Four Ashes

We were away just before 10 o’clock, the moorings directly opposite the Stafford Boat Club are defiantly the quietest on this stretch of canal, after this the M6 soon makes its self heard. A boat passed at about half nine and just as we set off one came towards us however Deptmore lock was against us with a boat approaching from above and our luck with locks didn’t improve all day. I am sure that all the cows lying down in a bunch means something weather wise but we didn’t get any rain until this afternoon above Gailey lock when it chucked it down for quarter of an hour.

The house on the towpath side at Acton Trussle has a lovely show of flowers between the towpath and the canal and before anyone shouts, its an official “No Mooring” area

When we got to Teddesley the boat coming in was so slow that Diana had time to go to the chandlers and still be back to operated the bottom paddles for them. At another lock the lock was full, all gates closed and the boater in the galley when Diana walked up there .
As the services were free at Penkridge, plenty of time to walk up and check while a boat slowly entered the  lock, after the boat we were following left. I stopped to fill with water, not a bad tap, but we were still behind the same hire boat at Filance Lock. Its surprising how these little holdups at each lock can add time to your journey, today I would estimate it added an hour, good job we don’t try to run to a tight schedule.
We passed these two boats on the hard at Teddesley, I don’t know if they plan to blast them before painting them?

An observation of bottom lock gates today that I have not noticed before, calking between the planks that is coming out, I dont know if this is put in during the build or an attempt to reduce the leaks.

We had planned to moor just above Gailey Lock, but as I said, just as we left the lock it started raining so as I had the brolly up and a coat on we continued on past the chemical works at Four Ashes and as the rain had stopped moored for the night a little after Calf Heath Bridge 77.

I know know, thanks to Richard why we haven’t seen any trains on the main line, its down to HS2 work at Street Hay, so the line is closed for a few days.

 

Today’s Journey

5 miles, 11 locks in 5¾ hours