This was the view from the sofa this morning.

That’s a preening heron on the dead branch.

The heron is sitting in a designated vole habitat. I’ve bemoaned before the decline in the vole (or water rat) population from when I was a kid. When the Bugsworth Basin was being rehabilitated a vole colony was discovered. To make sure that the voles were safe from marauding canal boats a special pond was dug for them and they were lovingly transplanted. However, there is nothing to protect them from marauding herons.

We will be in mostly urban surroundings for the next few days so here’s a couple of last views of the Peak District from the canal.

Paula doesn’t think the hills are peaky enough. Instead, she says it should be called the Blump District.

We set off early today and made it all the way back to Marple by lunchtime. The whole of England is melting due to a heatwave. Even the cows are lurking in the shade.

We cranked up the twelve volt fan and settled down to await the arrival of repeat crew members Greg and Karen. I ventured into the town of Marple for some shopping. There was a violinist busking, and a variety of useful shops. I got some great cherries and flat peaches from a greengrocer, and some “Welsh Dragon” sausages from the butcher. Unfortunately, I don’t think they are using real dragons. The should be calling them “Mock Dragon Sausages”.

Poor Greg and Karen had to carry all their gear from the railway station, three quarters of a mile uphill in the baking heat. The good news is that the weather forecast says it will be cooler tomorrow when we tackle the Marple Locks.