Back to Marple

Despite the grotty forecast, we needed to get back to Marple today so as to be at Poynton tomorrow. In the event, the rain wasn't quite as bad as it looked on the Met Office site, though we still needed full waterproofs.

Just after eight I backed Sanity Again out of the lower basin and turned right into the middle basin to wind. The depth wasn't too bad, and I did my best to avoid hitting the washwall with too much prop wash, as they are having real problems with it collapsing here. It meant taking several more bites at the cherry, but we got round without too much drama.

By twenty-five to nine we were emerging from the Bugsworth Arm at the junction and heading for Marple. Sheila was on bridge duty, and only had a problem at the second swing bridge. It's one of those ones where you use a BWB key to wind a bolt out of the locking mechanism, and the key wouldn't turn. I eventually got it to go by lifting the handle to take the weight off the bolt, and jiggling until the key co-operated.

We arrived at Marple just after eleven, and found a mooring no bother through Bridge 2 (though they have filled up quite a bit now). I nipped off to get the paper, then we settled down to a well deserved lunch, including mugs of soup.

This afternoon, we went into town again, visiting the excellent butcher here, as well as picking up one or two other bits and bobs like a loaf of bread for tomorrow's lunch.

Tonight we have peppered pork steaks for tea, with new potatoes and green beans, yum.

Tomorrow, an easy run to Poynton, where Peter will finish installing the ICC remote control for the inverter/charger, the 6 meter lead having arrived whilst we were away, and we'll probably treat ourselves to a last meal in the Boar's Head before setting out for Stoke, Stone, and points further south and east.