There was an hours worth of shore leave whilst we had breakfast and joined the Geraghty zoom. Subjects included Blue Peter badges, pig swill, Tuesdays or Thursdays, copper nails and chicken costumes. Everyone was present today apart from Sean who hopefully wasn’t wearing a green trouser suit!
A few brave boats had come past us already. The wind and quite a lot of rain in the air. We’d have to brave it too as we needed to move nearer to Macclesfield or Bollington today. Winter waterproof padded trousers came out to go with waterproof coats and we pushed off a little after 11am.
Sheltering from the wind
Back in our NB Winding Down days we’d headed up this way one bonfire night hoping to be able to watch other peoples fireworks over looking Macclesfield. We didn’t manage to get far enough, so moored up close to a house and enjoyed our sparklers and a couple of fireworks of our own.
Today on the offside there was lots to glimpse at between the trees. What looked a bit like a bike track with ramps etc, all covered in plastic sheeting. Some of these have been made around trees and sections of walling have been added. Is this a hobbit town in the making on the steep bank? I’ve tried to find out about it but to no avail.
All worked with a key and finger
No locks today, just two swing bridges. Royal Oak Swing Bridge behaved itself and I managed to catch two cars as Mick brought Oleanna through. The Fools Nook pub is still for sale and a canal side house is coming along nicely with a very large glazed room which currently looks like it’s being used as a carpenters workshop. Wonder if they are aware that the end wall and french windows are leaning out at the top?
A line of armco right next to a great stretch of wood, perfect for Tilly, but too far away from shops, we carried on leaving a lady washing her roof down in the rain.
Pull the handle up and push
Broadhurst Swing Bridge was closed. I hopped off with the key of power to do the honours. This bridge is manual, pop your key in, turn, lift the handle to release the bridge, then push. It’s always been tricksy to find the right place to turn your key to, but someone has marked the position on the lock, very handy you just need to know to turn your key anti clockwise.
Them there be hills!
Now the big swing round to the Gurnett Aqueduct, views opening up to the hills even on a very wet day. There were a couple of spaces on the aqueduct, but what lay behind the fence was a little worrying for the cat health and safety committee, so here was rejected. NB Amy Jo and NB The Boat were moored up together at the far end, we’d last seen NB The Boat on the New Junction Canal in March.
Looking down the houses at Gurnett Aqueduct
Under Foden Bank Bridge 43, one of our favourites with it’s canal roving bridge hugged by a road bridge. The bridge builders had perfected their curves by the time they got to this bridge. Then we made our way along the side of the big wall that holds back the land east of the canal.
She’s got curves
Between bridges 40 and 39 there is a stretch of mooring, we’ve once managed to pull in here. Back gardens open out into a wild field just perfect for cat exploration. Enough to keep Tilly occupied without needing to venture near to roads. We pulled in, adjusted our position a touch to avoid something under the water. Now we could settle down and get out of the rain. That’s when they open up the doors for me, so that I can get wet!
Click photo for recipe
After lunch I put together a pot of Campfire Stew, so that it could slowly cook on top of the multifuel stove. I’d seen the recipe a week or so ago and fancied a go at it, you are meant to do it in a slow cooker, but it worked well on the stove. Jacket potatoes cooked in their too to accompany it, plenty of left overs for another meal next week. Very tasty, I’ll be making that again.
0 locks, 4.3 miles, 2 swing bridges, 2 held up, 1 wet and windy day, 1 ideal mooring 4 cat, 4 Mick, 4 Pip, 1 big vat of campfire stew.
Well that new detector! It’s position on the ceiling directly over my head whilst in bed was a problem last night. Around the big test button is a ring of green light which flashes every 30 seconds or so. All detectors tend to flash, but this one was SO BRIGHT that it felt like the aliens were invading. Yes I tried turning over and I did have my eyes closed but the light flashed through my eye lids time after time after time! I’m aware that I was awake trying to ignore it for at least two hours, thankfully then I fell asleep.
Byebye, see you again somewhere sometime
We couldn’t be tardy this morning, we’d something to tick of the ‘Next Time’ list. A quick chat with Mike on NB Alchemy before we pushed off. It was really good to be able to meet up, until next time, happy cruising for the remainder of the year.
As it says, Middleport Pottery
A mile and a half to cruise and we pulled in on the visitor moorings at Middleport Pottery, with a booking for Harecastle Tunnel this afternoon we hoped there’d be enough time for us to enjoy the pottery. You can wonder around the site for free, but if you pay then you get to go inside various rooms and workshops, if you pay more you can get to go round the working Burleigh Pottery Factory. We opted for the Heritage Trail. With green stickers and a key fob we could guide ourselves round the pottery.
What a great model
Middleport Pottery was the first pottery to be designed by an architect, the whole process of the factory taken into account with the products flowing through from one area to the next. In came the clay by boat, off loaded, it was cleaned, made ready for which ever process it was destined for, slip for casting, put through a pug mill for Jiggering, Jolleying and pressing into various shapes and patterns. Drying. Biscuit firing in bottle kilns, patterns applied, glazes painted or dipped on, dried again, then into the Glosting bottle kilns for their final firing, then packed up and loaded back onto boats to head of to be sold.
