Editorial apology.

First off today the Editor must make a full and frank apology for any offence that may have been caused to individuals for the mistake in publishing a photo said to be Helen when in fact it was a vagrant bag lady. The person responsible has been sacked and we hope that the offended person will now speak to me again.

We topped with water before leaving Bugsworth Basin and then trundled down the cut towards Marple. There was  a steady stream of traffic going up towards Whaley Bridge as it is the Whaley Water Weekend.  Helen had us through the bridges in quick time with just slight groundings as people passed as when you pull over towards the tow path it is very shallow quite a way off in many places.

As we left our mooring this Heron was in the Wide which is also a water vole protected habitat. It seems that all the Herons have moved up to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals from the Grand Union and Trent and Mersey Canal.

Just trickling along in the sunshine.

We moored up about 1300 after a bit of to'ing and fro'ing to get alongside. After lunch we decided to go for a walk in the area. We decided to walk back down the cut to a footpath and follow the Cown Edge Way footpath and then the Goyt Way. It was a lovely day for a walk, just warm enough to welcome the shade of trees but not enough to break out into a sweat. The flowers were in full colour and the bees were humming and everything was okay.

Meadow just off the Peak Forest Canal looking East towards New Mills.

Helen winding the lift bridge down again. A lady told us that it took 83 turns to lift it!

The walk took us down into the valley and through a shady wood until we came across the River Goyt again.  There was a pack horse that it called Roman Bridge. It was built in the 1700's and is definitely not Roman. In fact it's old name was Windy Bottom Bridge. Once the railways came and brought folk from Manchester. This was in the Victorian era and the name Windy Bottom was frowned upon, hence the name change. The path followed the railway for a bit and then brought us out in Strines and then up the hill a little and along the tow path back to the boat. A very nice walk to give us the appetite for tea.

Roman Bridge/Windy Bottom Bridge. The railings were added when the 'tourists' arrived as originally it would have been flat topped to avoid catching the packs on the horses sides.