Calverley

A nice peaceful night away from the noise, we didn’t even hear the trains. The temperature was in the 20s when we set off at 10am. and hit 32°C at one point.
We arrived at the first lock just as a boat had left ahead of us, same old story but we did meet boats at two locks. By the time we had turned the first lock another boat was catching us up, a single hander, so at the Iron lock we waited and worked him through.Beeston Stone lock was as slow filling as before, I think its due more to the slow fill fate than the bottom end leak. We lost our locking partner above this lock as he pulled over.
Looking across towards the railway this house that stands by the line has a Wisteria growing all over it.

Behind it are the old oil tanks .Sandstone Ridge Trust - Forgotten History - The Beeston Bunkers

This replica tunnel tug still looks smart, it must be getting towards 30 years old now. We looked round it at Braunston Boat Show, that was before it moved to Crick as they have the same diesel cooker as us.

Tilstone Lock still has a top paddle out, also a generator on hire doing nothing. I wonder what that is costing CRT.
At the Bunbury Stair Case I caught up with the boat ahead again,  they now had a locking partner.  This was ideal as it meant the top chamber was full and although they were still going up I could drain the lower one ready. The Anglo Welch hire base still

have the old hand water pump outside their office, they also sell ice creams which today was more important, Diana nipped in while the top chamber was filling. Beside the top lock stands a fine row of old stables, I don’t know if the building is still used, at one time they built 9’6” beam boats to go to Ireland and launch them just above the lock from the modern roller door in the end. The roof could really do with a bit of love now with several lose tiles.

We made out way towards Barbridge Junction passing not only the boat who had been locking up ahead but also this one moored up. The sign writing of the name on the bows caught my eye. No mirrors involved.  We didn’t go much further mooring for the night on the 48 hr moorings just before the Calverley Services .

Today’s Journey

 

  5¾ Miles with  6 locks in 4¼ hours