Up the Caldon

Saturday 23rd June. Etruria.

In to Hanley in the afternoon to look through the museum, The Spitfire is away having it's restoration completed and should be on display next year. in the meantime there is a modern skeleton of a spitfire where it will go. A visit to a mall to forful a Diana need then back to the boat.

Sunday 24th June. 4 miles 3 locks, 2 lift bridges.

Diana walks to the first 2 locks which are a staircase. Has a think about it for a while then sets them with the bottom one empty and the top one full. we are going up. All works according to plan and we wander through some sharp corners as we leave Stoke on Trent. I remember having trouble getting Llanarrow around them 8 years ago and now having the same trouble with a10ft shorter boat. We pull up at a pub just before Milton to see if they do Sunday Roasts later in the day as Jim & Anne will be passing through. Place not suitable so we move on a few hundered yards and moor up. Jim gives us a call mid afternoon and we pass on our location. They are just 9 miles away and we are soon together. We decide on a canal side pub at Denford that we are driven to. A couple of pints and a meal then time to go back to the boat so Jim & Anne can drive home to Preston.

Monday 25th June. 7 1/2 miles, 5 locks, 1 tunnel.

We continue up the Caldon to the point where the Leek branch diverges to the right then crosses over the main line which is now 3 locks below. This is new to us and is a lovely canal but which after going through a tunnel terminates short of Leek. After turning the boat ready for the return trip we moor up have tea then walk the 1/2 hour into Leek. We had been here before by car with Alan & Marian. Diana remembers a lot more than I had. Some interesting brick and other buildings which had us taking photos till dusk before a long trek back to the boat. absolutely buggered.

Tuesday,26th June. 5 miles. 5 locks, 1 tunnel.

Back track down the Leek Branch to do a you turn back onto the main line. Down three locks, under the Leek Branch and then just around the corner is the Holly Bush Pub. This is where we had eaten on Sunday. It is lunch time with no moorings outside we go around the corner to find one and walk back. A long lunch, a pint, hot day, two more locks and we are done for the day. We soon find a wall to moor up to. It is a bit high for Diana to climb off the boat but time out is required..

Wednesday 27th June. 1/2mile. 30miles on a stream train.

I take a walk and find a spot right outside The Boat Inn at Cheddleton and across from the Railway station. We buy an all day rover ticket. The Tea and scones special was full so missed out there. It was a bit of a pity as the dinning car was called "Diana". The train, pulled by a small Tank engine travels west to Froghall where we are off for 30min while the engine changes ends before heading east past Cheddleton to Leek Brook Junction. There is no station here so we stay aboard as the engine swaps ends again before returning to Cheddleton. What next? Do it again but this time we get a bite to eat at Froghall during the change ends performance. So thats it twice, remember today is a day for taking it easy so we do it again, They only do three trips a day. For a variation we get off at Consall, the stop before Froghall. This is a station in the middle of bush which is proudly looked after as part of the Vintage railway scene as it was in the 50-60's. Plenty of photo oportunities here. Talked to an engine driver who had much knowledge of steam operations. More photo's as the train came to pick us up and complete the last run of the day. Sitting on the boat The Boat inn looked inviting so after a pint and a meal it was bed time.

Thursday 28th June. 5miles, 3 locks.

A bit of a different start to the day. I was up early to put some paint on the boat before the heat set in. About 7 we get a knock on the boat asking to borrow a phone. This dog walker had found a deer stuck in a lock struggling to get out. He rang 999 and I picked up a windlass and rope before heading down the towpath to a lock he said was 3 miles away. 30 mins later, either a fast walker or a short 3 miles, I find the deer still struggling in a full lock. Best option is to empty the lock and hope he can stand on the bottom I hooked the rope around his antlers to hold his head above water. He couldn't touch the bottom of the empty lock so I talked to him as we waited the 10 min for the emergency services to arrive and take over. It was not to long before we opened the gate and negotiated him out of the lock and eventually he bolted across some farmlad towards the bush.
For the rest of the day Diana and I set off past the lock of drama where I explained what happened. After stopping for water at Consall Forge we continued past the Consall Railway station. The station and canal are so close that we pass under the cantilevered platform. The next lock was the limit of our travel in 2010 as it was the last place to turn a 70ft boat. With Molly Rose at 60 ft we could now continue to Froghall. Well almost as there is a low and narrow tunnel 400 yds before the end. We moored up and walked the rest to take the photos. We have now completed the Caldon Canal and Leek Branch. An interesting event was when in a narrow bit of the canal we meet two boats comingthe otherway (only boats we had seen all day) they decided to back up and we passed further on.

