Hassell Green to Church Minshull

Tuesday 30 April

We set off at 7.45 and were straight into doing locks - 17 of them today. Many of these locks were built as pairs alongside each other which would have helped when boat traffic was heavy. However, some of the extra ones have been 'decommissioned' (one is now part of a pub garden and another has been converted to a weir); others are in need of repair. 

We made good progress through the first ten locks (Hassell Green and Wheelock Locks) as all were set ready for us. As we approached the next lock (Booth Lane Top Lock) we caught up with another boat, nb Voyager. We followed them for the next 5 locks into Middlewich, so our progress became much slower as we had to fill the lock each time after Voyager had gone through. But the sun was shining and the countryside was pleasant, so no complaints really.

At Middlewich we turned left onto the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch, but first passed through the Wardle Lock Branch which is supposed to be England's shortest canal. 

Wardle Canal - 164 feet long

We did Wardle Lock and then moored up as we needed to buy a few provisions. We bought bread and milk at Jack's - Tesco's new economy supermarkets aimed at challenging Aldi and Lidl, We were impressed with the light and spacious layout of the store, but not with the choice of goods. We did not buy tea and coffee.

We continued walking into town towards the church where two men were clearing gutters. We spoke to the man footing his mate's ladder and he pointed us to Number 28, a drop in centre belonging to the church. We had a very welcome coffee and teacake there and spent some time chatting to the women serving the drinks. If you are ever in Middlewich, we recommend you try St Michael's and All Angels - loads of activities for young, old and everyone in between.

Back to the boat, but before setting off I chatted to the man sitting in the garden opposite where we were moored, about the pair of swans in his garden. They were nesting several yards form the canal, but had been doing so successfully for some years. Last year they didn't arrive because there was no water in this section of canal as a result of the breach a little further on. But this year they have turned up again and nested as before.

The clean, new edging shows where the breach was.

We did Stanthorne Lock, then as the weather was sunny and warm, we continued as far as Church Minshull. After mooring up, we walked into Church Minshull along a very busy, but rather narrow, road with no pavements. Church Minshull has a church, a pub (The Badger) and some attractive old houses, but not much else. 

Church Minshull

We returned to the boat via a footpath through the woods alongside the River Weaver, a rather longer but safer route than the road. 

Woodland path alongside River Weaver

We returned to The Badger later on where we had a very good meal; we used the road as the traffic had reduced considerably.

Locks 17   Miles 13                                               Total Locks 104   Total Miles 128

Festival Park Marina to Hassall Green

Monday 29 April
Once the early morning mist had lifted, Monday was sunny and warm.
Back to the boat by bus, train and taxi. We were ready to set off by 10.45 and turned onto the Trent and Mersey Canal and continued our journey through the Potteries.

We have a long day ahead of us; in fact we have a few long days ahead of us as we have to be in Ellesmere Port by Thursday evening.

About an hour later we arrived at Harecastle Tunnel. 

This tunnel has one-way traffic and is strictly controlled by CRT staff. There were already three boats on their way through towards us so we would have to wait. We decided to have an early lunch while we waited. At 12.40 we entered the tunnel and about half an hour later we emerged into the sunlight again. 

Then the locks started. We did 16 today, but fortunately there were a number of other boats about and several of the locks were set ready for us so we got through everything quite quickly and we moored up just after 5.00. The countryside on this stretch is not spectacular, just gentle and very pleasant.

We have had a bit of a hitch though. We have discovered that we have a water leak somewhere. That sounds a bit vague; we know that some carpet tiles near the front of the boat are damp and when Steve took them up, some of the wooden floor shows signs of having been wet for some time. Our solution at the moment is to monitor the situation unless it gets worse very quickly, in which case we’ll rethink!

Locks 16  Miles 10.25                                               Total Locks 87   Total Miles  115

Milton to Festival Park Marina

Friday 26 April

Today’s weather forecast was much the same as yesterday’s – a fine morning with rain later on. With this in mind, we got going at 8.30. We’d only got a short journey today with one lift bridge and three locks. We stopped for water at Etruria where there was a boat selling oatcakes – a Stoke delicacy. We bought a couple of cheese oatcakes and enjoyed them with a cup of coffee before moving on and completing the return journey to Festival Park Marina arriving there by 11.30, just as it started to rain.

The B Oatcake

After lunch, we decided to catch a bus into Hanley. (For those of you from outside the area, Stoke-on-Trent is a created entity of six towns, each of which has kept their own identity; Hanley is one of the six towns.) We went to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery where we happily spent a couple of hours before returning to the boat.

Locks 3  Miles 5.25                                           Total Locks 71  Total Miles 104.75

Saturday 27 April & Sunday 28 April

Storm Hannah arrived overnight with lots of wind and rain. As we were returning home for the weekend and it is a half hour walk from the marina to the railway station, we decided that a taxi was the answer rather than getting us and our belongings soaked. The train and bus journey home was uneventful.

