Author Archives: Pip

The Missing End. 30th August

Froghall Basin to The Boat, Cheddleton

There was no point in putting things back on Oleanna’s roof yesterday as we’d be going back through the tunnel today. Well the chimney went on in case it rained overnight. The mooring had been quiet apart from what sounded like a distant dog kennel, one with lots of hounds.

Yesterday we’d wanted to dispose of some rubbish. CRT signs suggested that the bins were theirs, but another sign said there were not and there would be a £600 fine for anyone using them, they belonged to Hetty’s. Mick popped over this morning to check on the situation. Apparently CRT removed the bins a while ago, Hetty’s then took over the contract with Biffa, so they are theirs. The chap at Hetty’s said we’d be okay popping one bag of kitchen waste in them before we left.

Time to make our move. Mick headed off to set the lock, no need to as there was no chance it would have filled up overnight. The chap from the waterpoint yesterday was walking his dog and came for a chat, at least someone other than us had now seen that we’d made it through the tunnel. Blimey the lock was like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon when empty, so much plant life. Up Oleanna rose, we then pulled onto the water point to top up the tank again.

Not such a powerful tap and I suspect it was connected to Hetty’s as the pressure varied. A CRT fundraiser came over to chat, full of the problems to do with funding. He confirmed the bins were no longer CRT’s, maybe someone should remove the CRT sign.

Opposite the lock is a rather nice building containing several holiday lets. They have their own swimming lake behind them. A lady came out to wave at us as we passed, heading back to the tunnel.

**Can we do it in 2 minutes this time?**

It took a while to line up with the tunnel again. Then we plunged back into the 75 yards, repeating yesterdays slow progress, only a little bit quicker this time, 7 minutes instead of 10 for Mick’s head to pop back up at the stern.

With all the covers removed it made sense to me to give the roof a much needed wash. Mick wasn’t so keen and busied himself putting nav lights back on and reassembling the horns. I however was determined to finally give Oleanna a wash, sick of the green and grey the cream had become.

With other items removed the roof needed a prewash and rinse to get rid of the worst of the muck. Then followed with a soapy wash and scrubbing brush, rinsed down. Mick ran out of jobs he could get away with, he really hates washing boats, doesn’t see the point in it! So I got him to do the prewash and rinse on the off side. Where the coal lives on the roof both sides got the full works the rest of the offside could wait for us to be moored later on.

Oh finally the cream was back with us. Unfortunately it did mean that I’d got to see just how bad the grabrail had got close up on the port side. Last year I’d prepped the starboard side for painting, then ran out of time. The port side didn’t get a look in. I’m going to have to find the time this year along with knee stamina to stand on the gunnels to get the job done. Washing the roof was at least a start.

As we had lunch a boat came past. Where had it come from? It had come from the tunnel, we’d not seen it go past earlier. Mick said he’d spotted it down an arm when he went into Hetty’s. So when we came across a boat heading to Froghall, thankfully not on a narrow section, we could confidently tell the helm that there would be no-one heading towards him as there were no boats behind us. We kept sounding our horn, just in case, but met no other boats.

Just by the water point at Consell Forge there was a For Sale sign. Not much of a river frontage, but hardly surprising as the house was up a track away from the weir and river. If you like a good pint and heritage railways along with a bit of seclusion this is your house.

Back up the river, back onto the canal. No Bob or Rob to help at Wood Lock, but that didn’t matter. We now wanted a mooring. A hire boat and CRT boat occupied the first length. The boat from the water point yesterday sat on the next mooring opposite The Boat pub. We pulled in behind, tucking in as close as we could, with boats moored opposite we didn’t want to be in anyone’s way. It did require some creative mooring, but we got there in the end.

Time to put Oleanna back together again. I finished off washing the roof, the offside no longer off, whilst Mick put the cratch cover and pram hood back on. Except there was a vital bit missing from the pram hood. An end that connects the end of a piece of frame to attach it to the cabin sides. When we’d taken the frame off it had been stored inside, last night it was put on the roof out of our way, then back inside again today. We hunted high and low, inside and out. Tilly was questioned in case she’d found it interesting and batted it under the sofa for safe keeping. It was not to be found, we needed some means of attaching the frame to the roof.

**Boy things kept for what? But that broken thing might just**…

In amongst the things that have been kept for some reason was a broken bit from the tv aerial pole. A rubber end to it and a broken metal prong. It fitted into the frame leaving the prong which we might be able to clamp into the connector. Mick played around with it for a while, cable ties and for now we have a way to attach the frame when it’s up, it always gets folded down for cruising no matter. A new connector will need ordering next week.

Not the quietest of moorings. Plenty of dog walkers and noisy drinkers at the pub. This was then followed by a lot of cars coming and going. We’d be able to cope with it for a night and before there is any boat traffic in the morning we want to be moving.

4 locks, 4.8 miles, 75 yards of tunnel, £750,000, 0 boats behind us, 1 year of grime, 1 sparkling roof, 2 sides still to do, 15 patches of rust, 1 noisy mooring, 2 dogs to get along, 1 bored cat, 1 missing end, 1 broken bit repurposed.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WqJVkvPNNTgQgc3X7

Squeeeeeze!!!! 29th August

The tunnel light shone on the roof of the tunnel. The nav lights glowed by the top front corners of the cabin. I sat still hoping my weight would assist at the bow. Once Oleanna had been lined up fully with the tunnel, Mick gave the engine just a little spurt of power.

The portside was getting quite close to the curving roof, should I just push it clear a touch? It’s never a good idea to fend off at the bow, Oleanna’s made of steel, she can withstand contact with brick, skin is less effective. I checked with Mick at the stern, no idea what he may or may not be able to see.

A blast of bow thruster, then the other way just a touch. A jot more from the engine. Oleanna glided onwards. A little scraping noise from the port side, was that the grabrail or the gunnel?

