Bridge 7 - Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union Canal

A heron just flying off.

Set off at 6.30 and moored up at 8.00.  Just 4 1/2 miles.










The pots of herbs.  Die-cut and matted with a die-cut scalloped oval.  The patterned paper has the edges inked and then fixed to a pink card base.  Lilac gems were added to the corners.

Bridge 22 - Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union Canal

Sunrise on the Middlewich Branch

A very short day today, we left at 8.15 and stopped 8.45.











A cute fairy topper die-cut to size and matted.  The patterned paper underneath has the edges rubbed in ink and then fixed to a white card blank.  Ribbon was wrapped around the patterned paper and a bow and red rose added to the top left hand corner.

Bridge 22 - Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union

Another early start, 5.30 , arriving at the junction by 7.45.  Shopping in Middlewich and then it was on to here for the night.











Here is a Christening card made witha  dry embossed panel with white lace ribbon wrapped around it and then fixed to a white card blank.  The topper is matted onto a die-cut decorative circle and added with dimensional foam stickies.  The sentiment is made on the computer and the flower and leaves added for decoration.

Bridge 157, Trent and Mersey Canal

A beautiful day.  We left about 6.15 and arrived at Wheelock at 10, I took the bus into Crew and when  I got back about 1pm we left and moved on to here and moored up by 1.30.


Lots of calves seen on the way

Another dodgy step across the lock.  Hate having to squeeze around the lock mechanism and holding a windlass at the same time.













To make this card I first dry embossed a piece of white card and cut it at an angle before sticking it onto a white card base.  I added a strip of gold peel-off along the join and a computer generated sentiment.

The leaves were die cut and the ends dipped into gold paint.  They are tied with some gold thread and added to the card with several clear gems.

Rode Heath, Trent and Mersey Canal

 Sunrise by Church Lawton.  A quick run into Rode Heath, just 1 1/4 miles and 6 locks.

I took the bus into Nantwich for a bit of retail therapy.   It was fun criss crossing the canal on the way there and back.

A white card blank, red dotty paper, strawberry backing paper, a tag made with die-cut ovals, some flowers and a red gingham bow.

Church Lawton, Trent and Mersey Canal

 Now, that's what you call a shed!

We slipped out of the Red Bull moorings in the mist, did three locks down to the Services station for a pumpout and more water.

Then it was down another three locks and found a lovely spot not far from the Church.

We got here about 0830 and I went back to bed and slept for three hours!

Saw my first swallow today.  Summer is here!

The label said buddlia, but I think its lilac.  Anyway, I die-cut the fancy label from white card and stuck it onto some lilac card and wrapped some green ribbon around it. Then it was stuck onto a white card blank.

The topper was added using sticky-fixers and lilac gems were added for decoration.

Red Bull Basin, Macclesfield Canal

 The washing machine is still going.  Sheets, towels, coats, anything I can find.

A kind, fellow moorer lent us a key to get out of the compound so that I could walk around to Tesco to get some food.

We discovered the disadvantages of the moorings:  There is a railway line by the side and the trains all toot as they go past.  The other one is that we can't get a good television signal.

Last winter a friend who walked her dog past the boats lost it when it fell into the canal and drowned.  So this is the sympathy card I made for her.

I die-cut the dog and coloured the edge with grey ink and then matted it onto some white footprint paper also die-cut.  Then onto a grey panel before matting it onto footprint paper and grey card and then onto a white card blank.

I printed off the sentiment on the computer and matted that the same way and put it on the bottom of the grey panel.

Red Bull Basin, Trent and Mersey (Macclesfield Branch)

 Love the motto:  Keeping people, nature and history connected.  Nothing about water, boats, canals!

We got water at the lock and then slipped into the CRT moorings at Red Bull.  David had noticed on the past that the electricity bollards were the same as on our moorings at home, so he e-mailed the Red Bull CRT offices and asked for permission to moor there in one of the empty spaces for a couple of day.

The washing machine has been going all day!

A card for someone fighting cancer.  I die cut a fancy label and threaded some pink ribbon through it and sticking it behind the Cuttlebugged white panel.  More pink ribbon was formed into a loop and fixed to the label with a pink brad.

