On a weekend away. We started the weekend with our usual Saturday morning trip to Bollington... Mrs S to the gym, me for a walk along the Bollington canal that runs alongside the mill where the gym is.
I met a delightful lady who owns an old cargo barge (someone will tell me the correct term).
She was built in 1937 by Harland and Wolff in Woolwich, to carry 40 foot lengths of steel along the Grand Union canal between London and Birmingham. She lives on it, but only part time and does not want to convert it as some have done as she wants to keep it as it was built.
She was good enough to show me the engine. It is not the original, but when it was replaced, they did go to the trouble of finding exactly the same engine built the exact same year as the vessel. A 2 pot Diesel.
All in all a cracking start to the day!
We then drove to Hassop (ex) station, Derbyshire (Beeching cut?) where there's a big caff for some brekkie at 10, meeting up with a uni friend of Mrs S and her hubby.
I had some granola with Greek Yog and a hot choccy. The most perfect pattern I have ever seen! It was a shame to drink the bloody thing!
After that, we headed off to Carsington Water (reservoir) for a walk.
It was lovely weather when I set out. I forgot my waterproof. So guess what happened?!!
Of course! I got very wet...
This is the draw off tower, accessed from a tunnel below the reservoir. Valves in here can send water off to rivers and away to Notts and Leics.
Just to show that there was good weather!
And a Tango in the car park when we arrived.
A picture from Mrs S's walk further round the reservoir.
Then we were off to Ilam Hall YHA.
A shot from the passenger window en route.