A green arrow on the wall indicated the nearest exit was behind us, ‘That way out’. Another 60ft and the arrow pointed the opposite way, ‘This way out’. Oleanna was still moving, if we got stuck now would anybody know?! A hire boat had pulled up at the end of the moorings on the west side of the tunnel, maybe they’d know if we’d made it or not.

Slowly and steadily Mick nudged Oleanna onwards, a burst of power to starboard, forward a touch, port, forward.

After 8 minutes the bow of Oleanna was back out in the day light. We’d been warned that the canal takes a sharp turn to the left on exiting so it would be good to start moving the bow over as soon as you could, using the bow thruster.

Mick was still kneeling at the stern, torch pointing forward. Then gradually the stern appeared into the light, so did Mick’s head. The bow being pushed across to miss the bank. As he stood up we’d made it through!

The sign suggests a passage time through the tunnel of 2 minutes at 2mph, well it had taken us 10 minutes! But we’d done it. No-one there but ourselves to witness it!

We pootled to above Froghall Lock 1, this is the first lock down onto the Uttoxeter Canal, the first of 17 locks and 13 miles. Today you can only go down one lock where there is a basin you can moor in. Time for me to turn the windlass, Mick could do it on the way back, but I had to work this lock.

The bottom gates leaked like a waterfall, no wonder as they get little use. Oleanna dropped down into the basin. Would there be room for her? On past visits I think there has always been at least one boat moored, one occasion three, but today we had it all to ourselves. Mick backed us in, tied us off, a silver propellor location reached. Not that we’ve taken the evidential photos elsewhere, but we think we’ve now been to at least 18.

A little walk round confirmed that despite it being a lovely mooring it wouldn’t be safe for Tilly, a road passing quite close by. We broke the news to her gently. GENTLY!!!!!! I’m a silver propellor cat and you just don’t give a monkey about my welfare!!

We walked over to Hetty’s Tea Room to see if there was a menu we could peruse maybe for breakfast, none on display. Across in the car park were the three cyclists we’d seen at Wood Lock earlier, they’d been heading to Leek. We stopped for quite a chat with them. They’d enjoyed their bike ride and met various interesting people and had been all the way to Leek and back in the time we’d not even done half the distance. We think they had all spent time on life boats, one of them said he used to work on the Chiswick life boat, another did training on the Humber.

We returned to Oleanna and grumpy Tilly. A big chilli was cooked up, enough for three meals, and a glass or two of wine to celebrate getting Oleanna through Froghall.

So todays journey at the top of this post should read

Cheddleton Visitor Moorings to Froghall Basin

6 locks, 5.6 miles, 1 lift bridge, 1 river section, 1 burst hosepipe, 1 chimney removed, 2 horns relaxed, 1 boats pensive smile, 1 pram and cratch cover removed, 1 tiller pin removed, 1 gauge, 10 minutes in the dark, 1 little scuff on the grabrail, 2 happy boaters, 1 grumpy cat! 0 TV but good internet signal!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/A7RsLnDsB2tbuvd19

Bursting Consall. 29th August

Cheddleton Visitor Moorings to Froghall Tunnel

I wanted to get various things done online this morning as signal might be patchy or none existent when we reached our mooring today. Tilly was allowed shore leave for an hour, then when she came in the doors were closed, hatch slid over so we could leave when we wanted to rather than have to wait for her to finish her busyness.

A couple of boats had passed, a hire boat heading down, a private boat heading up, would the locks be in our favour? The flint mill was closed this morning, we’ve visited before but it’s always nice to see the water wheels turning.

Under the bridge with the wooden room over the canal. Yesterday we’d managed to peek in through the rotten curtains, nothing occupies the room anymore apart from a few birds I suspect.

A boat was just coming up the bottom of the two Cheddleton Locks, Mick went down to lend a hand with gates, they were soon up and the locks set for our descent.

We pootled along, the trees and undergrowth overgrown. The Churnet Valley Railway comes close now, across the field sit engines and carriages. Today there were no trains due, but we could still hear them, someone somewhere was playing trains. We’ve ridden the trains before so didn’t feel like we were missing out, but it would have been nice for a steam engine to pass us further down towards Froghall.

The canal has always been narrow here. Boats moored on the offside with visitor moorings opposite leave just enough room for a boat to squeeze in between. A car drove down the road behind the hedge pulling in at Woods Lock. A chap, we now know to be Bob (or Rob) walked over to the lock and closed the bottom gates just as Mick stepped off to lend a hand and three cyclists stopped to watch. Bob had been expecting a boat so had set the lock for them, he’s an unofficial volunteer who loves helping boaters and explaining what was what to the cyclists.

With the lock reset, I managed to get Oleanna in without touching the sides, Bob congratulated me , the cyclists suggesting I’d done it a few times before. I mentioned that the ‘B’ team were on duty today, maybe the ‘A’ team would have done it even better. Bob asked when we’d be returning, tomorrow if we get through the tunnel, but if we get stuck…… well….

Oleanna had a moment where the canal must have been too shallow for her, Mick lost all steering, Oleanna quite happily heading into the trees on the offside. It took quite a lot of tooing and froing to get off the bottom and her pointing in the direction we wanted to be. Under Oakmead Lift Bridge which looks almost like new, a different style to those on the Oxford Canal.

At Oakmead Ford Lock a hire boat was just exiting, having closed the top gate. By the time we’d manoeuvred ourselves around each other the lock had already dropped by a foot.

Now we joined the River Churnet. Had this been our first ever river on a narrowboat? Or had that been the River Weaver back on Winding Down? The river today didn’t have much flow, it’s quite narrow and overgrown. Does that give it more charm or just make you wonder when you might encounter an upstream boat.