The sentiment, which I did on the computer was matted onto pink card and the whole panel stuck onto a pink card blank.

Scholars Green, Macclesfield Canal

 Seems we might just have been able to squeeze in the Congleton moorings yesterday, but I wouldn't have liked to leave the boat there unattended all day.

The weather is really lovely and getting warmer by the day.  Saw our first ducklings of the year.

We stopped off at Heritage for diesel and more coal and moored up just past in Scholars Green.  I also had to buy a new Geo map of the Trent and Mersey and a new Nicholsons for the NW.  David managed to let the map blow off the boat into the water!

This stamp I coloured in myself with pencils.  It was matted onto gold miri card along with the sentiments, which I printed from the computer an then added them to a white card blank along with 2 black candi dots.

Biddolph Aqueduct Macclesfield Canal

 The plan, as usual went wrong.  

We had to go to London to attend the funeral of my Auntie Meg.  So we chose to go from Congleton, by train, as the moorings are right by the station.

That was until I found out yesterday that the moorings were closed!  So we had to walk for 15 mins to get to the station, having to cross this by-wash on the way.

Anyway, the trip to London went off without a hitch and by the time we got back it was dark!!  Luckily I had the foresight to take a couple of torches and we traversed the puddles on the stepping stones without getting our feet wet.

A pretty anniversary card using purples and white.  I Cuttlebugged the white panel and matted it onto purple card and then wrapped some purple lace around the bottom.  The picture was matted onto purple and white ward and fixed to the white card blank.  Three purple gems were added to the top right hand corner and a computer generated sentiment was matted and fixed to the bottom of the card, along with 2 small purple gems.

Biddolph Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal

 We left our moorings at 0715 and got here at 0845, a nice short run, a bit cold first thing, but then the sun came out.

I walked into Congleton, and on the way came to this towpath restriction - nothing from CRT on the internet.  The whole of the towpath and moorings are closed!

And one for the girls.  The pre-coloured image is from the same company as yesterday's Mikey.  I die-cut it and matted it onto a blue die-cut label.

On a white card blank I cut some printed backing paper just smaller than the card and inked the edges.  Some red polka dot paper was stuck across the bottom and a string of gold peel-off covered the join.

The label was added to the card, along with some flowers and a red bow.

Dane Aqueduct - Macclesfield Canal

Sunrise at the top of Bosley Locks.  The start of a beautiful day.

We got to the top lock to see a boat entering the top lock.  So we moored up and waited a couple of hours until one came up the locks.  I spent the time using the launderette in the service building.

The first half of the locks were for us and the two volunteers had turned the other half, so this time they were all for us.

The weather was lovely and the locks had been greased and I realised why I enjoy these locks so much.

We got to the bottom after 1 3/4 hours and moored up on the aqueduct.



Hey Dude! The guy is called Mikey, and I have several versions of him.

This one was pre-coloured so I used the colours of his clothes for matting.  I Cuttlebugged a white panel and an orange one and die cut the stars in all the colours.

All this was stuck onto a white card blank.

Bridge 52, Macclesfield Canal

 I think that's the Cloud ahead, but not sure.

An early start, a bit chilly but the Broadoak swing bridge was OPEN!  My key had gone!!!  And the Royal Oak bridge behaved itself.  Even the van driver that I held up was chatty and interested in the bridge (he didn't know that it swung like that) and the boat and life on the cut.

We planned to go down the locks today, but the wind was a bit chilly and it was cloudy, so at 8 o'clock we stopped just short of the long-term moorings.  The weather got considerably better, sunshine and blue skies.

We had news of the date of the funeral for my Aunt, so we don't have to be in Congleton until Thursday night, so staying here seemed like a good idea after all.

A photo of a dog, matted onto white, blue and silver card and then onto a blue panel with some blue ribbon wrapped around it and a bone stuck across it.  This was all stuck down onto a white card blank.

Gurnett Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal

 David had to catch a train back to Birmingham for a hospital visit, so the moorings here are quite handy, just 10 mins down the road.  I stayed behind to look after the boat.  But not before a walk into town for some shopping and a hot chocolate as the wind was still chilly.  Then a taxi back - it's uphill going back!

