King’s Bromley Marina Sunday 8 May 2016

Last night we had lovely meals at The Plumb Pudding moored right outside the back door. Also being behind the pub it blocked the noise from the road.

We were all set to leave this morning when the boat about to enter the Armitage tunnel backed up and pulled into the side and a small cruiser appeared from under the bridge. Being a gentleman I didn’t pull away in front of him but waited and waited and waited and then he came out from under the bridge, as soon as he passed us I was ready to go, but now a Narrowboat was coming out from under the bridge, so I waited and waited and waited, when he fully emerged it was obvious he was towing a second boat and the pair of them were with the little cruiser. The boat being towed was Voyager, the boat that had first sunk in Rugeley and then been vandalised. Right behind them was yet another Narrowboat who was not impressed at following them all. So I tagged on at the back. We didn’t follow for long as the 3 boats pulled in just round the corner. From here we had a clear run back to the marina, the boat ahead of us also going to King’s Bromley Marina.

I think its the first time I have ever turned into the marina with no wind, there is normally a good breeze blowing straight down the marina.

Today’s Journey  3½ miles, no locks in 1½ hours

Armitage Saturday 7 May 2016

Well we made a bad decision yesterday by not continuing on to Wolseley Bridge. The trains normally stop running around 11 pm and then maybe the odd freight train during the night. Not last night, they were still every few minutes until gone midnight and then lots of freight trains over night, so not the best nights sleep. I think it was probably due to weekend engineering works on one of the adjoining routes so diverting everything, we didn’t see any traffic on the line that crosses the canal just above Colwich Lock. On the plus side we had two nice meals at the Clifford Arms with reasonable priced wine.

This morning as it was nice I decided to spend a bit of time removing some more rust bubbles off the roof before walking along and saying goodbye to to friends at the floating market.

It was gone 11am when we left meeting several boats as we made our way down to Colwich lock but we were still third in the queue when we arrived. Passing Bishton Hall it has a magnificent flowering Cherry just in front of it.  Our next stop was Taft Bridge to buy fresh eggs and to fill up with diesel, before stopping for lunch on the 48 hr visitor moorings between the Aqueduct and the Rugeley Bypass bridge. These where put in by the IWA,  we weren’t stopping for 48 hrs, just for lunch. For some reason the police were poking about down by the aqueduct.

One of the regular sights on the canal coming into Rugeley is now gone. One of the houses has a spoof speed camera, he also had a small cruiser complete with blue light moored there, he has just sold the boat.

Tesco called and we stopped to top up supplies before continuing south. Not far from Tesco’s one of the bungalows on the offside has a garden full of ornaments.

The last couple of times we have come through Rugeley there has been a sunken Narrowboat, well its been refloated but some

 

 

 

 

toe rag has seen fit to kick the towpath side windows in.

The building work is pushing on behind The Ashtree Boat Club, I hope they enjoy boats moored outside their windows, or maybe the club has lost those moorings, its non towpath side. Just through the next bridge we stopped to fill with water and I opened a tin of primer to touch up the treated rust spots, what happened? I hadn’t lifted the lid before the first drop of rain landed on my arm, then it chucked it down, so that is the end of the painting for today. Once the tank was full we pushed off, me steering under a brolly as it was far too warm to wear a coat. We decided to moor by the Plumb Pudding and eat there tonight, as soon as we moored up it stopped raining but we have had some horrendous thunder and lightning, its still rumbling out there now, but no more rain.

Today’s Journey  6¾ miles, 1 lock in 3½ hours

Gt Haywood Friday 6 May 2016

We set off just after 9-30, it was warm but quite overcast and didn’t really brighten up and clear out all day. Our luck with the locks has not been so good today and I think we turned every one of them.

The Italian Restaurant, La Bella Napoli by Star lock has closed and is being refurbished under the name of Let’s See. The back garden is now full of statues. At Western Mr. Asbo swan was on good form chewing on my leg to protect his wife and nest, all of which were well behind us.

At lock 24 a CRT contractor was treating the joints in the paving with weed killer, this seems to be bit of a controversial topic on social media.