Saturday and Sunday were spent catching up with jobs at home, church etc.

Leek (nearly) to Milton

Thursday 25 April

A much cooler morning – just as well that Stephen had lit the stove yesterday evening. Before leaving we walked to the end of the canal, the bit we couldn’t boat to. The end of the canal is rather underwhelming – it is a shame that it no longer goes right into Leek. No hope of a restoration as there is a large industrial estate built all over the old course.

End of the line - just a feeder channel at the end.

We got under way soon after 9.30 and retraced our tracks (not sure that’s the right word for a boat!) along the Leek Arm to Hazelhurst Junction and then onto the main Caldon Canal. 

Bridges over Leek Arm and main Caldon Canal.

Goose sitting at the junction.

Nearly all today’s locks were in our favour so we made good progress and moored up after Engine Lock at 1.15. We had lunch and were thinking of walking into the village of Milton when it started to rain and hail, so we changed our minds, though we did go later in the afternoon. We noticed again how quiet this canal is, we only saw one moving boat all day.

Locks 6  Miles 7.00                                               Total Locks 68  Total Miles 99.50

Froghall to Leek (nearly)

Wednesday 24 April

We made a slightly earlier start today as the weather forecast for later on is not good. So we set off at 8.15 and repeated yesterday’s journey in the other direction. One difference was that all the locks were against us and we had to work them all ourselves (except for Wood’s Lock where Rob was on duty again). As we got to Cheddleton Flint Mill, we realised it was open – it seems that they open at weekends and any other day that they can get volunteers to staff it. So we had a conducted tour of a very interesting set of buildings. (Google it for more info.)

Waterwheels at Cheddleton Flint Mill

The granddaughter of the last Cheddleton miller was born in the cottage on the left. When she married, she moved to the house on the right where she still lives, aged 99.

After getting back to the junction of the main line and the Leek arm, we made a rather tight turn onto the Leek arm. We had lunch on the move and enjoyed the journey along this quiet canal. We have seen some lovely displays of wild flowers as we have travelled along, including bluebells, kingcups and wood anemones, but the display of bluebells today was especially good.

We were able to go through the tunnel on today’s stretch of canal without any problem, so on we went on until we reached the sign that said “Boats longer than 45 feet should turn round here”. As our boat is 58’ long, we did as were told and turned round – shorter boats can go a little further along the canal before having to turn. Having turned round we moored up and decided to go shopping. 

So far there had only been a brief shower of rain, but more was promised so we went prepared with waterproofs and a brolly. We did get slightly wet going to Morrison’s but by the time we’d done the shopping and had a coffee, the sun was shining again. However as we were returning to the boat we heard thunder and we had just got inside when there was a very heavy shower. The evening continued with showers and a cool wind.

Locks 8  Miles 9.00                                               Total Locks 62  Total Miles 92.50

Stanley Moss Aqueduct to Froghall

Tuesday 23 April

A rather chilly start this morning compared with the last few days, but it did warm up by lunchtime. We set off at 9.00 and made our way through the peaceful countryside to the Hazelhurst Locks. We passed through the locks very efficiently as the first was set for us by someone from a boat coming the other way, we crossed with their boat (nb Galatea) and were able to go straight into the second lock and the third just needed topping up where it had leaked. Someone has been very liberal with a grease pot on the paddles at these locks.

The Leek Arm goes over the main Caldon Canal

Then under the aqueduct which carries the Leek Arm over the main Caldon. The countryside around here is lovely – open fields, woodlands and views over to the Leek Arm. We waved at nb Galatea across the Churnet valley.

We had hoped to visit Cheddleton Flint Mill, but it is only open at weekends, so we carried on down the two Cheddleton locks – both again set in our favour.

Churnet Valley Railway

Churnet Valley Railway runs close to the canal here, but again it is only open at weekends though volunteers were to be seen on the site. A diesel engine did go past us and return later pulling a series of empty carriages, no doubt getting ready for next weekend.

At Wood’s Lock we were waved through by a man wearing a T shirt proclaiming he is “Rob – volunteer lock keeper” – not sure how official he is, but we gladly accepted his help. 

Below Oakmeadow Ford Lock (another one more or less ready for us) the canal merges with the River Churnet and they run in the same channel for about a mile before the Churnet races off leaving the canal to wander more slowly to Flint Lock, the last lock before Froghall.

River Churnet joining from left.

River Churnet leaving right.

The tunnel at Froghall is very low and not all boats can get through. There is a gauge at Flint Lock to help you decide whether your boat will fit.

Will it fit?

Probably not.