Dane returning with a hold full of people
Here in Stoke they had both clay and coal, the canal alongside aided the more reliable transportation of the finished goods. Dane normally sits outside the pottery, but today it was on a cruise through Harecastle Tunnel. Those on the trip were on board from 10am, we passed them coming back a little after 2pm.
The last remaining bottle kiln
There’s a wonderful model of the factory how it originally was, made in ceramic (what else!) this shows the seven bottle kilns that used to be in the factory. Three for biscuit firing (the ceramics could be stacked close for firing) then four for glost kilns (the ceramics needed more space once glazed so as not to stick together in the firing). When the clean air act came in in 1956 new methods of firing were found, gas taking over from coal, tunnel kilns were developed to save having to stack everything up around a bottle kiln, blocking the door and then lighting fires to raise the temperature to over 1000 degrees. Six of the original bottle kilns were demolished, the one that remains does so as it was a part of another factory building and not stand alone.
Hi there
We saw the old offices. Phones rang as you walked past, if answered you’d get the story of an office worker. We watched a film about the factory processes making all the pottery, then looked at examples of Japonica tea sets, Churchill Toby Jugs, other fancy items.
Rooms now taken over by independent studios
Round past various independent studios we had the opportunity to look round a quarter of the moulds used which had been stored in roof spaces around the factory.
Commemorative plates, Toby Jugs, vases all sorts, an amazing collection of jelly moulds too. A mould could only be used so many times before a new one had to be made from the master.
Looking upwards between the brick walls of a bottle kiln
The Placing House and Bottle Kiln were next. In the placing house Saggers (rough clay containers used to protect the finer pottery whilst in the bottle kiln) were meticulously packed to make the most of the space, then they were carefully positioned in the bottle kiln, piled high one on top of the other right to the top. More delicate items such as plates would be packed nearer the centre of the kiln. Then once full the door would be bricked up and fires lit around the outside of the inner skin of the kiln, ramping up the temperature to a maximum of 1000 to 1250C, this was maintained for two to three hours before the kiln was allowed to cool down. As soon as it was possible to enter the kiln, the men would start to unpack it dressed in many layers to protect them from the heat. Pay was based on the quality of the goods coming out of the kiln, so if a firing went wrong the wages weren’t paid.
Sinks
The bath house has a wonderful line of sinks, just enough room to stand in front of them, no elbow room. A deep deep bath tub sat in another area. Was there just the one between all the workers, or several? During WW2 the bath house was one of eleven areas earmarked as air raid shelters, it could hold 38 of the 500 employees, thankfully the shelters were never needed.
The Lancashire Boiler produced steam to power the steam engine next door which kept many things moving in the factory.
Cuppas
Time for a break and some lunch. We could have had oatcakes, we could have had some Lobby (a beef stew) but we opted for jacket potatoes and a cuppa each obviously in suitable cups. Very nice and better than the potato wedges we’d had at Shugborough a few weeks ago.
Boots
Next we just had time to look round the Lodgekeeper’s House. A two up two down house with projections of people telling stories of their lives in Stoke. Very interesting, but the rooms lacked a little bit in atmosphere.
It was now 2pm time to push off, we’d the tunnel booked for 3pm. We’d enjoyed the pottery, however it still sits on the ‘Next Time’ list as I’d now like to do a factory tour and have a peruse around the independent studio spaces. The seconds factory shop was still WAY too expensive for anything to be purchased. I’m glad that around 30-40 years ago I visited the factory when it was closed and riffled through skips with a friend, we were students at the time. Items that were not too faulty in our eyes were pulled out and later I was allowed to visit my old school and give them all a clear glaze and fire them. Not the most expert job, but it did give me a set of Burleigh ware bowls and various other items which today would have cost me several hundred pounds.
Following
We pushed off. At Westport Lake a hire boat pushed out in front of us. They went slowly, we followed at tick over, would we make it to the tunnel by 3pm? Thankfully yes. They pulled in ahead of us and a Tunnel Keeper came to talk to them. This took quite a long time as their English wasn’t so good, getting them to shine their head light and sound the horn was testing the keepers patience a touch. As soon as he’d decided that they’d understood everything he came to talk to us.
Can you show me your light and sound the horn? Please?
‘Your lucky!’ Why? We’d booked. ‘Your not in the book’. But we booked. I checked the confirmation email. The Tunnel Keeper and Mick were both correct. We had booked and we weren’t in the book for today because Mick had booked our passage for the 11th! We were lucky as someone else had booked and we could tag along behind them, phew!
More head room than at Froghall
We whizzed through our safety briefing and were let into the tunnel a few minutes after the hire boat. Our normal speed would be reduced by their normal speed, go too slowly in a tunnel and you loose your steering and end up biffing the walls. Once we’d cleared the portal the doors closed behind us and the loud drone of the big fans kicked in to help ventilate the tunnel. It took a few hundred meters for us to be able to hear each other again.
Around 50 minutes later we emerged at the Kidsgrove portal. The tunnel Keeper here doing his best to keep a group of school kids off the CRT boat. The kids then turned their attention to us, the usual ‘Can I have a ride Mr, I’ve never been on one before’ ‘How much did it cost?’ ‘I could run and jump onto your boat from here’ We talked to them, suggested it would be a bad idea, hoping that we knew they’d not try, but you never know. They soon walked up the steps towards the station and forgot about us as we did about them.