We had considered going down to Wolseley Bridge for tonight and eating at the pub there, but as we set Gt Haywood lock a hire boat came up behind us who didn’t have a clue, they had only come from the Anglo Welsh yard at the junction, so we moored just through bridge 72A and walked back to help them. Just as well as they had left a top paddle half up. By the time they were on their way it was heading for 6 pm so we decided to stay put. There is bit of an impromptu floating Market just below the lock this weekend with 5 trading boats there. A pirate supplier, Dog Goodies, art gallery,  coffee and one selling tiller pins and jewellery. Lets hope the weather stays good for them. 

Today’s Journey  14 miles and 13 locks in 7¾ hours

Wedgewood Thursday 5 May 2016

Last night we were moored just north of an obstruction in the centre of the canal, most people now know that this is the pivot point for an old railway swing bridge that took the train from the Leek Branch of the NSR across the canal to the factory. There was just room to moor a narrow boat between the closed swing bridge and the accommodation bridge that the above photograph is taken under. Once the railway had crossed the canal on the swing bridge there was a short  siding running back along the canal to the accommodation bridge, it was so short that there is no straight rail at all and you can still see the rails in the photo above. Beside the rails there were two cranes for loading and unloading rail wagons to/from the waiting Narrowboat. There bases are still visible. On the sight is an interpretation board giving more information about the site, unfortunately like lots of things today it has been vandalised slightly. Clicking on the photo will open it at its maximum resolution.

The layout of the railway can be clearly seen on this old Ordinance Survey map from The National Library of Scotland  The factory, Victoria Mill at Stanley Moss, was owned by Harrison Mayor and produced glazes for the potteries.

This morning and today was even better than yesterday with wall to wall sunshine and warm enough for a tee shirt all day. We set off at 9-30 am and headed to the locks, we had seen two boats go down yesterday afternoon after we had moored up so expected them to be empty, however we found them all full so another boat must have come up while we were out for a walk. One thing I have noticed about these locks is that they seem to fill differently, some seem to fill near the tail gates and some all the way along the side.

The old Potteries Waterworks is looking very sorry for itself now with most of the windows broken, when it was in use it had its own canal basin just above the lock.

We have noticed several stones standing in fields, I am not sure if these are just stone fencing posts or whether that had a more significant purpose. 

Just passed the Foxley Pub we not only met a boat whilst passing two moored boats, but the local drunk was on the towpath directing the traffic. What he didn’t see while he was holding a hand up to stop the other boat and waving us on was a Mink swim across the canal. We met another 4 boats before we reached Etruria junction where we turned very sharp left to head down the Stoke locks, There was a short delay while we waited for a boat to lock up but this put all the rest in our favour.
The working boats moored at the Etruria Flint Museum arm are looking very smart, freshly blacked. At Ridgeway’s Lock we were to see another ex-working boat Stanton, also looking splendid as she nosed out or the lock towards me.

After this we met two more boats at Locks both single handing, the first knew me but didn’t tell me who he was and then at Stoke Bottom Lock a woman came up the lock and started drawing the bottom paddles without looking, it took three good blasts on the horn before I caught her attention and I was less than 50 yards from the lock.
There are a pair of Bottle Kilns part way down this flight, these also have preservation orders on them and were restored when the flats were built, but now they require maintenance as they have Buddleia growing out of them in lots of places, if left the roots will damage the brickwork. A few years back this could easily have been sorted from a ladder but I expect today it will require a full scaffolding job.
By now the wind had freshened a bit but it was still very pleasant and the forecast rain had not shown up. We continued down the Trent and Mersey to moor for the night at Wedgwood, there are some nice rings just before the bridge but its a bit shallow, we pulled back to the first ring and it seems OK.

Today’s Journey  12¾ miles, 15 lock, 2 canals, 1 Junction in 6½ hours

Wedgewood Thursday 5 May 2016

Last night we were moored just north of an obstruction in the centre of the canal, most people now know that this is the pivot point for an old railway swing bridge that took the train from the main line across the canal to the factory. There was just room to moor a narrow boat between the closed swing bridge and the accommodation bridge that the above photograph is taken under. Once the railway had crossed the canal on the swig bridge there was a short  siding running back along the canal to the accommodation bridge, it was so short that there is no straight rail at all and you can still see the rails in the photo above. Beside the rails there were two cranes for loading and unloading rail wagons to/from the waiting Narrowboat. There bases are still visible. On the sight is an interpretation board giving more information about the site, unfortunately like lots of things today it has been vandalised slightly. Clicking on the photo will open it at its maximum resolution.

