Cholmondeston Winding Hole

It was drizzling first thing and quite a few boats moving about so we waited until 11 am to set off hoping to avoid queues at locks and it worked quite well. One of the canal side properties in Middlewich has a good collection of Narrowboat. Can you have too many boat?

We had a male swan escort us the length of Park Farm moorings past his wife and kids, they didn’t even come begging for food.

We arrived at Stanthorne lock and I nosed in against the gates only to find there was a boat coming down, I couldn’t see any disturbance in the canal from the water coming out of the gate paddles. There was another boat at the top waiting, a family of Norwegians heading for the Bridgewater canal. When we got to Minshull lock there was another boat waiting to go up as well as boats coming down. Its easy to see how queues build up. Hear we heard tails of the queues at Cholmondeston Lock, but we weren't going that far today.
There has been lots of talk on the internet about CRT’s towpath mowing this year, well it looks as if they have grabbed the bull by the horns of the Middlewich branch, even avoiding patches of wild flowers, maybe that will keep both camps happy, those who want the towpaths left for nature and those that want them cut.

 

Today’s Journey

2 lock  7¼ miles in 3 hours

Middlewich Branch bridge 30

Last night we were undecided whether to have an Indian or Italian for dinner, in the end the weather maid our minds up, it was raining and Barchetta the Italian restaurant was closest. Mind you the meal was first class.
We pushed off at 10 and stopped off at the services to fill with water and dump rubbish.That all sorted we set off with a good run before the first lock, on the way this flew over, I am sure someone knows what it is.

There was a boat just coming out of Booth Lane Top Lock as we arrived, but she reversed back into the lock to pick up her husband who had walked round to drop the offside paddle. At this point it started raining quite heavily but it only lasted as long as it took us to work the lock. The mill below the lock is looking very smart now.The next two locks should have been with us but the bottom one had leaked well off and I finished draining it for an up coming boat.
The hosing estate by Booth Lane bottom lock looks very established now and the estate above Rumps Lock is growing rapidly. There is a rather large pile of soil on the offside, I am not sure where its from.

Kings lock was with us and after dropping through we turned hard left into the Wardle Canal, I had to hover outside as there was a boat waiting for go up and one in the lock coming down. After working up Wardle Lock, lots of help with boats waiting to come down we headed for this bridge with its abundanceof wild plants. (note I have pained and polished my exhaust)  There were a couple of boats moored in the next pound so no room for us so under bridge 30 to moor for the night.

Today’s Journey

6¼miles, 6 locks in 4 hours.

Wheelock

The first boat went past at 7-30 this morning so we knew the locks would be against us, then one went about every half hour, we left at quarter to ten, we should have left it a bit later as the boat ahead was just leaving the first lock as we arrived. We did meet a few boats in the flight but nothing to help us and with two single handers a couple of boats ahead it was a slow run waiting at every lock until the very last one where the boat ahead set the offside lock for us. The weather looked threatening all day and we had a few short showers of very fine drizzle. I didn’t really see anything worth photographing except this chap on a lock approach.

We now have a big decision to make, Indian or Italian tonight’s dinner here in Wheelock?

 

Today’s Journey

3¾ miles, 14 locks in 4 hours.

Rode Heath

An early start for us, the tunnel keep was outside about twenty to eight seeing if we were ready to set off, checked the light and horn, safety briefing and leaflet, as far as he was concerned we were ready to go. I had to get my hat and coat on, it was raining, put the tiller on, drop the exhaust, start the engine and cast off. We entered the tunnel a the sole boat a few minutes to 8. A 1000Mt. into the tunnel and there was a boat a boat behind us. I was surprised we got a second fog bank so far into the tunnel when the fans restarted. There has been a lot of talk on Facebook on how fast you should go in tunnels, I went through at a steady 3MPH. When we reached the far end the rain had stopped and there was just one boat waiting for a North South transit. A steady chug to Plants Lock where the nearside lock is out of action, that was the only poorly one today.

We met a couple of boats at Red Bull but then rapidly started to catch up with the one ahead. The volunteer towpath team were working down the flight in the now steady rain cutting the grass and trimming round the mooring rings, one of them kindly gave us and the boat ahead a bit of help down the locks. We decided to moor above Church lock rather than sit on the tail of the boat ahead. One of the things I noticed was the number of Swifts swooping around on the far side of the canal. I have only seen those sorts of numbers overseas in recent years. I did try a photo but they look like speck.

After about half an hour we decided to push off, another boat had come, but lo and behold another boat came down behind us, so we waited another three quarters of an our and set off at the third lock, Halls we caught up with the boat that passed us all that time ago. Dropping down Church Bottom I looked back at the stairs, it looks as if they have all been taken off and replaced the other way up with the wear hollows filled with cement.

We met a coupe of boats in the flight but it didn’t speed out journey at all as we had to wait for them to enter and work locks, so a bit of sitting about.
Passing the CRT yard below Lawton locks I spotted these lock beams sitting in a boat ready to go, we have seen lots of locks where the beams are just held together with angle iron, but I would imagine this ones ate earmarked for this flight somewhere.