With todays mission of attempting to get through Froghall Tunnel in mind we pulled in at the water point. A Braidbar boat was filling up their water tank, the chap exclaimed at the pressure of the tap. Now normally boaters make mention of taps having low pressure and taking an age to fill their tank, today this tap was the opposite. The pressure was so strong it had blown this chaps two hoses apart. When ever he started to fill the tank again, turning the tap on the hose shot back out of the tank and he got shouted at by his wife!

We banged spikes in, nowhere to tie up to wait our turn. His tank was soon full and it was our turn. We wanted the bow of Oleanna to be as low in the water as possible to increase our chances of getting through the tunnel, we didn’t need much, but wanted to be full to the brim.

We set the tank filling, the pressure very good, then retired inside for some lunch.

FLIPPING HECK!!! or words much stronger!!! Water was shooting in through one of our windows. I quickly closed the window as Mick ran outside to turn the tap off. First thought was that our hose had come off the tap, but the fountain of water was nowhere near the water point. Our hose has lasted us well, bought ten years ago at Wilton Marina when we’d first bought NB Lillyanne, it had now sprung a leak a few meters along. Inside Oleanna the spray of water had covered the ceiling, the stove flue and speaker on the far cabin side.

Once mopped up and the burst section of hose chopped off we could continue to top up the tank, it only took another 3 seconds before the tank boomed to say it was full. Job done, no-one was to use any water now.

No moorings available by the Black Lion, their outdoor seating was quite busy. Down along side the cantilevered platform of Consall Station. Was that some new wood we could see supporting the platform?

We pulled in above Flint Mil Lock, Mick tying Oleanna to a bollard whilst he went ahead to set the lock. The bank was high, Oleanna drifting out, I’d have been better just hovering above the lock. A hire boat appeared behind us, extra help with the gates but here we wanted to take our time as we left the lock. There is a plastic curtain which helps you gauge whether your boat will fit through Froghall Tunnel. The top gate leaked like anything I thought it would push Oleanna out of the lock, but it actually took quite a lot of umph to get her to move meaning we had plenty of time to notice what we’d need to do before our attempt at the tunnel. Horns and top of chimney, would the collapsed pram hood get through unscathed?!

Now the narrow section. Do you walk ahead to check for oncoming boats? We risked it our progress very slow anyway. Gradually we made or way to where the old works sit alongside the canal, not the prettiest of moorings at the end of a navigation, but that’s why the canal existed in the first place, to move goods back and forth, not to look pretty.

We pulled in on the tunnel mooring to make our preparations. The pram hood caused some discussion. Mick thinking it would be fine. It might be, but we’d taken the cover and frame off to go through Standedge Tunnel. My thought that if the frame did get damaged it would be an expensive thing to get replaced, better it was inside out of any possible harms way.

The horns were removed from their bracket and taped alongside it. Cratch cover taken off. Chimney top removed, plants off the roof. The pram cover was dismantled and brought inside, 4G aerial which normally sits proud of the cabin top was unscrewed and laid lower. Navigation lights dismantled the bulbs left in, as they may assist in seeing where the cabin corners might just hit the tunnel. We’d had suggestions of covering the cabin corners and grab rail ends with tape to protect them, but the grab rail is in dire need of repainting, any damage wouldn’t really add to the job, so we didn’t bother.

Life jackets on, big torch on to shine along the roof, nav lights and tunnel light on. We were ready. I took up position in the bow. Mick considered having a stool to sit on at the back, but that would only make it really awkward if he needed to get any lower, better without.

We pushed off, 60ft away from the tunnel, almost a 90 degree turn to straighten up with the entrance. The plastic gauge at the entrance cleared, but would the rest of Oleanna manage to get through?!?

The Staffordshire Pretzel. 28th August

Bridge 30 to Top side Cheddleton Visitor Moorings

Cows slurluping at 5am across the way woke Tilly and myself, Mick totally oblivious as he was making his own noises! It took us a while to get back to sleep, but we managed it.

A load of washing was put on then we moved up to the services. Here we joined two more boats. The far one was the boat that had followed us up the staircase a couple of days ago. When had they gone past? They were facing towards Stoke too!? Have to say we’d been surprised not to have seen them yesterday. They are very early risers, 6am, so had passed whilst we were well asleep. They’d also been to the end of both arms of the Caldon! No stopping them. I asked where they moored on the Oxford, the bottom of Claydon before Cropredy, Yes I knew where they meant, we’ll wave next time we go past. They’ve certainly been going for it, our map suggests there and back with both arms is a 21 hour cruise from Etruria, I suspect they’ll be off the canal before the end of the day.

With water topped up, the alpine strawberry plants tidied up, their babies added to the hedgerow, we moved on towards Hazlehurst Junction. Here the canal splits into two. The right turn stays on the level and sweeps round over Hazlehurst Aqueduct and on to Leek. Straight on drops down three locks goes under the aqueduct and onwards towards Froghall where the canal used to meet up with the Uttoxeter Canal. We decided to go straight on, down the locks.

We’d brought with us a reed island, Mick hauled it out of the lock and deposited it over the lock bridge out of the way before lifting paddles. Just after the third lock there is Bridge 37, this had to be rebuilt a few years ago, closing the Froghall Arm for quite sometime. It does look new, some weathering required for it to sink into the landscape.

Landscape is what we’d have today, it’s nice to be back in the hills.

We wound our way down under the aqueduct, here we’d had two kingfishers sat on branches waiting for us to pass the last time we were here, no such luck today. The moorings at the pub were full, a large Hare sat behind a garden shed. Residential moorings ask for you to slow down, we’d no choice as Oleanna’s depth slowed us to just about a stop in one bridge hole.

Through plenty of wood, Rowan a common sight with it’s red berries. The moorings before the flint mill were just about empty. We pulled up as soon as we could a view to our portside to wake up to between the trees, that would do nicely. Tilly was warned not to eat her own body weight and let out for an hour whilst we had lunch.