At the junction
The hire boat had tried turning long before reaching the junction, but managed to get round after a bit of faffing leaving the way ahead clear for us. We dropped down Plant’s Lock 41, the first from the summit pound, and chose where to moor up, easy as we were the only boat in the pound.
Down Plant’s Lock
A visit to Lidl was required, then Mick headed to Tescos for bits Lidl don’t do and to pick up a prescription whilst I set about preparing cruising sustenance for a busy day tomorrow.
1 lock, 5.5 miles, 1 tunnel, 1 pottery finally visited, 0 shore leave AGAIN! 2 jackets, £15 for a 2nds cup, 11th September, 2 lucky boaters, 1 straight on, 1 batch short crust, 1 tin of oaty apple energy, 1 folded bit of card over the flashing green light!
Below Engine Lock 4 to Bridge 118, Trent and Mersey
Last night a cow had kept mooing. It moood a long time. Could we help it in any way at midnight? Hopefully what it had been complaining about disappeared not too long after we got to sleep. How would you find out which farmer the cow belonged to?
Twit twoo
No shore leave much to Tillys disappointment this morning. We knew we were already following at least one boat towards the locks back down into Stoke, coats on as it was quite grey we pootled onwards. It’s a long pound to Planet Lock, terraced gardens come down to the canal. Someone had been out to trim the sprigs from their neatly sculpted bushes, we wondered how they reached over to trim the edge nearest the canal. An owl watch us go by, guarding the door at the bottom of it’s tree stump.
Just as we approached Bridge 16A Oleanna started to list, a long scraping noise came from below, Mick knocked Oleanna out of gear. We’re used to scraping the bottom in shallow bits, but this was different. I made note on What3words and got ready to report it to CRT. Twitter used to be handy for reporting such things, but I’ve erased it since it became X. On the CRT website there was a chat function where you can report things. I decided to give it a go.
Lift!!!
Within a minute I got a reply asking if the canal was blocked, partially or fully. We got through, but someone else might not. Could they pass on the information and my details to the local team? Yes, I was kind of hoping you would. Very quick and easy to report and the answers that came didn’t feel like it was a bot replying.
Bride 9, low for some
It was first day at Stoke on Trent College for many, masses surrounded buildings with welcome flags flying, that will be Josh in a few weeks time. So many young people moving on with their lives into new directions.
We passed a couple of boats heading up the canal, thankfully not on big bends. The lift bridge I only caught one car and a pedestrian. We considered stopping for supplies at a handy Lidl, but that could wait for tomorrow, there were other things we needed to buy today.
CND Meow
Planet Lock was almost full thankfully as only one top paddle is working. Then Mick walked ahead to the staircase whilst I brought Oleanna along slowly behind. A lady filmed Oleanna going past out of the window of a restaurant, I waved and she laughed, nice to make someone’s day.
In at the top
The staircase only needed a touch of topping up and was ready with the top gate open for me. The bottom chamber must leak as that was already empty, just how we’d found it on our way up. Downerty Down.
Out the bottom
Was there any room by the Museum? No and not enough room for two boats. Extra space required today. We paused to dispose of yellow water. There were several CRT people busy with items they’d pulled out of the canal, shopping trolleys put onto vans. A lady in blue said hello to us, very jolly. She said a friend of hers had named her daughter Oleanna, an unusual name. This is only the second time someone has made comment on the name knowing of it previously, makes a change from ‘Are you Oli and her Anna?’
This is a rubbish outside, please tie up a different one
Mick told her about the object at bridge 16A. She was surprised at there being something so far along the canal, but they’d take a look. Now reported twice we knew something would happen.
A notice on the services door. Events for Heritage Open Days. Through September there are places that are not often open, that you can visit for free across the country. We’ve been to quite a few over the years. This year it looks like next weekend will be an interesting one at Etruria with all sorts of steaming things going on. Why oh why do we always miss things here?!!
With Oleanna pointed northwards we were now on the hunt for a mooring, one where hopefully there’d be space later on for a second boat. The towpath was empty from the services, but that’s quite busy, we hoped for a little further along. Outside the Toby Carvery was just about full, a couple of rings nearer the bridge, but we’d have been in the way. Just through the next bridge are rings, we’ve paused there for lunch before, no other boats, perfect.
Lunch, an email of our location sent, time to do some shopping. First Mick headed off with the Brompton, over the canal into the retail area near Bet365 for some engine oil. Then the two of us headed to Festival Park which is a bit of a walk away.
New detector
A few evenings ago our CO and smoke detector in the bedroom started to ‘bip’ at us. Mick spent some time with it, gave it a new battery, then tested it. It wasn’t happy, time for a new detector. Having had a couple of these before and they suggest they last for ten years we decided to go for a different brand. Mick came out of B&Q with a FireAngel detector.