We continued on to Rode Heath hoping to find a mooring but had to go down past the winding hole to find a spot, this was at half one in the afternoon.

 

5 miles, 12 locks 3½ hours

Harecastle Tunnel

It felt like it was going to rain as we set off at 10am this morning, a couple of boats had gone by but they were well ahead so hopefully no queues at the locks. The housing development opposite last nights mooring is slowly expanding, I wouldn’t fancy a house at the end against the railway line. The fencing is still laying in the canal near bridge 108 and the barriers across the deck.

We started meeting a few boats which was a good sign as maybe the boats ahead of us would be swell on their way up the flight. Emerging from the tunnel/bridge by the waste incinerator I was rather taken wit the view looking back. Not the best composed photograph but shows what I wanted it to. Coming the other way with a reflection would be better.

Round by the shooting range it looks as if they are constructing another target lane right beside the canal, the boat that permanently moors here is sprouting new growth really well.

Talking of things growing, the Giant Hogweed is quite prevalent on the off side by the aqueduct, but some of the leaves are rather pale so it may have been sprayed with something.
Work is still ongoing at Goods Yard with windows in the old building and work fitting out the inside, the block behind it really dwarfs it.

Something I have never experienced before, we arrived at Stoke Bottom Lock as a boat was just coming out and the single handing chap was going in. By the time we reached the top lock, there are only 5 of them we had met 12 boats, I think the most I have ever met before here is 3 so it saved us a lot of work turning locks. Talking to the single hander at the top the only paddle he touched in the whole flight was the top paddle of the top lock. Once at the we turned up the Caldon to use the services,  The single hander had just arrived and another boat leaving, so we were there for an hour, time for a leisurely lunch. Once full we reversed out, winded and headed towards Harecastle tunnel. The building on the offside just past the toby Carvery has expanded somewhat since we last passed by.

Things were busy at Longport Marina with boats moored two abreast and a Narrowboat having just been unloaded or loaded with a Hiab.

Past Westport lake with only 3 moored boats but a few dozen geese on the grass. We have seen several hundred of these this year, normally in flocks of about 50, they are certainly thriving.

We continued on to moor for the night at the mouth of the tunnel, I walked over to see if there were any passages booked for this afternoon so that we wouldn’t be in the way, but the place was deserted, locked up and the fans off. I wonder if the CRT booking system for the afternoon has effectively made the tunnel only available for half a day? Our mooring for the night and we will have to be ready for an early start in the morning.

Today’s Journey

7½ miles, 5 locks in 4¾ hours.

Trentham

Well it rained most of the night and was still chucking it down this morning so a late star a little before mid day when it finally stopped. A few boats had been by before we set off but not many. As we approached Meaford Bottom lock a boat came out and a single handed boater entered. We gave him a hand up the lock, but at the second lock 2 chaps in yellow waterproofs and Lifejackets set it for him and one stopped to help him on his way. It turned out the Rothen Group were bringing a work boat up and these two were walking down the flight to meet them. As we worked up we drew the paddles for the boat behind. They paid this back at Meaford Road Lock where Diana walked to the top lock the other side of the road to set it ready for the single hander while I closed up for him at Road Lock. I was now single handing and the boat following closed the bottom gate after I entered the lock, they also closed up after I left, Diana staying to reset the top lock.
The road bridge over the mouth of the lock is feeling poorly again, CRT are fore ever repairing this bridge.Once we left the lock we of course drew the paddles for the following boat. What comes around, goes around.
It was then a steady run to Barlaston having negotiated the tree chicane, at Barlaston we saw a couple of CRT chaps with wood saws walking along the towpath, maybe they were on their way to sort it. It shouldn’t be much of a job.

At Trentham lock a boat was just leaving as we came into sight, it turned out to be someone we knew so a quick hello in passing. We pass through Trentham before mooring for the. night opposite the new housing estate

 

Today’s Journey

5 locks, 5 miles in 2¾ hours

Stone (North end)

We set off just before ten expecting to find Great Haywood packed, we were wrong with very few boats moored between where we were and Haywood Lock. We arrived at the lock just as a boat was coming down and before we had finished locking up there were a couple behind us. There were lots of mooring spaces in Haywood and only one trading

boat. I very quick pit stop to dump rubbish, well I didn’t stop, just dropped Diana at the junction and picked her up at the bridge. Just past the bridge was a boat covered in flowers. They set off shortly after

we passed. They caught us up at Hoo Mill Lock where we had joined the queue with the boat ahead entering the lock, a single hander that we would follow into Stone. When the flower covered boat came into view I did wonder how they could see to steer.

In the course of the morning we met 17 boats coming towards us. We passed through one of my favourite bridges, Salt Bridge, I thought I would

take a photo from the back, no one photographs that side. The Kingfishers were quit active and we saw at least three, flitting along ahead of us or crossing behind us . I didn’t get a photo of any sitting Kingfishers but I did get a couple of shots of them flying.

At each lock the queue got a bit longer collimating at Sandon Lock which has the top ground paddle out and not everyone happy to draw the gate paddle more than a few clicks at a time.