Having decided not to attempt the tunnel (as Steve said, the back half would be fine, but probably not the front half!), we descended the lock and made our way to the winding hole before the tunnel. Some stretches of this part of the canal are very narrow, but as we didn’t meet anything coming the other way, it didn’t matter. Having turned round in the winding hole we moored up and had lunch.

Later in the afternoon we walked to Froghall Wharf and Basin to have a look at what used to be a hive of activity as limestone was brought down from nearby quarries and either loaded in blocks onto narrowboats or loaded as quicklime, produced when the limestone was burnt in the limekilns. We walked up the track of the tramway which carried the limestone and then out into the countryside above the valley – a very pleasant walk.

Limekilns at Froghall

The Old Tramway

The Old Wharf

Back to the boat for a welcome cup of tea, and then later on we walked to the Railway Inn in Frogall village for a fairly average pub meal.

Festival Park Marina to Stanley Moss Aqueduct

Monday 22 April

Bright and sunny again.  After our weekend at home, our friend Terry drove us to Nuneaton station as the buses were not running early enough on Bank Holiday Monday. We could all have had an extra 15 minutes in bed as the train was late! Having arrived at Stoke station, we walked back to Festival Park Marina and prepared to leave. It was 11.30 as we left the marina under a lift bridge where our chimney had a slight disagreement with the bridge platform.

Onto the Caldon

We turned onto the Caldon Canal and decided to stop to take on water and do a pump out. The automatic one was out of order (grrrr!!!) so we had to do a manual one – enough to put you off boating for life! We eventually got away and decided to have lunch on the move as we had quite a long day planned. We had a slight delay at the staircase locks as there was already a boat going up and then one due to come down. But there were plenty of people available to help and we got through reasonably quickly. Then on to Planet Lock where there was a boat just coming out so we did that one very quickly. There are a few remnants of the old Potteries.

The old and the new.

The next excitement was a lift bridge – such power, stopping traffic to let the boat through.  Engine Lock was next – very deep and very heavy to work. Then two more lift bridges, one of which was already being raised to let a boat coming towards us through. They very kindly let us through as well.

The five Stockton Brook Locks were not without interest. There are a couple of interesting sculptures.

At the second, a young girl was coming towards us along the towpath more or less carrying her bicycle. She couldn’t push it because the inner tube had come out from the tyre and was dangling free. Steve and another man managed to get the tube back where it belonged and the tyre back on the wheel. As another boat was approaching the lock, we had to leave, but the girl had phoned her mum who was coming to collect her.

As we approached Lock 4, we could see that there was a boat in it ready to come down, but nothing much was happening. I walked up to find a ‘Marie Celeste’ – a boat sitting there and no-one on board. After a minute or two, a man hurried up and explained that he was single handing and had not been able to pull in to the side after leaving Lock 5, so had continued to Lock 4 and then returned to Lock 5 to close the bottom gate. (He couldn’t pull in because of boats moored on the lock mooring.) I worked him and our boat through and then as Lock 5 was set for us, we were soon at the top of the flight and we moored up a bit further on between bridges 28 and 29. By this time it was 5.30 and we were ready for a break!

A small adjustment needed (see para.1 above)

Locks 9  Miles 8.00                                              Total Locks 46  Total Miles 73.75

Barlaston to Festival Marina Stoke-on-Trent

Friday 19 April

It was a bit misty this morning, and it took a while to warm up, though eventually we had a bright, warm afternoon and evening. We left our busy mooring at 9.00 and soon arrived at Trentham Lock which apart from a bit of leakage was set for us. BCF members Veronica and John Potter on nb Thistledown were close behind us. With Veronica’s help we were soon through and on our way towards Stoke. The Stoke locks were very busy with several boats coming down which meant they were all in our favour and quickly done especially as there was a VLK and a CRT man at the top lock offering help.

We had booked in to Festival Park Marina as we were due to go home for the weekend. Once we had found our mooring and had some lunch, we walked to St Mark’s Basford (officially in Newcastle-under-Lyme rather than Stoke, but it was the nearest church with a Good Friday service) for their Hour at the Cross service - a thought-provoking hour of hymns, prayer and reflection. We made the return journey (not the most pleasant walk – round a large roundabout and along the very busy A53) and then wandered through Festival Park to Morrison’s for bread and milk.

When we got back to the boat, Steve washed the roof and solemnly warned the resident ducks and geese not to walk on it or fly over it! 

Locks 6  Miles 6.00                                               Total Locks 37  Total Miles 65.75

Weston-on-Trent to Barlaston

Thursday 18 April

Leaving at 9.15, I walked up to Sandon Lock (passing a rather nice bridge on the way) and waited for Stephen to arrive with the boat.