Debby from NB Bonjour had mentioned about there being Pre-Raphaelite windows in St Edwards Church, we could just see the tower from our mooring, anywhere to the south of the canal would mean a steep hill to climb, but it couldn’t be that far! Surely!

With walking stick in hand we set off down past the flint mill both water wheels turning, crossed the canal and started to walk uphill. The first turn on the right gave us a steeper hill to climb, a very steady pace required.

St Edwards dates back to the 13th C, some walling possibly back to the 12th C. The church has had several restorations, one in Elizabethan times but the biggest was in 1863/4 when Sir Gilbert G Scott made major changes.

The chancel roof was repainted in the 1950s, symbols depicting local connections to the church. The book, for paper. The knot, the Staffordshire knot (not a pretzel!). The boat, for the canal. The plant, Madder from which dye is produced a favourite dark red used by William Morris. Morris spent three years in Leek learning about dyes.

At first glance around the church the one window that stands out from all the others is of three angels drawn by Burne Jones. The colours which were chosen by Morris sing out. It’s a lovely window.

Then closer inspection, the majority of the other windows are of a similar time. One depicts a couple facing each other. The chap is reported to be a portrait of William Morris stood opposite his wife. She is bare footed, he has red socks, but he also must have been a messy eater as he needed a very large napkin tucked into his collar!

What a lovely church, thank you Debby for mentioning it. My knee was going to have to walk down the hill, so as along as we found a fairly level path to the shops I’d not have to do too much more downhill. A footpath was found which connected the older part of Cheddleton to the newer busier Leek Road. A pint of milk and a loaf of bread, Bargain Booze managed to have both and tucked in the fridge were a pile of freshly made oatcakes. At £1.45 for 6 they make the ones you make yourself very expensive.

Back on board I made up the Oatcake mix we’d bought at Great Haywood, leaving it to rest for half an hour, so the yeast had time to do it’s stuff. I cooked up the last of our Oxford sausages and sliced them, some mushrooms were cooked and cheese grated. Four oat cakes were cooked, kept warm, then the filling was added to each in turn, cooked in the frying pan to melt the cheese. Two each, very yummy. The remainder of the batter was then cooked up, each cake left to cool before being popped in the freezer for another time.

Where we’re headed we may not have internet for a couple of days. Where we’re going has a low tunnel, we’re going to see if Oleanna can get through it! Tune in next time to see if we succeeded. If we never post again, it’s because we’re stuck in Froghall Tunnel!

3 locks, 2.8 miles, 1 straight on, 1 speedy cruising boat, 1 pretty wooden canoe, 1 late night boat, 1 church, 1 steep hill, there and back, 3 angels, 0 pretzels, 5 oatcakes, 6 for another time, 0 oxford sausages left, 2 bricks purchased, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEZaQce8uu9w5Rrm8

Hand Over Feet. 27th August

Below Engine Lock 4 to Bridge 30

A hire boat headed for the lock. One came from the lock, would it now be set for us?

No! The boat had only come from the mooring just in front of us, oh well, at least it was Mick who had to wind wind and wind the low geared paddles on the bottom gates to empty the lock! This was to be our 600th lock this year, that spread sheet I started in March helping with calculations! Once up I walked ahead with the key of power, no walking stick today, hooray!! Those exercises must be doing some good.

We’d been watched coming up the lock by a Grandma and Grandson, he’d helped push the top gate open. They reached the lift bridge at the same time as me, the little lad asked if he could push the button. Of course he could. One push doesn’t do it though, you have to keep pushing until it’s right up. He helped with closing it too a little extra help from me at the end as I think it was getting boring for the last few feet.

***There’s a feline artist around here***

Despite there being a footpath over the next lift bridge shown on the OS map it was left open. On we pootled to the bottom of Stockton Brook Locks all full to the top.

Stockton Brook pumping Station with it’s red brick sits proud yet wounded just back from the canal. It began operating in 1884, providing clean drinking water to the area, pumping water to several reservoirs. In 2004 it was taken on some 20 years after being decommissioned and now the aim is to open it up as a community facility, art gallery, cafe, conference and meetings. If you happen to be in the area on 27th 28th September they are having an open weekend, shame we won’t be here. More details here.

Each pound between the locks was a little low, next to no water running down the bywashes. At the third lock the pound above looked very low. As Oleanna rose up this of course made the situation worse. Then we could see water rushing down the bywash, someone must have been coming down the top lock, the next lock was also full. We decided to wait for the boat to arrive and hope that with their lock emptying the pound would be high enough for us to get over the cill. We swapped roles, Mick helped me onto the bank, a very big step up and I walked up to the next lock.

**Swapping in a low pound was a Mick job**

I explained the situation and if Mick didn’t come out of the lock then we’d need to let more water down to get him over the cill. The helm explained they were quite a heavy boat due to their batteries, an electric boat. Thankfully there was enough water and the two boats managed to pass in the pound without grounding out. I walked ahead expecting the next lock to be empty, but it was just about full. Were we following a boat or had the electric boat taken forever to reach the lock giving it time to refill?

It was nice to be out in the open rather than at the bottom of a slimy lock even if it was raining. Pushing lock beams is done trying to keep as straight as possible, trying to avoid twisting my knee, but it is still not something I want to be doing every day.

**Pretty cottage, but what about the neighbours?**

The Lock Cottage is for sale. Whilst looking for details on the pump house I came across an article regarding the nearby golf course. The locals are not happy with a planned extension and new licence, commenting on it being like a ‘nightclub’ with ‘noise, vomit and litter’. Maybe this is why the house is for sale!

We pootled onwards. The old swing bridge with it’s central pivot point and one way sign still sits in the middle of the canal, maybe on our return we’ll stop and have a look at the information board on the offside.

