Trent & Mersey Canal

Now this is my sort of canal with quite a few locks spread out so I can have a doze between them before supervising Ma’s operation of the locks.

However I fell in again.  Ma was steering and Pa was walking with me but I really wanted to be on the boat with Ma and decided to jump aboard but somehow I misjudged the distance between the bank and the boat and plopped into the canal.  I was determined to get to the boat and swam like mad after it but realised that my little legs couldn’t doggy paddle fast enough so gave up and let myself be fished out of the water by Pa.  I don’t know how I managed to miss the boat - maybe I need specs, who knows.

We spent three days doing a lot of cruising which was really boring – thank goodness there were a few locks.

Me posing

One day we went to the pub and met Fred and Lisa who I had met before.  The four of them were drinking and chatting but didn’t seem to realise that my dinner time had been and gone!!  It’s a wonder they couldn’t hear my tummy rumbling.  Then they got some food – for THEMSELVES L  It was about 9pm when we got back to the boat for my dinner – I have never eaten so fast in my life!

 

Next stop was a water park where there was a “doggie dipping” area but I wasn’t allowed to even put my paw in as it was really dirty.  However it was a lovely place to explore and I almost lost Ma and Pa as I ran off with another dog and when I turned round they weren’t there.  I ran back down the towpath but still no sign of them – then I remembered that they were sitting looking over the water park so I ran through the undergrowth and found them – phew!!

 

 

I then had a boring few days as we didn’t move on and Ma disappeared for a day – she came back though J  However Ma had some nice lady visitors who made a big fuss of me and Val brought me some doggie biscuits – you can come again Val J

We left the Trent and Mersey Canal and went out onto the River Trent – that was fun as we sped along with the tide under us – well that’s how it seemed but all too soon we were on the River Soar – but more of that later.

Macclesfield Canal

Most of this canal has been very boring as there weren’t many locks and you know how much I like locks.

I got into mega trouble the other day as I chased a bird and actually caught it in the long grass.  I was so proud of myself but when I took it back to Pa he was cross and said that I had killed it L  My Mum was a gun dog and she told me how to take birds back and said that they were always dead but she omitted to tell me that they had been shot and were already dead.  Well you live and learn.

I've got a new toy

 We went into Macclesfield – yet another dull and dreary town – to have a look round.  Oh how I hate towns but there was a good side to this one as we found a market stall selling pet stuff and Ma bought me two nice chewy bones.

We have finally done some more locks and I had great fun – Ma was in a good mood which made it even better.  I was exhausted by the time we got to the bottom – I’m obviously out of practice!

Ma kept on disappearing on a train, she came back again but never with anything for me.  She said that one time she had to go and get some glasses to replace the others I chewed when we were at home.

 

Just chillin'

Ma and Pa took me to a river and tried to make me swim again – why don’t they just give up???  They spent ages finding sticks and throwing them in the water – if I could get them without going out of my depth then I brought them back but I’m not that stupid to see that sometimes they seem to throw them just that little bit further.

So another canal ticked off in my little book.  The next one is the Trent and Mersey.

Peak Forest Canal

Yet another canal – however they all look the same to me.

We moved up to Bugsworth Basin which seemed very nice – we moored in a very quiet place and I was able to get on and off the boat as I pleased.  We went for a walk on our first night there and guess what?  I fell in the canal again!  This time I just wasn’t watching what I was doing – I was chasing a crisp bag and somehow missed my footing.  Of course no-one noticed that I was thrashing around in the water for some time then M & P noticed I was missing, turned round and Pa rushed back and pulled me out.  I have to admit that I was rather unimpressed with myself :-(  However I did make a new friend – Teddy.  He is a mini-me and is 4 months old, we had a great time and I wanted to play for longer but of course the humans didn’t! 

 

Me and Mini-Me

 

Pa hired a car and we all went off exploring.  At one place we went down a lot of steps into a dark and cold place which I now know was a mine.  We went on a boat which I didn’t really like as it was a bit scary but I sat on Pa’s lap wrapped in a towel which did make it a bit better.  Otherwise the day was very boring – in and out of the car and nowhere to have a good run.

 

Me after falling in

The next day M & P decided we would drive home – the roads were very twisty and I’m sorry to say that I was sick – I don’t mind motorways and nice straight roads but I hate the windy ones.

Me and Yoyo playing

It was quite nice to be at home again as I saw Aunty Vix and Yoyo (Millie is still a stuck up wotsit and won’t play).  I don’t get enough attention while I am at home so I had another go and pinching things and running around with them – I didn’t think much to the apricot I took from the kitchen table though!  I did get into trouble for stealing Ma’s glasses though – apparently she has got to have new ones – don’t know what’s wrong with a pair with a twisted arm and only one lens though!

 

Yoyo does get tired quickly

Our trip home was only a short one and we were soon heading back to Mary H.  I just love being on the boat as there is always something to look at and I get lots of walks 