Category Archives: Trent and Mersey Canal

Jiggering And Jolleying. 4th September

Bridge 118 to below Plants Lock 41

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JQRSHzqPx19ptvvL7

Why Do We Always Miss It!? 3rd September

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

3 locks, 5.6 miles, 1 lumpy section, 1 report, 1 empty wee tank, 1 right, 0 sign, 1 long mooring, 1 detector, 30 litres wood pellets, 2 blogging boats, 2 good hours catching up, WEBBOX!!! 0 shore leave.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/STzXpn1ENxQPKrV57

Handbrake Turn. 26th August

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fox Rounding Up. 25th August

Meaford Bottom Lock to Brook House Winding Hole

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aston Villa. 24th August

Lower Burston Bridge to below Meaford Bottom Lock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lillian. 23rd August

Ingestre Bridge 78 to Lower Burston Bridge 85

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End Of The Line. 22nd August

72A to Ingestre 48hr mooring Trent and Mersey still

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6pCArLHXoufasdGY9

There’s A Hole In My… 20th August

Bridge 67 to Bridge 72A

Rain! We took our time getting moving this morning, but eventually managed to grab a patch of blue sky to cruise under. As we passed over Brindley Bank Aqueduct the River Trent passed below. No-one was moored, but a day boat did a zigzag for a photo opportunity and then to pick the photographer back up.

Up above us the Starlings are starting to gather, discussions of where to go for the winter, Spain or Africa? We were still discussing where to go too, T&M or Shroppie. A definite feel of autumn in the air today.

Just before we’d pulled out a boat we’ve been leapfrogging with came past, their average speed the equivalent to our tick over. We went slowly leaving a good gap between us, no point in catching them up as there’d be a lock soon.

At Taft Wharf, NB Dexter long since stopped selling diesel to passing boats, a cabin replaced the diesel tank long ago, but the air under it’s stern suggests there’s no engine.

Up on the bank sat another boat, sliced in half, presumably waiting an extension. Hope they get it done soon otherwise they won’t be needing to use their Smeg fridge as it’ll be so chilly.

NB Maid of Oak has finally been sold on to new owners, well I say finally it could have happened the week after we last passed five years ago. The swans still know which side their bread is buttered and were making full use of their cordoned off area.

Two For Sale signs. One house detached and plenty of lawn and an orchard, boat currently sat on the mooring. Then a semi with end of garden mooring. I wondered why they were both up for sale? Was the house between them the cause? They have a wonderfully abundant garden.

At Colwick Lock we pulled in behind the tick over boat, the lock just being emptied for them to go in. The bottom gates always awkward to close I’d be staying onboard. A boat pulled up behind, another arrived above, ‘Time to put the kettle on’ said the lady.

One down, then it was our turn, a chap from the next waiting boat came to help close the bottom gates. With only the gate paddle working at the top it took quite sometime to fill, plenty of time to look at the Lock Cottage, note that they still have the Black Lace Elderflower bush. The top lock beam failed a few weeks ago, closing the navigation for a while. Now the wood has a supportive metal framework around it, it does the job for the time being. Above the lock now a queue of three boats, another just arriving to tag onto the end.

Not far now, as the line of moored boats before bridge 72C showed themselves we pulled in a respectable distance from the end boat. This would do us for the day. Tilly was given shore leave and we sat down for lunch.

Numerous boats came past, then the thump thump of an old boat, a high bow came past the window. Time to say hello to Frankie from the South Oxford. She is currently crewing for Nuneaton and Brighton from the Narrow Boat Trust. The boats were meant to have been going to the Brownhills Festival last weekend, but the chemical spillage on the Walsall Canal meant their journey there would have been far longer than the original trip, but more importantly their crew would not make it back to base in the allotted time. So their destination had ended up being the Black Country Museum. Frankie was a touch disappointed as she’d volunteered for two trips this year on canals she’d not been on before, but because of the altered route she was getting to do the same canals again. It was nice to say hello even if it was very briefly.

**Heading back to base for the Alvecote boat gathering this week end**

I checked the Post Office, sadly closed at 2pm. Those socks would have to wait for tomorrow. I wrote a piece for Dementia UK and collated some photos for them to use as a fundraising case study and maybe pull some quotes from it for other purposes. Yarn was selected for pair 34, a skein of lovely soft yarn in shades of blue wound into a cake for ease of knitting.

This morning we’d had an enquiry about the house. Details had been sent off and now we’re just waiting to see if we’ll have two lodgers for Christmas. This meant we concentrated our minds a bit more on the coming weeks. Route plans were put together, cruising hours calculated. One destinations arrival calculated, but could we also go there? If we did that, should we not have a second lodger, would we be able to get back to Yorkshire to have moved back into the house in time to do a turn around? We think we now have a plan, with extra bits added. All that’s left is to know is when we’ll be wanting a mooring from in Yorkshire and if there will be one available. Hopefully we’ll hear back from our prospective lodger in the next couple of days.