She’d better like beef in the 7+ boxes
Then we carried on up the hill, Morrisons for a loaf of bread, further uphill to Pets at Home. Time to restock on wood cat litter. We used to get it delivered with shopping, it only comes in 10 litre bags from supermarkets. Pets at home works out cheaper at 30 litre bags and the pellets are better for our needs. It’s used both by Tilly in her litter tray, and by us in our compost toilet. They also had pink food at a reduced price, Tilly stocked up for a while.
Oleanna and Alchemy
Back at the canal we’d been joined by a very green boat, NB Alchemy. We stowed our shopping then went over to say hello. Alchemy looks very smart after a recent repaint. Mike and Christine invited us onboard for a cuppa and a chat. We’ve only managed to chat in passing in the past, so it was nice to have a good catch up with them whilst not looking over our shoulders in case another boat was approaching.
How did she know I liked Webbox?!
Christine wanted to come and meet Tilly. This very nice She came and gave me an ear rub and then some Webbox! My favourite!!! She is allowed to visit again. Thank you.
Mick, Mike, Christine, Pip
As I got food ready, chicken and leek macaroni cheese, Mick set about fitting the new detector in the bedroom. It’s footprint on the ceiling slightly smaller, but we shouldn’t notice the screw holes. Yarn was selected for the next pair of socks and the first toe cast on in front of the TV.
A cuppa in bed, then we were on our way, making sure we’d not be in the way for any boats. The chestnut trees are just starting to turn, conkers spikily hanging on the branches are getting ready for school kids to collect in the coming weeks.
Mick walking up the locks
We worked up the two locks to bring us back up to near the Flint Mill, soon pulling up on the visitor moorings for breakfast, bacon butties and Tilly was given an hours shore leave.
Hazlehust Lock cottage
A lovely day, sunshine and bright blue skies. The wind picked up a touch, surprising me before one of the Hazlehurst Locks, Oleanna’s bow being pushed right over whilst I was sheltered. The lock cottage looked lovely as we rose up the last of the flight, the owner having just returned home with two large containers of red diesel, presumably they have a generator. Now to the left, a tight turn to head onwards to Leek.
For the last few days we’ve been a little bit puzzled. Hazlehurst is written on both the sign post at the junction and on the aqueduct.
Ordnance Survey have it spelt Hazelhurst, there is a village and wood marked.
Then Google can’t make their minds up between the two spellings, adding in a typo to a third! Sorry for poor screenshot.
Waterway Routes chooses Hazlehurst Aqueduct but follows it in brackets with Hazelhurst
NB Ripple thinks it’s Hazelhurst.
Debby from Chuffed noticed this too the other day. So which should it be?
The other day I changed the spelling on the blog three times and I decided to stick with Hazlehurst as that is what is on the aqueduct and junction sign.
Under the trees to Leek
Oleanna followed the way along past moored boats, crossing Hazlehurst Aqueduct, along the embankment and then along the contour that clings to the hillside all the way to Leek. This was originally built as a feeder for the canal in1801, water coming from the newly constructed Rudyard Reservoir.
By the time we reached Bridge 6 I remembered how slow our progress along the Leek arm had been 7 years ago as we just about ground to a halt. The hour it should take us was likely to be a while longer.
NB Beatrice the trip boat from the Flint Mill came past, luckily not on a slow bit. At one bend Oleanna simply didn’t respond to where Mick was moving the tiller, she just kept going straight on towards the far bank. It took a while to get her back on course.
A hire boat came past, warning us that there was also a day boat up ahead. A distance onwards is a mooring that was quite attractive, great views down into the valley, a bench, a possible mooring for a barbecue. Sadly we needed some shopping so had to continue.
Leek Tunnel, the mended bit
Where the canal widens out just before Leek Tunnel cows were drinking, the other attractive mooring was already taken. The tunnel light was switched on, the way ahead checked and into the tunnel we went. No need to duck here, plenty of height.
At Bridge 9 we came across the day boat, moored just after the bridge, right in the winding hole. Mick was fairly sure we’d have enough room to turn, the ladies on board were having lunch and were very nice, oblivious that their mooring was making it a little bit hard to turn, well there isn’t an actual no mooring sign.
That’s where they are
We then reversed down past one moored boat to as far as we could. A cuppa, some shore leave for Tilly, then it was time to go shopping.
Walking pole in hand, my knee not really my friend after standing on the gunnel yesterday, and the Brompton as sherpa we set off to walk to Morrisons. It’s around about a mile, the first stretch along the canal, then it joins industrial units, some with building work going on. Not the most romantic of walks! A good stock up to keep us going for a few days.
Combination locked
This evening I defrosted the oatcakes I’d made the other day. A light sprinkling of cheddar and then a good spoonful of left over chilli. They were very tasty, I can highly recommend the combination. Mick wondered when we’d be leaving Staffordshire and stop having oatcakes, that will be part way through Harecastle Tunnel. I may have a go at making some batter from scratch, when we’re in Cheshire!
A hire boat headed for the lock. One came from the lock, would it now be set for us?
600!
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.
Lifted
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.
Hopefully soon to have a new life
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.
An improving situation
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!
Obligatory
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.
Thankfully no ice today
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.
The very pretty Jess
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.
A butty trailer
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.
Chip experimentation
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.
