08/22/2006

Penny’s entry – Tuesday, 22nd August

Today was a 12hr day, but a satisfying one! We motored through Harecastle Tunnel at 9am – our boat leading five others. It took forty minutes at our usual speed and we didn’t see the ghost. Apparently it’s the Headless Lady (not White Lady) after a woman was murdered in the 70’s, decapitated and her body thrown into the canal where it was carried into the tunnel. However, we did see the skeleton painted on the wall! (see photo) We stopped a couple of hours later at a boatyard, to get help with the shower pump (which conked out whilst I was in the shower and so I had to bale out) and the chimney flue which had to be removed if we were going to change our route (due to problems on the Rochdale Canal) and go via the Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Canal. The shower and chimney were sorted out and we were able to book the last available passage through the tunnel at 8am on Friday (otherwise we would have to wait until the following Wednesday!) Only four boats were going through this very special tunnel. The next problem was to work out how we were going to get there on time – it would take about 33 hours and we had two and a half days. We had about 7/8 hours left of the day and then we would have to work very hard for two days. Off we went, filled with determination…….

The weather was delightful and we enjoyed the rest of the Trent and Mersey canal before turning off on to the Macclesfield Canal. This was a special part of the journey for us as we had lived in Cheshire for 8 years and in some ways it felt like coming home. We enthusiastically started climbing the Bosley Flight – absolutely beautiful! Without doubt the most lovely flight we’ve experienced during our journey. The views over south Cheshire were stunning. We had to reach Macclesfield if at all possible and finally moored up at 9.15pm not far from the outskirts of the town. Next – what a treat! – we climbed down below the Aqueduct to the pub to meet old friends – Jenny and Tim. It was wonderful to see them again and after some reminiscing they insisted (at 10.30pm!) that we return to their home and have a rapid supper. Thank you so much! We had a lovely meal and were driven back to the boat clutching our delicious packed pudding. Jenny and Tim then insisted on walking along the muddy towpath with us so that they could meet Gosling – they approved of her! A very special way to end the day.