Lord Vernon’s Wharf, Macclesfield - Tuesday 18 September 2012
I returned as agreed on Sunday and spent the afternoon sorting the boat ready for a return to London this week.  Monday Bruce and Sheila (Sanity Again) headed off to the Peak Forest canal and as the paint shed was not required I remained inside giving Andy Russell’s poppies a good chance to dry before being rained on.  Tuesday started with a shuffle; I came out of the shed and headed off to warm the engine ready for a service while “Starshine” went in for painting.  Then back into the yard while the boat had an engine service (oil and filters) and the stern gland tightened, so mechanically she is ready for the trip.  After lunch “Load of Hay” arrived and I moved out again while they came in and moored, then I came back in the centre and breasted up on them.  “Segue” is also in the yard having a modification to her weed hatch.  The travel plan is to leave at nine on Wednesday with “New Dawn” (Bill & Eileen) and “Eleventh Heaven” (Chris & Les) until they head off at different points on route.  The invoice for work has been paid and farewells said in case Peter and Susan are busy.

Dane Aqueduct, Macclesfield – Wednesday 19 September 2012
“Eleventh Heaven” had to wait for some post so “New dawn” and “Ice Breaker” headed off at about 9am, with final farewells said.  Of course it was raining and even my goretex was letting the rain through!  Bill was OK as he had his umbrella up while steering.  Eileen opened the first swing bridge (a manual one) and I took the opportunity to put on a long coat.  At the Fools Nook swing bridge (electrically controlled with lights and drop down barriers) a guy in a Jag jumped the lights and was between the barriers as the bridge started to swing!  Thanks to a quick response from Eileen he didn’t end up in the canal but could easily have done so.  We were at the top of the Bosley flight (12 locks) at about 14:10 and through and moored up by 16:30 a good run.  While a cup of tea was being enjoyed we heard the Chris and Les had left at 13:00 and were at the top of the locks so I walked back and assisted them through.  I set the locks and opened the top gates, Les steered, Chris and I then closed the gates and opened the bottom paddles, then I went on to set the next while Chris opened the gates and dropped the paddles closing the gates after Les.  We got quite good and had them down the flight and moored in 1 hour 17 minutes.