Ahead is Stoke an Trent Boat Club down a little arm, the navigation heads off to the right. The first time we came round this bend was on NB Winding Down and we hit a frozen canal, only being able to keep going straight until we hit the bank. Should we stop here with views out across the fields opposite? We carried on to be close to Kidd’s Bridge, a farm behind the hedge made it no too suitable for Tilly and trees on the offside hemmed it in. In the end we pulled in just after where bridge 30 used to cross the canal. The end of the moorings before the services. This would do us for today and we were in the general area we’d said we’d be mooring today.

A late lunch. Sounds of bow thrusters, reversing, was someone having difficulty mooring? Then a bow came past, NB Bonjour had just had a dog overboard moment, Jess had spotted something in a field that required further investigation, on the off side!

**Debby and Dave heading back to the T&M**

Debby and Dave pulled in. Chats on the towpath were followed by a cuppa on Oleanna. Time to hand over Pair 32 of my sockathon socks. Thank you Debby for sponsoring a pair and how good it was to be able to hand them over.

This is the first time we’ve actually managed to coincide with time to chat. I think last time was at Lapworth about 7 years ago. We chatted boats, toilets, where we’d been and Dave and I played knee pain snap. Lovely to have been able to coincide, hope your knee news is helpful Dave and see you again somewhere sometime.

Tilly had a good afternoon, returning a little before cat curfew and not interested in Dreamies! I should have realised something was wrong then. Eating her own body weight whilst self catering hadn’t gone down too well! Thankfully the episode didn’t last too long this time.

I had a go at using up the chips from last night in a kind of frittata. Courgette, sweetcorn, and some feta were added along with egg and some yoghurt that needed using up. A tasty concoction, which turned out a touch more like a hash than a frittata as I didn’t want to put my pan in the oven to finish it off and flipping it over with a pate wasn’t going to happen either, so a fish slice did it in sections. If we ever end up with ten portions of chips again, I’ll give it another go.

6 locks, including our 600th this year! 3.1 miles, 2 lift bridges, 1 open, 1 very low pound, 1 heavy boat, 1 way sign, 2 bloggers meet, 32nd pair socks, 1 overly full Tilly, 1 soggy Jess, 2 matching knees, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

Handbrake Turn. 26th August

Brook House Winding Hole to below Engine Lock 4, Caldon Canal

No morning shore leave much to the disgust of Tilly, we wanted to actually manage to cover some ground today. At Trentham Lock a hire boat was just arriving, the lock in their favour. Mick helped them down, one lady had obviously been boating before, the other very little. Up we rose, the long pound in towards Stoke to cover.

There had been a couple of boats pass us this morning early on heading for Stoke so the likelihood of locks being set in our favour was slim. Over the baby River Trent, past the shooting range and associated boats. Shufflebottoms. The masses of buddleia now past it’s best but still giving off an aroma, it must have been quite over powering a few weeks ago.

The number of vehicles at Stoke Bottom Lock numbered 9 today, someone must be a mechanic at the house. Some of the graffitti along the canal varies from old amusing painting to really you need to practice more, but preferably at home! Nothing new worth taking photos of, just some red hands on a bridge below a lock.

It was blustery, Mick mostly walked on ahead reaching the next lock to re set it. As we left Twyford Lock a boat came towards us, if we timed it well there would be a boat coming down Summit Lock as we ascended Johnson’s Lock. However the crew from the descending boat had done as we would, set the lock ahead of them, well Oleanna would have been in Summit Lock before we set it.

I hovered, hovered some more. This was taking forever! I backed up, trying to find an area without too much wind avoiding being pushed over to the off side. Eventually the bottom gates of Johnson’s Lock opened.

By now a very keen crew had arrived behind us, where had they come from!? One lady did as she was told, but a bit too quickly lifting a paddle before the ones at the other end of the lock had been closed or even Oleanna had exited the lock. Now into the deep Summit Lock. I’d not been looking forward to this one, but it wasn’t too bad, quite a pull to the top gate. The crew behind mob handed, the lady still trying to lift paddles before things were ready. They were hoping to be able to get through Harecastle Tunnel today. You can turn up before midday to go through, but in the afternoons you should have a booking, they didn’t, but were hoping they’d be able to tag onto the back of boats heading northwards.

**Dragonfly at the junction of the T&M and Caldon Canals**

Mick took over at the helm for the handbrake turn. Pulled into the services for a refill of water, the washing machine busy and yellow water to dispose of. The water tank would take some time to fill, so we had our lunch, just about coinciding with it being full.

Another boat arrived just as we were winding back in the hose. We’d hoped it being a Bank Holiday that Etruria Museum would have been open, but we’ve still never managed to coincide with it. Round to the bottom of the staircase locks the first locks on the Caldon Canal.

They were set for us, possibly the bottom chamber leaks, the top one not. As we started to work our way up the boat that had pulled in at the services arrived below, the lady came to help with gates and paddles. This boat is familiar, we’ve passed it several times, right now I can’t remember it’s name but it has a toad or frog with a long tongue on the cabin side. They apparently are from the Oxford Canal.

Round to Planet Lock also full, Oleanna got a little bit stuck on the bottom below the bridge, then made a noise familiar with passing over a supermarket trolley as she entered the lock. The boat behind was hot on our heels.

Now through Hanley Park, looks nice enough, but not a place to moor overnight.

The the outskirts of Stoke. Potteries, bottle kilns, new housing estates, fencing that still has the same graffiti from when we last came this way. Low bridges, thankfully our pooh bucket on the roof fitted under the lowest!Twists and turns, a couple fishing at the bottom of their garden warned us of the next big turn. How much further should we go? Most areas we’d not let Tilly out anyway, so we carried onwards cat curfew getting closer, there’d be no shore leave today.

