Breakfast by the 18th Green

 Sunday 25th June 2023 at Paddy's Wood near Sandbach.

An early start. We decided that we like these!

Shortly after, we came to Lock 58, which is almost under the M6 Motorway, a passing Eddie Stobart went over the bridge, obligingly showing off its new "Culina" livery.

R, being braver than M, scales up and down the lock ladders. There was a lovely view of the countryside from the top of this one.

 What a find! Next to Lock 64 we saw a welcome sign advertising "Malkins Cafe Bar", which is actually part of Malkin's Golf Club. Because of our early start, we had not had breakfast, an omission that we determined to correct - and what more perfectly timed place than here!

What better than an excellent cooked breakfast overlooking the 18th green? Definitely a place to remember with good food, friendly service and reasonable prices.

At Lock 66, the last of the duplicated locks, we remembered chatting to the new owner of this cottage as we passed last year. He was then just in the process of moving in and was trying to fit a large wardrobe through the small front door! We hope that he managed it in the end. M would have liked to catch up with him but he was working in his back garden and therefore out of earshot. Happily, there was no sign of the wardrobe!

Rain was forecast for the afternoon, so we found a quiet spot and moored up. Soon after there was a huge thunderstorm. The rain and wind were so strong that some water even blew in through the windows.

Sunshine came after the rain - everything looked as if it had been washed. Looking back down the canal, it very much resembled a Constable painting.

The towpath is very overgrown here as this photograph taken from our bedroom window demonstrates!

Today: 3 miles, 10 locks and 3.4 hours.

Trip: 31 miles, 43 locks and 23.7 hours.