Category Archives: Sockathon

It’s mine MEOW! 12th September

Marsh Lock to ‘Blind Man’s Straight’ or Tilly’s bench

The wind and torrential rain carried on this morning. News that Hunts Lock was now open, we wanted to be on the move, but the rain was just constant, maybe we’d have to delay our cruise to Winsford by a day or two. That would have knock on effects to the next few weeks! The weather was so horrible even Tilly didn’t bother to ask too much to go out, not that she was allowed anyway.

We watched the radar, a window of opportunity a while after midday. The black clouds started to dissipate, an odd patch of blue! We put on our waterproofs and crossed our fingers that we’d not get soaked yet again.

The pontoon looked to be higher today, maybe it was maybe it wasn’t, but the ‘hup!’ onto the bank didn’t look as high. With a scaff pole fixed to the pontoon and some other structure to hold onto I had a go, bum on the bank, I just had to be able to stand up now!

**Coming in to the lock weathered wood**

Marsh Lock leads out onto the Manchester Ship Canal and therefore you have to have special permission to go through and your boat needs to have been checked over by a surveyor for seaworthyness. All the winches and paddles are very weathered.

Out in the channel wooden structures have weathered away, the wind was certainly keener stood looking across the River Weaver and Ship Canal, the River Mersey just over a thin strip of land. I was glad Mick had persuaded me to go and take a look, I just had to get back onto the pontoon now.

Across the way at the chemical works hi-vis clad chaps shouted over and waved as we made ready to push off. Ropes untied we were on our way again, this time with the wind at our backs, grey clouds to stern and starboard, hopeful blue sky to port, you could see your breath.

We passed the same boats as we’d seen on our way down, waved to Sabrina a Facebook Boat Woman, a shadowy hand waved back, one day we’ll end up mooring in the same place and actually get to meet. Past the Danny, only one head visible onboard today.

By now the sunshine was taking over, it was nice to see the river in this light and not huddled up in our waterproofs. Devil’s garden looked inviting, the chap stuck his head out of the hatch, ‘Much better today!’

**Devil’s Garden, such a lovely mooring**

Sleepers have been used to level out a riverside track, new looking aggregate lining the route on the north bank.

As Dutton Railway Viaduct came into view Mick called ahead to the lock, it would be ready for us. A centre line was all that was required and we gradually rose up the lock chatting away to the Lockie. He’d inform Saltersford Lock for us.

Above the lock the wreck of Chica sits more degraded than when we passed her 13 years ago. Her story started in 1894 as a cargo boat in Norway, she was commandeered in WW2 by the German Navy, after the war she ran guns across the Mediterranean and then smuggled tobacco and cigarettes from Gibraltar. She then joined the Liverpool fishing fleet and ended up being a trip boat on the Weaver in the 1980’s. In 1993 she started to take on water and with no-one on board she sank at Dutton and has sat on the bottom ever since. Follow the link for a good photo of her a year after she’d sunk. Below are the photos I’ve taken. Left in 2011, right 2024.

Back on up towards Saltersford Locks. Despite the call ahead the gates weren’t open, a chap stood peering over the bottom gate, someone else could be spied holding a rope at the far end, a boat was coming down. We waited for our turn then passed the centre line up top.

Two very chatty volunteers here today. We heard that the Lock Keepers cottage was now under offer to a keen gardener and how the volunteers are thanked by C&RT by going on boat trips every now and again. All the time we were at the lock the Lock Keepers Collie came back and forth hoping someone would throw his ball for him.

We carried on up stream back to where we’d moored a couple of days ago. Only one other boat moored here today, so hopefully Tilly would have a better time of it.

A bench sits on the towpath. Tilly took a fancy to it. Tipple tails made over the arms, some serious scent marking went on. It’s all Mine Meow!

There’s a brass plaque on the bench in memory to Thomas Shuttlewood who died too early in life, it also mentions that this part of the river was known as ‘Blind man’s stretch’. A lovely spot to sit out on a sunny afternoon, watch the river go by and have a hair cut, as Mick did later on.