For some reason last time we were here I’d walked this stretch. This did have the advantage of remembering a sign about gluten free fish and chips at Milton! I looked on line, ‘Gluten free every day, all day!’ Their menu huge! We discussed whether we should have courgette fritters or one of each, the later won. But where should we moor up. The boat behind had caught us up, we pulled in to let them pass, the depth of the Caldon making our progress slower than theirs. We soon passed them moored up near bridge 18, we’d carry on further aiming for a more rural mooring.

Armco soon showed itself, we pulled in. Sorry Tilly, it’s too late. Mick cycled back to the chippy where everything was being cooked to order, a queue forming out the shop. A phoned in order would be at least half an hours wait. Only cod on the menu, but it was nice cod.

My gluten free batter crunchy rather than crispy, Micks a little bit greasy, but still good. We’d opted for a large portion of chips between the two of us and this was more than enough for four! The remainder have been popped in the fridge and maybe go in a frittata tomorrow. I’m glad I remembered the sign on the bridge as it is no longer there.

9 locks, 2 a staircase, 1 lift bridge, 1 handbrake turn, 2 held up, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 load of pants and socks, 1 bucket of pooh just fitting under the low bridge, 2 of each, 1 mountain of chips, 2 boats hot on our tail, 0 shore leave, 1 miffed off cat, pair 35 cast on.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9H5YhfZTGKEFM5veA

Fox Rounding Up. 25th August

Meaford Bottom Lock to Brook House Winding Hole

Subjects on the Geraghty zoom included kilts, pulses, baklava, Rusholme, and a little yellow train. Those last two sausages needed eating up so Mick did the honours and added in the last of the cauliflower cheese, which already had bacon in it so no need for any extra rashers.

Boats had already been moving, we moved up to await a boat coming down the bottom Meaford Lock then in Oleanna went. Mick was joined by two athletic teenagers who vaulted over lock beams and were a little bit too eager to lift paddles without checking with me first. All the intermediate pounds were quite low, making entering and exiting locks a slow business.

Coming out of Meaford House Lock I could see crew opening the bottom gates at Meaford Road Lock, then their crew vanished not to return. This was because it was a single hander who was very pleased this next lock was in their favour with gates open.

**Does anyone know what the little arched bit of stone was for**

Meaford Top Lock looked empty, Mick walked up and I trod water. Unfortunately by the time he’d walked up to and over the bridge someone was already filling the lock, walking up to peek over the side of the bridge for oncoming boats isn’t a natural thing for some people. Mick came back and tied Oleanna up, this is one of the things that doesn’t go down too well with my knees, at least Mick is doing more steps now!

The walkway on the top gate is at a very unhelpful angle and has been taped off so walking round the lock is required until Oleanna was high enough to step across the bow.

I managed to turn a sock heel before the rain started. It then continued all the way to Barlaston. Todays starting point hadn’t been that helpful. To Barlaston a little bit too short on hours, but a good place for Tilly. Etruria, the next place we’d stop, at least another 3.5 hours cruise. We didn’t fancy getting wet for that long so pulled in near to the winding hole, another short days cruise.

Another go at planning the next few weeks was made. Canal Plan is a handy tool, but if you’ve put in start and end dates then want to add in a stop of a couple of nights somewhere it adds these days onto the end date, so not helping to calculate how many hours we need to do between A and B, then B to C etc. Mick had to start again anyway and decided to do each leg as a separate journey. Trying to get us to useful stations on specific dates is proving difficult with our chosen route. It turns out we’d have been better heading northwards along the Shroppie then returning down the T&M. There are still other options for returning to Yorkshire before the end of the year, some more appealing than others. More work on the route plan required.

A catch up with my brother was had, a very proud Dad. Josh is going to Manchester University where Andrew went, I can hear Andrews excitement at being able to visit his old haunts with Josh from 40 plus years ago, they will all have changed. He’s already visited The Ducie where even I remember the lines of pint glasses filled with Guinness on the bar. The Ducie Arms has had a make over and wouldn’t bat an eye lid at you requesting something other than Guinness.

The day had been quite chilly and damp. Time to light the stove. Tilly immediately took up residence at the warm end of the sofa, my fox hunting afternoon required several hours of relaxation and warming up.

***I think you’ll find it’s my end of the sofa!***

4 locks, 2.7 miles, 1 slightly soggy day, pair 34 cast off, 2 mains 2 sides M&S curry night, 1 packet poppadoms, 4 hours rounding foxes, 1 stove lit, 1 fight over the end of the sofa, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yKzAWjGFzqFkNmy38

Aston Villa. 24th August

Lower Burston Bridge to below Meaford Bottom Lock

I’m liking these mornings with shore leave, I don’t feel the need to return for my dingding quite so much. However this morning She started to call for me long before my hour was up! Just what was She wanting?! I was busy.

Well it would have been very rude of Tilly not to have shown her face to say goodbye to Karen and Bill before they pushed off, wouldn’t it Tilly! Yes!!!

We waited and hoped that the wet air would subside, it did a little. Where we are planning to go has nowhere to fill up with diesel, NB Halsall is currently on her way down the Shroppie. A comment made by Brian on facebook somewhere suggested that the price at Aston Marina would be good. We decided to pull and and see.

Aston Marina has two entrances, however one is an entrance, the other an exit. They operate a one way system. We turned in, a family busy feeding ducks and geese from the bow of NB Winding Down, we waved to Paul and Aileen. Round to the service point where a bridge crosses the marina. Gosh Brian had been right, this would be the cheapest diesel we’ve had all year.

Turning back out onto the cut we made our way to Aston Lock. A boat was coming down, Mick helped then it was our turn. The offside bottom gate was obstinate in closing. Mick wiggled it around a bit, still a couple of inches gap, but that was better than it had been. Up Oleanna rose, the half way mile post, garden hut came into view along with the Aston Villa stop planks.

