Moving on.

We finally have as Jaq has just posted moved on off the Shropshire Union along the Middlewich arm and onto the Wardle canal. The Wardle is  the little length of canal as you leave what every boater knows as Maureens lock even though it`s official name is Wardle lock. The journey through this time was very sad as Maureen pictured by me back in 2009 sadly passed away in March. I have over the years spent a few evenings in the pub with Maureen listening to her tales of her life as a child and adult on the working canal boats. Now the cottage has been sold and that side door no longer bears the weight of all the brass. So after passing through the locks leaving Middlewich town and passing through Big lock on the Trent and Mersey I left Jaq with the boat while I walked to the Cemetary.  Maureen is now with her husband Jack. RIP

LINK to Wardle and Maureen.

So now we are on the Bridgewater canal heading for Manchester and will moor in the heart of the city. The route we could use to the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals involves 40+ locks most of wich are through Manchester and it`s suburbs. Now this is not my idea of boating if a more rural route is available and so we will return back down the Trent and Mersey with a similar amount of locks but spread through the countryside.

I was just looking through my pictures and it`s amazing how many pictures never make the blogs, I say blogs as it must be the same for all bloggers. Anyway if I can find time I will post some with small captions. Time is a funny thing and Jaq is just coming to terms with that old saying "how did I find time to work".

Still on time, I have for a while had a countdown clock on the blog that will slowly but surely arrive at the day i get my State Pension. Be nice to have an income.

The clock idea came from Derek and Carrie on their blog Uccello