Pooley Park Nature Reserve to Tamhorn Park Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
The roof was peppered with them
Acorns! We had acorns falling on the roof off and on last night. At least it was better than the cockerel at Atherstone at 4am sounding like someone was trying to throttle it but not succeeding.
Today was going to be windy. Mick wondered if we should push off before breakfast to hopefully miss the worst wind around lunchtime, but that just didn’t happen. As we got ready to push off another boat had pulled in, ready to jump in our grave. Hopefully they would be able to pull in to make the most of the solar unlike us, but then we are quite deep.
Hello!
Not far round the bend to Alvecote, one day we will coincide with NB Harnser and actually get to meet Brian and Diana to talk to rather than just passing.
Not quite immaculate
We pootled on through Tamworth. I wonder which house it was that the lady would wave at us when we were in area for Tilly’s first jabs when she was a brand new boat cat. The garden with the immaculate lawn and ornaments hadn’t been out to hoover up the few leaves that had fallen overnight, I suspect there would be more before the day was out.
What time is a reasonable time to wait to hear about exam results when you are an aunt? GCSE’s I think I lasted into the afternoon before enquiring. Today I lasted till just before 11am. Josh, my nephew, replied quarter of an hour later. A*, A and another A! He’s been accepted to Manchester University. Brilliant! Well done Josh! I quickly asked if he’d be willing to help us with the Rochdale 9 next time. I haven’t mentioned as yet the Ashton Canal, or the Rochdale up to the Rose of Lancaster or even helping us up Wigan, but there’s three years worth of nephew boating duties on the cards. Needless to say Andrew and Jac are very proud parents, I’m also rather proud of him too.
An old dredger above the locks
Under the last bridge before the Glascote Locks, we pulled in for an early lunch avoiding joining the queue and I bobbed up to the co-op for a couple of things. Our pause was perfect as a boat was just exiting the lock as we approached, so we could go straight in, the wind now a touch extra blowy. A boat arrived behind us, our timing even better as now there was someone else who could open and close a bottom gate.
What are you both looking at?!
The bottom lock required filling luckily the wind just allowed me to pull in, then a lull allowed me to get back on board before Oleanna was pushed to the off side. The lock cottage has scaffolding up, the owners aiming to restore it to it’s former Georgian glory.
The bottom lock cottage
Thankfully the throat of the bottom lock is quite long, so Oleanna could lurk without the wind catching her as Mick closed up behind and lifted a paddle to start filling the lock for the boat behind us.
Straight on please
Two years ago we’d been iced in at Alvecote Marina and when we eventually escaped, the worst of the ice remained over the Tame Aqueduct. Today nothing of the sort, just wind constantly trying to adjust our line. At Fazeley Junction we carried straight on, or is that actually a right? At one point last week we’d considered a route up the Curdworth Flight and up the Tame Valley, Perry Barr, Rushall, the Curley Wurley to Wolverhampton, but right now that isn’t possible because of the chemical spill near Walsall, the canals closed to contain the pollution. We’d decided against it anyway as the rail links wouldn’t be helpful.
There’s a reason for not mooring right by bridges!
We now wanted a mooring without much tree cover and suitable for Tilly. Hopwas maybe, the woods, too woody. A little further on we found some armco, the depth was good, we pulled in a big gap between trees. Tilly was given the rest of the afternoon shore leave just as it started to rain!
They obviously don’t want people looking in, so click the photo to see what’s behind the wall!
The amount of friendly cover kept her busy. So much so that when she did return for some Dreamies it almost looked like she’d taken a dip! It rained for much of the rest of the day, proper really wet rain. Glad we’d stopped when we did.
A touch soggy this outside, it’s still pretty good
Sock photos taken, packages packed and labels printed ready for the next post box. I could now move on to cast on this weeks pair. A lady from Dementia UK has been in touch wanting to know if I’d like to write something about my fund raising to be added to a page on their website. Just need to catch up with myself first.
Say’s it all really!
A little after we moored Mick spotted that the passing boat was NB ScholarGypsy, not Simon on board. This will be the third time we’ve been passed by them this year.
2 locks, 8 miles, 1 right, 62 acorns, 3 red onions, 1 blowy day, 2 many trees, 1 firing range firing, 1 soggy moggy, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.
As we had breakfast this morning my GP surgery called. They prefer you to contact them via the website rather than phoning. Last week I had sent them a message asking if I would be able to attend the walk in xray clinic in York, They had called to tell me I could, I confirmed that I already had, the lady said well we now both know that you can do this. So hopefully in future it may save some people a five week wait.
Todays volunteers
A slightly damp start to the day, waterproofs required just in case things got wetter, thankfully they didn’t. Not far to the top of Hillmorton Locks. A boat was just exiting the top lock and it looked like Nick Wolfe on Aldgate had everything in control. Mick popped us straight into the open lock, Louis and John were the volunteers on duty today.
Keen crew on the right
A boat was just pulling up below and a hire boats crew were running along the towpath to the lock alongside us overtaking the waiting boat. A lady came up and apologised to Mick for not having left the gate of the lock below open for us, no problem we hadn’t arrived when they were leaving it. She helped with the lock allowing Mick to walk down, he stopped to chat to the chap waiting below.