In towards Stone. It’s further than you remember it being, I’ve once walked from Stone Station to Aston Marina and its even longer by foot. The end of the moorings showed. The bank where we’d pulled in back at the end of April is more settled, adding a new length of mooring capability. There was a space just past the footpath, we pulled in and soon discovered why it was empty. Oleanna’s bow came in but not her stern. We tied up anyway, time for lunch.

We checked on the new bins, up a little footpath by the Scout hut, no recycling facilities, at least there are bins again. M&S for fresh food supplies. A chat with a chap who moors on the Caldon about his extended nappy pins, pins with a long hooped handle welded onto them. Then it was time to make a move.

Star Lock, always gongoozlers here. Loud music came from the garden and two kids in fancy dress ran around in great excitement. Up ahead a boat could be seen leaving Yard Lock, Mick walked ahead. The boat coming towards Oleanna wasn’t making a very good job of avoiding the moored boats. The crew walked past Mick, ‘We’ve emptied it for you’, fairly obvious, he could have left the gates open too especially as the lock bridge is cordoned off at the moment. In his defence he’d not have been able to see us coming, but the person at the helm would have.

I managed to hover, bow close to the gates to avoid being blown about, whilst Mick walked round the lock to open the gates again. Up we rose. The chap had said he’d left the lock empty, he’d also left a paddle up by four inches, that was soon rectified once I’d spotted it.

The pub was busy, most of the Ginger hire boats were in. The obligatory photo of Joules Brewery had a different look to it today, the building covered in scaffolding and red netting.

A boat was filling with water below Newcastle Road Bridge, not enough room before or after it for Oleanna to pull in to drop Mick off. We backed in and off he hopped. I’ve never noticed how the brickwork to the entrance of lock funnels in to meet the width of the lock.

At Lime Kiln Lock a boat was coming down, their crew walked on down past me, asked how far we were going, maybe just to the moorings above today. He said there was room, they’d just pulled out after the first boat. As we cruised past we’d need not have fretted, only two boats moored along the whole stretch. Anyway we carried on that bit further getting away from back gardens and closer to the bottom of Meaford Locks ready for the morning. Tilly was given 45 minutes, she didn’t use them all Too many woofers!

The other day we’d worked out a cruising plan, we knew we’d have enough time on our hands to cruise where we wanted, a calculation of how many hours cruising a day would be required. However we now were getting suggestions for rendez vous with several people. We realised our plan would require fine tuning and adjusting to meet up with transport for various dates. This meant an hour of deep concentration and Canal Plan. Railway stations required on at least four occasions, maybe returning back to join the Trent via the Shroppie hadn’t been such a good idea.

Suddenly our cruising hours had shot up to four hours a day. How come? It had us heading for Derwent Mouth Lock to join the Trent, then returning to Nantwich before heading along the Shroppie. Another session is required for fine tuning. By now we both wanted to watch the final episode of Imposter: The man who came back from the dead. What a terrifying true crime story of a man who woke from a Covid coma in Glasgow accused of being a serial sex offender on the FBI’s most wanted list. We needed to know if he was extradited back to the States.

5 locks, 5.1 miles, 2 outsides, 1 dragon, 1 jaunty mooring, 2 biffa bins, 1 top up shop, 1 huge cauliflower cheese, 0.5 of a sock knitted, 1 painting scanned, 1 box of paints to put away.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hxmutpmwCGrFTRs3A

Lillian. 23rd August

Ingestre Bridge 78 to Lower Burston Bridge 85

On holidays as a child my Mum was in charge of the weather. If there was a dodgy forecast she would sort it to be much better, sun would be conjured up instead of rain, a light cooling breeze instead of gale force winds. Today we had a storm named after my Mum. Now either she’s lost her touch or the Met Office gave the storm the wrong name!

Last night we had rain, quite a lot of it. This morning the winds followed. Our mooring seemed to be quite sheltered, the hedge keeping us out of the worst effects of the fresh air. Across the other side of the canal was a different matter the trees swaying, bending over with the gusts. Narrowboats and such winds do not mix. Other boaters didn’t seem to agree as we were passed by quite a few. We however decided to give Tilly a few hours shore leave.

**Those socks are far too big for you Tilly!**

When we thought things were improving I checked Windy a handy app for wind, the gusts were still pretty strong into the afternoon. So much for catching up with ourselves today! We decided to give Tilly some more shore leave and wait until after lunch before pushing off.

The wind had certainly eased by the time we pushed off, we made our way to Weston Lock. With my knee seeming to be improving I wanted to see if I could work the locks today. Weston was just about empty when we arrived, a wind of a paddle and it was soon ready. Everything was manageable, just the pushing of the top gate a little bit hard.

On the South Oxford and the GU lock beams requiring attention have been sawn off and a new red wood box extension added to help them last that bit longer. Here on the T&M this Meccano solution seems to be the way. Angle irons on each corner are held tightly around the beam with threaded bars, reminiscent of medical cages put round shattered legs.

We now pootled along towards Sandon Lock, past the pretty manicured gardens of Weston. At the length of moorings just before the railway and A51 get cosy with the canal a boat was wanting to pull out to wind. They waited for us to pass, then would have to wait for another boat too.

Up ahead on the slight bend I looked to see how Dante was doing. A boat was missing from it’s mooring, Dante and the other dogs normally on top of a boat were all missing. Maybe finally they had succumbed to the wet weather of an outdoor life, maybe they’d been sold off to the cuddly toy slave trade, maybe they were drying out in a shed?

At Sandon Lock, I chose to work the lock again. A family riding bikes crossed over the bridge, then came back to watch Oleanna rise up in the lock. It was good to be back on the bank winding the windlass, pushing gates. Sadly my knee reminded me that my problem has not gone away, it’s just masked by painkillers and slightly eased by exercises.