The layout of the railway can be clearly seen on this old Ordinance Survey map from The National Library of Scotland  The factory, Victoria Mill at Stanley Moss, was owned by Harrison Mayor and produced glazes for the potteries.

This morning and today was even better than yesterday with wall to wall sunshine and warm enough for a tee shirt all day. We set off at 9-30 am and headed to the locks, we had seen to boats go down yesterday afternoon after we had moored up so expected them to be empty, however we found them all full so another boat must have come up while we were out for a walk. One thing I have noticed about these locks is that seem to fill differently, some seem to fill near the tail gates and some all the way along the side.

The old Potteries Waterworks is looking very sorry for its self now with most of the windows broken, when it was in use it had its own canal basin just above the lock.

We have noticed several stones standing in fields, I am not sure if these are just stone fencing posts or whether that had a more significant purpose. 

Just passed the Foxley Pub we not only met a boat whilst passing two moored boats, but the local drunk was on the towpath directing the traffic. What he didn’t see while he was holding a hand up to stop the other boat and waving us on was a Mink swim across the canal. We met another 4 boats before we reached Etruria junction where we turned very sharp left to head down the Stoke locks, There was a short delay while we waited for a boat to lock up but this put all the rest in out favour.
The working boats moored at the Etruria Flint Museum arm are looking very smart, freshly blacked. At Ridgeway’s Lock we were to see another ex-working boat Stanton, also looking splendid as she nosed out or the lock towards me..

After this we met two more boats at Locks both single handing, the first knew me but didn’t tell me who he was and then at Stoke Bottom Lock a woman came up the lock and started drawing the bottom paddles without looking, it took three good blasts on the horn before I caught her attention and I was less than 50 yards from the lock.
There are a pair of Bottle Kilns part way down this flight, these also have preservation orders on them and were restored when the flats were built, but now they require maintenance as they have Buddleia growing out of them in lots of places, if left the roots will damage the brickwork. A few years back this could easily have been sorted from a ladder but I expect today it will require a full scaffolding job.
By now the wind had freshened a bit but it was still very pleasant and the forecast rain had not shown up. We continued down the Trent and Mersey to moor for the night at Wedgwood, there are some nice rings just before the bridge but its a bit shallow, we pulled back to the first ring and it seems OK.

Today’s Journey  12¾ miles, 15 lock, 2 canals, 1 Junction in 6½ hours

Endon Wednesday 4 May 2016

Last night we moored near the Cheddleton railway station and what a fine building it is.

Well what a welcome change, we set off just after 9-30 and it was tee shirt weather, turned a little chilly after lunch when the wind picked up but this evening is grand. This was the sky as we set off with three planes making a triangle in a clear blue sky.

The Cheddleton locks were against us as the boat behind had set off earlier, not a hardship for us.
In the distance we could see the old Mental Hospital, all that remains now is the tower which has been converted into a house, I wonder how many floors they have, the rest of the grounds are a housing estate, the only other build left is the church/chapel. We had just passed a boat that has been overstaying on the short term moorings and both said “well I don’t expect CRT check down here very often” within 5 minutes we have this chap on his bike with his i-pad taking numbers. Note the lifejacket. 

At the lock cottage at the top of the Hazlehurst Locks the House Martins are getting on well with their build this year. Leaving the top lock I had to turn sharp left to go to the head of the Leek Canal, first attempt I failed miserably and drew back to the lock mouth to let an oncoming boat pass. But I nailed it at the second go. You can see on this screen shot from Waterway Routes how I had to turn back on myself after leaving the locks.

