We are now turned for home, travelling back the way we came.
On Tuesday we moored near Bollington in the warm sun. This is a lovely town (cotton industry originally) real Hovis ad stuff; hilly streets and cobbled courtyards. It is obviously strictly preserved, I am sure you would have to have planning consent for every shed or new gate you might want to add, but it's well worth it. We found a deli to buy Pete's much loved Cheshire cheese, had a beer in a wood panelled pub bar and fish and chips in an immaculate cafe/restaurant before returning to the boat for the night and just catching the end of the day's sunshine in the bow.
On wednesday, we travelled on through Macclesfield back to another favourite mooring that we'd found on the way out; Gurnett Aqueduct, with it's 480year old, very grand Sutton Hall pub. Apparently the original home of the earls of Lucan, although their nowhere to be found! The weather had drastically changed however and that wretched wind is winding up again.
Thursday we took the train into Manchester where I had some retail therapy whilst Pete looked on bemused and then we both enjoyed the canal basin area - James Brindley engineering and Duke of Bridgewater's clever ideas. Again the opulent architecture showed how this city had become wealthy in the industrial revolution.
We had lunch at Jamie's Italian which was located in a beautiful high ceilinged, high windowed, galleried building. We were told it was once a Midland Bank. Jamie Oliver must have been delighted to have found it. We wondered if the marble bar was his addition or the original bank clerk's counter! Really enjoyed Manchester, a lively, youthful city. Mind you, as Pete said the commuters on the train back looked whacked - obviously a hard working city too.
The wind was horrendous again - nearly blown over in a gust. And it rained and was cold. Glad we weren't cruising on the boat for once. Got back there and lit the fire again whilst Ani bounced about on the windy waves. bah!
Bollington
On Tuesday we moored near Bollington in the warm sun. This is a lovely town (cotton industry originally) real Hovis ad stuff; hilly streets and cobbled courtyards. It is obviously strictly preserved, I am sure you would have to have planning consent for every shed or new gate you might want to add, but it's well worth it. We found a deli to buy Pete's much loved Cheshire cheese, had a beer in a wood panelled pub bar and fish and chips in an immaculate cafe/restaurant before returning to the boat for the night and just catching the end of the day's sunshine in the bow.
On wednesday, we travelled on through Macclesfield back to another favourite mooring that we'd found on the way out; Gurnett Aqueduct, with it's 480year old, very grand Sutton Hall pub. Apparently the original home of the earls of Lucan, although their nowhere to be found! The weather had drastically changed however and that wretched wind is winding up again.
Thursday we took the train into Manchester where I had some retail therapy whilst Pete looked on bemused and then we both enjoyed the canal basin area - James Brindley engineering and Duke of Bridgewater's clever ideas. Again the opulent architecture showed how this city had become wealthy in the industrial revolution.
We had lunch at Jamie's Italian which was located in a beautiful high ceilinged, high windowed, galleried building. We were told it was once a Midland Bank. Jamie Oliver must have been delighted to have found it. We wondered if the marble bar was his addition or the original bank clerk's counter! Really enjoyed Manchester, a lively, youthful city. Mind you, as Pete said the commuters on the train back looked whacked - obviously a hard working city too.
The wind was horrendous again - nearly blown over in a gust. And it rained and was cold. Glad we weren't cruising on the boat for once. Got back there and lit the fire again whilst Ani bounced about on the windy waves. bah!
Bollington
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