NB Holderness just going into the lock
As the bottom gates opened it was going to be a bit of a squeeze past their bow, gently I came out nudging the bow over when I could to avoid contact. Thankfully Oleanna’s B team didn’t make contact with the boat below as it turned out to be Tony from NB Holderness. Thank you for asking about my knee. Shame I didn’t know it was Helen at the lock, but without peoples boats as reference it’s often the way.
Captive in the lock
As I departed the middle of the three locks it was obvious a boat would be coming towards me, their crew having just arrived at the lock. Thankfully neither boat was in each others way going round the bend, another boat was just coming through the bridge so I had to tread water. The area where the orchids grow at the bottom lock seems to be getting bigger. Sadly today the flowers were already dead, but you could see how many there had been. Another boat arrived to come up, Hillmorton, busy as ever. I wonder if it will be the busiest lock on the network this year after the landslip to the north cut the route in two for quite some time?
A constant flow of boats
For the last two days we’ve seen so many Clifton Cruiser hire boats coming and going from base. Other hire bases we’ve seen have been full of boats, so it was a surprise to see only three boats moored up where you normally have to squeeze past them breasted up. A lot of hire companies are offering big discounts at the moment. I had a look at the Hoseasons website for Clifton Cruisers, they were the only boats not discounted on the list.
We now trundled round to find a space near to the Station, but also not too far away from Tescos. There were a couple of rings available at the end of the moorings close to Boughton Bridge. Not quite as close to the station as further back but there would be the option of a bus from nearby. We pulled in, willow trees overhanging on the opposite bank, tip toed around so much dog c*ap. The chap in the boat in front offered to take a line, very nice of him, maybe it would have been nicer if he’d offered to move back the 18 empty paces behind him. His answer was they weren’t stopping long, just to go shopping! Mick hammered a spike in and we asked if they could let us know when they were about to push off. They kindly did a couple of hours later, we pulled right up to the next boat, leaving enough room for another boat behind us.
Loads of room today
Now moved up we steadily walked to Tescos, a constant stream of boats looking for moorings. Today we’d get ourselves partly stocked up and then do a click and collect for tomorrow for other items and all those things we keep forgetting about, which hopefully during the afternoon and evening we’d remember.
On return Tilly was allowed out, she also played hopscotch with the woofer pooh. A double mesh fence prevented her from getting very far, so this outside was exhausted quite quickly.
3 locks, 3.1 miles, 1 straight, 1 blogger, 18 pace git gap, 2 boxes discounted wine, 1.5 hours shore leave, 1 exciting email conversation, 2 gravitationally defiant pairs of trousers, 1 sad gits meal, 1 more in the freezer.
1 lock down from the top of Buckby Flight to past Bridge 88, North Oxford Canal
The Geraghty zoom didn’t go as well as normal. Despite good upload speeds and the internet otherwise seemingly fine, all of Mick’s siblings kept freezing, we reciprocated at their end. The IT department had a go at sorting it out, but failed. We still caught bits of the conversation though, insulation and Bumble Bees, Cherry Pickers Finger and the Chinese falling off things. We ended up leaving early as there was little point in us remaining.
Up the last lock of the Buckby flight, everyone else had moved off long ago, at least we’d missed the rush.
Buckby Top Lock and The New Inn
As Oleanna rose the last few feet Barry Manilow was singing his heart out along the cut. Once he’d stopped for a breather Karen Carpenter started up, followed by Dr Hook. None of the boats on the moorings looked like they had their doors or windows open, so it must have been SO loud inside. As we filled with water and delt with the yellow water it kept my toes tapping.
Norton Junction
Up to Norton Junction. A quiet horn could be heard, we were far enough back for a boat to turn, then nothing. A dog walker had been taking her time along the towpath, I think she’d prompted the boat coming from the Leicester Section to sound their horn again, by now we were just out of their view but at the junction, we sounded our horn in reply and carried on knowing we’d clear the junction and be out of their way quickly.
Approaching Braunston Tunnel
The scenic view moorings were quite busy, but there would have been space for one this morning? Approaching the tunnel we passed at least three boats having just come through from Braunston, the question was, how many would we meet in there?
Passing just after the tunnel
A view straight through to the other end, this meant we’d get past the wiggly bit before we met anyone. If fact we’d reached the far end just as a boat approached turning it’s light on. Behind we were being followed, a locking partner, however it was time for our lunch. Tilly approved of our mooring through the window, that was as close as she was going to get!
Mick looked up from his lunch. ‘Did you lock The Shed and upstairs upstairs at the house? I didn’t!’ Neither had I. New lodgers due today, one of whom we’ve known for decades and would trust, the other a very brand new actress. I’m sure she’d be fine, but you never know. A lodger earlier in the year had asked why the doors were locked and we’d rather be asked that question. A quick think, who could we ask to pop round within the hour and give the house a quick check as Darren was meant to have left this morning. A message sent to Sue who’s Aunt used to own our house and she lives pretty close, instructions given on how to get in.