1 lock, 3.9 miles, 2nd in line, 4 at the top, 1 Frankie! 4 hours, pair 34 cast on, 1 page of words, 6 photos, 1 plan with a contingency plan, 1 sock hand over possible, 1 post office missed, 1 screaming teenager, 1 nephew with provisions for university.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/r77PFY9X7u1fzUp7A

Fake Or True Signal. 18th August

Bridge 55 to after Bridge 67

**Slightly under cooked egg for the size of toast**

Mick did the honours this morning and we’d just finished when the Geraghty zoom started. Subjects covered this morning, Personal Weather Forecasters (we’d like Shefali please), new toasters, freezing portraits and people pretending to be going into a tunnel whilst on their mobile, who actually broke their arm and Will Bailey.

Quite a few boats passed us heading away from Fradley, then the majority of them returned heading back towards the locks, most probably out for the weekend. We managed to push off without too much hassle today. Jumpers were required as the temperature has dropped, last night we considered lighting the stove.

I turned a heel on my lastest pair of socks, ten minutes of quiet whilst I counted stitches back and forth. After I’d reached a certain point I had to stop myself from doing too many rows otherwise I’d run out of knitting to do in front of the TV tonight.

We passed The Little Chimney boat, without them our original flue would have been too tall to get under the Basingstoke Canal bridges, they are usually found somewhere around here. I’d not noticed their collection of things on the roof before.

Good to see the houses with their blue pots are keeping things going. In front of each house are slightly different blue pots and the further west you get the plants get less loved, the last house looks like they just nurture weeds now.

Then Armitage Shanks factory right along the canal. Big vats sit behind the dusty patched up windows, are these full of giant toilets or pristine white glaze? In the yard I could still see pallets of toilets waiting to go off to new houses to be plumbed in. They are really hard to get a photo of and the sign for Local Facilities is way over grown.

As we approached the Plum Pudding we checked our phones, both on with signal and the ringer turned up. Time to walk through the tunnel to check no-one was coming and more importantly to stop anyone from coming. The tunnel, which is about 120 metres in length, had its roof removed in 1971 because of subsidence damage being caused by nearby coal mining, a ten yard section having collapsed in 1965. What remains is a deep narrow cutting through sandstone, wide enough only for a single narrowboat to pass. NB Holderness has some interesting photos of the tunnel here.

I walked ahead, no boat coming towards us. I was out from under the road bridge and about two thirds of the way through, I called Mick. ‘No boats coming, you can come through’ ‘What? I can’t hear what you’re saying, you keep breaking up!’ How amusing that after this morning’s zoom where we’d talked about people faking going into tunnels whilst on their mobile, I was now in a roofless tunnel and my phone signal was breaking up. I ended up repeating myself very loudly and slowly, not sure if Mick heard via the phone or not, but he started to come towards me.

The water point before Ash Tree Boat Club was on the port side, handy for yellow water extraction. As we got close we could see there were two boats already there. A lady asked if we wanted to pull in, they’d be moving off in a couple of minutes, just about perfect timing. We did our chores and then moved on to find a mooring near to Tescos in Rugeley.

A big shop and provisions for a roast chicken as we’d been feeling chilly yesterday. Today however was that bit warmer. How come young whipper snappers get all those flavours of biscuits and me being that bit more mature, I only get one and that can’t even stand up on it’s own! I’d like lamb please Whiskas!!!

Mick was certain we’d managed to bring a trolley back to the boat before, but the wheel jammed on the long walkway back to the canal. I stayed with the trolley whilst Mick did the first load of bags to the boat.

Now to find a better mooring, one not too far out, but where we’d be happy to let Tilly out. All the 7 day moorings were full, quite a few boats coming the other way too. As we approached Bridge 67 just passing the last boat a bow came into view. Mick did his best to tuck in in front of the moored boat, the boat coming towards us hit the bridge and then us in turn. A lady in the bow stood up and went inside, possibly to avoid any confrontation from us, when there was none she gave us a filthy look! As the helm came past they apologised, there actually was nothing to apologise for. They were being followed quite closely, so had nowhere to go, we tried tucking in out of the way as there was nowhere else to go too, what happened happened.

A familiar boat from St Pancras Cruising Club, no John in sight to say hello to. Past all the houses and out to an open field alongside the towpath, this would do. We found a gap between trees and pulled up, sitting on the bottom. Tilly was given an hour and a half, she didn’t use it all, I’m keeping some on account for tomorrow.

The chicken was popped into the oven with potatoes, parsnips (not in their prime), carrots, garlic and some broccoli. It feels like an eternity since we last had a roast, it was very nice.