2 locks, 10.1 miles, 1 written off morning, 1 lovely afternoon, 1 huge expanse of water, 1 woofer, 1 woofers ball, 1 cats bench, grade 3, 4 pairs of socks photographed, 2 pairs wrapped up ready to go, 1 CRT notice, 3 bookings, 2 boaters 1 cat with everything crossed.

Pig Comes To Mind. 11th Septemeber

Devil’s Garden to Runcorn and Western Canal Junction to Marsh Lock

Tilly awarded the Devil’s Garden a stamp of approval this morning despite it peeing it down for most of her shore leave. A boat we’d passed yesterday came past and pulled in next to the other boat on the field. This is such a lovely mooring, hope we have time to stop here again on our way back.

A lull in rain gave us the impetus to push off at 11:30am. The chap who’d pulled in asked if we’d got a brolly, well on Sunday we discovered our brolly was destined for the bin! It wouldn’t have helped today as it was very windy plus we were heading into the wind!

Soon we came across a rowing eight and rescue boat, everyone as soggy as we were. They had soon turned and could be seen gaining on us. Their cox wasn’t altering their course any and they were destined to meet with our stern fender. What to do? Hold our course, they were still gaining on us! Mick decided to pull over to our port and slowed down with the aim of them continuing straight on. This didn’t work as they also slowed right down and looked at one point as if they were about to turn again and head up stream. We carried on returning to the correct side of the river, after a while they came past us to port.

There was a space at the end of the moorings at Sutton Swing Bridge, but we wanted to continue further today despite the rain, maybe we’d stop here on the way back.

On the other side of the bridge sat the Daniel Adamson, were they on the water point? We spotted a pontoon just after them and pulled in to dispose of our rubbish. This is the boats home mooring, hooked up and filling with water. A chap came and asked if we’d like a look round. Silly question! Of course we would. A cruise on the Danny was on the list of possible things to do for Mick’s 60th birthday a few years ago.

The Danny (originally named the Ralph Brocklebank) is a steam tug which was built in 1903 in Birkenhead. She was built to pull long strings of barges laden with goods from Cheshire and the Potteries to Liverpool. She also carried passengers between Ellesmere Port and Liverpool this continued until 1915. During WW1 she had a short stint for the Royal Navy patrolling around the Liverpool coast.

She was purchased by the Manchester Ship Canal in 1922 for over £3000, she still towed barges and carried passengers along the Ship Canal including VIPs around the inland docks. In 1936 she was given a radical refit was renamed after the Ship Canals chairman Daniel Adamson. The wheelhouse and bridge were raised, she got an upper deck and two saloons. The interior decor was done by Heaton Tabb and Co who were owned by Harland Wolff Ltd and had worked on the grandest of Atlantic liners. The interior was renovated in the modern Art Deco style.

Trade on the ship canal and the docks changed through the following decades. With the rise in container ships Manchester docks could not compete and were closed in 1982. The Danny was retired and in 1986 she was towed to Ellesmere Port Boat Museum where she’d started out her life 83 years earlier.

Her upkeep dropped, she fell into disrepair due to funding cuts, she was vandalised and set fire to. By 2004 she was earmarked for the scrap, but word got round, and Mersey Tug Skipper Dan Cross set up the Daniel Adamson Preservation Trust and soon he’d bought her for £1 from the Ship Canal. By 2015 the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded the trust £3.8 million to restore her to full working order, by which time volunteers had already given over 1000 hours of their time.

Gordon showed us round, what a treat. The saloons were restored to how they would have been in 1936 with beautiful wood, glowing with warmth, graceful curves and deco steps.

The steps up to the bridge have brass fretwork on them. The wheel is the original still with steam powered steering. The love for this boat shone through as Gordon told us the history.

We’d noticed the standard hose pipe to the water point. It takes them three days to fill their tank and tonnes of water is needed as ballast! She has a coal fired boiler and the volunteers are now grateful that the coal arrives in bags as they have ten tonnes to shift at a time and get into the holds.

Mick asked how she was to steer. Gordon’s reply was ‘Pig comes to mind!’ From the bridge you can’t see the bow due to the canopy over the deck below, so they use the Jack mast to steer by. Four turns of the wheel, then you wait to see what she’s doing before you have to compensate.