Friday 29th June. 51/2 miles, 5 locks.

We walked back to the Froghall Basin to look at the basket making place and visit "Hetty"s Tea Shop" which had been recomended by one of the boaties we passed  yesterday. I would say the best cafe type food we have had here and at a reasonable price too. It has my recomendation for boaters and other travellers to partake. After that Lunch we head back up the canal and end up outside the Flint Mill at Cheddleton. Take the evening walk into town, visited a School Fayre and ended up at the Black Lion which had been recomended by a local a few days ago.

On and Off the Trent and Mersey

Monday 18th June.

It's great to have met locals, some of which have become good friends. The Canal in Cogleton runs along the side of the hill near the top. Today we are taken to Tescos at the bottom of the hill so we can load up and have it brought to the top by car. Diana & I go back into the village part of the town in the afternoon. Charity shops get the going over.

Tuesday 19th June.

Once again we are taken touring. Lunch at a delighfull Pub on the outskirts of Gawsworth, followed by the long way home via Rudyard Lake and over the hill back to Congleton.

Wednesday 20th June, 11 miles, 1 Lock, I Tunnel.

A leisurley meander south with a stop for rain, visit a boat yard to enquire about selling Molly, fill with water and arrive at Harecastle tunnel as a flotilla of 7 boats are about to enter. Was a bit rushed but we joined on behind, following a working boat and Butty. Through in 36 minutes which is about average for us. Continued on to moor up at Westport Lake, Stoke on Trent. More discussion on Food but this time it is Diana wants to go to "Lidl", a mile away. Good choice as there is a new business opened in Tunstall just up from the canal. Must come back tomorrow when it is open.

Thursday 21st.

Off to the "Tool Station". Turned out to be a cataloge type operation similar to Argos. Might have been new to me but there are 300 branches in the UK and this one had been open 3 weeks. For those on boats wanting maintenance things for their boats this place is very convenient. Cross bridge 128 and go up hill. Next we are off to Burslem which has some magnificant buildings that we haven't seen since 2010. Not much has changed but we both have better cameras to record the images. On our way back to the boat around 1800 we toss the coin to see which way to go around a busy roundabout with very few predestrian options. The coin fell rightway up. We came across one of those back street gems and although closed were invited in after Diana had her face pressed to the window for a while. We were in a Chininey Pot Museum. It was closed for removations nether the less after a brief Health and safety briefing we picked our way through a magnificant collection of pilled up chimeny pots. Facinating guy who has been collecting, renovating and selling pots for 40 plus years.  He is hoping to have the museum building structure repaired and the pots back on display to reopen his museum when the ceramic poppies are brought to Middleport for display in a month or two. Just down from bridge 126. If we get the chance we will visit again.

Friday 22nd June. 3 miles.

Compulsory stop at Middleport potteries today. Just managed to squeeze molly on behind another boat on the mooring outside the potteries and lost Diana for three hours while she supported the English economy. I fiddled around on the boat. She did come back with an RAF 100 aniversary mug for me from the pottery next door. It will be treasured. As we left and moved around the corner we found extra moorings have been developed in front of the pottery. Arrived at Etruria, filled with water and now moored up for a couple of days on the Caldon Canal.

Congleton

Sunday 17th June. 4 1/2 miles.