He got back just after five so we left immediately for here (Macclesfield only has 24 hour moorings, and we would have been overstaying).  Still it was a nice afternoon run.  Something that we don't do that often.  Like to be up early and off and then moored up early for the rest of the day.

There were lots of lovely moorings at the Aqueduct and at 6.30 we walked down to the pub.  It was closed!!!

Anyone for a beer?  The cans are decoupaged so they look like they are sticking out (can't see it in the photo).  The cans were stuck onto some orange backing paper and then onto gold miri card and then onto a white card blank.

Macclesfield, Macclesfield Canal

We spent another day at Bollington so that our daughter, son-in-law and gorgeous 2 year old grandson could visit.  We took them for lunch at the Oliver restaurant. 

This morning we set off at 8 for the 3 mile trip to Macclesfield.  The new moorings were still not in place but there was room through the bridge on the old town moorings, one mooring is quite good by a concrete wall, but the other one is a bit more difficult with rubble in the canal and broken mooring rings.

The weather has been horrid.  Cold, windy and wet again.

Lots more blossom about and some of the trees are showing green buds.  Not seen any ducklings yet, but a couple of Canada geese sitting on eggs.

The card was made from a photograph of some apple blossom which was matted onto white, pink, silver and more pink card.  The green panel was passed through the Cuttlebug to emboss it and some pink ribbon was wrapped around it and tied in a knot.  The panel was then stuck down onto a pink card blank and the topper added above the ribbon.

Bollington, Macclesfield Canal

 
We travelled for 1 hour today.  Really getting on with it!

Another lovely day, we managed to squeeze into the moorings at Bollington, just past Clarence Mill, next to the cafe boat run by Mark.  I even got the cards out and sold a couple.

Took a walk down into the village for milk and bread and saw the aqueduct from a different angle than usual.

This card was made using some flocked handmade paper.  I matted it onto brown handmade paper and wrapped some hessian ribbon around it and stuck it onto a white card blank.  A hessian bow was added to the ribbon and a computer generated sentiment was added to the top.

Farelane Ends, Macclesfield Canal

 An old photo - didn't take any today - forgot the camera.  Our dent is by Black Prince.

We caught a bus into Buxton today, passing through Whaley Bridge on the way. 

David discovered a great chocolate shop by the canal bridge in High Lane, simondunnchocolates.co.uk - well worth a stop when passing.

After we got back to High Lane we travelled on to here.  The first day when we didn't light a fire.  It has been a lovely warm and sunny day.

This picture does not give this card justice.  It was much prettier in real life.

I matted the topper onto a die cut blue, scalloped  square.  This was fixed onto a panel of blue card with a white polka dot pattern and the edges marked with green ink.

Some blue ribbon was wrapped around the panel, a blue bow, two blue gems and a computer generated sentiment were added before gluing it onto a white card blank.  Two more blue gems were then added to the top right hand side of the card.

High Lane, Macclesfield Canal

The lovely pink sunset last night proved true.  A lovely warm, sunny day today.  We left late (for us) and were here at High Lane half an hour later.                                                                                      We caught a bus into Stockport.  That was a first, never been there before except passing through by train.  Got my iPad sorted with 3.  Hopefully it is fixed properly this time, got some food from M&S and then it was back here.  Lots of boats on the move today, but still lots stationary ones.                                                                                         This is a 48 hour mooring, but the ropes on the first 2 boats in the picture are that slack it must have been here weeks.  

This is the card that I made for my Auntie Meg for her 90th birthday.  I had lots of fun  making it.  I used a piece of patterned paper and stuck it onto a square card blank.  I then die cut a scallop circle and a silver frame to go on top.  I added some acetate behind and then added the silver and gold die-cut circles and the silver 90 onto the front.  I then stuck down the leaves, flowers and roses around the bottom.    Another circle of pattern paper was added to the  back of the card which can be seen in the second picture.        

                       

I am showing this card, because today I heard that she died.  She was 94.  RIP

Bridge 5, Macclesfield Canal

 A bank of primroses.