Going down the locks
We moved up to the lock, a boat appeared behind us. Sue had gained access, I’d warned her that a bed might not have been made up, I’d also had the feeling that Darren might have just left things not as he’d found them. This feeling turned out to be correct. Sue made up the bed, hoovered round, emptied bins, what a star. Then a message came through. ‘There’s a lot of used towels in the bathroom’. I usually do a last minute check round the house before we leave, but due to my knee I’d not wanted to go back up the stairs and had assumed Mick would have dealt with them, a bit like the keys! Oh heck what rubbish landlords leaving their own towels about the place! Sue was still about when our first lodger arrived, jobs just about done, we owe someone a big drink when we next see her. If we hadn’t had the chap in last week as a favour to the theatre, we’d have at least left the bed made, bins emptied, but the towels might still have been there. Mental note made for next turn around, Must do better!
Bread and chilled medication shop at the bottom Braunston lock
Our locking partners were a couple from Tasmania over to see family and spend a week relaxing on a hire boat, they do it every couple of years. I felt a touch bad constantly checking my phone and talking towels for much of the flight. Plenty of boats coming up and at least one behind us, quite hot on our heels where the locks only have ground paddles.
We’d considered stopping for a loaf of bread, word from the up hill boats that there was no room in Braunston. Mick bobbed into the shop at the bottom lock, a treat loaf of bread bought we’d no longer need to stop. Midland Chandlers is closed on a Sunday so no filters could be bought.
We counted at least five spaces as we came through Braunston. Hardly full, apart from in front of the pub. The bridge into the marina was having work done to it, big areas of white paint missing and hessian covering the top stones. Onwards past Braunston Turn, straight onto the North Oxford, still more spaces.
Ooo Hello! NB Rock ‘n’ Roll
Once through bridge 88 we spied a length of armco and pulled in. Tilly was allowed an hour and a half by which time we were surrounded by more boats. Our nearest neighbours a Dutch family saying that Braunston was full. Here was now, maybe we’d just timed our cruising well today.
Bangers!
6 locks, 5.6 miles, 3 golden oldies, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, £3+ for a loaf of bread, 4 towels left out, 2 keys, 2 new lodgers, 1 disappointing lodger, 1 super star of a Stage Manager, 1 tunnel, 0 boats passed, 2 mysterons, 90 minutes.
Weedon Bec to 1 lock down from the top of Long Buckby Flight
Before breakfast Mick returned the hire car, picking up a Saturday newspaper and a few bits on his way back. I did my exercises and Tilly just ignored me, she was too busy shouting at the back door to be let out, I in turn ignored her! In fact today the amount of shouting at the back door was so much that it would have been quite nice not to have a cat! When we were cruising Tilly camped out on the top step so that we could hear her and see her when we opened the hatch for whatever reason. Well you keep deserting me and I just want you to know that I DONT like it!!!!
Mud weight being retrieved
The yellow water was pumped out ready for disposal at the next elsan and then the mud weight was pulled up from the shallow depths. it had served it’s purpose very well and had been tested this morning with numerous boats passing.
Time to make our way to Long Buckby, around three and a half miles on the flat. All the usual things to see, the crane, the glittery boat on the towpath (are they on official moorings?), familiar boats and of course the couple by the bridge and their dog. We had lunch before the locks.
As we pushed off we could see a boat already ascending the bottom lock. Then behind us a boat came into view, would we have a locking partner? Oleanna came into the lock, rope up to Mick to help pull her across to make room just as the boat behind us turned into Whilton Marina!
Looking behind
We gradually worked our way up the locks all bar two set against us, never managing to catch the boat ahead up. At the two in our favour we met downhill hire boats. The first crew, according to Mick, had been lucky not to have cilled their boat. Dad lifting paddles to fill the lock even though it was already full and the gate was open, he then didn’t realise he’d have to close it before emptying the lock. Then as he walked to lift a bottom paddle the boat was drifting backwards with no-one at the helm, Mick fortunately stopped him and explained why it was such a bad idea. Soon a young lad appeared to look after the helm, his steering skills were aided by hitting both sides of the lock as he came out, thankfully he avoided collision course with Oleanna!
Plenty to help push the gates
The next hire boat had an experienced crew and I was the one who may have set course for collision as the gates opened, I managed to gain control and actually looked like I knew what I was doing! We also picked up a very enthusiastic family who were keen to open and close gates for us, saving Mick some umphing.
With one lock left to do we decided to call it a day. If we carried on up we’d be wanting to fill with water and any shore leave that was still being shouted about would be cut shorter. So we pulled over opposite the pretty gardens and a good distance away from the road.
Click the photo for details
Some pork mince had been defrosted, we had space on the towpath to sit out, time for a barbeque. A slight experiment with the mince. I grated an apple into it added seasoning. It was quite wet so then added some gf bread crumbs, an egg and some Szechuan pepper. Made into Kofta on skewers they rested in the fridge.
Verdict was that they lacked a bit of a punch, maybe some wholegrain mustard or chilli flakes would have done the trick. None the less it was nice to be sat outside. When we’d arrived we were one of two boats, now the bank was full, including the hire boat with no idea.
Above Soloman’s Bridge to Stoke Bruerne Visitor Moorings
Sometimes it’s really worth getting up early
An early alarm. We wanted to be up Stoke Bruerne locks before the sun was heating everything. A cuppa was made then Mick pushed us off, no time for exercises this morning! Well I suppose I could have done them as we cruised along on the flat, but that would have meant missing out on the sun rising and I wasn’t going to do that.