Hair wash day and as a special treat after all the work the lock girl did yesterday we put the generator on the towpath to run her hair dryer. Also did some washing and found that the combined washing machine and hair dryer were too much power so we delayed the washing. All's well now. Wwe set off for Congleton with a stop for water on the way and a bite for lunch on the move. Arrived and moored up just 300yds from Alan and Marian's. Walked there and then it was off to Congleton Park and a free Brass Bands concert to celebrate Fathers day. It was a bit cold but we were dressed appropriately. Music was good especially a youth Steel band from Stockport. Railway pub for a roast and then coffee back at Alan & Marian's to finish the day.

Going Down at Bosley

Friday 15th June, 7 1/2 mile + 4 miles on foot.

Set off from our base of 4 days at Bollington. Stopped for water in Macclesfield. then soon after stopped again for lunch and have a chat to Richard on his birthday. From there we walked through Dane Moss to visit Gawsworth Hall in the village of Gawsworth. Diana had checked their website for details. What it didn't tell you was that today they are closed to the public, so best we could do was take a few pictures from the road and visit the church. Walked through the village before returning via Dane Moss. Back on the boat we continue to the top of the Bosley locks, a flight of 12. 3 kiwis from Tauranga moor up behind for the night.

Saturday 16th June. 1 1/2 miles, 12 locks, 118 feet vertically.

Rained most of the night so when we woke there was no enthusiasim to tackle the locks. We turned the heater on and  waved to the 3 kiwi's as they set off, having to get their boat back by Monday morning. Rained on and off till about 1300. By 1400 we decided it was worth moving although thunderstorms are forcast. These are the first locks since coming up them in September 2016. Diana goes to set the lock, looks at them a few times then comes back to confirm which paddel has to be opened. I reminded her that water flows down hill. There were some difficulties on the way down with low water and going aground in a couple of the pounds. As we approached lock number 11 the thunderstorm arrived so we put the boat in the lock and stayed inside waiting for the heavy rain to stop. Good plan except another boat coming down caught up with us so we had to move on during a really heavy downpour. I kept the boat under a bridge while Diana set the lock. We are now at the bottom, rain stopped, and we moor up for a dry but cool pleasant evening.

Exercise and Sustinance

  Wednesday 13th June.

The beacon (White Nancy) on the hill above Bollington beckons again. We have been told about different ways to climb up there. We set off the way we went the first time and got to the near vertical climb bit, read the instructions and realise they are still the same so take a different route which proves to be an easier. Still worth the climb but the weather is overcast and hazy with a cold wind so are not there for long. Return via some different streets and see a bit more of this quaint village. Return to a familiar cafe for lunch then back to the boat mid afternoon. Diana goes food shopping and returns via her favourite charity store. Third visit in two days. I do some prep work on patching bruise marks on Molly's hull.

Thursday 14th June.

Walk down the towpath to Dave & Angie's boat to meet up and take a bus to Maccesfield then Alderly Edge. Bit of a mix up with the driver who sold us an all day ticket that only worked for the first 3 mile leg of a 4 trip journey. Alderly Edge is the centre of the "Footballers Triangle" and all the footballers wives are said to give there cast off (worn once) clothes to the charity shops. Not so says Diana. The bus stop for the return journey is outside a Waitrose supermarket so I make a small and important purchase before catching the bus home again via Maccesfield. I do some paint touch up and finish the day with a simple tea of cheese and Tomatoes on toast.

Get together

Sunday 10th June. 1/2 mile

Moved down canal a bit. Time for a pump out and icecream. took on water and moored up a little south of Higher Poynton. A quick lunch and then off to Lyme Park. Did the walk we normally do. Up hill all the way for near on an hour. The reward was scone with jam and cream. Diana went to the house to check out what was a good secondhand book stall but it has changed and now not that good. Then it was the hour walk back to the boat Down hill! There was a bit of rain about so didn't think it worth going on today.

Monday 11th June. 3 1/2 miles.

