Leaving Bollington the canal passes Kerridge Dry Dock, and I’d not noticed before the tower on Kerridge Hill beyond the boatyard.

Is it a folly?
There must be fine views across the valley from the top. I walked along the ridge the last time we were here, taking in White Nancy at the northern end but dropping back down into the valley before I got this far.

A steady plod took us to Macclesfield, were I was pleased to see the support work for the retaining wall near Verdons Bridge is complete and the towpath re-opened.

Substantial Buttresses

Unusually, the good moorings above Gurnett Aqueduct were almost empty. James Brindley served his apprenticeship with a millwright in a workshop below the canal here.

We pushed on another mile, mooring on the good stretch of piling below Leak New Road Bridge,   No. 45.

A good day’s cruise, about five hours in all, followed by a brilliant sunset as I got back from walking Meg.


It was from this point that things started to go wrong. I was downloading these photos and Mags was at the stove doing dinner when she dropped a spoon. Not an event in itself but her reaction was. She was disorientated and confused as I sat her down, and I quickly ran through the stroke symptoms check, FAST, with her. Then I dialled 999.

By the time the ambulance arrived she had recovered and had no memory of a problem. The Paramedics could find nothing wrong, but even so we bullied her into going to the hospital.
The staff at Macclesfield Hospital were brilliant; she was straight in and wired up for an ECG, blood samples were taken along with a chest X-ray. They could find nothing wrong also and concluded that it was a T.I.A., a stroke-like attack that doesn’t last but may be a precursor to a proper stroke.

She came home with me last night, and I’ve to take her to a clinic in Manchester on Monday for a full battery of tests, but she seems OK at the moment, just a little tired.
So long as she doesn’t have another episode she’s just to rest till Monday, then we’ll see.

Obviously this has put our trip to Wales for the winter on hold. We’ll have to see how things work out.

Locks 0, miles 13