We were off early again, in the mist.  It took us forever to get to Marple with all the moored boats.  There was no room before the Church Lane Bridge, none in the wharf and just 1 on the bank on the Peak Forest Canal.  So we banged some spikes in and when the shops opened, tried to buy some food.

Found 3 lovely bread/cake/delicatessen shops - but no fresh cakes, pastries or pies.  The Asda was closed and not open until next week (apparently it used to be a Co-op and was in the process of a handover) and the queue in the butchers was long.

David asked the guys on the work boat about getting to Whaley Bridge and the advice was that we could "probably" make it there today, but they were not enthusiastic.  Although the canal is not due to be closed until 13th, we decided we couldn't chance it and get stuck the wrong side for who knows how long.  So we winded (amongst the 3 other boats that appeared at the junction from nowhere) and moored up a mile outside Marple on the way back down.  At least the weather bucked up and the sun came out.

Haven't seen any cherry blossom yet, but here is a card anyway.

I die-cut the pink base, wrapped some pink ribbon around the bottom and tied it in a knot.  The matted photograph was fixed to the top part and several gems were added.

The panel was then stuck down onto a white card blank.

Bartons Bridge No 22 - Macclesfield Canal

 The lovely lines of a snake bridge.  Not an ugly line in sight.

Really cold and misty again this morning.  David stopped for a bit to get warm.

No trouble getting through the  electric Royal Oak swing bridge, but I couldn't get the Broadhurst one to close properly, so I couldn't get my Watermate key out.  It was too early to call anyone out, so we left it behind.  We only have one left now, so I hope it's working when we go back through.

A pre-coloured stamp die-cut into a circle with a scalloped mat behind of floral paper.  A panel pink, polka-dot card with some pink ribbon wrapped around the bottom and tied in a knot was stuck to the left hand side of a white card blank and the topper was stuck over it.  Several red blossom flowers and leaves were fixed to the top right hand corner and 3 red gems in the bottom.

Bridge 52 - Macclesfield Canal

Sod the birds!  Sort out the paddle gear!

 A cold, misty start.  We got to the bottom of the Bosley locks at 0730 and I had been looking forward to them.  But they did me today.

The mist never lifted, so there were no views.  ALL the locks were against me and the gate paddles were so stiff I could only open them one ratchet at a time.  I was completely knackered by the time we got to the top 2 hours later.

We needed a pumpout, of course, there was a boat already there, but they moved up so we could back in and use the facilities.  Then the cards wouldn't work so we had to get a CaRT man to run the machine for us.  At least they were in their office there.

 We got to the end of the permit holder moorings and moored up for the rest of the day and a sleep.

SAVE PRECIOUS WATER.  We have to do it because CaRT can't be bothered!

Not very happy with CaRT today; can you tell?

A nice, easy get well card.  I just stuck 3 plasters onto a white card blank and added a computer generated sentiment underneath.

Dane Aqueduct - Macclesfield Canal

 Saturday and Sunday were a wash out, literally.  The family were coming to visit us on Saturday, but circumstances were against them, with a sick dog, dodgy car and an accident on the M6 they never made it.

Sunday it rained ALL day and I never even got off the boat.

We left this morning at 9 o'clock, hoping to get a pump out before we left, but the wharf was too busy with the change-over of hireboats.  I hope we can last another couple of days till we get to the top of the Bosley locks.
 The bridges on the Macclesfield are stunning.  Nearly all made from stone and beautiful.  This is one of the change-over bridges (or snake bridge).  Perfect symmetry.

We stopped off in Congleton by the Queen's Head, for shopping and a lovely coffee in Bojangles.  We walked down the hill to get there, but got a taxi to get back.


Then it was on to the Dane aqueduct.  One of my favourite spots.  There are primroses on the banks in the distance, views in both directions, the sun is out, we have food in the fridge again, Liverpool lost and MU are winning.

This card began with a decoupage sheet of foiled flowers.  I chose the tulips and built them up with foam sticky fixers and then onto a die-cut, white, oval.  This was then stuck onto another green, pearlised die-cut oval and then onto a white panel which I Cuttlebugged and more green pearlised card before sticking it onto the white card blank.

I wrapped some green card around the panels before I fixed it to the card base and tied it in a knot in the centre, and 2 green gems in the top corners.