Not only does the water tank take three days to fill, but it also takes that time for her to get up to steam for a trip. If she’s moving two days in a row firemen have to stay on board overnight to keep the fires going.

Thank you so much Gordon for showing us round, what an unexpected treat when only wanting to dispose of our rubbish.

Under the M56 and onwards towards the Ship Canal. Blimey it was getting windier and windier. Now we cruised past the start of Koura Global a massive chemical works, followed by INEOS more chemical works. This continued on right up to Weston Lock where the Weaver navigation meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Weaver. We then turned to follow the navigation to the north for about another mile still accompanied all the time by chemical works.

**Last lock on the Runcorn and Western Canal**

Along here a narrow strip of land keeps the navigation from the ship canal, we couldn’t see it from onboard Oleanna sadly. At the far end the current navigation stops at Weston Point. Here there used to be three sets of locks.

One towards the Ship Canal to the west. A lock to the north which led to another two locks and then out onto the Ship Canal. Then to the east a lock up onto the Runcorn and Western Canal which finally led to the flight of locks up to Runcorn. The bottom lock gates of the later lock are still visible, today with a heron guarding them.

**A rare moment of sunshine after we’d winded**

We’d heard that it might be possible to bang spikes in here, but we couldn’t work out where. So instead winded and headed back to Marsh Lock where there is a pontoon. We’d been warned the other day that the pontoon has lost it’s access to the bank. Mick later in the afternoon managed to haul himself up onto the bank and go to have a look at the lock and across to the Ship Canal, the Mersey not far away either.

**Marsh Lock looking out onto the Ship Canal**

White horses and rain continued for the majority of the day. Tilly resided herself to sitting in front of the stove. I joined her to do some knitting. News came through later today that Hunts Lock on the Weaver has been successfully repaired and is now open for navigation. An adjustment of cruising hours now required to reach the other end too in the time we have.

0 locks, 6.4 miles, 1 swing bridge, 2 pairs of gloves, 1 guided tour, 1930s deco, 3 days for water, 3 days to get enough steam, 10 tonne coal, 1 stove lit, 1 cosy cat, 1 very wet and blustery day.

Welsh TV not from Manchester

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jDtbx9Af6LvNfL8H6

To Devil’s Garden. 10th September

Moorings above Saltersford Lock to Devils Garden

A wet morning and my back had a twinge, last thing I wanted to do was get down on the floor to do my exercises, they could wait for another day. One thing that couldn’t wait for another day was a cruising plan. A joint effort was required and a touch of maths.

We both opened up Canal Plan. We worked out when we need to be back in Yorkshire, a mooring has already been found for Oleanna. Then specific dates when we need to be elsewhere, the number of days when Oleanna won’t be moving, which stops require a train station, which a marina. The way Canal plan works is that if you add in some stationary days then the end date of your cruise gets added to. We didn’t bother with this, instead we deducted the number of days Oleanna would be stationary from the full trip and kept a tally on how this affected trip days. I understood my method, Mick just had to go along with it and see if it worked. Thankfully it did. Yes we could have adjusted the trip on Canal plan and added in the stationary days but that would then be a touch ridged.

Three possible routes to try out and see if the dates would work.

Firstly the Huddersfield Narrow, the shortest cruise. Plenty of stations to choose from, if we got stuck by flooded rivers it would be the easiest to move the boat at short notice when levels came down. Marinas not so plentiful, but a slight adjustment to cruising hours made it work.

Second choice the Shroppie, the longest cruise. This would mean not doubling back on ourselves too much. Stations not so good, some buses would be needed. Cruising days on the Tidal Trent have some leeway and the tides look favourable to CRT working hours at the locks. Some adjustment required for a marina, but that would be manageable if they have room.

Third choice the T&M, in between the above cruises, retracing the way we’ve just come back to Fradley. The Tidal Trent on the same days as the Shroppie, better stations too.

The final choice is still to be made, but at least we could let friends know the two possible locations we’d be at for a rendez vous. About half an hours drive between them so at least they’d know where abouts to head in the first place.

We checked the radar. More rain due overhead. Two boats moved off, a while later they were replaced with another two. We were going to wait until after lunch, hoping the rain would subside. The two boats that had arrived headed off again in a lull in the showers.

