We figured that getting to Marple between ten and half past would be good and needed to allow time to wind first, so set off at eight, Sheila at the helm. There being no observers, she did a textbook wind in the hole beyond the Deeps, despite some seriously inconvenient trees at the back of it.
On the way there, she spotted a pair of mink playing in the shrubbery on the offside and I got a confirmatory view on our way back. Mink really aren't very nice animals so we must hope that the otter recovery reaches Poynton soon. Otters are much bigger than mink and will not tolerate them around.
We did indeed get to Marple just on ten, having seen very little traffic until we were nearly there. Sanity Again was moving very nicely through the water; repacking the stern gland seems to have had an unexpectedly beneficial effect on her efficiency and all this rain has largely refilled the canal. It's only around two inches off weir now.
We found a mooring just before Bridge 2; as soon as we were tied, I checked the state of play in the stern bilge. It was dry and the prop shaft was just too hot to hold a finger on, suggesting that the gland is a tad tight. I backed the adjusting nuts off one flat each and will check again after our run to Bugsworth tomorrow.
We drank a coffee and went shopping. I got my prescription made up and we visited the jeweller, Paul David, where Sheila got her wedding ring stretched last year. My own ring is now too tight for me so we've asked to have that stretched too. It only needs to go up two sizes, so we're hopeful that it can be done. It has a Celtic knot pattern round it, meaning that it can't have a new piece let in to the band.
After some more bits and bobs we came back to the boat in nice time for lunch.
Since then, Sheila has progressed her crochet and I've finished the first end of the second fender. Hopefully I'll get it all done by the end of the weekend.
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