It's All Downhill to Manchester

We are back in Marple tonight and preparing to start the descent to Manchester: 43 locks to Castlefield Basin. As the next three days are going to be long and hard we treated ourselves to dinner at the Ring O' Bells.   Perched on the canal bank by the turnover bridge near the junction, this is a pub for decent food.  So often pubs 'home made' food is courtesy of Brake Bros and the microwave.  I had the tastiest braised leg of mutton.  Yes, you can still get mutton.  Only seven different vegetables but all done to perfection. The gravy had redcurrants and rosemary in which complimented the meat perfectly.  If we had had room for pud we were tempted by the bread and butter pudding and the syrup sponge.  They will have to wait for our next visit. Service was friendly and efficient. (further comment on the waitresses has been deleted by she who must be obeyed)