At 2pm we decided to make a move whether the weather was good or not. Waterproofs on we winded and headed down stream to Saltersford Locks. On arrival there was a boat moored on the lock waiting pontoon, where was the Lockie? We hovered for a while, then Mick rang the Lockie. The lock would be ready in about 15/20 minutes, the boat on the landing moved off and we could pull in to wait. Sure enough the lock took forever to fill, the Lockie set it filling and headed off for a while.

This is the only downstream lock we went through back in 2011, it holds 660,000 gallons of water and I think it was estimated back then that it could hold 27 Winding Downs. It sits alongside a smaller lock, but that hasn’t been used since the 70’s. We passed our ropes around bollards towards the back of the lock. The bow just by a set of disused centre gates. The lock was set emptying, this would take time too.

Just below the lock was a water point we pulled in to fill up the tank. An end of terrace cottage, formerly a Lock Keepers cottage, is for sale. The pressure was pretty good so we were on our way again soon.

We didn’t remember the journey to Dutton Locks from 13 years ago. Houses sit close by. Some leading up to Acton Bridge have pontoon moorings sticking out into the river, one of them for sale!

The moorings by Acton Bridge were full. We wanted to be further on anyway and the mooring certainly wouldn’t be cat friendly. Mick took the advice of the Lockie back at Saltersford and called ahead to the next lock, it would be set ready for us when we arrived.

Above Dutton Locks the moorings were full. The sunk vessel we’d seen 13 years ago has degraded a lot! Maybe on our way back I’ll get a closer look, today we wanted to head on further. We pulled into the lock, the gates closed behind us and the water started to drain out through sluices in the side of the lock.

Now on totally new water to all of us. Back in March 2011 the locks had been on winter opening hours meaning they had to be booked, we only had limited time on the river anyway so hadn’t ventured further, today we could carry on.

Dutton Viaduct came into view, dark against the rain laden clouds, sun streaming through where it could. The river has views, next to no flood banks. Open views, then tree lined banks. We had our hopes on a mooring a mile or so further, a little m on our map meaning we’d need spikes.

As it came into view it had great potential and there was only one boat moored up, space for us. We winded and pulled in a short distance up stream with trees to our bow and stern, our own slot. We’d found the Devil’s Garden mooring, both of us had heard of it before, a favourite for many.

Tilly was allowed out and we all had a little explore, checking signs and fences avoiding stepping in the cowpats. Tilly stayed out and played for a while, but it was blustery, rainy and she was wanting dingding.

Mick lit the stove, we’d be needing one for our jacket potatoes to accompany a pie each. Yarn was selected for the next pair of socks, pair 37 I think. Thank you to those who’ve sponsored a pair this week I’ve now only got to find two more sponsors to make 52 pairs for the year and I’ve beaten last years total too! It may be that as the nights start drawing in I may be able to knit a few more pairs, after all why stop at 52, I’ve still got a mountain of yarn to use.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/pip-leckenby-1704636205453?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fpip-leckenby-1704636205453&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

2 locks, 5.8 miles, 2.2miles of new water, 30 minutes for one lock, 1 full water tank, 1 damp blowy day, 2 pies, 2 jackets, 0 cows, 37 in 4 shades of blue, 1 cosy boat, 1 lovely mooring.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d7260.5534387613325!2d-2.6748082668054605!3d53.28409690096703!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNTPCsDE2JzU3LjUiTiAywrAzOSc1My45Ilc!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1726061794294!5m2!1sen!2suk

On A Friday! 6th September

Rookery Railway Bridges to Croxton Aqueduct

Some shore leave before we moved on today, with the rest of the locks through Middlewich to work through we didn’t want to be too late leaving and Tilly obliged by returning in good time.

Such familiar water this stretch. by the railway bridges there used to be a winding hole just long enough for Carefree Cruising boats to wind in before returning to base by Elton Moss Bridge, but now you’d be lucky to be able to turn a 40fter there, so overgrown.