Salt Bridge (No.82)

All the traffic was from the Stone direction so Sandon Lock and the next one, Aston, were in our favour. In fact there was a queue of 4 boats waiting to come down at Aston. The first two locks at Stone were being painted (or at least the beams and railings were), and the painters worked them as they didn’t want me to get covered in black or white paint! (Just to show that some boaters will complain at anything, the painters reported that the steerer on another boat had seriously suggested they should do the painting after dark when boats were not on the move!). The last two locks of the day were also set for us (apart from what had leaked in – some of these locks are very leaky).  We moored up for lunch and then continued up the four Meaford Locks before mooring near the Plume of Feathers at Barlaston at just before 3.00.

We had discovered that there was a Maundy Thursday service at St John the Baptist Church that evening, so we booked into the Plume for an early meal. Back to the boat for a cup of tea, then a bit later to the Plume for an excellent meal and up the hill to the church for 7.00 p.m. The church is a relatively new building as the previous one was closed in 1980 due to subsidence (ironically just before the local mine closed). There were over 20 people present for a quiet, thoughtful service.

We moored near where a moorhen had made her nest. She had at least three chicks in there with her. (Of course it could be him sitting on the nest.)

Moorhen on nest above a pile of sticks.

Locks 10  Miles 9.50                                             Total Locks 31  Total Miles 59.75

Rugeley to Weston-on-Trent

Wednesday 17 April

Quite a late start this morning as we were going to the Taft. This did give Steve chance to do one or two jobs including unravelling somebody’s clothing from round the prop. Left at 9.45 arriving at the Taft at 10.30 to be welcomed by Peter and Julie. We had coffee and a chat before Julie had to leave for a prior lunch engagement. More chat with Peter and then lunch with him and the current workaways, Reuben and Veronica. We left at 1.30 taking Reuben and Veronica with us for the ride as far as Colwich Lock which they helped work and then set off to walk back to the Taft. We carried on through Heywood Lock, Hoo Mill Lock and Weston Lock and moored north of Bridge 81 in open countryside. We saw a couple of broods of ducklings on this part of the trip – we had so far seen very few, though we have seen several swans sitting – one of them at the Taft.

We had a walk to Weston-on-Trent and then through the village alongside its enormous village green. We picked up a tray of chips from the mobile chippy en route and sat on a bench overlooking the green while we ate them.

Sunny and warm all day.

Great Haywood Junction

Locks 4  Miles 8.75                                          Total Locks 21  Total Miles 50.25

Hopwas to Rugeley

Tuesday 16 April

Got started just before 9.00 on a rather cloudy morning though it was a little warmer. We went through the swing bridge and turned onto the Trent and Mersey. We did Fradley Middle Lock and Shade House Lock with a bit of help from a VLK, continued through Wood End Lock and then stopped for lunch. In the afternoon we carried on as far as Rugeley stopping just after 4.00. We needed a few items so walked to Morrisons, had a cup of tea and did the shopping. Later we went for a walk along the towpath to the churches (old and new).

Locks 3  Miles 15.75                                          Total Locks 17  Total Miles 41.50

Monday 15 April

Another sunny morning, slightly less windy than yesterday. Started off about 8.45 and quite quickly through the last 4 locks though we met someone coming out of Lock 10 and someone else had already turned Lock 11 so we had a bit if a delay there. We had noticed a dead swan in the River Anker below us. Stephen reported it to RSPB but they said ‘Let nature take its course’ unless we thought the swan had been poisoned or shot.

On we went to Glascote Locks where we were behind another boat. A bit of teamwork got both boats through quickly (or as quickly as is possible with Glascote Locks!). A stop for lunch and then we carried on and moored at Hopwas. We had a bit of a walk up to the church (St Chad Arts and Crafts); later on we had a meal at the Tame Otter (next time we might try the Red Lion!) and then returned to the boat.

Slightly bigger blob on right is a goldfinch.

Brown blob is a wren singing its heart out.

              

Locks 6  Miles 12          Total Locks 14  Total Miles 25.75

Wyken to Atherstone

Sunday 14 April

We left Wyken Basin just after 10.00, through Sutton Stop onto the Coventry Canal. The weather was bright and sunny but there was a cold wind. We stopped for lunch near Tuttle Hill, and Steve lit the fire! We were on our way quite quickly and arrived at the top of Atherstone Locks at 2.45. Two VLKs helped us through Top Lock and we worked our way down through 6 more locks meeting other boats at 4 of them. We moored above Lock 8 at 4.20. We had a cup of tea and decided to walk down to Lock 11 to look for a geocache, although by this time the sun had given way to cloud. We failed to find the geocache but had a very pleasant walk. Back to the boat for a meal and a quiet evening. (We look for geocaches most days, but I haven’t recorded the daily details.)

Moored above Lock 8 Atherstone

Locks 8  Miles 13.75                                               Total Locks 8  Total Miles 13.75