Away at a reasonable hour with the intention to get to Bollington embankment when the overnight stayers have left. Good idea but most had stayed leaving one berth for us. So thats good but not so good for Dave and Angie we are meeting here. They come past mid afternoon and carry on a mile or so, turn around but there are still no berths for them. They sit alongside for a while as we chat and catchup before heading off to find another mooring. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday 12th June.

Dave and Angie have turned their boat again and come looking for a mooring with us but nobody has left this morning so it is carry on and turn again. By the time of their return one boat has left and they can fit into a mooring 3 boats away. So today is a meeting of boating Friends. There is us. Angie and Dave who we met comming out of Liverpool in 2014. Pat & Roger who we met going into liverpool arrive by car for a very pleasent lunch and chat in a local pub. Mid afternoon the car people leave us, Angie and Diana go charity shopping and the boys sit on the back of Dave's new boat and chew the fat for an hour or two.

Plans change

Friday 8th June,

On the move today. Just three things to do in Marple before we go. 1. Post some cards: 2. Buy some hardware: 3. Buy 3 days food.
Off we head down the street to the Post Office, a street we haven't been down before so we go past the PO to the lights at the corner to cross the road. While waiting Diana talks to a local about the PO and she says there is another one down in Marple Bridge. Well we have been going to go there ever since comming to Marple. We know it is a steep road down but thats OK there is a bus back. The weather is not the best with a bit of drizzle and a full overcast. There is some interesting brick work on the bigger houses and with the overcast sky I start taking pictures of chimneys and think thats what todays blog will be about. 

Marple Bridge is a pretty village

and visiting the PO complets task 1 for the day. There are a number of interesting buildings to look at before finding a reat place for lunch. Originaly we should have been back on th boat for lunch. Diana starts talking to a local at lunch and we find out about some of the history of the area and the location of an old mill, lake and waterwheels. So now we are going a different way back, no bus this way and an extra hill to climb. It was well worth the journey. The mill has gone but excavations have started on the foundations to give some idea of its size. 5 stories high and employed 500 people. The mill owner was one of the better ones in looking after his staff, became very wealthy and financed the 16 Marple locks. Past the mill we continued further away from the boat and visited the lake and waterway system used to operate the  3 water wheels to power the mill. All very worth while but now it is time to head back to Marple on the direct route uphill all the way. Bought the hardware and the food and arrived back at the boat a bit worn out. I guess we walked about 7 miles horizontally and, perhaps a bit exagerated, 1 mile vertically.

Saturday 9th June. 2 3/4 miles

Off we go down the Maccesfield canal 1 3/4 miles till we come to the bridge under the A6. Moor up, have lunch then walk the 2 miles (down hill) to Hazel Grove to meet an old friend John. Had a cuppa and a chat for about an hour before catching the bus (up hill) back to the boat. then off we go and moor up at a regular spot in the country side to complete our day

Marple Movies

Thursday 7th June.300 yds.

Up early in anticipation of having to move off the lock mooring. Check Canal & River Trust, CRT, site to find that locks would be open 0900-1100. No contact from CRT staff but moved around the corner and took on water and then under a bridge to moor up for the day. Into town to see what has been happening on the lock flight. Lost Diana in town so went on to the locks. There are some narrow places as the side walls are moving in and restricting the size boats that can operate. Found Diana and went back to town for lunch and Charity/food shoping. Back on the boat early afternoon and spent the time titivating the bathroom. It had had a makeover before we bought the boat but a lot of trim had not been put on. Now it has. Just a bit of painting to do. After tea we went to the movies. The book may have been a good story but it hasn't translated to a movie at all well. Avoid "On Chesil Beach".

Touring Begins

Monday 4th June.

Must have overdone it yesterday. Did a few small jobs in the morning then after lunch feel asleep and woke up for tea. Diana has spent the day organising her new blog while on power and marina internet.

Tuesday 5th June. 2 miles.

