Last specimen spotted in Birmingham but I believe they are migrating North! Watch out for them in Manchester & Liverpool............
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Saturday, 20 April 2013
Upper Peak Forest Canal
We've been hanging around the Macclesfield area for a few months, moving every few days to stay within the rules, but never going too far as we needed to keep the car close by for hospital visits etc.
This week's planned chemo session has had to be postponed for a bit while I recover from a nasty chest infection, but this means we're able to go further afield for a week or so. With that extra bit of freedom we've left the Macclesfield Canal, turning right at Marple Junction onto the Upper Peak Forest Canal. It's absolutely beautiful up here. There are wild primroses, daffodils and even the occasional blue bell in the hedgerows and the wild garlic (Ransoms) is starting to appear.
The Canada geese are sitting on their nests and there have been plenty of big fat hairy bees and Painted Lady butterflies flying about. The weather's been glorious today and the views over the Peak District are stunning.
The canal is very shallow in parts and mooring places are few and far between but we've stopped in this particular place a few times over the past few years.
We're on a bend and can just get the bow and stern in to the pilings to moor up. A few feet before and behind us there are rocks just under the surface so a longer boat probably wouldn't fit.
Once we'd moored up we went for a walk to The Sportsman pub and sat in the beer garden in the sun. It was the first time this year and hopefully it'll just be the first of many happy spring/summer evenings spent in a similar fashion.
This week's planned chemo session has had to be postponed for a bit while I recover from a nasty chest infection, but this means we're able to go further afield for a week or so. With that extra bit of freedom we've left the Macclesfield Canal, turning right at Marple Junction onto the Upper Peak Forest Canal. It's absolutely beautiful up here. There are wild primroses, daffodils and even the occasional blue bell in the hedgerows and the wild garlic (Ransoms) is starting to appear.
The Canada geese are sitting on their nests and there have been plenty of big fat hairy bees and Painted Lady butterflies flying about. The weather's been glorious today and the views over the Peak District are stunning.
The canal is very shallow in parts and mooring places are few and far between but we've stopped in this particular place a few times over the past few years.
We're on a bend and can just get the bow and stern in to the pilings to moor up. A few feet before and behind us there are rocks just under the surface so a longer boat probably wouldn't fit.
Once we'd moored up we went for a walk to The Sportsman pub and sat in the beer garden in the sun. It was the first time this year and hopefully it'll just be the first of many happy spring/summer evenings spent in a similar fashion.
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Oakgrove
We've been moored at Oakgrove for a few days while I had my latest chemo treatment. I'm halfway through the schedule now so the end is in sight and we will be able to go cruising again in a couple of months. I can't wait!
The weather's been glorious but you can see how cold it still is by the amount of lying snow that's still around.
The canal's been fairly quiet again for the past few days, after the mad rush that happened over the Easter weekend. I expect the cold has been putting people off travelling.
The weather's been glorious but you can see how cold it still is by the amount of lying snow that's still around.
The canal's been fairly quiet again for the past few days, after the mad rush that happened over the Easter weekend. I expect the cold has been putting people off travelling.
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Snow and Stalactites
We needed water today so cruised into Macclesfield to fill up. The sun was shining and the sky was blue, but boy was it cold! We'd had a bit more snow overnight which didn't last long once the sun hit it but some of the larger drifts are lingering. This canalside house still has a garden full.
Most of the bridges had big icicles. These were about 12ins. long and looked more like stalactites.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Just more of the same really
Last week we went for a couple of cruises up and down the Macc. Well there's not much point in running the engine to charge the batteries and do the washing and just stay in one place is there? With the weather forecast predicting minus 4 for the next few nights we used yesterday's cruise to fill up with water and get a pump-out. Just in case we get frozen in.
As I'm sitting here typing this, it's snowing! Hopefully it won't come to much, I've just about had enough of winter and wish Spring would finally come to stay.
As I'm sitting here typing this, it's snowing! Hopefully it won't come to much, I've just about had enough of winter and wish Spring would finally come to stay.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
I Don't Think So!
Now I'll eat almost anything, but I won't eat that!
We found these on one of the butchers stalls in Ashton Market. I swear they're smiling!
Saturday, 2 March 2013
Hooky in the Sunshine
It's been another glorious sunny day so we moved to moor at Lyme Green.
It's a good spot if you don't mind the tanoy anouncements and piped music coming from Homebase on the retail park. If you're in need of some retail therapy there's also a Poundstretcher, Pets at Home, Harveys furniture store, PC World, Next & Matalan. On the leisure side there's AMF Bowling and a Burgerking.
My latest crochet blanket is coming along nicely. The pile of squares is growing rapidly.
Originally I edged the squares with a row of grey double crochet but it didn't look right so I've pulled it all back and have ordered some black yarn which I think will look better. I've got another 4 colourways to work through yet. At the moment I'm doing 6 squares in each variation but I haven't worked out how many squares I'll need in total. I suppose it might be an idea to measure the bed and see how big the blanket will need to be.
It's a good spot if you don't mind the tanoy anouncements and piped music coming from Homebase on the retail park. If you're in need of some retail therapy there's also a Poundstretcher, Pets at Home, Harveys furniture store, PC World, Next & Matalan. On the leisure side there's AMF Bowling and a Burgerking.
My latest crochet blanket is coming along nicely. The pile of squares is growing rapidly.
Originally I edged the squares with a row of grey double crochet but it didn't look right so I've pulled it all back and have ordered some black yarn which I think will look better. I've got another 4 colourways to work through yet. At the moment I'm doing 6 squares in each variation but I haven't worked out how many squares I'll need in total. I suppose it might be an idea to measure the bed and see how big the blanket will need to be.
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