We’ve been at Bugsworth
Basin, near Whaley Bridge for 4 days now. It was the fun day
yesterday & the warden asked if we’d moor along side the trade
boats & demonstrate spinning/weaving. So many people asked what
I had to sell that we are really considering getting a trade licence.
It was a beautiful day with lots of interesting stalls, a dog show,
radio operated boats and Olympic games. I’ve hardly used my spinning
wheel since we moved aboard, I tend to use drop spindles, so I spun
on my wheel just about all day. There was a beer stall that had the
choice of two real ales. We sat out until it was dark and the huge
full moon peeped over the trees.
The three resident cygnets have
grown a good bit since we were last here, their parents are very
friendly and bring the family really close for a dose of porridge
oats.
Two
weekends ago we were at Bugsworth, this time to meet up with our
friends from the Kawasaki GT Club, who were having their National
Rally at Buxton. The plan was for us to all have lunch at the
Navigation Inn, however, there was an hours wait for food. So I
nipped back to the boat & made us sandwiches and had already made
cake. As they all rode off we both wanted to hop on a bike and join
them, but, once we got back to the boat we decided it’s such a lot
of bother to put the tent up & down, when we can float around!!
So
our boat went into the water 2 years ago last Friday and it feels
like we’ve come home being at Braidbar. Plus, the luxury of
‘Alton’ the fuel narrow boat coming by like clock work every
other weekend, they have supplied us with diesel, a bag of ‘just in
case’ coal and gas. Most of our teething problems have been done
by the Braidbar lads. It just so happened when they were going to
take off our side doors it poured and they have got a lot of work on.
We’re in no hurry to head south and are quite contented to potter
up & down the Macclesfield & Peak Forest Canals. So we
didn’t get in the lads way we caught the train to Manchester and
visited the Science Museum.
These
canals are pretty shallow with few places to moor, however, we’ve
moored in some lovely spots. John fed the tiny ducklings from his
hands. Last Sunday we were treated to a brass band concert when we
were moored beside the ‘Ring ‘O Bells in Marple. While we were
in Marple we got our solar jars out and set them up with a linen bag, water and onion
skins to have a go at dying the bags in the sun.
We
had
an exciting
weekend, as Sunday was a nice day for a ‘White’ wedding. We
hired a car for a couple of days (we’ve not a driven a car for 19
months) to go to Tina & Psy’s wedding at Woburn Abbey. Tina is
Heather’s sister-in-law, who has become Mrs White!!! We left Higher
Poynton at 05.15 and arrived at Woburn by 08.00 just as the farmers
market was setting up, so we had a browse, as we were too early for
the wedding. It was a wonderful day with reception at the Safari
Lodge, which meant we had to drive through some of the park. The
heavens opened just as the speeches were taking place. After the
wedding we popped to see Ada & Dale and raid the loft before
heading back. 
