THURSDAY. Castlefields, Manchester
The 2008 trip thus far: 366Locks; 718 Miles; 71 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 36
I knew that it was too good to last; it was raining when we awoke. So much for weather lore!
We were going to catch the bus home from Manchester so that Myra could swap over the concertinas. She is in the process of buying one to which she has the instrument on trial.
Unfortunately, the C# key is sticking and will not clear; she has decided to leave it at home and bring her other one back to the boat.
Once the bus had reached the Whaley Bridge by pass, we could see why our expectations of the views from the Lancaster Canal were perhaps set too high. Derbyshire is a beautiful county, the scenery is spectacular; thinking about it, that was the reason for us leaving Sussex and moving there!
On the Transpeak bus service from Manchester to Nottingham, the bus drivers change over at Dove Holes garage just outside Buxton. The outgoing one always turns to the passengers before he (or she) gets off and thanks them; they wave their thanks to him. It is a nice touch; one that we had never seen down south.
Walking back to Castlefields, the Poilce had closed off Deansgate to all traffic and pedestrians at the railway bridge. It seems that a window had shattered on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Hotel and showered the pavement. A spokeswoman said ' when the windows break, they are designed to break into small pieces just like a car windscreen' I feel much reassured by her explanation and will be giving the Hilton Hotel area a very wide berth indeed.
Weather – Wet to start with, drying up before lunchtime.
