An early and quick trip to the top of Church Locks

The weather continued to be pretty dramatic all day yesterday, but finally dried up a bit overnight. We made a prompt start this morning, Sheila locking and me steering. We like to stop at the top of Church locks rather than further in to Kidsgrove these days, so there were only six locks to do.

There was a bit of traffic about, but nothing like enough to make us queue for locks, just the occasional wait for a boat to come down.

By half nine we'd arrived, the weather having turned wet and windy again. For the second day in a row we dropped the cratch cover to keep it out, but didn't feel the need to relight the stove, though it got a bit marginal at times. The year has turned or is turning, basically. There'll be plenty of fine days yet, I don't doubt, but no more of the real scorchers. In some ways autumn is our favourite time of year for boating. In our hiring days, we often went out at the autumn half term, when there are fewer boats about but the days are still long enough to enjoy.

Boating early on a misty autumn morn can be magical.

We had a stroll up the Red Bull Locks after lunch, managing to avoid getting caught in the rain this time; there was still a fair bit of movement on the cut, but still no queueing. A father and son were playing with a couple of radio controlled model power boats below one of the locks which added a bit of entertainment for those taking a Sunday afternoon stroll.

Tomorrow, we plan an early start, water at Red Bull and then on round onto the Macc and so to the Little Moreton Hall mooring. Sheila is hoping that the wind will have dropped somewhat by then, as otherwise the turn at the junction will be interesting, but not in a good way.