Red Bull Aqueduct

Red Bull Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal – Thursday 26 September 2013

Started early to face the Bosley locks (12 in about a mile).  First I had to navigate two swing bridges – at the first, which is a footpath bridge, I had just unlocked it and was about to walk the boat forward when a morning runner asked if I needed help, so that was one down.  The next one is electric and blocks the road traffic, so wait for no cars from both directions then press and hold the ‘open’ button, over the pedestrian bridge, back on the boat through the bridge ‘ole and moor up, the back across the footbridge and press the button to close the bridge.  Only four cars waiting and no abuse.

Then through the locks which I completed in 2 hours 30 minutes running time.  One minor problem – I got stuck on the overflow at lock 2 – the wind and the water-flow were holding me and I had to wait until a boat going up could pull me off.

After that it was just a journey onward in steadily improving weather – the sun out and the wind dropped.  Tomorrow it's Harecastle Tunnel first.