Gorgeous
Already above the horizon as we pushed off it was beautiful. Just the right amount of clouds to add to the picture.
Hello!
A wave to NB Briar Rose as we passed Thrupp Wharf. Adam’s mooring was a touch further and it was available, this had been our scheduled stop for yesterday. Currently in the shade, but the sun would soon be streaming over the hedge and stay heating it up until sunset, we’d chosen last nights mooring well.
Slowly past any moored boats. Windows, doors open to let the cool air inside, they didn’t want waking by us. Scum appeared on the canal surface. It got thicker the further we went. By Kingfisher Marina it was really bad, then within a hundred yards it vanished and the canal was back to it’s sludgy brown self.
Sheep clambered to reach the tastiest morsels, a fence now holding it’s inhabitants safe away from the waters edge, one year we had to mount a rescue for a lamb who’d discovered that it couldn’t swim very well.
Four boats sat below the flight. Was anyone stirring? Might we have a locking partner? We crept past, no sign of any life.
Clinging on
Mick went to set the bottom lock, only a foot of water to empty. As I passed the bottom gates I could see a crayfish clinging to the side of the gate. Almost certainly a Signal Crayfish an invasive species. It looked like it had lost one of it’s big claws, after a minute or so it fell back into the lock beneath the water.
Opposite gate paddle lifted
We worked our way up the bottom five locks, most with just a small amount of water requiring emptying before the lock was set. Dog walkers were starting to appear, a chap opened his car doors, a pot of flowers on the bonnet. No need for jumpers now, the world was starting to warm up.
Sold £379,000 click photo for details
Mick hopped back on board so that I could have a sit down before the top two locks. The next lock was full but was soon emptied and as Oleanna rose I glanced ahead, a volunteer popping his head round the bridge above. We’d been spotted, then the top lock started to empty. Was there a boat coming down? Or was it being dropped for us?
Curious
A hire boat appeared, Dad at the helm, Mum and a little girl in a Captain’s hat accompanied a volunteer walking down. The top lock would have been their first lock of their trip, for us it would be our 543rd of the year.
A volunteer stayed to help us, Mick and the chap chatted away. Another boat arrived above ready to take our place in the lock. Now we needed to find some shade, ahead a tree lined cutting, we hoped to find some good cover for the rest of the day.
Two hire boats looked like they’d got a good stretch, up ahead another patch looked good. We pulled in in front of another boat tied up and sat down for our breakfast at 10am, the days cruising complete.
Tilly was given 8 hours shore leave with the request to return for water at regular intervals. She was kept busy in the friendly cover for quite some time.
A good shady spot
The sun moved over, starting to catch us. The boat behind pushed off, a more comprehensive patch of shade just behind where it had been moored. Luckily Tilly came home just as we were wanting to pull back into the new patch of shade. This lasted us for the remainder of the day. Our days mission complete. Locks climbed before it got too hot and to keep the boat as cool as possible.
We’ve cruised through Stoke Bruerne several times now, but never visited the museum, it’s either been closed or we’ve had visitors. So with walking pole we took our time walking back to the museum. It being an old wharf building there was no step free access, but so long as time was taken and I could sit down periodically it would be fine.
The museum is laid out over two floors. Various objects sit in cases. One corner suggests a blacksmiths forge. A boatman’s cabin can be leered inside of. Details about Blisworth Tunnel. Smells of the tunnel and horses! All quite child friendly.
A spider belt
Two things we didn’t know before we visited. 1 That the boat women made Spider Belts for the men, worn for Sunday best. 2 That the tunnel was cleaned periodically to clear the soot from the walls, a very dirty job. There was also a cross section of the Grand Union, interesting as it showed Foxton Summit pound to be higher than Tring, the Welford Arm even higher.
Cross section of the Grand Union Canal
There are also three examples of roses, as in Roses and Castles done by three different people. William Hodgson (left), worked as an artist for Anderton Boat Company in Stoke. He was shown how to paint at the Northwich School of Art and also painted theatre backdrops. He included racehorses, swans and sunsets in his paintings and his roses were considered to look the most realistic. Have to say his style was my favourite. Frank Nurser (middle) worked at Braunston at the Nurser Brothers boatyard. His roses started with a large petal to which smaller ones were added around it. He also painted fairytale castles. His style is possible the most common you’ll see today. Then Fred Winnet (right), he worked as a painter for the Clayton Company at Oldbury. His style very painterly and the least like flowers of the three.
Some chilled medication was enjoyed in the shade of some trees outside before we slowly returned to Oleanna to let Tilly back out.
Blueberry Cookie, not as good as it could have been, also not in focus
The rest of the afternoon was taken up with yarn auditions for sock pair 31 and taking a digs list booking for our house next year! Is it too early to be starting to plan what we’ll be doing in the Spring yet?
7 locks, 6.1 miles, 05:15 alarm, 2 jumpers, 1 amazing sky, 1km of scummy scum, 8 HOURS! 1 cool boat, 1st visit, 1 Mr Ben, 2 many stupid comments, 0 chairs on the top floor, 2 magnum medications, 3 pairs socks wrapped and ready to go, 8 weeks!