This really slowed things down and spaced the boats out, by Aston lock we only had the single hander going up ahead and by the time we reached the lock there was a boat coming down. The moorings to the south of Stone were packed but we had already decided to go through the town. The single hander found a mooring by the carpark above Star lock and we could have squeezed in had we wanted to just above the lock. No queues at the next locks which is what we were hoping for. The scaffolding is going up on the old brewery, I wonder if the wall painting will

disappear. We carried on to moor for the night opposite Roger Fullers  yard on some convenient mooring rings.

Today’s Journey

11 miles, 8 locks in 6¾ hours

Great Haywood

Not the most peaceful of moorings last night, a generator running until 10pm and a boat going by at about 6am this morning, With the boat movements this morning we decided to set off slightly earlier, needles to say as soon as I started the engine another boat came along, so we slipped out behind him when yet another appeared. Thankfully the one ahead turned right at the junction and we turned left, just before a boat came out of Junction lock. There were Volockies working the both Middle and Shadehouse locks, so as we reached Middle lock it was almost empty, a short wait at Shadehouse lock as a boat was coming in from above. At Woodend Lock we were third in the queue and no one coming down. After that we met boats steadily all the way to Rugeley,  I even had to wait at Armitage tunnel, I can’t remember the last time that happened.

JF boat builders are making good use of the land they have acquired at Bromley Wharf with one new boat in the water and a hull on  hard standing.

As we passed The Ash Tree pub it started to rain, the sky had been dark for some time. It came on fast so I just grabbed the brolly rather than going for a coat, the rain continued right until we moored up by Tesco’s in Rugeley. A short way past the Ash Tree someone has been growing their own hops for a few years now, I guess its for home brew.

Needless to say as soon as we moored up in Rugeley the rain stopped and the sun came out, however we stopped for lunch and then Diana nipped into Tesco for a couple of things we were short of, when she returned we set off again in bright sun shine. You can’t pass through Rugeley without taking a photo at Naomi’s Landing, well I can’t anyway.

We had just passed the winding hole at the North end of the aqueduct when it started to rain again, really rain so out came the brolly again, thankfully there wasn’t too much wind. Another site that has been cleared is Dave Freemans yard at Taff Bridge with an old FMC boat Cormorant out on hard standing.

We carried on in the rain to Wolsey Bridge we we moored up yet again in the rain, but again as soon as we made fast the sun came out, this was only a temporary planned stop, at 6-30 we were off, we knew that Colwich lock had the top ground paddle out and was causing queues so by going at this time there would be no one about and we would be straight through in 15 minutes  even having to turn the lock first. Once clear of the lock we continued towards Gt Haywood lock until we reached the point where there is bit of a hill between the railway and the canal, it was even sunny.

Today’s Journey  

12¼ miles, 4 locks in 6 hours.

Fradley Junction

The weather was better than forecast and we were on the move just before ten, but there were already several boats on the move, it turned out to be a busy day meeting probably over 20 boats. As we were filling with water yesterday a family of swans visited looking for food, they weren't happy with Diana putting the cap on the water tank and not feeding them, today they were a little further along getting upset with a dog on the tow path.

Just past here we passed a sunken burnt out cruiser, someone had leaned the warning notice against the A5 bridge, some way before the wreck. You can see the notice on a post on the other side of the wreck.

Another thing we spotted today were several ducks with very small ducklings, less than a week old.

I am sure you have all heard of the ships cat, well this one has it’s own boat and making the best of this blistering July.

Between Orchard Marina and Streethay a farmer on the towpath side is extracting water from the canal, I am slightly surprised that the pipe crossing the towpath like this is acceptable to CRT.

The new moorings on the offside at Brookhay are looking well established now with fences and the land between the trees all cleared back. I do wonder what their access is like, probably nothing more than a footpath.

The Dutch Barge style Narrowboat at Bridge 89 is finally getting a bit of TLC and a coat of paint, needless to say we met a boat in the bridge hole as we passed it. As we approached the moorings at Fradley Junction the first one was free so we pulled in, again we had managed to travel in the dry but there have been several short showers since we have been moored up.

Today’s Journey10¾ miles, no locks in 4 hours

Fazeley Junction

Tomtom took us for bit of a ride to get here due to delays on the A14 at Newmarket junction, after that we diverted to Barby to look round the marina before continuing on our way. Luckily the services were on the roundabout where we joined the M6 so a quick stop for a wee and some food from M&S, the place was heaving with several coach parties taking a break.
Once at Alvecote we unloaded the car to the boat, noting that the decking on the pontoons has been screwed down making it feel much safer.
We were away by quarter past four heading along the Coventry towards Tamworth, we met 2 boats so luckily Glascote top was with us, but the bottom lock was empty. We passed a familiar boat, some of you will no doubt recognise the name.

We stopped for water at Fazeley Junction as we had left the tank well down, so plenty of time for a coffee while the tank filled. Just as we pushed of a hire boat came by asking it this was Fazeley Junction, it looked to be single handed so maybe moving base, We only went just round the corner to moor for the night, I just removed the tiller before it started to rain.

Today’s Journey

3½ miles 2 locks in 2¼ hours