Well another wet night and a miserable day, we set of at 1015 hrs heading for Froghall. We passed these Tipis (Teepees)beside Willow Cottage Bridge, earlier a truck had come along the track carrying a portable toilet block so I suspect they had an event on this week. It was not all happy as there was chap there collecting a dead horse.
There was a nice reflection at Oakmeadow Ford Lock and the iron work has been nicely painted, but the replacement rail on the parapet that would have guided the tow rope over the bridge is bit of a poor effort, with the T connections on the top of the uprights.
The river level was fine and we were soon slipping under the low bridge by the Black Lion and then the railway bridge.
I had just cleared the two bridges when we heard the train approaching so I held in the wide section until it passed giving a photo opportunity of it coming into the cantilevered station.
Flint Mill lock has the Froghall Tunnel height gauge hung across the exit. To get under through the tunnel we would have to move everything to the centre of the roof and also remove the engine exhaust, just hinging it down wont do.
We continued to the tunnel and did the necessary preparations before going through, this time I managed it without scratching the paintwork. I find lining up to enter the hardest part of the operation.
At Froghall Lock we winded and then moored up, we didn't bother locking into the basin as we were not staying over night. We were quite surprised to find 4 boats moored there, we have always been the only one before.
After checking out the new tea rooms, which are closed on Mondays of course we walked down to the basin and had a word with the moorers, one who was hard at work finishing rubbing down his cabin sides who reads this blog, I didn't ask his name and of course there wasn't one on the boat, but its the ex working boat in the photograph.
We returned to Harnser for lunch and while we were eating it one of the boats from the basin left passing us. That is why there is only three in the photo. We left about half an hour later, for some reason there is a piece of pipe sticking out of the tunnel roof just in the right place to catch the steerers head, I will enquire with CRT why its there.
We were to meet 4 boats before we reached Flint Mill Lock, luckily we met them all in good spots thanks to the first one who warned me the others were behind, the boat ahead was not so lucky so he was just entering the lock when we arrived. So although we met 4 boats and we were to meet more all the locks would be against us.
Talking of locks I spotted what I thought were two unusual things today, firstly Froghall Lock the iron work is bolted on top of the stone work, it is normally recessed and then set in lead.
The other point was Oakmeadow Ford Lock, this is the only lock I can think of where the balance beam is not on the towpath side, I bet the old working boatmen use to swear about that if they had to turn it.
We carried on back upstream meeting a total of 8 boats plus finding one floating around the cut at Cheddleton which we stopped to remoor, the plan was to stop above the flint mill and have a meal at ether the canal side Mexican Restaurant or The Red Lion. We could see the Mexican was closed Mondays so Diana walked up to the Red Lion while I carried on to the visitor moorings. When she caught me up she said there was a big notice "We don't do food!" so it was on again to The Holly Bush at Denford where we moored right outside the front door, they are doing food until 8-30 so that is where we will be tonight. I hope the board is right.
Today;s Journey
11½ miles, 8 Locks in 6¼ Hours.
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