1125, engine starts. We head up the canal towards Whaley Bridge. Stop at Tescos to provision the boat with baulky and heavy items. The walk between Supermarket and boat is not far. Once the stores are on board we sample some with a late lunch before heading to Whaley Bridge. No moorings and Diana's favourite Charity shop has just closed so we turn, backtrack past Tesco's and head up the Bugsworth arm. Take a bit of a walk around the basin the settle into the real art of narrow boating. Drinks and knibbles on the towpath.

Wednesday 6th June. 6 miles 2 swing & 2 lift bridges.

Take a wander down to the kiosk at Bugsworth Basin and chat to the staff for a while before heading down the canal. We intend to stop at the marina as I have a bill to pay and it will be Dianas last chance to wash her hair and dry it with the 230volt hair dryer. As we approach our pontoon it is occupied with the engineer doing some work on their boat. We don't need them to move as there is an empty slot a couple of pontoons away. Mid afternoon and our farwells made we set off on a beautiful summers day. Great for Diana with the bridges; 1st, opened by a boater coming the other way, 2nd, opened by a fisherman who wanted us through as quick as possible so he could continue fishing, 3rd, this bridge has been converted to push button, 4th, the only one requiring any effort as she renewed her windlass skills. Arriving in Marple we couldn't get into the bank as there was a rock in the canal so eventually we moor on the lock mooring. Nobody is using the locks as they have been closed for months.

Molly Moves.

Wednesday 30th May.

A late start and a slow day. Got some more polishing done. The boat is looking apreciative of some overdue TLC.

Thursday 31st May.

A bit more motivated today but most of the day was again spent on the boat.

Friday 1st June.  3 miles, 1 swing bridge, twice.

Now that Molly is all polished down her port side it is time to turn her around and work on the otherside. She moved about 30ft down the mooring before getting stuck on the bottom. A bit of a rock and manual pushing she was soon on her way and heading down the canal. At the swing bridge it was opened by the proceeding tour boat so we followed through but were left to close it. It was such a nice day we motored past the first winding hole and turned at the next, 1 1/2 miles from home. Motored back but this time Diana had no help with the swing bridge, never mind. Molly was nosed into her birth with the dirty side along side the pontoon. A lot of polishing to be done on this side. 
The local chippy that closed in 2014 while we were on the canals is now open again with good reports on quality. We can confirm that the quality is very good. While sitting on a street bench eating we are approached by a local. "It is you isn't it". Yes it is. We met Helen during our last couple of days on the marina in 2016. They have a daughter in Gisborne and have visited us in Napier. After a quick chat an invitation to dinner tomorrow night is accepted.

Saturday 2 June.

We had intended to walk down to Bugsworth basin today as there is a music festival on but the day is overcast and a thunderstorm is forcast. The thunderstorm did not eventuate and the day was overcast and ideal to clean and polish. Molly is now looking like a new 28 year old.
At about 5pm we wander off to our dinner engagement to reaquaint ourselves with Helen & Richard. They have also invited another couple who have owned a boat, have vintage cars and she was the first or one of the first woman Air Traffic Controllers in the UK.  We spent some time trying to remember the names of a number of Controllers that emigrated to NZ in the 60's and 70's. One came to mind and when I mentioned it her eyes rolled and laughter erupted. Yes he was a well known character. The evening was a great succsess which was indicated by not leaving till midnight.

Sunday 3 June.

Molly is really presentable now so some titivating was done. Replaced the front fender, checked that the generator worked, filled the water tank so now ready to move.

Pilky's Tour

Saturday 26th May,

The day starts with the arrival of Jim & Anne to take us on a mystery weekend. We do know that it will involve National Trust establishments and a large Antique Fair in Lincoln.

Interesting fact; 26 May 2014 we arrived on the Lancaster canal and as we passed this bloke in his garden by the canal we made mention of what a good job he was doing. So started the friendship with Jim and Anne.

