Daring duck

strolling along our roof as we cruise along

Please feed me

attacked at bridge 91

The morning looked autumnal with heavy mist rising from the canal. It was beautiful but cold. We set off enjoying the eerie beauty. The mist soon cleared to clear skies but it was not hot. We had not gone far when a pair of ducks took off from the water as the boat approached. The female duck flew up and landed on the front of our roof. Boldly she waddled to the rear end quacking to be fed. She posed while the Captain took photos then I threw several handfuls of duck seed onto the bank. She flew off and helped herself to the meal having quacked for it. This is the first time a duck has landed on the roof demanding food. She wasn’t even put off by the dog barking at her. I’m sure it is the same duck that kept quacking to be fed last night.

In the mist the stone mile markers looked like grave stones. On other canals the mile markers are small metal  affairs but these were huge.

lovely cruising weather

The only other incident in our peaceful cruise back to the stop lock was when a brick flew over our heads onto the towpath. When we were some distance away four kids leapt up from behind the parapet of bridge 91 and ran along the towpath laughing and shrieking. The most shocking thing was their size- they couldn’t have been older than eight years old. It appeared to be three girls and a boy. Where were the parents?

bridge snaking over us

Lottie took herself for a walk while I fiddled with the stop lock but came back when I followed her over the bridge. We arrived at the tunnel at 2.55 five minutes before the cut off to ensure passage through the tunnel today as the last boat must enter before 4.00. The tunnel operator thought we would have a 45 minute wait as boats were just entering the tunnel from the other end.

mirror-like water

you can't miss the mile markers

Within minutes another boat pulled up which we had spotted locking up from the aqueduct. Unfortunately when they went through the safety checks their spotlight did not work. We were allowed to enter the tunnel while the other crew tried to fix the spotlight. After 10 minutes the boat followed us into the tunnel. Their light seemed bright and they were catching us up, halfway through the  tunnel their light started to fade and it was quite dim by the time we exited. However they made it through and moored up behind us at Westport Lake.

I took Lottie for her lake walk while the Captain moored up and prepared her dinner. I was amazed by the people still bustling round the lake. Many seemed to use it to power walk round overtaking me as Lottie was intent on checking every interesting sniff. I was overtaken by a gaggle of ladies in the full hibjab – poor women it must have been stifling in that heat but they kept up a stiff pace showing their fitness. 
 
 
 
 

rest in peace Macclesfield Canal