Sale

We awoke to - oh no! - rain. Generally it was rather colder today and, in the occasional wind, really chilly. The rain, however, stayed as light drizzle and dried up by lunch time.

Rain!

Today's route promised few excitements as it was entirely level and long the wide and often straight Bridgewater Canal. We set off not completely sure where we would moor for the night: we wanted to re-stock our food cupboards in Sale but after that suitable moorings are very uncertain.

The main part of the route is rural, or at least rural on one side and the built-up areas fairly confined, until Timperley where the outskirts of Manchester really begin. After a short while in open country we came into a wooded section near Lower Walton where the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

The older bridges were all built to a common design - only later offer any variation, although some of the 1930's concrete ones jar to modern eyes.

The building now occupied by Thorn Marine is said by Nicholson's to have had a chequered career, including being used as a morgue for a while!

Just after Lymm we stopped briefly at Outrington Bridge to use the elsan disposal but quickly moved on once more.

Bollington Mill Apartments

Crossing the River Bollin

There followed quite a long open rural stretch and, as we crossed over the River Bollin and an embankment and short aqueduct, the former Bollington Mill is clearly seen. Now it has been converted to apartments.

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey Hall, now owned by the National Trust, is less visible and surrounded both by en estate wall and many trees.

There is just one short place where the long vista across mown grass to the hall can be glimpsed - blink and it's gone! we only managed one shot; by the time the camera was ready for a second the hall was no longer in view.

We stopped for lunch just after Dunham Town Bridge even though the promised moorings did not materialise.

The former Linotype factory continues to decline and is increasingly being submerged by new housing. We wrote a little more about the factory last year: see blog.

On the long straight run up to Sale we passed the Water Womble boat still on its never-ending crusade against litter and rubbish in the canal.

We moored just after Sale Bridge (there are a few rings here) and were soon joined by Dunslavin (which we have seen several times over the last few days) who also wanted shops. We both felt that if two boats stopped over night it would be safety in numbers!

The shopping area in Sale is pleasant enough but, apart from two large supermarkets, is generally small shops which feel very much from a lost generation. Almost all are low value operations and, as we discovered last year, sadly lacking in almost any food stores. Still, we did not need a lot and Sainsbury provided sufficient.

Christine continued to look for yellow pictures.

16.4 miles - 0 locks