We head off South west past Buxton and through Ashbourne, Derby and Nottingham. Melton Mowbray, home of Pork Pies was further to the south, around Grantham to our first stop at the Stamford Antique Fair. This was on the village field with a number of stalls in a large marquee and many more around the field under individual gazebos. A cup of coffee with Bakewell tart to complete this stop. Heading towards Lincoln we stop at National Trust, Belton House and Gardens. We now head towards our B&B passing RAF Cranwell and through Lincoln with the Cathederal purched on the top of the hill. Stopped for dinner at the Pyewipe Inn alongside the Fossdyke Navigation. From here a short distance to Saxilby and Orchard Cottage. A delightfull B&B and delightful hosts.

Sunday 27th May.

After a lovely breakfast we are off south a short distance to a small vintage fair in the out buildings of Doddington hall. The hall is private so we didn't go inside. Adjacent was a farm shop with a good variety of food. All we bought was a scotch egg which turned out to be very tasty and custard tarts which were also tasty. Looked at buying some NZ wine but at 20 pounds a bottle decided not to. National trust Gunby Hall, near Spilsby was the next stop. Before going inside we had the scotch egg and custard tarts. Nice old house with well laid out gardens. On the return trip we called in to Woodhill Spar where there is an impresive memorial to Bomber Command 617 Dam busters Squadron, also a memorial representing the Vulcan and Tornado. 

Driving around Lincolnshire there are continual reminders of the large number of WWII airfields here. One can only imagine what hundreds of merlin engines must have sounded like all together. Dinner, a simple meal at Mill Lodge, down the road from RAF Waddington.
Back at the B&B we played Croquet before a very pleasurable evening with our hosts. Gordon, ex RAF Vulcan navigator had some interesting stories to tell.

Monday 28th May

Not far to travel to the Lincoln show grounds to attend a very extensive Antique fair. Truck loads of everything, furniture, jewelry, books, paintings. There were customers from all over the world buying by the container load to send home hoping to make a dollar or three. If we hadn't the problem of getting the stuff back to NZ I'm sure we would have made some purchases. We eventually finished there about 3pm having had a picnic lunch under some trees.

 From there we went for coffee at a garden centre before heading east to the North Sea. The closer we got the lower the cloud was and the wind rose so by the time we got to Mablethorpe it was a quick walk up to the prominade, look at the sand because the sea was in the mist and straight back to the car to warm up.
From there back to Lincoln for a bite to eat, which was a bit of a disaster, before returning to the B&B and another sociable evening.

Tuesday 29th May.

Away at a reasonable hour and heading North only knowing that at some point we will be going to Jim & Anne's in Preston. We drive over the Humber bridge as Jim has picked up the fact that I like bridges of all designs. We follow the M62 past Pontefract and Castleford, where my Mum's parents came from. We continued further north before turning west into Yorkshire Dales National Park. Such beautiful, breath taking scenery Stopped for lunch in Leyburn having just passed some Gypsy caravans heading up to Appleby for their annual horse fair. Diana's camera got a bit of a work out with them. Further west we visit Wensleydale Creamery the home of Wallace & Gromit. The place was packed with coach tours, general tourists, and a lot of walkers. Continuing through the Dales we arrive at the most impressive Ribble Head Viaduct on the Settle to Carlile railway as a freight train was crossing. 

There were cars everwhere and nowhere to park. I thought they were there to see the train but the cars stayed. Must have all been out walking. We back tracked a bit then turned off towards Dent. As we followed the stream down the valley on a windy narrow road the scenery got more impresive. We followed the River Lune to Lancaster then joined the M6 towards Preston. Great to see names of places and the occassional glimpes of the canal we spent 3 weeks on in 2014. Just before Preston we left the M6 to a friendly pub called The Wheatsheaf at Woodplumpton. A very nice home cooked roast was the order of the day. we took a walk across the road to visit the grave of Anne's parents before proceeding to Pilky's HQ. for a coffee before being returned to the boat via motorways. So our mystery tour ends about 9.30 PM. Not so for Jim & Anne as they now have an hour and half on Motorways back to Preston.
Thanks so much for the tour and your company.