Hotel Narrowboats day 2/3

Day two of the trip and the weather really was great, with good patches of sunshine and otherwise pleasant temperatures with a little cloud. This was perfect for our trip.

After a couple of tricky corners with two seventy foot boats, we turned onto the Macclesfield Canal, and soon came to a short, but nevertheless impressive aquaduct. This is the view from it on to the double locks down below on the Trent and Mersey .

What clever builders they had hundreds of years ago! 

The Macclesfield was much more overgrown than the T and M, but I almost preferred it because it was unspoilt and not developed. There were some cute little cottages by the locks

And lush forests along its banks. The bridges were perfectly reflected in the still waters.

This spot appealed to me as we floated past, and in fact, this is where we are now moored for the night. It is so peaceful, and yet, just behind the hedgerows is a fairly sunstantial little town, even though it seemed we were in the middle of nowhere!

Sadly, we are not continuing on this canal. We should have done if there had not been a canal closure at Whaley Bridge some days ago. Neil had to make a decision about the itinerary and at that point decided we would only explore a small part of the canal. He was not to know that the problem would be resolved so quickly! We turned at this 'winding hole' and are now heading back.

Once again, we have had the most superb meals today, thanks to Neil. No wonder Henry looks so healthy with such a fantastic diet!

After a quiet night ( it is always so peaceful on the canals) I walked back to the entrance to the Harefield Tunnel so that I could better enjoy the simple, tranquil beauty of the Macclesfield Canal. Bridges like this one with their lovely plants growing out of every nook and cranny:

And the open areas of farmland with the golden corn stretching as far as the eye could see

And then on to the aquaduct again, where I thoroughly enjoyed the views from a vantage point above the aquaduct,

And also the very pretty area below it, once again the Trent and Mersey canal.

Although we only spent one day on this canal, I have to say I found it far more attractive and enjoyable than the Trent and Mersey.

Time to leave and head back on the T and M for a little while. It was great to get ahead of the boats and to watch them approaching the junction

And also to see them once more coping with the narrow turn out of the Macclesfield. Mick and Jamie, the crew members work brilliantly as a team to steer the two boats!

What a fabulous experience this is!