Nice Lock 67 had a boat just leaving it, if there was going to be one lock I’d operate on the Cheshire Locks this would be the one. I hopped off with a windlass, Mick closed the top gate and I wound the paddles up at the bottom end. This was quite often the first lock we’d go through on NB Winding Down, hence it’s Nice name, but it also was likely to be the last lock too, then it got named Nasty Lock! But now it’s always Nice.

Down the Booth Lane Locks meeting a couple of boats heading up. The last of these boats had a hobbling lady walking the towpath, she should have caught a lift as they were only going to have to wait at the next lock for the boat ahead of them to go up.

**Statics avoiding looking towards the canal**

More new houses going up and some static caravans are also being plumbed in right beside the canal, no canal view though as very few of their windows faced the water.

What a glorious day to be boating. Sun blue skies and not too hot. Should we have a mooring today where we could have a bbq what would we eat? There were some sausages or mince, both frozen. Maybe we should see what the new small Morrisons could provide for us.

We pulled in close to the fish and chip shop, two houses along the way for sale. Well except it was quite hard to pull in. A new length of armco looked appealing, but either there was a sunken vessel there or a ledge, we tried further along, and again. Finally we made it close enough to the bank. The gate to the road leads just that straight onto the road, no pavement just a little gravellyness then the busy road. Morrisons was out of various items, but there were some burgers and a bag of mixed peppers. I checked the free from items. That bread looked nice, ah no wonder it was Rye Bread, first ingredient, Wheat! No wonder they had quite a lot of it!!

We’d originally not planned on stopping in Middlewich, but to carry on straight through, but now we were moored up we had lunch. With one boat just ahead of us when we pushed off again we waited to use King’s Lock. This boat was going onto the water point then up onto the Branch, we had another two possible water points to choose from.

Just as I was about to bring Oleanna out from the lock a 70ft hire boat arrived, were they turning up to Wardle Lock and the Branch, no just winding. With a boat on the water point and a CRT work boat the other side of the junction this limited their turning circle. Their wind taking ages, but they managed it in the end. We followed them down to the Middlewich three.

With the opportunity of there being volunteers at each lock I decided I’d like to work the locks as I’d only need to do half the work. However there was a long wait. Another hire boat was under tuition coming up the locks so we and the boat ahead had to wait. The volunteer wasn’t going to let anyone through the lock until the uphill boat had cleared, both boats could have gone down in that time.

**I let Mick bring Oleanna round the bend towards the middle lock**

The 7/8 chaps on the hire boat in front seemed to know what they were doing and were soon on their way. The volunteer I suspect was a touch deaf as I asked if I could fill the lock. ‘NO!’ He then gestured to wind a paddle up! We were soon on our way down, I checked that there were other volunteers at the locks, ‘Yes’ marvellous! That was until the other two volunteers walked up to the top lock and said the middle lock was filling. Even my walking pole didn’t suggest we’d need assistance, they then vanished into thin air. Oh well the first time I’d been looking forward to having assistance at the locks and it wasn’t going to happen.

I opened up the middle lock, the chaps from the boat ahead lifted a paddle to refill the bottom lock for us. I worked us down the middle lock then Mick and I swapped over for the bottom lock, I could do no more.

We pulled onto the next water point and toped up the tank, emptied the yellow water and then made ready to push onwards. Big Lock had just been emptied, but we were soon on our way down. We’d totally forgotten about Middlewich on an afternoon, especially on a Friday, we’d thought we’d be through by early afternoon, but that pause for lunch! Saturdays it’s shareboat central at the junction, Fridays seemed to be hire boats! Mental note for next time, avoid certain days, avoid afternoons and the volunteers will clock off as soon as either the chippy opens or after the last hire boat is through.

It was getting quite late, we’d thought of heading on to Bramble Cuttings, not that much further, but on a sunny Friday afternoon there was likely to be no room for us. So when we came across Croxton Aqueduct and the towpath widened out and there was plenty of space we pulled in. Tilly was given an hour whilst we got ourselves ready for a bbq. The burgers I’d bought were really quite fatty and sent big flames up from the coals, charring everything. I gave them a few minutes rest away from the fire before finishing them off which seemed to calm them down a touch. A lovely evening sat out none the less watching and eating as the sunset.