We had a choice of were to moor, the first possibility looked good with views across the fields and was empty. We pulled in and let Tilly out. The sun was out and the wind dropping, maybe a barbeque? Then the skies became dark, maybe we’d eat indoors instead.

As I was preparing things to go into the oven a boat suddenly went into reverse alongside us. Electric boats sneak up on you and it was only their decision to stop that made me look up from what I was doing. NB Electric Dragon was seen earlier this year in Birmingham, Karen met previously last year as she was training guide leaders on NB Tuptonia. Karen was originally going to pull in leaving a big gap, but on seeing it was us a smaller gap would be good.

**A nice mooring coming up with plenty of sky**

After we’d all had food we convened on board Electric Dragon, chance to chat, get to know each other and hear tales of their boat build, Hawne Basin, and their recent troubles with their generator which had been fixed this morning. A lovely evening with good company, Tilly was a little upset that she’d not been allowed to join us, Well I always like a good nosy around other boats! Dragon looked nice and new too!

2 locks, 4.3 miles, 1 blowy morning, 2 hours cruised not 3, 2 hours shore leave, 1 aching knee, 1 painting finished, 1 silent dragon, 1 very pleasant evening with new friends, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ffxrbudEN5tn3dVCA

End Of The Line. 22nd August

72A to Ingestre 48hr mooring Trent and Mersey still

Waterproofs just in case for a walk to the Post Office this morning. Thank goodness we had them as it was just spitting on our arrival, then between there and the Farm Shop the heavens opened. Soggy legs!

We didn’t really need anything, but maybe some nice sausages, I suggested four, Mick suggested six, he’d not realised that they were quite so huge and would be over £1 each! A huge cauliflower, some treat cheeses, gluten free oak cake mix and a pork pie for Mick. We refrained from picking up a punnet of strawberries (£3) and a tub of chilled medication, the freezer would need rebuilding around a big tub.

Thankfully the rain was stopping so our walk back along the towpath was a dry one. The sign post at the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal was hit by lightening last week, the large splinters of wood that had been shot off it are now tied back on with tape, I suspect some glue was used too. Plenty of room on the moorings above the lock and still lots of room below where we were.

We decided on an early lunch, hoping that others would stop for lunch as we set off, therefore we’d miss queues. A kingfisher darted back and forth behind Oleanna, too quick for a photo from inside and if I’d gone outside it would likely not have returned, it’s high pitched call making sure we’d get to see the streek of electric blue.

A boat was just coming down the lock ahead as we were rolling up the covers, but the lock had been reset by the time we got close. Another boat had arrived above so Mick had help with the bottom gates and then he could hop on board, the moorings now filled up.

Blimey the junction was busy, my photo doesn’t show half of what was happening. A boat was pulling onto the water point to join another. A boat was heading straight on up the T&M, possibly having just turned out from the Staff and Worcester. Another came towards us from the T&M as one more was appearing from under Haywood Bridge wanting to turn up the T&M. We were wanting to pull into the services so waved the last boat onwards. One of the boats on the services were just pulling off so we grabbed the opportunity and pulled in to fill up and empty.

Chores done we could continue on our planned route, up the T&M.

Passing the polytunnels of the Farm Shop we could see they still had plenty of strawberries and elsewhere pumpkins were starting to expand, I wonder how much they sell for?!

Arriving a Hoo Mill Lock we tagged onto the end of the queue, our plan for everyone to be having lunch hadn’t paid off, we were forth! Mick managed to pull is in to the side and hopped off with a rope, I got my knitting out!

A boat came out, enquiries for where there might be a mooring, they could try by the entrance to the marina only one boat on the armco there when we passed. In went the first boat from the queue. Out it came, in it went. Blimey what a list! Back out and another attempt, finally getting past the open gates. Was there something submerged in the lock to have caused them to list?

**A few blackberries were picked, I left the rose for someone else**

The next boats turn, they didn’t have a problem getting into the lock, the first boat must have had its fenders down! Hopefully they hadn’t lost any that could cause a gate to jam. The boat in front of us moved up, the chap at the helm tried to flick a rope over a wooden post, it didn’t work, he stayed treading water. Finally we could move up and be on a bollard, Mick went up to help with the boat in front, the crew as handy with a windlass as the chap with his rope skills.

Our turn, no-one waiting behind or above, just us, the end of the line.

We’d planned to cover at least one more lock today, but the wait below the lock had eaten away an hour, maybe we should find a mooring sooner rather than later. Waterway Routes had various moorings marked, several we’ve used in the past. When half of the 48hr mooring before Ingestre Bridge was free we opted to pull in for the day, a more concerted effort required tomorrow.

Two hours Tilly! It wasn’t me who pushed the post over! Maybe it was that man in Rugby!!

The internet was checked, photos uploaded nearly instantly. I could finish off blog posts.

To warm the boat we had some of the sausages from the farm shop, roasted with the remaining root veg we’d bought for our Sunday roast. Four of the sausages were the equivalent to six normal supermarket bangers, so I saved two for a breakfast. The sausages were nice, the veg could have done with a touch longer sadly, but it was still nice.

Before we got settled in front of the TV Mick went round and checked that everything on the roof was secured. With Storm Lillian on her way we’d not want to be kept awake with things rattling on the roof or flying off. Job done, the windows would need closing too before we turned off the light.

2 locks, 2.1 miles, 1 straight on, 4 soggy legs, 6 sausages, 2 treat cheeses, 2 pairs of socks on their way, 6 boats at the junction, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh box, 0 rubbish, 1 doorless fridge, 8 bottles of warm wine, 4th in line, 1 hour wait, 4 instead of 6, 1 wet windy night ahead.