We've been on the Macclesfield & Peak Forest Canals this week & it is beautiful. There doesn't seem to be a bad view on the Peak Forest as the canal is cut into the side of a hill & looks over the valley. It was too nice to leave, so we didn't. Came to the end of the line at Bugsworth Basin, of historic note being the busiest inland port of its time. A tramway was built from the quarries to the basin to transport limestone out on the narrowboats. This tramway is now a cycle path, so out come the bikes for a little airing. Yes, we do use them, probably will more in warmer weather. The towpaths can be quite muddy & unsuitable for riding.
This week we went back to winter & were lucky just to finish mooring up as icy rain fell. Time to revise last seasons GOT before the new one starts. Rainy days are good for tv/reading/working.
Relatively free of locks this week except one flight of 12 & a couple of lift & swing bridges. It was a lovely amble along the cut in the Cheshire countryside. Remnants of mills still dot along the canal. Macclesfield known for its silk mills.
We have been averaging a 4 hour trip per day when we travel. We then might stop & relax for a couple of days. It all depends on the weather & how we feel. We are monitoring the month of April to see how much diesel we use as opposed to electric. Trying to find the optimal use of our batteries & solar.

Total Lock Count
228