Hovis, Laundry and How to Upset the Locals

02 May
Bridge 46, Lyme Green - Bridge 5, Hawk Green
Total distance is 12 miles, 4 furlongs and 0 locks. There are at least 6 small aqueducts or under bridges

Another early start today, The famous Hovis Mill came into view before 8.30am. Now converted into plush apartments with canal views, as most of the old mills are now.  At least the building itself has been preserved for future generations, click on the link above for some extra information on the mill itself.  Our first destination of the day would be  Bollington, I had a pile of laundry that needed to be done and trusty 'app' advised me that The Washing Well was the nearest laundry to the canal.   

Macclesfield Mile Marker

The Macclesfield Canal whilst being most beautiful for the majority of its length is VERY shallow.  Nicholsons advises you only moor in designated spots and we whole heartily agree with that advise.  The level of the canal was only down a couple of inches but we could feel Silver Blue struggling with the extra weight created by the lack of water beneath her.  The stone mile markers are larger than others we have seen and seem to be unique to the Macclesfield Canal.  Apparently they were buried during WW2 as a precaution to prevent enemy soldiers from finding their way around!  All bar 3 were found again and re-erected and restored in the 1980's.   

Mummy tending her imminent flock

We are starting to see baby goslings as well as ducklings now.  The ganders are most keen to protect their families and we have been chased off 'their' patch quite aggressively more so than the swans in some cases!! Also, Yog spotted a common buzzard yesterday.Am gutted I missed it I have had to make do with Jays, Robins, Sparrows and the like.  I never see the good stuff!!!

Bollington 

We arrived at Bollington at about 10am.  Bike came off the roof, was loaded up with as much laundry as it could carry and made for the Laundrette.  I was chuffed at how nice this place was!! It doesn't really come out in the photo but it was such a picturesque little town with all the basics you would need.  I found the Laundrette and started my load and asked the chap inside if there was a place I could get a cuppa anywhere and he directed me to The Bridgend Centre.  OMG!! OMG!!! Not only was it a tea shop, it was a charity shop, with a tea shop in the middle of it!!! You have to take into account here that I had not been able to go charity shopping since Leighton Buzzard so this was a very big deal for me to have found this little oasis of shopping in the middle of nowhere!!  

The Wonderful Bridgend Centre

The poor lady in the shop must have thought I was mad as I was failing miserably to contain my excitement as I entered the shop!  She could tell I needed a BIG mug of tea and provided one for 50p :0).  I had a really good rummage and found a small pocket Collins Bird Identifying book that would fit in my bag for easy use, a top and a necklace.  Was a very happy bunny at this point! The medicinal benefits of Charity Shopping are second to none.

Puppy's outdoor puppy spot

Laundry washed and dried and charity shop purchases in hand I merrily rode back to the boat to find Yog had cleaned all the windows, made me tea and even picked me some wild flowers!!  He also explained that he may have upset one of the locals because as he was collecting me bluebells from the bank at the side of the towpath he heard the squeaky voice of a woman who sounded a lot like Orvil ask him 'What ya doin?' 'What does it look like?' he replied 'Thats me fukin' gardin!'She complained 'Well I cant put them back now can I!!  he said.  Poor Yog, he doesn't do well with the general public, tries to do something nice and gets sworn at by middle aged Northern women!!