Day 48 – Little Bollington

Try Again.

We planned to push off today to Lymm but our friends from Hector’s House said they stopped at Dunham Massey and went to this impressive NT house.  They also went to the Swan with two Nicks – at this point my ears pricked up! Could this be a new plan? At least a lunch stop.  Meanwhile, Mal from the marina came over with his fuel polishing kit for an hour’s polishing!

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We can’t praise this little marina enough. Mal is always very welcoming and is very keen to please – I bought a stainless steel hat for my chimney and he drilled the holes and fitted anti-vandal screws to it too! We also bought an air filter, one moveable fender (the rubber tyre sort) and two large rubber wheel fenders (from go-carts?) for those sloping bank moorings (like Braunston!).

With all the work done and my engine checks complete (gear box oil today), we sailed off past Sale.

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Nothing but miles of very straight canal behind us and in front of us

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We chugged on for another hour and came through Dunham Massey and onto the aqueducts over roads and the river Bollin. There was a very odd concrete section here – I think it was the site of the big breach back in 1971 – this caused the forming of the Bridgewater Canal trust.

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And here’s our boat um, moored here too!

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The views are stunning – helped by being on top of an embankment. Oh and that pub – just a short walk away – a brilliant pub for lunch and a tea room next door for cream teas . .

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A wonderful pub – earlier, research had shown that is was very dog friendly, had local real ales and did good food all day!

http://www.swanwithtwonicks.co.uk/

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One chicken madras and one steak & ale pie (real shortcrust and the corner piece too!)

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A very sensible pub – 

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A saunter back to boat to lie around groaning! Then off with the dog and a brief splash about in the river Bollin. Mad, soggy doggy!

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