9 locks, 5.9 miles, 1 straight on, 1 new edge too shallow, 1 nice lock, 1 knee still able to do the T&M hurdles, 3, 2, 1, 0 volunteers, 1 closed council tip, 4 fatty burgers, 4 pepper haloumi kebabs, 1 bowl coleslaw, 1 sunset.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VKxYiedSpayt8Aur6

Going Downhill. 2nd September

Stoke on Trent Boat Club to below Engine Lock 4

What a dreary morning. Tilly was allowed out whilst it drizzled, we didn’t want to get wet and she wouldn’t mind, too much. Pah!!!

It appeared to dry up after breakfast, boats were moving, time for us to do the same. Except Tilly hadn’t come home yet! Time to be a mad cat woman on the towpath, I waited for two teenage girls to pass before I carried on calling for Tilly, they had enough to giggle about without adding me into the mix. I’m here, I was always just here.

But now it was raining properly. Mick checked the met office. It shouldn’t be raining now, but it was. We decided to have an early lunch and hope that the weather caught up with the forecast by the time we’d finished.

Waterproofs on, we finally set off at 1:30pm, 2.5 hours after we’d originally planned, our nebolink had been sat just waiting for movement.

Past the one way sign, those information boards will have to wait until next time.

Mick hopped off at the top of the Stockton Brook flight, most of the locks just about full and thankfully the pounds between them were full too.

A young lad cycled up just past us to the next lock. He rapidly got out a magnet and started to fish. Once we’d left the lock he tried in there too. Looking back from the third lock I could see the bywash behind us flowing, someone was following us down. Soon there were crew at the lock behind us, running round to work the paddles, we carried on at our pace, if they caught us up so be it, they’d have to slow down then.

The number of stone mason marks in the middle lock was quite impressive, triangles, stars, arrows.

Down the five locks we passed a boat just mooring up. ‘The moorings are like hen’s teeth on here!’ We hoped for a mooring a bit further on, had the canal got very busy now the schools were going back?

I did the honours lifting the bridge, no young assistant to help today, then we were at Engine Lock, the gongoozlers bench occupied by dog walkers. Mick lifted the paddles, opened the gates. Ahh! Two boats moored where we’d been on our way up. Would there be space deep enough for us in between? Thankfully there was and the undergrowth not too overgrown either.

Two and a half hours, brilliant! This outside wasn’t wet either, much better than the one this morning.

Yesterdays chicken was stripped from the bones, what to make with it now? Stir fry. Macaroni cheese. Pie. Curry old style. Hmmm? Stir fry. Pair 35 of my socks were finished off, the trip through the tunnel and washing the roof had put a delay on this pair. I should find the time to up load finished socks to the Sockathon page. Still a few pairs left to sponsor, ideal Christmas presents! Just saying.

Today we had started our descent heading towards the River Weaver. However for the last week Hunt’s Lock has been out of action, the latest CRT notice.

‘Today, divers and our teams were on-site to attempt repairs at Hunts Lock. Unfortunately, both paddles were found to be in a much worse state than anticipated and had to be removed. We are now arranging for them to be taken to the workshop for extensive repairs. As a result, the lock will remain closed. We will provide a further update by Friday 6th September or sooner, by which time we hope to have a better understanding of the repair timescales.’

And earlier in the day there had been this notice.

‘Please be advised that navigation is currently closed at Saltersford Lock on the Weaver Navigation. An obstruction at the bottom of the gate is preventing it from closing fully, which means the lock cannot be operated safely. Our engineers are working on a plan to rectify the problem. We will provide an update on Tuesday, 3rd September 2024.’

At least we’ll get to hear about progress this week, we’ve got a passage booked on the Anderton Boat lift. Maybe we’ll have to change our plans again, another cruise plan to plan as it won’t be worth heading down onto the Weaver and not being able to cruise it’s full length. We’ll carry on and wait to hear.

6 locks, 2.3 miles, 2 lift bridges 1 left open, 1 following boat, they looked fast but came past half an hour after we’d moored up, 2 outsides, 5 hours shore leave, 1 boat heading down, cruise plan 23 on hold, plans 24, 25, and 26 being considered, pair 35 finished.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gnjnEmdUYwnr5Rbs9

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

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.