0 locks, 1 glitching nebolink, 5.8 miles, 1 topless tunnel, 33 pairs of socks completed, 1 sockathon back on track, 2 boxes wine, 1 big chicken, 1 bump, 90 minutes, 45 kept for tomorrow.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d3336.661099494168!2d-1.9388658521470745!3d52.769429303891094!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNTLCsDQ2JzEwLjMiTiAxwrA1NicxMy41Ilc!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1724062795872!5m2!1sen!2suk

Through The Arched Hedge. 30th April

Broken Ankle, Great Haywood to above Longford Lock, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

**Swans nests are way better than those made by geese**

Windy but sunny this morning, the world would be filled with green and blue. We considered going across the way for a cooked breakfast, but stuck to our cereal as that would be quicker.

We turned right onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, passing the Anglo Welsh hire fleet. Yesterday we’d put off coming round the corner and heading for Tixall Wide due to the wind and wanting to visit the farm shop. Arriving at 10/10:30 would mean having more chance of grabbing a mooring with a view of Tixall Gate House, this morning there were several up for grabs, but we needed to be further on today. The newly surfaced towpath looks good, but the armco still looks like it’s the same, only one stretch has had sandbags added to raise the bank from the water a touch.

At Tixall Lock we rose up infront of the nice lock cottage, a possible for a painting, if we ever stay put long enough for me to get one started! The next length of towpath has also been upgraded, a cyclist proved it was ride worthy.

By now we both realised we were over dressed, big coats no longer required, the strong wind was almost warm. It was warm enough for me to bring my knitting out onto the stern to work my way towards a heel turn and still be able to keep an eye on things passing us by. This is another stretch of canal I’ve rarely seen in the last few years as there are several miles on the flat so I’ve been working below.

Around Stafford, the land to our west was exceptionally boggy and brown, a flood plane, but far browner than we remembered. I wonder how long it’s been under water for this year? A fisherman sat with his kit neatly tucked away by the hedge where there was an arched opening for him to pass his rod through. On closer inspection all the fishing pegs were marked out thus, grass neatly trimmed both by the cut and the hedge and an hedge opening at each.

Once up Deptmore Lock we pulled in for lunch, a nice sunny spot but would we ever get off the bank due to the wind? This took quite a bit of doing and thankfully we could hold our line without going too fast past moored boats. We were now being followed by a hire boat, Shutt Hill lock the lady came up to help, but hardly said a word. As we pulled away she closed the gate and ran back to the bottom gates, maybe they were trying to do the Four Counties Ring in a week!

At Park Gate Lock we’d just about caught the boat ahead of us up, only one top paddle working on the lock meant it took a long time to fill. As we worked our way up a boat came out from the wharf, took it’s time to wind blocking off the canal for a while. Was this a new boat, boxes covered where the mushroom vents would be, the paintwork looked new, apart from below the gunnels. Bourne Boats used to be based here. There were no signs and two rusty shells sat out on the hard were not really a good advert for them. Does anyone know if they are still trading?

The hire boat caught up with us again and this time there was chance for a chat. Four Counties in ten days. We watched as the new boat was manouvered back into the wharf and then under a crane. As it was lifted it was obviously not positioned quite right and was brought back down to the water to find it’s balance.

Should we stop early? The wind was one thing, the depth below us another making our progress really quite slow. This of course would be no different tomorrow, but the wind may have died down. As we passed under the M6 we made the usual comments about the house alongside, lovely gardens, but maybe the need for noise cancelling headphones. Then we spotted it was for sale! Blimey! Just how much would it go for if they didn’t have the motorway as a next door neighbour? *The agent has removed the house from their website, but you can still get a shaded look at it from the link.

The M6 stays with the canal for quite a way. Once up Longford Lock we decided to pull in with the motorway opposite, here Tilly would have more fun even if there was a fence cutting the school off from the towpath. Straight out, then the complaints started . But there’s a fence! It’s high! Things look great on the other side. Mick went out to check on her, there she was on top of the fence, wire mesh variety. I was practicing my tight rope act! Thankfully she made it down by herself rather than by us wrestling our way through the hawthorne hedge.

Time to pack the faulty bully boy battery up. The Shed was emptied, steps removed and the battery pulled out. It was put on the stern deck so as not to be in our way overnight and hopefully I’d be able to pack it up out there.

Originally I’d thought of making boxes to surround it in the original box, but these would have to be so strong to hold the batteries weight. Instead I opted to cut widths of cardboard, stick them together and then these would help keep the battery away from the sides of the box. Tilly came to help, but kept a beedy eye on the woofers as they walked past. It took a while to have packing strong enough, but then the box was taped up ready to be sent off tomorrow. All we need to do now is actually get it to a drop off place for UPS, easier said than done!

4 locks, 9.7 miles, 1st Lollipop, 0.5 pair of socks, 1.5 cardboard boxes cut into strips, 6 layers for strength, 1 tight rope walking cat, 1st proper sunny day without coats.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aF59KqrCjJUBbGVw6

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna