Bump and Squeeze

First lock of our trip



Shugborough  House from the canal

Blind corners  can be tricky when meeting a 60ft long boat.

It was cloudy all morning and the wind was cold. We reached Colwich lock to find one boat waiting to go up before us. By the time we left the top of the lock there were four boats waiting behind us, so we just beat the rush.We cruised by empty moorings opposite the beautiful grounds of Shugborough  House. It was good to only have the one boat ahead of us at Great Hayward lock as we often have to wait an hour or more there.

At bridge 75 we met another boat on a blind corner. A walker signalled to the other boat to stop as we were virtually in the bridge hole and waved us on – but the other boat had been cruising fast and not slowed down in time. We collided in the bridge hole and our boat was pushed sideways so that the curve of the bridge nearly swept our travel chimney off. The Captain pointed out proudly that if he hadn’t changed to the travel chimney we would have had it swept overboard or worse still been wedged under the bridge. Fortunately we slithered through the bridge with neither boat’s paintwork or bridge damaged.

We approached Great Hayward Marina slowly as there were many moored boats and found the canal temporarily blocked by a boat turning onto the canal from the marina. We inched forward allowing them to complete their manoeuvre but another boat steamed out of the marina without looking and sliced past our bow. We had a super close up of their rear as they sliced round in front of us.

one swan nesting

The Captain let them draw ahead as Hoo Mill lock was just around the corner. When we reached the lock the boat was waiting on the lock pins even though a boat had left the lock and passed them. The couple waved us into the lock and apologised for cutting us up. What a charming gesture, far more in  keeping with the friendly nature of canal folk. They had assumed the way was clear because of the boat pulling out in  front of them.

When the Captain found the next moorings empty he moored up for lunch glad to get out of the cold. Normally those mooring are full of boats. Where is everybody?

and another

After lunch we cruised on under thick cloud attacked by a wintery wind. This stretch of canal was dominated by nesting swans spaced evenly along its banks. Every pen was settled on a high nest so there should be loads of cygnets in a few weeks.

warming up

 

We met quite a few boats so most locks were in our favour which helps when the wind is keen. Lottie felt the cold an ran round madly at several locks to warm herself up. A true lurcher she hates being cold and several times asked us to light the fire by going inside and looking at it wistfully. At Sandon lock she slipped into the field on the off side and started gobbling muck that had been spread over the field. The Captain rounded her up and ruefully announced “I think we are in for a smelly evening.”