It was just after this we met another friend on his boat that he is refitting, so we stopped for another chat. One of the reasons for doing the Leek canal other than its a very pretty waterway was to see the Bluebells but this year they are not as good as in the past,  maybe we are touch too early. Up to Leek tunnel this is not very long and a little different profile to Froghall tunnel that we went through yesterday. The tunnel suffered a major collapse a few years ago and the damaged section has been lined with pre formed concrete slabs. We carried on for about half a mile passed the tunnel and winded at the lst available winding hole for a boat our length. In theory you can turn a 40 foot boat at the end but it would need a draft of about a foot the end is so silted up. Beyond the winding hole is just being ignored by CRT. The first time we came up here we moored here, you can still see the rings to the right of the large tuft of weed by the dandelion, but the water is about 8 feet away due to the weed growth and we took the boat right to the end. I didn’t dare try that today.

We had lunch and a short wander round before reversing the 50 yards to the winding hole and heading back through the tunnel, Diana decided she would like to walk over the top of the tunnel and there is a large flight of steps each side taking you up and down the hill. As I left the tunnel this hire boat was waiting to come in, I think the two people sitting on the roof are after the Darwin Award. The roof of a boat going through a tunnel is not the safest place to be. You can just imagine all the extra rules that would be brought in if something happens to them. We carried on passed Hazlehurst junction to Endon where we have moored for the night, we didn’t get here until 5 pm but there have been 4 boats go passed since we moored up. There is a nice length of piling and a grass edge to the towpath, so a nice mooring, someone has even been and marked all the dog poo’s  with a white ring, I would rather they had just cleared the poo up, I don’t know what good the paint would do. I would just add the the poo is not there now, just the white rings.

Today’s Journey    10 miles, 2 canals, 1 junction and 5 locks in 6 hours.

Cheddlleton Tuesday 3 May 2016

We set off at 9-35 this morning in not bad weather, A boat had just gone by but the hotel boat Takara who we moored in front of last night was still there and set off just behind us. A couple of their guests had walked to the first lock before their boat had set off and talking to an American lady it was her 6th trip on the UK canals and she once did 3 in one year.

We passed the old Cheddleton flint mill on our left, I am not sure how often it is open now, I suspect they struggle to get Volunteers to open on a regular basis. We carried on down the canal, back setting for Takara as we went. Just beside lock 13 on the offside is this old building. It is thought to be the first Methodist place of worship in Cheddleton back in the 1790s.  We soon left the canal and joined the river which had very little flow on. Here we passed a couple of old Lime Kilns which were numerous in the area. The area around here has a lot of wildlife conservation work carried out and I think this is one of the many Bug Hotels in the area.

Beside Consall Forge Lock an old structure has been partly uncovered, as you can see it is constructed of large stones like a lock but it looks too narrow to be a lock and I can’t see where the gates would have hung.

Something else I spotted was the smallest stop planks I have ever seen, probably less that 18” long.

Soon we were at the tunnel, We have been through before but have always managed to leave a little red paint from the left hand handrail just as I entered the tunnel as I find it very difficult to see just as the bows enters the tunnel and I am still outside in bright sunshine. Today was different, we went through clean as a whistle, I just wish someone had gone first and cleared the cobwebs. Once clear of the tunnel we dropped down the first lock on the Uttoxeter Canal into Uttoxeter basin where we stopped for lunch. Diana walked down from the lock to the moorings and was waiting for me. While we were there I checked the weed hatch, not much on the prop but the hatch cover was in need of a new gasket so I made one and fitted it, now not a drop of water comes in. I don’t use tape around the edge like most people but a sheet of close cell foam on the underside of the lid.

After lunch it was back up Lock 1 on the Uttoxeter Canal, maybe one day we will be able to get to Uttoxeter. To our surprise there was a boat just above the lock as very few modern boats can get through the tunnel.

Going this way its much easier to get a line on the tunnel and slide straight through. CRT have erected a new sign just by the mouth of the tunnel giving the maximum dimensions of a boat able to pass through the tunnel, but I wonder how many boaters know the exact profile dimensions of their boat?

On our way back I spotted one of the new modern mile posts adjacent to the original stone one. We stopped very briefly at The Black Lion to see what they were doing in the way of food and after reading the menu decided to carry on to Cheddleton and we are now moored two locks below where we were last night.

Today’s Journey   10.5 miles, 2 canals, 1 junction, 10 locks in 5¾ hours.